missabigailshopechest.blogspot.ru/2014/04/crochet-edging-garden-fence.html

This edge is quite similar to the crocheted edge on the gingham towels in the last post, but is crocheted directly onto the towel and is narrower in width. The benefit of crocheting directly onto the towel is that the process is much quicker than making the lace and hand-sewing it on. A sad fact is that the lace will be discarded along with the worn-out towel. Crocheted lace is extremely durable and will far outlast the towel, but the process of unpicking hand stitching, fitting the lace to a new towel and then re-sewing the lace by hand may truly be more work than most people would find time for. So, I simply use patterns that are quick to crochet and try to remember that my work will bring happiness during the time in use and let go. The stitch used in this edging is double crochet which goes very fast for me. It reminds me of the pretty wire fencing around our front yard.

Garden Fence Edging:

Foundation Row: Use a washable marking pen to mark 3/8-inch marks across the edge. Push an embroidery awl through the first mark to make a tiny hole.

Pull up the thread and make the first slip knot. Chain 4.

 

(Use the awl to make several more holes at the marks. Stay ahead of your crochet about 8-10 holes.) *Sc, ch 3 in the next mark. Repeat from * across, ending with a sc in the last hole.

Row 1: Ch 3; turn. 2 dc in the next ch-3 space, ch 1. (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch-3 space across to last space. 3 dc in last space. Ch 3; turn.

Row 2: 2 dc in next 2 dc, ch 1. Skip next ch-1 space. 3 dc in next 3 dc, ch 1. Repeat [Skip next ch-1 space. 3 dc in next 3 dc, ch 1] across to last group of three dc. 3 dc in last 3 dc; turn.

Row 3: Skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in same dc. Sc in next ch-1 space. Repeat [Skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in same dc. Sc in next ch-1 space] across to last group of three dc. Skip next dc, (dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in same dc). Sc in last dc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

I have two more edging patterns designed for this set of towels. Check back for these tutorials next week.

missabigailshopechest.blogspot.ru/2014/04/garden-series-crochet-edgings-2-posies.html

This is the second thread crochet edging in my Garden Series. "Posies" has just two rows with a very simple scallop. Prepare the towel and begin the Foundation Row as in the Garden Fence Edging. Use a washable marking pen to mark 3/8-inch marks across the edge. Push an embroidery awl through the first mark to make a tiny hole. Pull up the thread a make the first slip stitch on the hook. Chain 4. Use the awl to make several more holes at the marks. (Stay ahead of your crochet about 8-10 holes). *(Sc, ch 3) in the hole at the next mark. Repeat from * across. (See the first part of the tutorial at the above link if you need pictures for this foundation row.)

Row 1: Ch 3; turn. 2 dc in first ch-3 space. Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch-3 space across. Ch 1; turn.

 

 

Row 2: Skip next dc. Sc in middle dc. [Skip next dc, 3 dc in ch-1 space, skip dc, sc in middle dc] across to last stitch. Sc in last stitch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

 

"Jonquils" is the third edging in this Garden Series. Watch for it in the next couple of days.

missabigailshopechest.blogspot.ru/2014/04/garden-series-crochet-edgings-3-jonquils.html

I love this third edging. "Jonquils" is a little more difficult, but not much. The picot stitches on top of the double crochets remind me of the ruffled heads of jonquils on long thin stems, hence the name.

Note: The front and back of crochet stitches look different, as you would expect. I want the smooth front side of the double crochet in this edging to show on the front of the towel, so I am careful to begin the foundation row with the back side of the towel facing me. If mark the towel and start on the back, I'll be ready to turn the towel and do Row 1 on the front. Row 2 shows the back of the picot stitches, but I think it is prettier to show the front of the double crochet. It may not matter at all to you which side of which row shows...

Again, you'll begin the Foundation Row as in the Garden Fence edging. Use a washable marking pen to mark 3/8-inch marks across the edge. Push an embroidery awl through the first mark to make a tiny hole. Pull up the thread and make the first slip knot. Chain 4. (Use the awl to make several more holes at the marks. Stay ahead of your crochet about 8-10 holes.) *Sc, ch 3 in the next mark. Repeat from * across. (See the pictures in the tutorial at the link above if you need help with pictures of this foundation row.)

Row 1: Ch 1; turn. Sc in the first ch-3 space. Ch 3, 4 dc in next ch-3 space. Ch 3, sc in the next ch-3 space. [Ch 3, 4 dc in next ch-3 space. Ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space] across, ending with the sc in the end space.

Row 2: Ch 3 and turn. Skip the ch-3 space. Sc in the first dc of group of 4 dc. Ch 3, sc in next dc. Ch 3, sc in next dc. Ch 3, sc in last dc of group. Ch 3, skip ch-3 space, sc in next sc.  Repeat [Ch 3, skip ch-3 space, sc in first dc. (Ch 3, sc in next dc) three times. Ch 3, skip ch-3 space, sc in sc] across. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Hopefully, the following pictures expand the directions for Row 2.