Finishing
Seaming With Crochet
If you are putting together a blanket or large project made of smaller pieces, like granny squares, you’ll be happy to know you can quickly seam crocheted pieces together using slip stitch or single crochet.
This does leave a bulky and somewhat visible seam, but if you plan on it being part of the design, it can work quite well.
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To seam two pieces of crochet, hold them together right sides facing if you want the seam on the wrong side, wrong sides facing if you want the seam on the right side. Insert the hook into the first loop in each piece, yarn over, and draw up a loop. Do a slip stitch or single crochet. Continue working down the line of edge loops, using slip stitch or single crochet to seam up the pieces.
If you would like an invisible seam on your crochet pieces, you can always use a tapestry needle to sew the pieces together using Mattress Stitch.
Crochet Borders
Crochet is the perfect craft to use to add a professional-looking border to your work.
You practiced this when you did a simple single-crochet border around each edge of the coffee cozy.
You should do a single crochet border around any piece you will be adding a more complex border to afterward. In square pieces, do 3 sc or (sc, ch 1, sc) in each corner.
Here is how to do a simple double-crochet shell border.
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Double-Crochet Shell Border Directions
Directions for this border can be found here: Hydrangea Baby Blanket
The number and variety of crochet borders you can create are almost endless. Some are much more complex than others.
To get you started, here are three sites offering a number of beautiful and free crochet border patterns:
Weaving In Ends
To weave in your ends on crochet, use a tapestry needle to thread the tail through the loops of the stitches on the wrong side of your work.
Work through the loops in one direction, turn and work down the loops of the next stitch in the other direction, and repeat once more. Cut end, leaving 1/4-inch of yarn tail to the inside.
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Blocking
To block your project, put it in a bowl with lukewarm water and some no-rinse wool wash, like Soak.
Let it soak for 20 minutes, then squeeze (don’t wring) the water out. You can press it in a towel to remove more water.
Lay your project flat to dry, using your fingers to straighten edges and shape the piece to your liking.
Note: Blocking won’t have much effect on acrylic yarns, but you could run the item through the washer (not dryer) and lay flat to dry to help it look its best.
