Wednesday, 22 June 2011

How to make a flat border for granny square blankets


Hello Lovelies,
As you can see from the picture above I'm on the border of my granny square blanket. A row of plum then four colours so far , think I'll add two or three more then a plum edge. I love working the border .It's so fast ...zooming along with no fiddeliness.Yes it's a favourite part of mine .
Edging groups of granny squares can have pitfalls and I thought you may like to see my method for avoiding a wavy edge. It's a common problem and very frustrating if your lovely blanket ends up going wrong at the final stage . Here is an example of just such a wavy edge on a very stunning blanket.

The trouble begins when you put three double ( U.K. treble ) crochet in each corner of your granny square.It would be fine for a narrow border but if you are planning to make a wide border it will not lie flat and end up all frilly.
I'm talking about the small spaces created by the chain 2 in the corner of the individual squares. ....



The way I get around this is to treat the two corner spaces as one. In this blanket I've made 1 D.C. (U.S.) in the first space ...



Then I've bridged the gap with a D.C. decrease stitch. Like this ....

Yarn over, insert hook into first space , yarn over ,pull through space ( 3 loops on hook)  then yarn over ,pull though 2 loops(2 loops on hook).....


Yarn over, Insert hook through second space, yarn over ant pull through (4 loops on hook)........



Yarn over , pull through 2 loops ( 3 loops on hook)......


Yarn over , pull through all 3 loops( decrease stitch made).............



Then I've finished the bridging cluster with a final D.C. in the second space ...

Admittedly it looks a bit messy at this stage and I would recommend using a inconspicuous colour. As the border grows it blends in nicely and results in a lovely flat border :0)


Hope this is helpful to some of you lovelies. As always, please let me know if anything is unclear .
Jacquie x
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60 comments:

  1. Penny22 June 2011 at 17:34

    Wow your blanket is really coming along and looking gorgeous Jacquie. Thanks for this brilliant tip for no frills, very helpful indeed xox Penelope

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  2. Happy in red22 June 2011 at 17:47

    This is SO helpful and your blanket is almost finished, can't wait for your TADAAAAA moment ;-)
    Esther.

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  3. Pixie22 June 2011 at 17:56

    This is just the ticket.
    i have to admit, that i do have problems with my granny fiddly bits, and this is just wonderful, thank you for sharing this piece of invaluable information, cheers.
    Pixie x

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  4. Unknown22 June 2011 at 17:59

    That is so cool - my boarders are always frilly - ooh misses - will certainly give it a go on my next blanket. Thank you! x

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  5. Teresa22 June 2011 at 18:02

    Perfect timing... Mom is just about to finish the boys' blanket and she asked me how to do the final row on the granny squares!
    Thank you so much, Jacquie:)
    xxx

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  6. Taking Heart22 June 2011 at 18:10

    I will definitely use this trick when I do my border... I'm working on three grannies (posted on my blog) as we speak... the plum is lovely!

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  7. Meredith22 June 2011 at 18:17

    Thanks for th einfo it was very helpful. Your blanket looks fantastic.
    Meredith

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  8. andamento22 June 2011 at 18:31

    Interesting. Will bear this in mind for when I ever make such a border, thanks!

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  9. Unknown22 June 2011 at 18:32

    Your blanket is looking lovely, dee x

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  10. Mum22 June 2011 at 18:40

    Nearly there. Unlike you I really don't like doing the edging because I have to lug about the whole blanket. It's not as easy to pick up and put down as a granny square. It's been a joy to watch the blanket 'unfold'.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  11. Juliab22 June 2011 at 18:55

    Thanks so much for that. Will make a note for future reference. When will we see the finished blanket??? (I'm not impatient, honest!) x

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  12. Hazel22 June 2011 at 19:04

    That's a good way. In the past I have ignored those corners and just did a triple in the between them ie in the join. x

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  13. Maryfairy22 June 2011 at 19:24

    Thanks for the very useful tip Jacqui, I have added it to my Useful Page on Ravelry. I love your colourful blanket, beautifully made, as usual.

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  14. Jenny22 June 2011 at 19:38

    Super useful post! Not that I am anywhere near the border stage at all but that is exactly the type of border I would love for my blanket and would have had no idea how to go about it, so thank you, will have to remeber your post if I ever get to that stage! Jenny x

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  15. Reality Jayne22 June 2011 at 19:54

    Bunny....I love your blog...Nice info. thanks..

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  16. Esperanza Moreno22 June 2011 at 19:57

    DE nuevo precioso la combinación de colores mé encanta. Besos desde España

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  17. Attic2422 June 2011 at 20:35

    oooooooooooooooooo you're on The Edge!!!!!! Greatly looking forward to your ta-dah moment with this beauty, I just know it's going to be knockout.
    :o)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  18. PaisleyJade22 June 2011 at 21:04

    This is wonderful! Thank you.

