Made a Lily - Step 10

Step 10 - Crochet Edging

Although this is one of my favorite steps it is entirely optional. If your not partial to decorative trims, no need to have them. If you do want to dress things up a bit but are not partial to crochet, a purchased length of lace can very easily be attached instead. A great one can be found over at Gail Wilson Designs.....it's a "narrow lace" that measures a mere 1/4" wide and can be purchased by the yard.

That said.....let's get started! Make sure you have the two top pieces, the apron piece, a needle, a US7/1.5mm crochet hook, some thread, and an ample supply of patience. Working this tiny can be a bit trying at first but I have no doubt your fingers will soon adapt.

First things first.....thread the needle. Do not cut the thread from the spool but rather pull enough thread through the needle to have at least a 12" tail emerge.

A series of blanket stitches need to be created along one edge of the top piece. With the right side facing you, insert the needle 1/2" from the left end of the top piece and very close to the top edge of the fabric.

Pull the thread through. If the spool of thread seems to be in the way simply set it down on your lap.

Take another stitch through in the same spot to secure the thread in place.

For the next stitch move the needle over 1/4". Make sure as you pull the thread through the fabric that the back thread remains behind the needle.

Tah-dah...your first blanket stitch. Continue making them at 1/4" intervals.

Once you come within 1/2" of the right hand end of the top piece wrap the thread around the needle several times and pull it through to tie it off.

Now that it's secure, clip the thread tail off.

Turn the top piece over so the back is now facing you and the thread still attached to the spool is on the right hand side. Insert the crochet hook into the first blanket stitch.

Wrap the thread around the front of crochet hook to the back.

Using the hook, pull the thread up through the blanket stitch. There should now be one loop of thread on the hook.

Keeping that first loop taught on the hook, once again wrap the thread around the the front of the hook to the back and. . . . .

. . . . . then pull it through the first loop.

Now it's time for the first official crochet stitch.....the single crochet (sc)! If you already know how to crochet, GREAT! If not I'll try to take you through the steps right here. Unfortunately it's not as easy to see the details of the stitches when working with thread instead of yarn. If a bit of extra help is needed you may want to poke around some of the numerous crochet tutorials out there especially if it's in a video format. Seeing the process in action is often so much easier to understand than still shots or illustrations.

So.....back to that single crochet! Insert crochet hook in same blanket stitch as before.

Wrap the thread over the hook.....

. . . . .and pull it through the blanket stitch. This should make 2 loops on the hook.

Wrap the thread around the hook again. . . . .

. . . . .and pull through both of the loops. Congratulations, this completes your first single crochet stitch!

Since you did so well at that we're going to take on another stitch....the double crochet (dc).

Wrap the thread around the hook first this time.

Then insert the hook into that same blanket stitch.

Wrap the thread around the hook again and pull it back through the first two loops on the hook.

This should leave two loops remaining.

Wrap the thread around the hook one last time and. . . . .

. . . . . pull through those last two loops. Your double crochet stitch is complete!

We're not quite done with this blanket stitch however. In this same stitch create first one more double crochet and then another single crochet.

Almost done! We're just going to finish it off with a slip stitch (sl st).

Insert the hook into the blanket stitch for the last time.

Wrap the thread around the hook and pull it through both the blanket stitch and the loop on the hook in one motion.

All crochet work in the first blanket stitch is now complete. As you work your way down along the edge of the top piece each consecutive blanket stitch should receive-

1 slip stitch, 1 single crochet, 2 double crochet, 1 single crochet, 1 slip stitch

or abbreviated as

1 sl st, 1 sc, 2dc, 1sc, 1 sl st

Don't worry if each stitch seems a bit kattywhompus as your working on it. . . . .

. . . . .for as you progress along they will fall into line.

Once you reach the end of the blanket stitching cut the thread free from the spool.

One final wrap around of the thread. . . . .

. . . . .followed by a complete pull through the last loop will tie it off nicely.

It helps, however, to thread the tail onto a needle and take a few stitches to secure it snug to the edge of the fabric.

Last but not least, give the crochet trimming a quick press with the iron.

Be sure to make the crochet edging on both top pieces and along the folded bottom edge of the apron for next week. It might also be a good idea to have a pair of tweezers on hand as we're going to start dressing your Lily!