DIY Crochet Edge Throw Tutorial with Free Pattern

Have you ever looked at a plain throw and thought ” It would look so much better with a finished edge”? Or do you want to make a custom throw that’s strong and washable, yet still looks good for everyday use? Either way, you’re going to love this quick crochet border tutorial. It looks so fancy with a finished look but is quite easy to make. I know you’re going to love it. If you want to make this exact throw, it begins with a sheet of bleached dropcloth. I share how I did that at the end of this post.

Crochet border patterns can intimidate beginners, but this crochet edging pattern isn’t difficult or time-consuming, for two reasons. This cotton border is done in large 50g cotton yarn, not the fine thread cotton we remember from our grandmother’s house, using the larger cotton yard is a great way to make working with cotton yarn easier. Secondly, instead of crocheting an entire throw, we’re just adding a gorgeous crochet edge to an inexpensive throw, or a piece of heavy cotton fabric. My cotton edging has been added to a plain drop cloth that I bleached ahead of time. I have added the instructions for the dropcloth to the end of this post.

Here is my finished project, this entire project cost less than $15.

This washable throw is so handy to have, especially with a dog, it washes very well and looks great too. I think the wide crocheted edge is the perfect finishing touch. The best part is how strong this type of cotton yarn is, I have even bleached this throw.

How to Crochet a Beautiful Crocheted Edge

Crocheted Edge Throw Materials

How to Sew a Blanket Stitch

The perfect way to add a crocheted edge to the hem of the fabric is by using a simple blanket stitch. You will need a large darning needle and the same cotton crochet yarn.  

For this crochet project place your blanket stitches 1/4 inch apart along the entire width of the throw.

Knot your thread, starting from the back poke your needle up about 1/4 inch in.   Create a loop around the end, and pull the thread back up in the same spot as when you started.  Now pull your thread through the stitch as shown below.

You will need a large darning needle and the same cotton crochet yarn.48″ wide piece so I left the cloth full width and cut the length 62″.

I left the commercial finished edges of the drop cloth on the sides of the throw and made 1/2 inch rolled hem on the two cut fabric ends.

A standard couch throw is 50″  wide and 60″ long.  If you have wider fabric, cut your dropcloth 52″ by 62″ inches. Then sew a 1/2 rolled hem on all four sides.

Working along the width of the drop cloth, place the fabric good side down on the ironing board.  Fold the material over 1/2 inch and press to form a straight crease.  Then fold the material over again and crease well with the iron.  Finally, sew along the edge with a straight stitch to complete your hem.

Crochet Edge Tutorial

This crochet edge is done in a heavier cotton “wool” that I love working with.  It’s easier to crochet with than the fine thread and added about four inches of pretty detail and length to the simple dropcloth.

Blanket Stitch

To add a crocheted edge onto the hem start by sewing a simple blanket stitch.

Sew the blanket stitch edge,  placing your stitches 1/4 inch apart along the entire width of the throw.

Knot your thread, starting from the back poke your needle up about 1/4 inch in. Create a loop around the end, and pull the thread back up in the same spot as when you started. Now pull your thread through the stitch as shown below.

Here is the finished blanket stitched edge, with all those lovely loops we can crochet into.

Let’s get to the fun crochet part.

Crochet Edging Free Pattern

We will begin with a row of single crochet. The single crochet stitches run the entire length of the blanket stitch border we just sewed, making for a good foundation for the rest of the crochet.

First Row – Push your needle into the first loop of the blanket stitch and then chain 1.

Insert hook. Crochet one single crochet (sc) in each blanket stitch across. Turn.

Row Two – Chain 1 (ch 1), single crochet (sc)in the next chain from hook. *Chain 1 (ch 1), single crochet (sc) in each stitch across. Repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.

Row Three – Chain 6 (ch 6). *Double crochet (dc) in the seventh space from the hook. Skip the next 4 stitches, in the next space work: double crochet (dc), chain 3 (ch 3), double crochet (dc). Repeat from * to the end of the row. Turn.

Row 4 –

Chain 3.  *In chain 3 loop of the previous row, do a single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet.  Chain 3, triple crochet, double crochet, single crochet. * Repeat from * to* until end of row. Turn.

Row Four

Here is our last row.

Chain 3.  *In chain 3 loop of the previous row, do a single crochet, double crochet, triple crochet.  Then chain 6, slip stitch in the 3rd chain from hook to form a picot.  Chain 3, triple crochet, double crochet, single crochet. * Repeat from * to * until the end of row.  Slip stitch and pull the thread through to tie off.

This throw is such a nice weight for summer.  Hubs is going to love it for those afternoon snoozes where he just wants something lightweight.  I love the light colour for summer, and being dropcloth it’s easy to clean.

Preparing the Dropcloth

Using an inexpensive drop cloth is a simple way to get a strong affordable piece of fabric for all types of different home decor sewing projects. You don’t have to bleach the dropcloth, but I prefer it.

I wrote an entire post about how to Bleach Dropcloths without a Top Loading Washer.

My drop cloth came in a 48″ wide piece so I left the cloth full width and cut the length to 62″.

I left the commercial-finished edges of the drop cloth on the sides of the throw and made a 1/2-inch rolled hem on the two cut fabric ends.

A standard couch throw is 50″ wide and 60″ long. If you have wider fabric, cut your dropcloth 52″ by 62″ inches. Then sew a 1/2 rolled hem on all four sides.

Working along the width of the drop cloth, place the fabric good side down on the ironing board. Fold the material over 1/2 inch and press to form a straight crease. Then fold the material over again and crease well with the iron. Finally, sew along the edge with a straight stitch to complete your hem.

Here are some other crochet crafts you may enjoy.

Crochet Crafts