Joining and Edging

When making a large project from granny squares, you will need to sew or crochet the squares together before adding an edging. A crochet edging does not just finish off a project with style, but it also helps it to hold its shape and keeps the edges from stretching.

JOINING GRANNY SQUARES

Granny squares can be joined by sewing or by crochet. Pin seams together to help match up the squares and give a neat finish. Use the same yarn that you used for the squares, or a finer yarn, preferably with the same fiber content.

Overcasting

Using a yarn needle, sew through the back or front loops of corresponding stitches. For extra strength, work two stitches into the end loops.

Backstitch

Hold the squares with right sides together. Using a yarn needle, work a line of backstitches along the edge.

Mattress stitch

Lay the squares wrong side up and with edges touching. Using a yarn needle, weave back and forth around the centers of the stitches, without pulling the stitches too tight.

Crochet seams

Join the squares with wrong sides together for a visible seam, or with right sides together for an invisible one. Work a row of slip stitch (below) or single crochet through both top loops of each square. When using this method along the side edges of squares worked in rows, work enough evenly spaced stitches so that the seam is not too tight.

CROCHET-ON EDGINGS

Calculate how many stitches your chosen edging pattern needs, including corners. Start by working a simple edging of single crochet as a base round (see this page), increasing or decreasing the number of stitches along each edge of the project to match the main edging pattern you have chosen. Make sure increase or decrease stitches are evenly spaced to avoid puckering. Using markers to indicate where pattern repeats will lie will help you to visualize it.

Crochet-on edging calculations

Start the main edging pattern in the corner stitch of the base round. Some designs require a specific multiple of stitches in order to work the pattern repeat. This is written in pattern instructions as:

• Multiple: x + x + 4 corner sts

The corner stitches will be the second single crochet of each corner of the base round, so after working your base round you will have four corner stitches (1 st at each corner). If the pattern requires a multiple of 3 + 2 + 4 corner stitches, you should have a multiple of 3 stitches with 2 stitches remaining along each edge (e.g. 3 + 2, 6 + 2, 9 + 2, and so on), plus 4 corner stitches. Count the stitches along each edge between the corner stitches to check you have the correct number. If you do not, you can work another base round, decreasing or adding stitches evenly as needed.

ATTACHING SEWN-ON EDGINGS

Don’t fasten off the yarn in case you need to make adjustments to the length of the edging. Hold the working loop of the edging with a marker to keep it from unraveling. Place the edge of the project and the edge of the edging so that the right sides of both are facing you, with the edging on top. Pin in place and sew on the edging using overcast stitch through the front loops. Make any adjustments to the length of the edging, then fasten off the yarn and use the tail to join the two ends of the border together.

SIMPLE EDGING

Working a simple round of single crochet stitches helps to even out untidy edges at row ends and any uneven stitches. Make the simple edging by crocheting one round of single crochet around the project, working three stitches in each corner. This simple edging provides a good base for a more decorative edging pattern (see this page).

Across the top or bottom edge

When working across the top of a row, work 1 sc into each stitch as you would if working another row. When working across the bottom edge of chain stitches, work 1 sc in the remaining loop of each foundation chain.

Along sides of row ends

When working on the side edge of a square worked in rows, insert the hook under two threads of the first (or last) stitch of each row. Place the stitches an even distance apart along the edge. Try a short length to test the number of stitches required for a flat result. As a guide:

• Rows of sc: 1 sc in side edge of each row.

• Rows of hdc: 3 sc in side edge of every two rows.

• Rows of dc: 2 sc in side edge of each row.

• Rows of tr: 3 sc in side edge of each row.

Around corners

You will need to add a couple of stitches at each corner to allow the edging to turn the corner without distorting the shape of the crocheted item. As a guide, corners are normally turned by working 3 sc (or 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 sc) into the corner. If you find the edging is too wavy or too taut after it has been completed, it will probably get worse once any additional edging has been worked. Take time at this point to pull out this base round and redo it using fewer stitches if the edge is too wavy, or using more stitches if the edge is too taut.