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Welcome to Lesson 6 of the Beginner Crochet Series!
Today we’ll be looking at how to put a double (single) crochet foundation border around your crochet pieces.
The foundation border practice swatch is for Dc (Sc) rows. I’ll be introducing some new crochet terminology and chart symbols, as we continue to learn how to read crochet patterns.
The pattern also includes practice swatches for Htr (Hdc) and Tr (Dc) stitches.
So are you ready to learn how easy crochet edging is? Well let’s start!
I’ll be using UK terminology throughout this tutorial, with US terms in brackets. Checkout this handy chart of the different terminology between the 2 countries.
The edges of a crochet piece can look raw. To straighten them up, we can add a border. This is done by working stitches into the side of the rows.
A foundation border is the 1st border worked around your work, before a more decorative crochet border is added.
Whether plain or decorative, a crochet border adds the finishing touch to your piece
It will also increase the size of your work, so needs to be factored in when planning a project.
As stitch placement and count varies slightly between the stitches, this beginner crochet tutorial will cover foundation borders for double (single), half treble (half double) and treble (double) rows.
To make a border for double (single) crochet stitches, a stitch is placed along the side of each row.
A foundation border has to account for the corners created by the first and last rows.
For this crochet border tutorial, I’ll be using 3 stitches for my corners, but you can find variations here.
The 1st is for the side of the row, the 2nd to bend around the corner and the 3rd is for the top of the row.
At the top, each stitch is worked as usual, at the bottom, the stitches are worked into the chain.
This Dc(Sc) swatch has 5 rows and 5 stitches.
I’ve colour coded the stitch markers to make it easier to follow along.
The yarn will be joined in the bottom right corner of the 1st row. For me this is a chain, so there will be 2 strands over my hook.
Insert the hook into the corner and loop the yarn on. Remember to leave a long tail to weave in.
Pull a loop up through the space.
Chain 1 for the height of the stitch.
The 1st Dc (Sc) will be worked into this space, so pull another loop up.
Yarn over and close the Dc (Sc). Gently pull the tail to tighten the join.
This is the middle stitch of the 3 (purple marker), to bend around the corner. The 1st stitch (green marker) will be added when we work along the bottom.
Work another stitch into the same space (dark blue marker). This is for the side of the row.
With double (single) crochet, foundation borders are worked into the edge of the row, in the gap between the last stitch and the very edge of the row.
This swatch will have 1 stitch placed into the next 3 rows.
For the 1st and last rows, the foundation border has to take into account the edge and top of the row, as well as the corner bend.
I’ll use 3 stitches worked into the same corner space, but further on in the crochet tutorial, I’ll show you a few crochet corner alternatives.
1st – side of the row (dark blue marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the top of the row (green marker).
Work into the top stitches as normal (yellow markers).
Once again, 3 Dc’s (Sc’s) are worked into the same corner space –
1st – Top of the row (green marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the side of the row (dark blue marker).
Work down the other side the same as before.
Work another 3 stitches into the same space for the last corner.
The 1st Dc (Sc) is for the side of the row (blue marker). The middle stitch is to bend around the corner (purple marker), the 3rd stitch (green marker) is for the bottom of the row.
Now we work into the chain, between the bottom of the stitches and the 2 strands of the chain.
The last stitch is in the 1st corner stitch (green marker), so work into the same space as the 1st corner.
The border is closed with a slipstitch in the top of the 1st stitch.
There should be an equal amount of stitches on each side.
We’ll be working around a Dc (Sc) swatch of 5 rows and 5 stitches,
I’ll be starting from the foundation border, so work up a swatch of Dc (Sc) stitches with 5 rows and 5 stitches. This is the same size swatch we’ve just covered.
The border pattern swatches for the other 2 stitches, are also the same size as demonstrated in this tutorial.
The patterns contain written and chart instructions.
The video tutorial covers the pattern at around 13 minutes.
You can view and download the pattern in your browser, or download it directly using the button below.
When stitches are worked into the same space, they’re known as increases.
The increase symbols are formed from the regular symbols grouped together.
As we have 3 stitches in the corner, there are 3 symbols to make the increase symbols.
The abbreviation for increase is “inc”. The number signifies the number of stitches to work for the increase.
I’ll be using UK terminology for this tutorial, US terminology will be in brackets.
The chart symbols are placed next to the worked row. The increases are placed in the corner stitches.
The foundation border instructions start with joining the yarn and chaining 1.
“Work 2 Dc(Sc) in the same space” are the 1st 2 border stitches. On the chart, these 2 stitches are after the chain 1.
The 3 symbols at the side of each row represent ” Work 1 Dc(Sc) in side of each row”
And then we have the 3inc text and symbol, for the 3 stitches made in the same corner space.
These instructions cover the top of the swatch and the 2nd corner.
There’s a symbol for each Dc (Sc) stitch, followed by the 3 stitch increase symbol.
Now for the other side and the 3rd corner.
There’s a symbol for each Dc (Sc) stitch, followed by the 3 stitch increase symbol.
On the chart the symbols are placed underneath the chains to show we work into them.
The last corner stitch is before the join, in the same space as the 1st 2 corner stitches. The slipstitch dot is above the 1st stitch we made.
As half trebles (half doubles) are taller, the foundation border requires 2 stitches placed every other row (red markers). The corners, top and bottom are worked the same as the double (single) swatch.
