Level Up Your Crochet Decorative Edges

Crochet edging can seem like an afterthought. You’ve crocheted a gorgeous sweater or top, and now you need to finish off the sleeves, neckline, or hem with a simple picot edging or scallops. You have discovered how these simple crochet edgings can add a professional finish to a garment. But what if the show stopping design element is the crochet edging? Let’s look at ways you can take crochet edgings to the next level!

Above: Oasis Shell by Juliette Bezold

Rethink Crochet Edging Locations

It seems pretty intuitive right? Crochet edging is found on the edges of your crochet garment. But what if you started the edging just under the bust and continued it past the waist? Is it still a crochet edging?

Now let’s look at the Oasis Shell, designed by Juliette Bezold. From the front this is an adorable sleeveless top with a vintage-inspired crochet edging along the bottom. That crochet trim is doing just what we expect a crochet trim to do. But take a look at the back! The crochet edging that graces the bottom of the top wraps up the center back to form a stunning lace insert that goes from neckline to hem.

Related: 3 Easy Ways to Use Crochet Edgings

Choose a Contrasting Color

Make your crochet edging stand out! If you are using a wide and eye-catch crochet edging like the one used on Robyn Chachula’s Aragon Tunic, you want it to be noticed. I love the way the contrasting tone and color really draws your eye to the X-stitch crochet border so much better than if you had worked it in the same berry color as the rest of the tunic.

Add Your Own Crochet Edging

Truly make a design custom by adding your own crochet edging. The pattern you are working on may have its own crochet edging or the hem may be unadorned, but you can truly customize a design to your own style by adding your favorite crochet trim. Browse through the crochet edgings in the ebooks Top Down Crochet Edgings and Bottom Up Crochet Edgings by Kristin Omdahl, or in the video 5 Easy Crochet Edgings with Mary Beth Temple. Then choose your favorite to add to a design like the Verdant Vista Top (in place of the ribbed edging) or Apple Blossom Pullover, both by Natasha Robarge, or the Tide Pool Tank by Angela Plunkett.

Freebie: Crochet Edging Patterns and Tips

Don’t overlook decorative edgings in your crochet. Crochet edgings have more possibilities than you might generally think about. Rethinking where to work a crochet edging,  reaching for a contrasting color for your crochet edging, adding your own custom crochet edging, working a subtle crochet edging to add that finished look to a garment, or adding crochet edgings to knitting or fabric, which of these 5 crochet edging possibilities will you explore?

Happy crocheting,
Toni Rexroat

Custom Crochet Decorative Edges