How to Crochet a Shell Stitch Border for an Afghan

The difference between an afghan that looks homemade and one that looks handmade is in the finish work. A shell-stitch border in a contrasting or coordinating color can turn a casual crocheted lap throw into a polished blanket that's pretty enough to put on display. The shell stitch may look complicated but it's made up of chain stitches and double and single crochet stitches in a simple, repetitive pattern. If you know how to work those three basic crochet stitches, you can put a professional, polished edging on your afghan.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crochet hook

Instructions

1. Attach the yarn in the top right corner of the afghan. Work one chain stitch, then work one single crochet stitch in each stitch along the top of the afghan. Work one single crochet stitch, two chain stitches and one single crochet stitch in the last stitch of the top row. Work a single crochet row evenly along the side of the afghan. Turn the corner as you did at the end of the top row. Continue working in single crochet around the afghan until you reach the top corner. Slip stitch into the starting chain to join the round.

2. Work three chain stitches, then work two double crochet stitches, three chain stitches and three double crochet stitches in the same stitch as the starting chain. Make two chain stitches, skip the next two single crochet stitches and work a single crochet stitch in the next single crochet stitch. Make two chain stitches, skip the next two single crochet. Work three double crochet stitches, three chain stitches and three double crochet stitches in the next single crochet stitch to complete a shell stitch.

3. Continue alternating single crochet stitches with shell stitches as established, working two shell stitches in each corner chain, until you have worked a shell stitch border all the way around the afghan. End with a single crochet and two chain stitches, then slip stitch into the top of the starting chain to complete the round. Cut the yarn and pull the end through the loop on your hook. Weave the end in to hide it in the stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose yarn that's the same weight as your afghan and work with the same size hook for best results.

• The single crochet border evens out edges where you joined panels or granny squares together so that you're working with four straight sides.

• For a thicker border, work a second round of shell stitches, placing the shells in the single crochet stitches and the single crochet stitches in the chain space of each shell of the preceding row.

• Finish off a granny square afghan with a shell stitch border in the same color used to join the squares to each other.