Lacy Crochet Border Tutorial

Learn to crochet a GORGEOUS, feminine, elegant, lacy border for your next baby blanket project! This lacy crochet border tutorial teaches you how to create a showstopping finishing touch on your next heirloom gift.

In this stitch tutorial you’ll learn the basics of achieving that lovely lacy border as well as how to increase the size of the corners with each round. It’s a surprisingly simple, beginner-friendly border. You only need to know how to do chains and slip stitches! I also recommend a foundation round of single crochet with any border.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

You can pin this tutorial to your Pinterest board here.

Materials

Caron One Pound Weight 4 Medium (100% acrylic, 812 yds/742 m, 16 oz/454g) Soft Pink 1 skein, or any worsted weight yarn from your stash
Size H/8 5mm crochet hook
Stitch markers

Abbreviations (US)

ch(s): chain(s)
pm: place marker
rep: repeat
rnd(s): round(s)
sc(s): single crochet(s)
sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
st(s): stitch(es)
yo: yarn over

Work up a swatch featuring any stitch for this tutorial. My swatch measured 5″ x 4″ before the border.

If you love the look of these beautiful cables, I have a step-by-step photo tutorial here: Crossed Towers Cable Crochet Stitch Tutorial

Border is worked right side facing.

Rnd 1: Pull up a loop of yarn in the upper right-hand corner of your swatch. (Ch 1, sc, pm, sc). *Sc across. In the corner, 3 scs, pm in the middle sc; rep from * until you reach your starting corner. Instead of 3 scs, do 1 sc, then sl st join to your marked first st of the rnd. Each side, excluding marked corners, should have an odd number of stitches.

Rnd 2:

Ch 3.

Sk 1 st, then sl st into the next st. So, insert your hook into the st:

Yo and pull up a loop.

Pull that loop through the first loop on your hook (the loop closest to your hand) to complete the slip stitch.

Ch 3.

Sk 1 st. Sl st into the next st.

Continue until there are 2 sts left in the row (including the marked corner).

Ch 3.

Sk 1 st, then sl st into the marked corner.

Ch 3.

Working along the side, sk 1 st, then sl st into the next st.

Keep working in this pattern around your project.

When you reach the start of the round, ch 3.

Sk 1 st, then sl st into the starting corner.

Rnd 3:

To start this round, we need to sl st to the top of the next scallop. So, sl st into the next 2 sts.

Ch 3.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Ch 3.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Repeat across to the last scallop.

To round the corner, ch 4.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp along the side. Pm in the scallop you just created.

Continue in the same fashion around your project, making sure to mark all of your ch-4 corners.

When you reach the start of the round, ch 4.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

OPTIONAL: Instead of slip stitching into the ch-3 sp, you could sl st into the next sl st.

If you choose this option, you will need to begin Rnd 4 slip stitching in the next 2 sts to get to the top of that scallop.

Rnd 4:

If you haven’t already, mark the ch-4 sp you just created. Then ch 3.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp. *Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach your marked corner.

Ch 4.

Sl st into the marked corner. Then ch 4 again.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Note that I am not using stitch markers this round, but if it would be helpful, you can mark both ch-4 sps surrounding each corner.

Repeat in this fashion around the project: [*Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach your marked corner. Ch 4, sl st into the marked corner, ch 4, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.]

When you reach your starting corner, ch 4.

Sl st into the marked sp. Then ch 4 again.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

NOTE: once again, you have the option to instead sl st into the next sl st, then sl st into the next 2 sts to get to the top of that scallop. Up to you!

Rnd 5:

Ch 3.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp. *Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach the next ch-4 sp from the previous rnd.

Ch 4.

Sl st into the ch-4 sp.

Ch 5.

Sl st into the next ch-4 sp.

Move your stitch marker to the ch-5 sp you just made.

Ch 4.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Rep around your project: [*Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach the next ch-4 sp. Ch 4, sl st into the ch-4 sp, ch 5, pm, sl st into the next ch-4 sp, ch 4, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.]

When you complete the last ch-4 of the rnd, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Or, sl st into the next sl st, then sl st into the next 2 sts until you reach the top of the scallop.

Rnd 6:

Ch 4. Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

*Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * across. Stop when you reach the ch-4 sp.

Ch 4, sl st into the ch-4 sp.

Ch 5, sl st into the marked ch-5 sp.

Ch 5, sl st into the next ch-4 sp.

Ch 4, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Rep around as follows: [*Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach the next ch-4 sp. Ch 4, sl st into the ch-4 sp, ch 5, sl st into the ch-5 sp, ch 5, sl st into the next ch-4 sp, ch 4, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.]

After you’ve worked into your marked ch-5 starting corner, ch 5.

Sl st into the ch-4 sp.

Or, sl st into the next sl st, sl st into the next 2 sts to reach the top of the scallop.

Pm.

Rnd 7:

Ch 4.

Sl st into the next ch-3 sp. *Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach the ch-4 sp.

Ch 4.

Sl st into the ch-4 sp. Ch 5. Sl st into the ch-5 sp.

Ch 6. Sl st into the next ch-5 sp.

This is our final rnd, but if you’d like, you can pm in the ch-6 sp to easily see your corner.

Ch 5. Sl st into the next ch-4 sp.

Ch 4. Sl st into the next ch-3 sp.

Rep around the project as follows: [*Ch 3, sl st into the next ch-3 sp; rep from * until you reach the next ch-4 sp. Ch 4, sl st into the ch-4 sp. Ch 5, sl st into the ch-5 sp. Ch 6, pm, sl st into the next ch-5 sp. Ch 5, sl st into the next ch-4 sp. Ch 4, sl st into the next ch-3 sp.]

Once you’ve worked your final ch 6 and sl st into the last ch-5 sp, ch 5.