How to Crochet a Border on a Knitted Blanket
Why Add a Crochet Border to a Knitted Blanket?
Knitted edges — especially the cast-on and bind-off rows — can roll toward the wrong side of the work, particularly in stockinette stitch. A crochet border adds a stable, non-rolling edge that lies flat and frames the knitted fabric. Crochet borders are also faster to work than picking up and knitting a separate garter or rib border. They can add a contrasting color cleanly without needing to incorporate colorwork into the knitting itself, and they give a finished, defined perimeter to blankets that otherwise look raw at the edges. The main concern when mixing crafts is the difference in gauge. Crochet stitches and knit stitches have different heights and widths, so a crochet hook that works at the same yarn weight as the knitting needles will not automatically produce a border that lies flat. Testing on a small section of the edge before committing to the full border is essential.
Choosing the Right Hook and Yarn
Use the same yarn as the knitted blanket for the border if you want a unified look, or a smooth, plied yarn in a contrast color if you want a clear frame. Avoid novelty or textured yarn for the border — it is harder to work into knitted stitches cleanly. For hook size: start with the hook size recommended on the yarn label and adjust based on how the first row lies. The border should lie flat when the blanket is placed on a flat surface with no pinning. A hook one size smaller than the label recommendation often produces a firmer border that lies flatter on knitting — knitted fabric has more stretch than the hook needs to account for. Avoid a hook that is too small; it makes working into the tight knitted edge stitches very difficult and can break the knitted loops.
How to Pick Up Stitches Along a Knitted Edge
To attach crochet to a knitted blanket, insert the crochet hook under both loops of a knitted stitch or under the bar between stitches at the edge row. For the cast-on and bind-off edges (top and bottom of the blanket): insert the hook under both legs of each knitted stitch loop — these are clearly visible as V-shapes along the edge. Work one single crochet per knitted stitch. For the side edges (where rows run): the entry points are the bars between the last stitch of each row and the edge. Insert the hook under the bar, draw up a loop, and complete a single crochet. The row ratio: for garter stitch (knit every row), work approximately 1 sc per ridge (2 rows). For stockinette (knit one row, purl one row), work approximately 3 sc per 4 rows. For rib edges, work approximately 1 sc per stitch across the rib. Test by laying the work flat after every 20 stitches along the side — adjust the pickup ratio if the edge pulls or ruffles.
Working the Foundation Single Crochet Round
The foundation round for a crochet border on a knitted blanket is the same as for crochet blankets — single crochet all the way around, with 3 single crochets in each corner. The difference is that the stitch pickup method varies by edge type as described above. Keep the working yarn on the right side of the knitted blanket (wrong sides facing you as you work). If the yarn comes out on the wrong side, the border will sit on the back of the blanket. Work with the right side of the knitted fabric facing you throughout the foundation round. After completing the foundation round, join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet and check the blanket flat on the table. The edge should lie flat in all four directions without being pulled toward the wrong side of the knitting.
Knitted Blanket Corners in Crochet
Knitted blanket corners are often slightly different from crochet corners because the stitch geometry at the corner of a knitted piece is different — there is often a slight gap or looser stitch at the last stitch of the bind-off meeting the side edge. Bridge this gap by working the foundation single crochet into both the last bind-off loop and the adjacent side edge bar simultaneously (inserting the hook under both at once). This eliminates a visible hole at the corner. For the decorative corner increase, use the standard 3 sc in the corner stitch: place the middle stitch of the 3 into the tightest, most centered corner point. If the corner looks slightly rounded rather than square after the foundation round, add a 4th single crochet at the corner — knitted corners sometimes need one extra stitch to open up the angle fully.
Which Crochet Borders Work Best on Knitting?
The most reliable crochet borders for knitted blankets are those that add stability without adding bulk in a way that fights the knitted fabric's drape. Single crochet borders (1–3 rounds) are the safest — firm, flat, and easy to control. Reverse single crochet (crab stitch) as a final round is excellent on knitting because the rope-like edge is firm enough to prevent edge roll and looks intentional whether the blanket is knitted or crocheted. Shell borders work on knitting but require the stitch count to be divisible by the shell repeat — adjust the foundation round stitch count by a few stitches if needed. Avoid very open, chain-heavy borders on knitting unless the knitted fabric is also open-work; lacy crochet borders on dense stockinette knitting create a visual mismatch that reads as an afterthought.
Common Problems and Fixes
Border rolls toward the wrong side: the foundation round was worked on the wrong side. Remove it and redo with the right side of the knitting facing you. Border puckers at the corners: not enough corner increase stitches. Add 1–2 stitches at each corner on the next round without removing the current round. Border causes the blanket edges to pull inward: too few stitches were picked up on the side edges. Add one stitch every inch along the affected edge in the next border round. Border ruffles along the top or bottom: too many stitches were worked into the cast-on or bind-off. Work a decrease round: (sc2tog, sc) along the ruffled section and then continue the border as planned. Holes at the join between the cast-on edge and side edge at the corner: work 2–3 single crochets into the corner gap by inserting the hook through the gap itself rather than a formal stitch.
Related Articles
