🌿 Multi-Purpose Lace Edge — Step-by-Step Tutorial

Nice one!! Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly text tutorial for a lively, repeatable lace edge you can use on shawls, blouses, table runners, blankets or make as a stand-alone border strip. It forms pointed leaf-scallops with little picot dots and a tidy base so it joins and blocks beautifully.

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Materials & tools

• Yarn: fingering → DK (cotton for crisp trim; sport or blend for softer drape)
• Hook: 2.5–4.5 mm depending on yarn (try ½ size up for lacier look)
• Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/towel, scissors
• Sample: make 6 repeats, block and adjust spacing before doing whole project

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Abbreviations (US)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble (triple) crochet
• pic = picot (ch 3, sl st into base)
• sk = skip
• sp = space
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rep = repeat

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Concept / repeat

• Repeat multiple: 6 sts (base sc row uses a multiple of 6 + 2 for neat ends).
• The edge builds from a tidy sc base → small ch-loops → leaf body of taller stitches → small picot/shell finish. Works well attached to fabric (recommended) or made as a strip to sew on later.

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Foundation (attach to fabric)

Option A — attach to finished fabric (recommended): work 1 round of even sc along the raw edge of your project (one sc per stitch or spaced every 2–3 rows for knitted fabric). Use that sc row as the base for the lace.

Option B — make a border strip (to sew on): ch a multiple of 6 + 2 (example ch 38 for 6 repeats). Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. This creates the base sc row.

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Edge pattern — Round / Row 1 (anchor loops)

Work into the base sc row:

1. Sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc — repeat across the length.
2. End with sc in the last 1–2 sts so the row finishes evenly.

Check: you should have evenly spaced ch-3 loops (one per leaf unit) along the base.

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Round / Row 2 — Leaf body (main decorative round)

Into each ch-3 loop work all into the same loop:

sc, hdc, 3 dc, tr, 3 dc, hdc, sc

Then anchor: sl st into the next base sc to secure and move to the next base group (or continue the sc3, ch3, sk2 rhythm from Round 1 if working continuously).

What that makes:

• sc + hdc form the leaf shoulder
• 3 dc + tr + 3 dc give the pointed center (midrib)
• hdc + sc close the base neatly

Check: you should see a row of pointed leaves scalloping out from the edge.

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Round / Row 3 — Tip picots & tidy underside

1. Join yarn at the tip of any leaf (or pick up where you left off).
2. For each leaf tip: sl st into the tr (top) → ch 3 → sl st into same st (that’s a tiny picot).
3. Then tidy the underside by working sc 2 across the small base between leaves (or sc, sl st depending on base spacing) to even everything out.
4. Repeat across, fasten off and weave in ends.

Alternative: replace the picot with (sc, ch 3, sc) for a small bud rather than a dot.

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Corners (turning a rectangular piece)

When you reach a corner:

• Work the last full leaf, then ch 6 (corner loop). Anchor the next leaf of the adjacent side into that ch-6 so the border turns the corner smoothly.
• For a tighter corner use ch 4; for a gentle curve use ch 8. Keep corner size consistent on all corners.

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Joining a strip to fabric (if you made a strip)

• Align the strip to the project edge. Sew with fine whipstitch or mattress stitch through the base sc row and the fabric edge.
• Or crochet on: hold strip in place and work sc through both the fabric edge and the base sc at the same time for a neat join.

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Blocking & finishing

• Pin each leaf tip and picot so points are sharp. Pull corners to shape if used. Mist with water and let dry thoroughly.
• For a stiffer finish (table runner / doily) lightly apply spray starch or diluted PVA/sugar solution after blocking—test on a scrap first.

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Troubleshooting & adjustments

• Edge waves / too many scallops: increase spacing: sc 4, ch 3, sk 3 instead of sc 3, ch 3, sk 2.
• Tips curl up (cupping): shorten the central tr (tr → dc) or use a slightly larger picot (ch 4) and block firmly.
• Edge flattens/lacks point: shorten hook for last round (use ½ size smaller) to pull tips taut.
• Uneven leaves: ensure identical stitches into every ch-3 loop; count the first 4 repeats to set rhythm.

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Quick variations

• Petite trim: change 3 dc → 2 dc, tr → dc, use smaller hook and finer yarn.
• Bolder leaves: change 3 dc → 5 dc and use ch 4 anchors for a dramatic leaf.
• Two-colour edge: work base sc row in color A, switch to color B for leaf rounds so leaves pop.
• Beaded: thread beads on yarn before working and slip bead onto the central tr of each leaf for sparkle.
• Fringed runner: after finishing leaves, attach long chain fringe between tip anchors for boho style.

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Compact stitch summary (one repeat)

1. Base: … sc, sc, sc, ch 3, sk 2, sc, sc, sc …
2. Leaf (into ch3): sc, hdc, 3 dc, tr, 3 dc, hdc, sc, sl st to base.
3. Tip: sl st to tr, ch 3, sl st (picot). Repeat.

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