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  19. penelope1022 June 2011 at 22:50

    super directions!

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  20. Nicky23 June 2011 at 01:47

    Love your Granny - Thanks for sharing...I did have trouble with the frills on my last border :)This tip will definitely help.

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  21. Debbs23 June 2011 at 04:20

    Hi, I use this method too and it certainly works and gives a nice flat border. I learnt it from this lady http://compactuk.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-crinkle-free-granny-square.html I think they should put it in all the learn to crochet books as it just makes so much sense.

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  22. carrad23 June 2011 at 07:46

    Thanks so much for the tip - I have some squares to crochet up and sew, so this will be very useful. xxx

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  23. Ruth @ Camellia Rose23 June 2011 at 08:25

    Thanks for the great tip! I'm still dreaming of the day I actually finish a blanket to the stage where I get to put an edge on it, so I'll be storing this up till then!

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  24. Anonymous23 June 2011 at 10:59

    Thanks for sharing this,I am going to try this on my new granny squares,flower inspiration blanket,I ve a way to go yet though,I keep getting side tracked into other smaller projects,(tea cosies,brooches,coat hangers!!) So much to make, so little time! ;O
    xxxx

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  25. "Never Knew"23 June 2011 at 12:22

    This is so weird: I was just reading about this exact same technique last night on another blog: Compact UK. She uses the same method and also has a good photo tutorial, here: http://compactuk.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-crinkle-free-granny-square.html.

    It looks like a great method. Thanks for sharing with us all - can't wait to see your finished blanket!
    Caz :)

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  26. Cuckoo23 June 2011 at 13:53

    Me thinks you are a genius!

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  27. Sandra24 June 2011 at 01:05

    Loving the edging on this blanket - looking forward to seeing it finished! I got a crinkly edge on my granny square blanket so thanks for the tip on solving this (although I quite like the crinkly edge too...!) x

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  28. Carina24 June 2011 at 12:57

    Thanks for sharing! Will definitely keep in mind. Busy with a baby granny square blanket at the mo. Have a good weekend. Carina x

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  29. Unknown24 June 2011 at 19:31

    how have i missed you?! Im trying to fall back in love with crochet. I took a VERY long break after finishing a gigantic afghan... think it was 220 cm x 220 cm in the end. Jeez louise. Couldnt look at a ball of yarn for months lol!

    Im trying again. Starting small.. Cushion cover ^_^

    Im glad I found you blog ^_^

    Claire

    http://www.hearthandmade.co.uk

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  30. Tina24 June 2011 at 19:44

    Thanks for this tutorial. Will come in handy once my granny garden square blanket will be ready to get a border. Love your blanket, it will be looking so great!

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  31. Emily24 June 2011 at 21:28

    Ohohohohoh, I wish I'd seen this about a week ago! I'm just finishing the (very wavy) granny edge on my springtime throw. I love the way the granny edging looks and although I just can't face unpicking this one, I'll be doing this edging again I'm sure and I will DEFINITELY be using your tutorial next time.
    Looking forward to the big reveal!
    Have a good weekend
    Emily x

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  32. Annaboo's House25 June 2011 at 07:24

    One day, I will make a beautiful blanket, and then I shall be right back here to follow your clever tutorials.
    Xx

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  33. Amy27 June 2011 at 14:26

    That is so awesome.....thank you SO much for sharing that!!!

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  34. Otaliga projekt28 June 2011 at 21:59

    Thanks for sharing. That´s very sweet of You.
    Sarah

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  35. Stephanie Hill8 January 2012 at 23:47

    Just used your technique on a Valentine's Day granny square scarf for my daughter and it worked brilliantly.

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  36. Anonymous30 March 2012 at 21:27

    I'm just at this stage on my baby blanket and was trying all sorts of things to stop it going wavy but didn't come up with anything - this is great! Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)

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  37. JASDesigns31 May 2012 at 09:38

    Hi there. I love your tutorials. They are so easy to follow and understand. Your blog is what inspired me to learn how to granny. I am more of a knitter, but I needed something different after working on my daughter's fuzzy blanket. I am still making my squares, but I am curious. When you did the flat border portion, did you just treat the blanket as one big granny? Thanks for sharing your tips. So helpful and inspiring. I think the mini hexagon will be my next venture.

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  38. All Hand-Made Crafts1 June 2012 at 07:29

    This is really helpful. Thank you so much for the information

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  39. LizzieK82 July 2012 at 15:21

    Well done! Thank you.

