Three Simple Crochet Edgings

Crochet edgings are a popular way to add something extra special to a project. Crochet edgings for baby blankets and shawls add unique and delicate details that turn up the volume on a piece. In this video, Mary Beth Temple will go over three simple crochet edgings that you can add to any project: a single crochet edging, a crab stitch edging, and a basic shell edging.

SINGLE CROCHET EDGING

A single crochet edging can be used on any project. The number of stitches and rows in a project doesn’t matter. You can work a single crochet for each stitch and can easily work it along the side of the project. This is a great standalone edging, but you can also work a round of a single crochet edging onto a piece before working in a more decorative edging.

CRAB STITCH EDGING

The crab stitch is also known as reverse single crochet. Like the standard single crochet edging, this edging can be easily worked around a piece without having to worrying about the number of stitches or rows in a project.

With the hook orientated in the same way that you would normally hold the hook for single crochet, single crochet into the next stitch. Work from left to right to create the crab stitch instead of the conventional right to left. Repeats this process, working a single crochet stitch in the next stitch to the right for several more stitches.

SHELL STITCH EDGING

There are hundreds of variations on shell stitch edgings. Unlike the other two edgings, this edging requires a little more planning. You can work a 5-shell edging by working a single crochet, skipping two stitches (or spaces on the side of the piece), working five double crochets into the next stitch, and skipping two more stitches (or spaces). This is repeated for the entire edging. The edging is worked over a multiple of six stitches, so some planning and math will be involved in order to have the edging work around the corner easily.