Find this border pattern in PDF format as a Ravelry download.
(Side note: if you are interested in the Vibrant Vintage CAL, I created a handy 20-page PDF including condensed versions of all 33 square patterns, plus border option, and the lace border. Get the convenient PDF for a small fee of $5 on ETSY.)
You can add this border on ANY blanket, so if you have a blanket that needs edging, get it out and let’s do it!
Try this pretty edging in a built tough, but super soft DK weight yarn like (affiliate)
Round 1: Begin in any corner and SC evenly around, putting 3 SC in each corner. Join with sl st in first SC. Do not cut yarn.
NOTE**It’s important to make sure you have the corner stitches, with a multiple of 4+1 on each side, like this:
Corner SC, multiple of 4 SC + 1, corner SC
Example of a side with correct amount of stitches: Corner SC, 101 SC, corner SC
If you have DC or SC around your blanket before you begin, then use Round 1 to correct your stitch count, increasing or decreasing a couple stitches on each side as necessary to get the count right.
If you have chain loops around your blanket, you can divide up the count and evenly SC in each chain loop to get the count correct. If you have to make one loop with an extra SC, it’ll be okay I promise!
If you used Celtic Lace Join, you have larger loops around the blanket, and working just one SC round may come out lumpy. If this is the case, you can try a DC round first, then a final SC round. Just be sure the final SC round has the correct stitch count as above.
Round 2: **(SC, Chain 2, SC) in corner stitch to make corner. (Chain 2, skip 1, SC) across to the next corner, skip 1, repeat from ** around the blanket .. At the end of the round, chain 2, skip 1, join with sl st in first SC. Do not cut yarn.
These 2 rounds will be the foundation you need to start the V-stitch portion along with the beginning of the beautiful corners.
******NOTE!! I have had some feedback that some folks have frogged and switched to a size smaller hook for rounds 3 and 4 of this portion to combat frilling.. You may want to do the same! Or try working with a size smaller hook on all 4 rounds – might just work even better! ******
Special Sts:
Beg DC = (SC, Chain 1) –OR– your favorite method for working the beginning DC
2DC Cluster = work 2 DC in the same spot, omitting the final step of each DC, leaving 1 loop behind on the hook. YO and draw yarn through all 3 loops on hook. This is like a 2DC decrease, but in the one spot to form a little “Cluster”
Round 3: Join yarn in any corner chain space. (Beg DC, Chain 3, 3DC) in same chain space, *** skip 1 chain space, (DC, Chain 4, DC) all in next chain space, [skip 1 chain space, (2DC, chain 1, 2DC) all in next chain space)] repeat across to final 3 chain spaces before corner chain space. Skip 1 chain space, (DC, Chain 4, DC) all in next chain space, (3DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space. Repeat from *** around blanket to first corner. 2DC in first corner to complete it, and join with sl st in Beg DC.
Round 4: (Beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space, *** 9DC in chain 4 space to begin “Shell”, (2DC, chain 1, 2DC) in all chain 1 spaces across, 9DC in chain 4 space, (3DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space. Repeat from *** around blanket to first corner. 2DC in first corner to complete it, and join with sl st in Beg DC.
Round 5: (Beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space, *** (DC, chain 1) in first 8 DC of Shell, DC in ninth DC of Shell, (DC, chain 1, DC) in next chain 1 space, (2DC, chain 1, 2DC) in all chain 1 spaces across up to final chain 1 space. (DC, chain 1, DC) in final chain 1 space before Shell, (DC, chain 1) in first 8 DC of Shell, DC in ninth DC. (3DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space. Repeat from *** around blanket to first corner. 2DC in first corner to complete it, and join with sl st in Beg DC.
Round 6: (Beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space, *** 2DC Cluster in all 8 chain 1 spaces of Shell, DC in next chain 1 space, (2DC, chain 1, 2DC) in all chain 1 spaces across, up to final chain 1 space before Shell, DC in chain 1 space before Shell, 2DC Cluster in all 8 chain 1 spaces of Shell, (3DC, chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space. Repeat from *** around blanket to first corner. 2DC in first corner to complete it, and join with sl st in Beg DC.
This completes the V-Stitch portion of the VVCAL Blanket Border! Go down a hook size for this final portion to prevent frilling.
Special Sts for this next section:
Puff stitch = Great tutorial HERE
4DC Cluster = Tutorial HERE, but instead of working into the next 4 sts, you’ll be working the entire cluster in the same chain space, making a “coin” shape
3DC Cluster = work as 4DC Cluster, but with only 3 partial DC sts instead of 4
Popcorn stitch = Tutorial HERE
Picot = Chain 3, SC in side of stitch just before chain 3. Picot complete. Or use picot of choice!
