RAR Blanket CAL: Part 9

Hello Rainbow CAL-ers and welcome to the 9th and FINAL part of the Over the Rainbow Blanketj-CAL which I am hosting alongside Andrea of Kokopelli (Link to Andrea's Post:  PART 9)

This week we will be crocheting a neat little border around our blankets.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

Introduction

Layout

Part 1
Traditional Granny Squares

Part 2
Wheel of Time Squares

Part 3
Over the Rainbow Squares

Part 4
Bring Me Flowers Squares

Part 5
Some Days are Diamonds Squares

Part 6
Ribbons of Hope Vertical Stripe

Part 7 
Cobbled Pathways Vertical Stripe

Part 8
Horizontal Stripes

NOTE:  Links to all CAL-related posts can be found in the "Files" on the Zooty Owl Crochet-a-long FACEBOOK GROUP

(Please join the Crochet-a-long Facebook Group if you are participating in my CALS.    Share your photos, ask questions, help fellow CAL-ers and make some new crochet friends!)

It is not too late to join in - the patterns will remain on my blog.

Happy hooking!!!

BORDER AND EDGING

PATTERN TERMS:    US

YARN:  Elle Charity Chunky (12 ply).   Stylecraft Special Chunky is an excellent quality / great value alternative yarn.

HOOK SIZE:  5.50mm (I/9 US or 5 CANADIAN)

ZOOTY’S TIP:  I use a hook 1 size smaller (5.00mm;  H/8 US or 6 CANADIAN) to work my border and edging.   Individual tension may affect the “straightness” of the border. 

NOTE:  Gauge is not too important with this project. Yarn thicknesses vary somewhat from brand to brand as do the tensions of individual crocheters.  The most important thing is that your tension remains even throughout the project.

COLOURWAY:   Each crocheter may choose his / her own colour layout - colour changes / breaks are suggestions only.

Border and Edging is worked on the RS of your work.

IMPORTANT:  Read through pattern before starting to crochet. 

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Rsc - reverse single crochet or Crab stitch: with right side facing, insert the hook, from front to back, in the next stitch to the right, grab yarn and draw through under the first loop, yo and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook

Dc Spike – double crochet spike "Explanation and How to"

STITCH COUNTS
To obtain a straight border each corner space counts as 1 stitch.    Each join counts as 1 stitch.
It is essential that you have an even number stitch count at the end of Border Round 1.

Stitch counts must match for the right side and left side.    Stitch counts must match for the top and the bottom.

After you have worked the border along the top of the blanket, lay your work flat. 

If you have any “wave” you will need to reduce your stitch count (remove an even number of stitches by removing evenly spaced stitches worked into joins).     If you find your work is “puckering” you will need to increase your stitch count (increase by an even number of stitches by working an additional stitch into evenly spaced joins).

Make sure you duplicate any increase or decrease of sts when working along the bottom of the blanket, as top and bottom stitch count should be the same.

Repeat the process after you have worked along the left side of the blanket.   Make sure you duplicate any increase or decrease along the right side of the blanket, as stitch count for each side should be the same.

Round 1:  With RS facing, work a standing dc into the top right hand corner 2ch of the blanket, work (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch sp, working along the top of the blanket, first square 1dc into every st, 1dc into corner, vertical stripes, 1dc around post of sc row, *2 dc around next dc post, 1 around next dc post* rep from *to* around posts of all edge stitches ending with 1dc in last row, 1trc into loop of join, second square 1dc into corner, 1dc into every st, 1dc into corner, 1trc into loop of join, center panel, 1dc into each stitch, 1trc into loop of join, third square, 1dc into corner, 1dc into each st, 1dc in corner, 1trc into loop of join;

vertical stripe:  **1dc around post of first row, 2dc around post of next row** repeat from **to** around posts of the rest of the edge stitches, ending with 2dc around post of last dc row, 1 dc around post of sc row, last square, 1dc in corner, 1dc in each st across to the top left hand corner (2dc, 2ch, 2dc).

Continue down left side of the blanket, work 1dc into the top of each st, when you reach a corner on a square 1dc into corner, 1trc into loop of  join, 1dc into corner on next square.   Repeat across all squares.  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) into bottom left hand corner.

Work along the bottom repeating instructions as for top.

Work up right side repeating instructions as for left side and end with a sl st into standing dc, fasten off.

Round 2:  Work a standing dc into any dc on any side.  1dc into each dc along all four sides;  (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) into each 2ch corner.   Ending with a sl st into standing dc.   Fasten off yarn.

Round 3:  Work a standing dc in top right hand corner 2ch;  (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) into same 2ch,  *skip 1sp, 2dc into next sp (you are skipping 2dc each time)* repeat *to* to next 2ch corner (2dc, 2ch, 2dc).  Repeat along all four sides ending with a sl st into standing dc.  Fasten off yarn.

Note: all 1dc spike in Round 4 are worked into corner 2ch and spaces of Round 2

Round 4:.  Work a standing dc in top right hand corner 2ch sp.  (1dc spike, 2ch, 1dc spike) into corner 2ch of Round 2, 1dc into corner 2ch *skip 2dc, 1dc into space between 2dc group, 1dc spike into sp between dc of Round 2* repeat *to* to next corner, 1dc into 2ch corner, (1dc spike, 2ch, 1dc spike) into corner space of Round 2, 1dc into 2ch corner.   Repeat along all four sides omiting last corner.  Sl st into standing dc.  Fasten off yarn.

Round 5:  Join yarn in any dc, ch 1, work a rsc into each dc.   Into each corner 2ch space work 3rsc.   Sl st into first rsc.   Fasten off yarn.