crochet edging Archives - Zeens and Roger

Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging

Have you been looking for a simple crochet faux I-Cord edging to finish off your crochet projects? Here’s one! I came up with it recently, as I really didn’t enjoy working with other fiddly techniques to create a knitlook I-cord.

Although it is very easy, and the written pattern is provided below, I have created a video tutorial for this simple crochet border, too, which you’ll also find below. Sometimes it helps to see things visually.

The Crochet I-Cord Pattern at a Glance

Jump to the I-Cord edging pattern
Skill Level: Easy
Yarn Weight: Any yarn weight works. I used sock weight held with lace mohair yarn to create sport weight/light DK yarn.
Hook Size: 3.75mm (US F) hook. Or a crochet hook to match your chosen yarn weight.
Terminology: US crochet terms (with the occasional sprinkle of UK terms in brackets).
Dimensions: Any! It depends on what you’re making.
Construction: Worked in the round, in a continuous spiral.
Format: Written instructions below and a video tutorial on YouTube
Duration: 1-3+ hours, depending on the size of your project.
Where to use the pattern: Shawls, blankets, hoods.

Double Slip Stitch Edging

A crochet faux I-cord edging is essentially a double slip stitch. This is a very simple stitch to work and involves working a slip stitch across two stitches. It’s easy peasy, I promise! By repeating just one stitch around and around in a few continuous spirals, the crochet fabric starts to curl in on itself.

After three or four rounds, the slip stitches, sitting on top of one another, begin to form knit look crochet. For this easy crochet faux I-cord edging, as more rounds are worked, the fabric curls into a tube. Voila!

Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging worked in the round on this granny stitch balaclava

When to Use a Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging

So far, I have used this double slip stitch edging in two projects, and it looks ace! The pictures in this post heavily represent my Cerberus shawl. That’s because it’s a new pattern and I made loads of these crochet shawls because I LOVE them!! The edging is modern and simple, it’s a win win!

You can find my new houndstooth stitch shawl, Cerberus, on Ravelry and it is also available to purchase in my Etsy store.

The crochet faux I-cord is also a feature on a spanking new granny stripe balaclava I designed recently. This is so new that the pattern is only half written up, but it is a crochet design I very much want out in the world asap! Watch this space!

Both the Cerberus shawl and the granny balaclava have sections where you crochet in the round. That is when the crochet I-cord edging comes into its own. This border is specifically designed for working in the round, so if you have something in mind that’d work, add it and see how it transforms your crochet!

I think I’d like to try it around the top of a bag next; that would create a really modern look. Perhaps I might add it to a cowl design, or the cuffs on a pair of mittens? What would you add this double slip stitch edging to?

The Cerberus shawl with a Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging

Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging on the Cerberus shawl

A Note on Using Contrasting Colours

In the neon Cerberus scarf, I used a contrasting colour for the crochet faux I-Cord edging. In the picture just below, you can see some neon yellow dashes. These are the back of the first round of slip stitches used in the scarf edging. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. However, it might bother you. Let me share a little bit of info about using contrasting colours in this pattern.

Crochet Double slip stitch edging with contrast colour border

In the neon shawl, I went around the outside using a matching colour from the main body of the pattern, a brown yarn. Usually, this is the neatest way of creating a border in crochet: matching the colour of the yarn. Yet, here, it means that the first row of slip stitches is visible.

So, you can change it to the method I used on the version of Cerberus I made with the vibrant pink edging (pictured below). Quite a simple change, really. I used the pink to crochet around the outside of the shawl, thus matching the border colour rather than the main body of the shawl. Hmm, it isn’t usually my fave method, but here, I think it works.

Is that me being super fussy? Or is it useful information? Sometimes details matter. I think it’s helpful to have an understanding of the difference.

The construction of a Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging

Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging Pattern

The crochet faux I-cord edging is worked directly into a foundation round of simple single crochet stitches (that’s UK dc stitches). This foundation is crocheted around the main body of your project. Then the double slip stitch rounds are worked in a continuous spiral. It is the continuous spiral that creates the i-cord look.

How to Crochet the Double Slip Stitch (D sl st)

Instructions: *Insert hook in first st, yo & pull through (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull through all loops; rep from * starting in st just used.

Let’s take a look at it used in a pattern.

Note that I have not included how to crochet the foundation round of single crochet stitches, as this will be different from project to project. However, work a round of single crochet stitches onto your chosen crochet WIP. This will be your foundation round. Turn your work to begin so that the edging curls over to hide the “wrong side” of those sc stitches.

Edging Pattern

Place a stitch marker to show beg of the round. Move this up when you come around to it each time.
Rnd 1 (wrong side): Ch1, dsl st around, do not turn.

Rnds 1 – 4 (w/s): As Rnd 2, working in a continuous round. At the end of Rnd 4, work 1 sl st and fasten off.

