VVCAL Reboot
Published on October 10, 2018

2018 VVCAL Reboot Edging Border – Free Crochet Pattern

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Hello, everyone! It is finally time to present you all with the 2018 VVCAL Border. I am quite obsessed lately with flat and neat borders that have a subtle ruffled look, like when you create slight ruffles with a serger in sewing. So here’s what I created for the reboot! It’s a great contrast to the original border, so if you want something ornate and very Victorian, you can use the 2016 VVCAL border, and if you prefer something simpler and sweet, you can use this one. I just fell in love with the sugary simplicity!

2018 VVCAL PDF

Now available in the 2018 VVCAL PDF – the entire 2018 VVCAL pattern (35 squares, join, and this border) all together in one place! Get it today: ETSY or CRAFTSY

Check out the 2016 border pattern – you can see the original is very ornate and Victorian, and made in several yarns from my stash . I wanted to give a couple of options, especially one that was still very wide, but more simple – less fancy. The offset corners of the 2016 border are a huge fan favorite, but I know some folks are wanting something more modern. Luckily, both border patterns will fit any size blanket, as the foundation round includes a stitch count guide. So your only job is to pick the one that best fits in with your blanket.

I think the new one is a great contrast to the original! What do you think?

Here is a sneak peek of the yarns that I used for this blanket. The subtle variation of the colors comes from the fact that I used all three types of Scheepjes Softfun. You can see the differences in the yarn, and I love combining them to create subtle visual interest in a piece. Softfun is a cotton/acrylic blend. The acrylic content allows for a nice stretch and the cotton content makes for fabulously squishable yarn. Try it! You’ll fall in love with this one – it’s my number one favorite yarn to make blankets with.

Shop the 3 Softfun yarns that I used

These are affiliate links, so shopping through them will help support CypressTextiles without costing you anything extra.

Related Links

  • You can see the full palette that I used in the photo below – the Warm Neutrals palette, and all of this info is on the main CAL page.
  • Ravelry ebook – motifs link back to their blog posts. Favorite the square, add it to your Ravelry queue, leave a comment, see others’ projects, and more!
  • Vibrant Vintage CAL (Official) Facebook Group All the CAL action! Post WIP/FO pics, ask questions, make comments, post anything VVCAL related, even your FO pic of the old 2016 VVCAL blanket that you just got around to finishing. 🙂
  • CypressTextiles Tree Huggers Facebook Group – This is my main FB group (join!). Share your VVCAL progress pics in this group if you like, and I will share CAL highlights here, but the weekly action will be in the other group linked above.
  • YouTube Channel (Subscribe!) – Here I will be posting CAL pattern videos weekly for the duration of the CAL – and I have loads of other tutorial videos too.
  • 2016 CAL Info page – Just in case you want to use some of those patterns in your blanket. The squares all have the same final st count. Note: Find nice and neat 20-page PDF of all 33 VVCAL squares from 2016, plus wide lace border – all updated for clarity – includes written instruction and charts, small fee of $5 –Craftsy / Etsy.
  • Looking for Dutch Translation? All of these squares will be translated as we go! Get Dutch Translation of this post by clicking here. Many of my other patterns have been generously translated as well – by Iris of Een Mooi Gebaar – scroll down her page to see more!

And now time for the pattern!

Materials

  • Yarn: Scheepjes Softfun (affiliate link) – (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic); (140m/50g)
  • Color: If using the Warm Neutrals palette, you will use the cream color. I used remnants as this was one of 3 demo blankets that I made.
  • Hook: US Size 4.25mm – Important note: for the entire border, go down a hook size from your blanket body.

Key Stitch Descriptions

  • 2dccl 2dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • 2trcl 2tr cluster: * yoh 2 times, insert hook in st, yoh, pull up lp, (yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, rep from * 1 time, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2dccl beginning 2dc cluster: (beg dc, dc) in st/sp – dc counts as top of st when joining round
  • beg 2trcl beginning 2tr cluster: (beg tr, tr) in st/sp – tr counts as top of st when joining round
  • beg dc (sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg tr (sc, ch2) – counts as 1 tr
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • picot ch3, sc in top side bars of previous dc
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • yoh yarn over hook

Instruction

Note: demo blanket border in photos includes optional color changes. 

Rnd 1 Join yarn with a ss in any corner, (3sc in corner st, sc evenly across to next corner, being sure that you make a number of sts that is evenly divisible by 3) 4 times, ss in first sc. Whether you have a square or a rectangle, make sure your stitch count is identical for opposite sides of your blanket.

Rnd 2 * (Sc, ch3, sc) in corner st, (ch3, sk2, sc) across to next corner, ch3, rep from * 3 times, ss in first sc.

Rnd 3 Ss in first ch, beg dc in sp, * ch3, 2dc in same sp, (ch1, 2dc in next sp) across to next corner, ch1, 2dc in corner sp, rep from * 3 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 4 * (Sc, ch3, sc) in corner sp, (ch3, sc in next ch-1 sp) across to next corner, ch3, rep from * 3 times, ss in first sc.

Rnds 5-8 rep Rnds 3 and 4 twice.

Rnd 9 Beg 2dccl in sp, * (ch2, dc, ch2, 2dccl, ch2, dc) all in same sp, (2dccl, ch2, dc) in all sps across to next corner, 2dccl in corner sp, rep from * 3 times omitting final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl.

Rnd 10 Beg dc in sp, * ch2, 2dccl in same sp, (dc, ch2, 2dccl) in all sps across to next corner, dc in corner sp, rep from * 3 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 11 Rep Rnd 9.

Rnd 12 Beg 2trcl in sp, * (ch1, 2trcl) 3 times in same sp, (2trcl, ch1, 2trcl) in all sps across to next corner, 2trcl in corner sp, rep from * 3 times omitting final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl.

Rnd 13 Beg 2dccl in sp, * (ch1, 2dccl) 3 times in same sp, (2dccl, ch1, 2dccl) in all sps across to next corner, 2dccl in corner sp, rep from * 3 times omitting final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl.

Rnd 14 Beg dc in sp, (picot, dc in same sp, dc in next sp) in all sps around omitting final dc, ss in beg dc, cut yarn.

See below for fun alternate ways to use this border!

Alternative ways to use this border

Granny version – total 9 rnds: Stop after Rnd 8, and then work Rnd 14.

Flirty version – total 12 rnds: Stop after Rnd 2, and then rep Rnds 9 and 10 3 times, and then work Rnd 9 again. Then continue on with Rnds 12-14.

Short flirty version – total 8 rnds: Stop after Rnd 2, and then work Rnds 9-14.

Enjoy!

I hope everyone has enjoyed this pattern! I will miss hosting the CAL and seeing y’all every weekend. Who knows, maybe I’ll make this an every-two-years thing! Bring on 2020 🙂

Make sure to tag your VVCAL blanket as #VVCAL on Instagram so I can see it, or post pics in the special VVCAL Facebook group linked above. Even if you just use some of the VVCAL squares to make a different blanket, I’d love to see, and I know folks who follow the hashtag and group will love to be inspired as well.

Happy crafting, y’all!

Rachele C.

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