Fix crooked crochet edges! Base rows and edging work together to disguise a number of boo-boos, oops-es and plain old mistakes.
For this discussion, let’s assume you are working along straight edges of a crocheted row afghan or scarf. You started at one end and just crocheted in single crochets, double crochets or even half-double crochets. You worked so hard! A simple, rectangular project or so you thought. A great practice piece but when you get to the end, it really is strikingly plain, plain, plain.
Whether you introduced color with variegated yarn or kept it simple and used just one solid color, it needs something! And that something is PIZZAZ!
Base rows fix, edging decorates!
Base rows fix crooked crochet edges most of the time. In fact, most corrections happen in the base row.
While you can get a really finished look if a base row is added to all sides, it is not required! Shocking! There are lots of reasons to only add a base row just one or two sides.
Size matters! A base row and an edging do add length and/or width. Maybe you don’t want a scarf to grow too wide or an afghan too long. This is where you get creative! Later you’ll see that edgings come is a variety of widths so pick one that is suitable!
Do what you need to fix crooked crochet edges with a base row. Then add the edging to dress it up. Edgings not only decorate they also distract from any flaws! They make the difference between ho-hum and WOW!
Evaluate the four sides
- The foundation chain side
- The final row
- The left selvedge side
- The right selvedge side
Ask these questions
Does the foundation chain and final row have the same number of stitches?
FIX 1: You find too few stitches on the first or last row! If the number of stitches missing is less than 5-6%, you can fix it within the base row. For example, the first row has 100 stitches, the last row has 95. 5/100 =5%. You are in the range. When you work the base row, increase 5 stitches across the last row.
FIX 2: If the difference is about 10%, an alternate approach if you don’t want to rip it out depends on the sides. Look at the sides to see where the decreasing/increasing started. If it is gradual then there is a possibility that this approach will work. You’ll still have to do FIX 1 on the upper edge for the first 6% of the stitches, then on the sides where the stitches are the widest, work a single crochet base, as you work toward or away from the side that is short the stitches, gradually transition to half-double crochets and then finally to double crochets. A double crochet will absorb up to 3 stitches along its length so that adds another 3 stitches to the shorted row. Doing it on both sides will give you a total of 6 stitches. That may just straighten out the sides.
If they have the same number of stitches but don’t measure the same, the culprit is usually a tight foundation chain. FIX 3: This can be fixed very easily… but that is another discussion!
Are the left and right selvedge sides the same size?
Since you would think there are the same number of rows on both sides, this is rather unusual but could happen if the row direction changed in the middle of the row!
FIX 4: Similar to FIX 1, increase the number of stitches going across the edge by the number of shorted rows for single crochet rows. For half double or double crochet rows, because the stitch depth is higher, you may have to increase 2 stitches for every row missing.
Are there peaks and valleys or dips on either of the side edges?
If so, dips or valleys are caused by accidentally decreasing then realizing you did and then increasing to compensate on subsequent rows. Peaks are caused by increasing accidentally and then compensating by decreasing on following rows.
FIX 5: To handle valleys or dips, work longer stitches such as a half double crochet or double crochet over the edge of those rows. To minimize peaks, work single crochets or even a slip stitch over a peak. The slope of a peak or a valley indicates how quickly you transition from a slip stitch to a single crochet, half double crochet or double crochet… or vice versa. The object is to keep the edge as straight as possible.
Surprisingly, that base row will hide a million boo-boos and smooth out the edge perfectly. If all of your edges are straight and opposing edges are equal, you are golden! You are ready for the edging!
Check out the four Easy Crocheted Picot Edgings for starters. These easy-to-do edgings repeat every 3 stitches so they fit every edge!
Designed to add that extra pizzazz to simple stitched afghans, the Anything Goes Edging patterns will surely please.
Whatever your project, launch your crochet to rockstar levels with EDGINGS!