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  40. Annette - MyRoseValley26 October 2012 at 06:04

    I knew I had seen this somewhere . just what I needed. Sat for a while yesterday experimenting with 2 dc clusters, one dc cluster, taking down in the edging... You know what I mean... Never thought of a decrease stitch. I will try this today for my upcoming Daisy Square Scarf. Thanks Jacquie.

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  41. Rose Cottage Crafts11 February 2013 at 21:09

    What a great idea! I'll try that next time, thanks for sharing. Christine

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  42. tofu13 February 2013 at 18:04

    YOU ARE A GENIUS!!!!

    Thank you so much for this idea! I'm so looking forward to making the border of my first granny square blanket! <3

    tofu

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  43. Gillian Roe19 February 2013 at 08:21

    Hi Jacquie - just wanted to say thanks for sharing this brilliant decrease method - I used it and it worked a treat. Gillian x

    http://www.talesfromahappyhouse.com/2013/02/a-rainbow-baby-blanket.html

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  44. bev.tooth18 March 2013 at 15:26

    What a great idea. My only critisism would be that you don't tend to write your crochet stitches in the english way. I see you have wrote it down using the US crochet yet you are from the UK.mmmmmmm very very confusing for me

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  45. Keri Binskin4 May 2013 at 11:47

    Thanks for this as I have made a blanket that has a that slight frilled affect which is really annoying after all the time, love and effort that goes into anything handmade. This handy little hint will help me avoid this on the blanket I am finishing tonight. Again many thanks.

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  46. Vicky19 October 2013 at 13:34

    I have used your advice several times but it really really showed this time on this very deep border with nary a wrinkle in sight! Thank you so much!

    http://hyotenka.blogspot.jp/2013/10/sarah-and-jeds-wedding-blanket-ta-da.html

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  47. janetta19 October 2013 at 16:19

    Hi - great tip - just wondering how to do this with SC stitch. Thanks janetta

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  48. Textile-tally4 November 2013 at 22:02

    Great tip thank you. Just what I needed as am about to start edging my first granny blanket!

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  49. Carole C5 November 2013 at 23:01

    What a beautiful beachy blanket ....it looks amazing hanging on your line with all that sunshine and blue sky. Oh ....and Porthleven ,I just love that little place :)

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  50. Unknown9 November 2013 at 17:47

    Thank you for the great tip. I only wish I reviewed this before I started putting my boarder on my first granny square blanket. Mine is similar in the basic color as yours.
    When I'm doing the boarder I feel like I'm crocheting so fast and moving along but it seems to take so long to get to the corners.

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  51. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 23:16

    Hi Jacqui! Thanks for your help with creating a flat granny square blanket border! It worked a treat on my first (and potentially last?) granny square blanket! I shared my result on my blog: http://littlemissling.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/getting-creative-with-little-miss-ling-granny-square-blanket/

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  52. Debbie22 May 2014 at 19:16

    I forgot to add this the other day, but I've been using this technique on my Glastonbury Blanket - works a treat! I gave a link back to you in my post about it :)

    http://inpursuitoftheworthwhile.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/todays-events-edge-of-glastonbury.html

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    Debbie

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  53. Anonymous30 September 2014 at 12:01

    Thank you so much for sharing this method. I am now using it with all of my blankets!

    Kind regards,


    Corine

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  54. Juana30 September 2014 at 14:09

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I was going mad looking for something easy and pretty to finish a granny baby blanket.

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  55. CyndiMo22 June 2015 at 17:52

    I love your blog! I have finished the base of the continuous join as you go blanket... now for the border. I love the "join" decrease instructions. But what do you do in the actual 4 corners of the blanket? Do you still do (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in each corner? TIA!!

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  56. Sandra24 February 2016 at 17:52

    Thank you. I've used your methode before an now I'm using it again. It's great!

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  57. tanya14 October 2016 at 20:56

    Do you do the corner like a normal granny square with 3 DC 3 ch 3 DC?

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    Replies
    1. Jacquie15 October 2016 at 07:44

      In the normal way, mine is 3 DC, chain 2, 3DC.
      Jacquie x

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  58. rimmerc19 July 2017 at 11:05

    Hello I was so thrilled to find your granny tutorials. I have attempted to do these lovely little squares. They are now tucked away as I was finding the edging very frustrating. After reading your pattern, joinjng and edging. Thank you so very much for sharing your gift with so many.
    The very best of everything to you.Kind regards Charmaine.

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  59. Barbara17 August 2017 at 09:40

    Thanks for this tutorial. I was having wavy problems with a border and had reworked it twice before I found and tried your method which helped a lot.

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