Bobbly Blanket Edging

Here is the tutorial for the very pleasing bobbly edging I used to finish off Martha's blanket (and in case you missed it, this is the pattern for the ripple stitch to make the blanket). The beady-eyed amongst you have probably noticed that I changed the colour of the bobbles for the tutorial. The bobbles on Martha's blanket are red, to match her bed, but I do very much like them in turquoise too. In fact, I'm sure they'd look smashing in pretty much any colour you choose. They are worked along the straight sides of the blanket leaving the wavy ends of the ripple stitch in place and unedged. I also felt that as the blanket was intended for a bed, the bobbles might be a nuisance at the head end, and tucked away at the feet!

 

 

To make the bobbly blanket edging:

 

You will need: Yarn, I used Rowan Softknit Cotton in colours to match the blanket, and a 4mm hook (or a hook a little smaller than the recommended size for your yarn).

 

To start, join your yarn at one end of the blanket and chain five.

 

 

Skip three stitches (I've included the stitch at the base of the chain five), double crochet into the next stitch.

 

 

Chain five, skip three stitches and double crochet into the next stitch.

 

 

Continue along the edge of the blanket in this way, chaining five and double crocheting into the fourth stitch along.

 

 

At the end of the row, double crochet into the last stitch.

 

 

By sheer chance, when I got to the end of the row on the sample I made for the tutorial, I had four stitches left. When I got to the end of the row on my blanket I didn't (I hadn't been organised enough to count all the stitches along the edge and find a pattern repeat to fit). If you end up with three stitches, I would crochet a chain of four, then double crochet into the last stitch, if you end up with five, I would crochet a chain of six then double crochet into the last stitch. It won't make a noticeable difference to the finished edging. If you would like to be more organised than I was, I would count all the stitches along the edge, and then divide it by four or five, whichever is a good fit and then adjust the length of the chains accordingly. For example, if you're working a double crochet into every fifth stitch, chain six in between. You will then need to add or subtract stitches to each repeat for the rest of the tutorial (a bit of a fiddle, and I was too impatient to bother, but you may consider it worth it for a neat finish).

 

 

To continue, chain three and turn to work back along the same edge.

 

 

Double crochet into the first loop.

 

 

Chain four and double crochet into the next loop.

 

 

Continue in this way until you reach the corner of the blanket.

 

 

Double crochet into the last loop, chain three and slip stitch to the base of the starting chain of the previous row.

 

 

Fasten off your yarn and admire the lovely trellisy edging.

 

 

Join your coloured yarn with a standing double crochet stitch into the first chain three loop.

 

 

Chain four. Each bobble is worked into the second chain from the hook, shown below...

 

 

To work the bobble, bring the yarn over the hook, insert into second chain from hook, yarn over hook again and pull through leaving three loops on the hook.

 

 

Repeat this, working into the same stitch to give five loops on the hook.

 

 

Repeat again to give seven loops on the hook.

 

 

And a fourth time so there are nine loops on the hook.

 

 

Bring the yarn over the hook and gently (give it a little wiggle if it's being stubborn) pull through all nine loops.

 

 

Slip stitch to fasten at the top of the cluster of loops.

 

 

To complete the bobble, slip stitch into the chain below the cluster of loops.

 

 

Chain two and double crochet into the next loop along.

 

 

Continue along the edge of the blanket, fasten off and weave in the ends.

 

 

Stand back and marvel at the lovely bobbles and the very nice trellisy bit of crochet they are attached to.

 

 

If, like me, when the edging is finished you still have the urge to make bobbles, make a fresh cup of tea then take a look at this bobbly post and carry on for as long as you like....

 

xx