How to Put Crochet Edges on Flannel Baby Blankets

Crocheting an edge on a flannel baby blanket has a lovely vintage appeal and these blankets make very thoughtful gifts for a new mother. The finished blanket looks like you spent a lot, but in reality, the supplies are very inexpensive. Choose flannels in colors and prints that coordinate with the baby's nursery and make several blankets to ensure you have one handy when others are in the wash. Edging a flannel blanket is quick to accomplish and uses basic crochet stitches, perfect for a new crocheter.

Things You'll Need

• Flannel fabric, 1 yard
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Iron
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Tapestry needle
• Crochet hook, size 6
• Crochet thread

Instructions

1. Cut a 30 inch square of flannel fabric for the blanket. You can make it larger or smaller if desired, but a 30 inch square makes a nice receiving blanket size. Fold over one edge 1/8 inch to the wrong side and press. Fold over 1/8 inch more, press and pin. Topstitch the folded edge. Repeat for the remaining three edges. This finished edge will not show, but will provide a foundation for the crochet stitches.

2. Insert a tapestry needle all the way through the edge of the flannel blanket. A tapestry needle has a fairly thick shaft and will give you a starter hole for inserting your crochet hook. Start in a corner of the blanket and insert the needle 1/4 inch from the edge. Repeat every 1/2 inch around the blanket.

3. Position the blanket in your lap with the right side facing you and the edge you are starting on, at the top. Insert the crochet hook in a hole, in the center of the edge, on top. Hold about 4 inches of the crochet thread tail against the back edge of the blanket, just below the hole. Wrap the thread around the hook above the thread tail. This is called a yarn over. Pull the thread through the hole to the front. This will create a loop on the hook, on the front of the blanket.

4. Pass the hook over the top of the blanket hem and yarn over. Pull the thread through the loop on the hook. This completes one stitch. Insert the hook through the next hole on the left side of the first hole and repeat the stitch. Repeat one stitch through all holes around the hem and six stitches through the holes at each corner.

5. Connect the last loop of the foundation stitches to the first stitch. Insert the hook into the first stitch. Yarn over and pull the thread through the stitch and through the loop on your hook. You will be left with one loop on your hook. Yarn over and pull through the loop. Repeat. You have accomplished a chain two stitch. You will have one loop on your hook.

6. Yarn over and insert the hook through the first foundation stitch to the left of the chain two stitch. Yarn over and pull back through the stitch. You will have three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. You will still have two loops on the hook, one just made and one left behind by the previous step. Yarn over and pull through the last two loops on the hook. You have just completed one double crochet stitch.

7. Crochet two more double crochet stitches in the same stitch to the left of the chain two stitch for a total of three double crochet stitches. Crochet three more double crochet stitches in the foundation stitch to the left and in each remaining stitch around the flannel blanket. Insert the hook into the top of the chain two stitches at the beginning of the round. Yarn over and pull the thread through the stitch and the loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. Clip the thread and pull to create a knot. Weave the beginning and ending threads through the stitches.