Monday, April 4, 2011

Blanket Tutorial - Crochet edge blanket

Remember when I shared this blanket I received? 
Isn't it pretty?   Here take a closer look.

Ok.  Where to start.  I love the colors.  I love the fabric.  I love the edges.  The edges...want to know how?  Here's Abbie to show you!


Several years ago my mother taught me how to crochet around the edges of flannel. When she came to visit me from Utah she brought along several burp cloths that had holes already punched near the edges that made it quick and easy to crochet. I live in Wisconsin and have not found any local way to acquire similar flannel blankets or burp cloths or anyone who has the machine and is able to do it for me. So I decided to try to come up with my own way of doing it. I also decided to try on calico fabric instead of flannel because for some things I like the look and feel of calico better. After some trial and error I found a way to put holes into the fabric that works well enough. One advantage to this method is that you don't see the holes in the final product, although the crocheting does go slightly slower. Here are the steps to make a blanket similar to this one:
1. Cut two pieces of fabric the size you would like the blanket to be, plus ½-inch extra.
2. With right sides together, sew around all four edges of your fabric with a ¼-inch seam allowance, leaving enough space to turn right-side out.
3. Turn right side out, hand stitch the opening closed and press the edges flat.
4. Using a wing needle and no thread in your machine, sew around all four edges with the longest stitch setting on your machine and slightly further than ¼-inch from the edge. A wing needle has metal flanges extending to the right and left of the needle. When the needle goes through the fabric, the wings push the yarns of the fabric to the sides, creating holes.
5. For the first round of crocheting, use a small crochet hook (about a size 8) to be able to get in and out of the little holes. Starting anywhere ch 1, sc in the same hole, and in each hole around. When you have finished all four edges, join the last sc with a slip st to the first sc.
6. Use a larger crochet hook, about a size 5, for the rest of your desired crocheting pattern. I used a copyrighted pattern called Vera's Shell Stitch so am not able to share it.
 


Thank you so much Abbie not only for the blanket for teaching me how to make one myself!!

10 comments:

  1. This is so pretty! I am glad to have the how-to now!

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  2. This does work great. I use thread in my wing needle though and there are a few stitches on my sewing machine that sew a hole and sew in the previous hole and then the same hole and then the next so each hole gets 3 stitches. It helps to hold the holes open. You still have to use a small hook but it goes a little faster. You'll have to work out which stitches work for you. The big con to this is that the holes have a hard time lining up especially on the corners.

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    Replies
    1. Sandy, What sewing machine are you using that stitches 3 stitches in each hole. Also what size "wing needle" are you using.

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  3. I have extremely enjoyed reading your website posts. Any method i will be subscribing to your feed and that i hope you post once more shortly.

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  4. الأساليب العلمية للتخلص من الحشرات المؤذية :
    العلم الجديد يبحث فى دراسة الحشرات التى تسبب الامراض للانسان من اجل اخد المصل المضاد منها..
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض ببريده
    شركة مكافحة حشرات ببريده
    شركة رش مبيدات ببريدة
    شركة الانوار لمكافحة الحشرات

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  5. Fabulous! How can I, who is tech challenged print it to refer to in my sewing room?

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