In this close-up photo, I’ve started every round in the border at once, and it shows you how each round will look when you begin it.
Round 7 (foundation round) – if you are working multicolor, then this round is the same color as your v-stitch round (for reference in the close-up photo above, this round is maroon – please refer to it for stitch placement concerns): (Beg DC, Chain 3, 3DC) in corner chain space, *** Chain 2, SC between 3DC and 2DC cluster. (Chain 2, SC after next 2DC Cluster) 8 times. (Chain 2, SC in chain space, chain 2, SC in between v-stitches) repeat across to Shell, checking close-up photo if needed. At Shell, (chain 2, SC before next 2DC cluster) 8 times. Chain 2, SC between final 2DC cluster and first 3DC of corner, chain 2, (3DC, chain 3, 3DC) to Make Corner. Repeat from *** around blanket to beginning. 2DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC and finish off yarn (if multicolor border).
Round 8 (2DC round) – in close-up photo, this round is light pink: join yarn in starting corner and (beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in same corner space. *** Chain 2, (2DC, chain 1) in all 8 chain-2 spaces of Shell. 2DC in all chain-2 spaces across to next Shell. (Chain 1, 2DC) in all 8 chain-2 spaces of Shell, chain 2, Make Corner. Repeat from *** around the piece to beginning. 2 DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC and finish off yarn.
Round 9 – in close-up photo, this round is cream color: join yarn in starting corner, (beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in same chain space, *** (chain 2, Puff Stitch) in all of following 9 chain spaces (refer to close-up photo above). Skip 2 DC, DC in next st. (Chain 1, skip 1, DC) across to 2 DC before next Shell. Skip 2 DC, (Puff Stitch, chain 2) in all of following 9 chain spaces, Make Corner, repeat from *** around blanket to beginning. 2 DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC, and finish off yarn.
Round 10 – in close-up photo this round is light Aqua: Join yarn in starting corner, (beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in same chain space, *** (chain 2, 4DC Cluster) 8 times between next 9 puff stitches (refer to close-up photo). * SC in next DC, chain 2, skip next DC (3DC cluster, chain 2, 3DC cluster) all in next DC, chain 2, skip next DC, repeat from * across to next Shell. SC in final DC just before Shell. (4DC cluster, chain 2) 8 times between next 9 Puff Sts. Make Corner, repeat from *** around blanket to beginning. 2DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC and DO NOT finish off yarn. Round 5 is this same color.
Round 11 – in close-up photo, this round is light Aqua: Join yarn in starting corner, (beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in same chain space, *** (chain 3, SC in next chain space) 8 times, referring to close-up photo. Chain 3, * (SC, DC) in next chain-2 space, DC in 3DC cluster, 5DC in chain-2 space, DC in 3DC cluster, (DC, SC) in chain-2 space, repeat from * across to next Shell. (Chain 3, SC in next chain space) 8 times. Chain 3, Make Corner. Repeat from *** around blanket to beginning corner. 2DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC, and finish off yarn.
Round 12 – dark teal in close-up photo: join yarn in starting corner, (beg DC, chain 3, 3DC) in same chain space. *** (Chain 2, Popcorn st) in all of following 9 chain spaces. Skip 1 SC, * SC in next DC, (chain 2, skip 1, SC in next st) 4 times. Skip 2 SC, repeat from * across to next Shell. At Shell, (Popcorn St, chain 2) in all of following 9 chain spaces. Make corner, repeat from *** around blanket to beginning, 2DC in first corner to complete it, join with sl st in beg DC, and finish off yarn.
Round 13 – final round – deep purple in close-up photo: join yarn in starting corner, (beg DC, picot, 3DC) all in same chain space. *** Chain 2, (SC in next chain space, chain 5, SC in second chain of chain-5, chain 2) 9 times. * (SC in next chain-2 space, Picot) 2 times, work 2 more Picot so you have 3 Picot in a row. Each SC used to close these 2 additional Picots will be placed in the SC from the Picot before. SC in next chain-2 space, Picot. SC in next chain-2 space, repeat from * across to next Shell. At Shell, (chain 5, SC in second chain of chain-5, chain 2, SC in next chain space) 9 times, chain 2, (3DC, Picot, 3DC) in corner space, repeat from *** around blanket to beginning, 2 DC in first corner to complete it, and join with sl st in beg DC. Finish off yarn and take a deep breath 🙂 Done!!!
I love you guys!!! Thank you for going on this journey with me! You can post progress pics on the Facebook group, or on Instagram under the hashtag #VVCAL
All links for this social media are on my website under the “Patterns” tab on the menu J