Optional ( you don’t need to do this, but it looks very neat & tidy): The edging will have naturally curled to the “wrong” side. Secure it in place by sewing a few stitches around. To work a stitch, insert the darning needle through the front loop of Rnd 4, and then through the corresponding backside of a stitch on the foundation round. This is demonstrated at the end of the crochet I-cord video tutorial.

A swatch to show a Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging

Interested in More Crochet Edging Inspo?

If you like this simple border, and you’re looking for more crochet edging inspiration, take a look at the patterns below. The Granny Triangle crochet shawl pattern and also, my Wayard Sisters shawl have a modern take on a scallop border. Or perhaps you fancy trying a simple crochet bobble border on this granny square blanket?!

You can find more Zeens and Roger free crochet patterns here!

Cheers! x

Crochet Pompom Edging

I think a crochet pompom edging is one of my favourite types of blanket borders, so far. This is a cosy blanket just for me!

It’s a real thrill because most of my finished crochet blankets tend to make me feel a bit “meh” after I’ve finished them. It’s usually to do with them not ending up how they looked in my head, so they get abandoned, or I give them away. Not this time!

The main crochet stitch used in this blanket is the Stacked Shells section from Cherry Heart’s Spice of Life blanket. Sandra herself did the same thing, and I liked it even more than the Spice of Life Blanket [here’s my SoL]. I’ve totally copied the idea! It’s called A Touch of Spice, and I really love it.

A Touch of Spice Blanket

Last year, I bought a pile of Stylecraft Life DK, thinking I was going to make a Rustic Lace Square blanket. I’m still undecided about the Rustic Lace Square with this particular yarn, though. Some of the crochet blankets I’ve seen are exquisitely beautiful, but they look cottony and fine, not woolly and wintery. They’re lacey. I’m not sure this is the yarn for that crochet project. However, I’ve still got loads of Stylecraft Life left so…

Stacked shells with a crochet pompom edging

A Bobbly Pompom Border

The bobbly crochet pompoms are my absolute favourite bit. I love the red, and I just think they’re fabulous. I was super proud of them because I made up the crochet pattern myself.

I’d found a couple of crochet patterns and tutorials that had really faffy ways of crocheting pompoms, which I just couldn’t be bothered to do. I did try. Every pompom took an age, and it would have taken a lifetime to go round the whole blanket. My reaction to that was to come up with my own cheat pompom that takes half the time to crochet.

Spice of Life inspired Stacked Shells crochet blanket.

Bobbly Crochet Pompom Edging

Before I share the pattern (below), let’s take a look at the instructions for how to crochet a bobble. I have used UK terms, but a UK treble crochet is a US double crochet. Super simple to translate.

5tgr = treble crochet 5 together. Here are the instructions for a crochet bobble ie 4tgr:
Yarn over (YO), insert hook in stitch, YO, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, 2 loops on hook.
YO & insert into st, YO, pull up a loop, 4 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, 3 loops on hook.
YO & insert into st, YO, pull up a loop, 5 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, 4 loops on hook.
YO & insert into st, YO, pull up a loop, 6 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, 5 loops on hook.
YO & pull through the last 5 loops.

Gosh, that’s tricky to write down, that’s for sure!

Crochet PomPom Edging Pattern

This pompom edging is worked into a foundation of plain stitches that you’ll have already worked. I crocheted this pompom edging onto a round of UK treble stitches / US double crochet stitches. I continued to use the same colour.

Round 1: With right side of blanket facing, *Ch7, 5tgr in 4th ch from hook, ch1, sl st into bottom of bobble, ch3, skip 3 sts of blanket edging, and sl st into next st; rep from * around.

I’ve broken it down with a few pictures below:

How to make a crochet pompom edging. photo Tutorial.

Crochet Pompom Edging: Step By Step

Step1: Chain 7.
Step 2: Beginning the 5tr bobble.
Step 3: Before pulling through the last 5 loops on the hook.

A photo tutorial for a crochet bobble edge.

Step 4: A finished crochet bobble.
Step 5: Slip stitch into bottom of the cluster (original 4th ch from hook.)
Step 6: Chain 3.

Step 7: Miss 3 stitches. Slip stitch into the 4th chain.
Repeat all the way around. Fasten off, sew in ends and admire your new crochet pompom edging.

My Spice of Life inspired crochet blanket.. Except this has a crochet pompom edging

A Lovely Blanket with a Crochet Pompom Edging

Amazingly, for me, I blocked this crochet blanket. I pinned it directly onto the carpet because I don’t have any spongy foam blocking boards. It doesn’t seem to have ruined the carpet.

To block my blanket, I sprayed it lightly with water and left it overnight. By morning, it was dry (It was near the radiator). I have draped myself in my cuddly new blanket every evening since I finished it last week. It’s lovely.

Anyway, I think I’m sewing stuff next. Maybe some Jedi robes for the boys, slightly different to usual. And I’ve dug out some paper piecing hexies, which is a very old, ongoing project.

Tag: crochet edging

Crochet Faux I-Cord Edging – A Simple Double Slip Stitch