This Htr (Hdc) swatch has 4 rows and 5 stitches.
When working into Htr (Hdc) stitches, the hook goes between the legs of the stitch.
This puts 1 leg and a loop from the side over the hook.
The yarn is joined the same and a chain 1 made for the height of the stitch.
Make the corner stitches in the same place as the join.
This is middle stitch of the 3 (purple marker), to bend around the corner. The 1st stitch (green marker) once again, will be added when we work along the bottom.
Work the 3rd stitch of the corner, for the side of the row.
This row starts with a chain and will have 2 stitches placed in it. The 1st stitch is worked into the middle link of the chain, which puts 1 strand over the hook.
The 2nd stitch is worked into the top of the chain, which puts 2 strands over the hook.
The 3rd row starts with a stitch, so the border stitch is placed between the legs.
The 4th row starts with a chain, and will have 2 stitches. The 2nd stitch will be part of the corner set.
3 Dc’s (Sc’s) are worked into the 2nd chain –
1st – this is the 2nd stitch for row 4 (red marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the top of the row (green marker).
Work into the each of the top stitches as normal.
3 Dc’s (Sc’s) are worked into the 5th stitch –
1st – Top of the row (green marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the side of the row (red marker). This is the 1st of 2 stitches for this row.
This row starts with a stitch, so the 2nd stitch for this row will be worked between the legs.
The border stitch for this row is placed in the middle of the chain.
This row starts with a stitch and has 2 border stitches. The 1st is placed into the top of the stitch.
The 2nd stitch is placed between the legs.
The 4th corner is made into the middle of the chain.
The border stitch for this row is placed in the middle of the chain.
This row starts with a stitch, so the 2nd stitch for this row will be worked between the legs.
Now we work into the chain, between the bottom of the stitches and the 2 strands of the chain.
The last stitch is the 1st corner stitch (green marker), so work into the same space as the 1st corner.
The border is closed with a slipstitch in the top of the 1st stitch.
The border stitches always look staggered when working into Htr (Hdc) stitches. When the border is the same colour, it’s hardly noticable.
Trebles (doubles) have 2 stitches per row. The corners, top and bottom are worked the same as the previous stitches.
The Tr (Dc) swatch is made with a turning chain of 3, which is counted as a stitch. It has 4 rows and 6 stitches.
Like with Htr (Hdc) stitches, the hook goes between the legs of the stitch.
This puts 1 leg and a loop from the side over the hook.
The yarn is joined the same and a chain 1 made for the height of the stitch.
Make the corner stitches in the same place as the join.
This is middle stitch of the 3 (purple marker), to bend around the corner. The 1st stitch (green marker) once again, will be added when we work along the bottom.
Work the 3rd stitch of the corner, for the side of the row.
This is the 2nd stitch of the row and is worked into the top of the stitch. There should be 2 strands over the hook.
The 2nd row starts with a stitch worked into the middle link of the chain, which puts 2 strands over the hook.
The 2nd stitch for the row is placed in the top of the chain.
The 3rd row starts with a stitch. The 1st border stitch is worked between the legs.
The 2nd border stitch is worked into the top of the stitch.
Row 4 starts with a chain, but because the 2nd border stitch will be part of the corner set, the 1st border stitch is worked into the 1st chain.
3 Dc’s (Sc’s) are worked into the 2nd chain –
1st – this is the 2nd stitch for row 4 (red marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the top of the row (green marker).
Work into the each of the top stitches as normal.
3 Dc’s (Sc’s) are worked into the 6th stitch –
1st – Top of the row (green marker),
2nd – the bend (purple marker),
3rd – the side of the row (red marker). This is the 1st of 2 stitches for this row.
The 2nd stitch for this row will be worked between the legs.
The border stitches for this row are placed in the top…….
and bottom of the chain.
The 4th and 5th border stitches are worked into the top and body of the stitch.
The 1st stitch for the last row is placed in the top of the chain. The 2nd stitch will be part of the corner set.
The 4th corner is made into the middle of the chain.
Again, we work into the chain, between the bottom of the stitches and the 2 strands of the chain.
The last stitch is the 1st corner stitch (green marker), so work into the same space as the 1st corner.
The border is closed with a slipstitch in the top of the 1st stitch.
Once again, the staggered stitches won’t be noticiable when worked in the same colour.
The 2nd corner stitch can be substituted with a chain.
Make the 1st corner stitch.
Chain 1,
Make the 2nd corner stitch in the same space.
You can also work 4 stitches for the corner. Or work 2 chains instead of stitches 2 and 3!
Now you know how to crochet a foundation border, it’s time to step up your crochet game!
Lesson 7 introduces combining stitches to create stitch patterns. The moss stitch is a beginner friendly, textured pattern using a combination of chains and and Dc (Sc) stitches.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Welcome!
My name’s Katie and I’m a crochet addict!
I learnt to crochet about 20 years ago whilst living in Ireland. I soon had a street stall selling my crochet hats and bags, eventually progressing to organising craft fairs.
I returned to street selling for a few years to fund my travels around Latin America, before settling down and becoming a mum to two cool kids.
I love working with colour and creating vibrant, detailed crochet and wanted to translate that into patterns.
Free Crochet Scarf Pattern – Wagon Wheel
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Crochet Short Scarf Pattern
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