by Lovely choice — here’s a clear, beginner-friendly text tutorial you can crochet right away. This creates a repeatable lace edge with pointed leaf-like scallops and tiny picot dots — perfect for shawls, blouses, table runners, towels or as a stand-alone trim strip. Written in US terms with checks, corner instructions, blocking/tidy tips and quick variations.
Materials & gauge
- Yarn: fingering → DK (cotton for crisp lace; cotton-blend or acrylic for softer drape)
- Hook: 2.5–4.5 mm depending on yarn & desired openness (use a slightly larger hook for lacier look)
- Notions: tapestry needle, blocking pins/towel, scissors
- Sample: work 6 repeats and block to confirm spacing before attaching to a large piece
Abbreviations (US)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- pic = picot (ch 3, sl st into base)
- sp = space
- sk = skip
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- rep = repeat
Pattern concept (repeat)
- Repeat multiple: 6 sts (work a foundation of multiple of 6 + 2 for neat ends)
- This edge is worked from a tidy sc base row into little ch-loops, then each loop is filled with a pointed leaf cluster and finished with a picot dotted scallop.
Preparation / foundation
You can attach this edge in two ways:
A — Crochet onto finished piece (recommended): Work a neat row of sc along the raw edge of the garment/blanket (one sc per stitch or spaced to taste). Use those sc as anchors for the lace.
B — Make a separate border strip: Ch a multiple of 6 + 2 (e.g., ch 38). Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across — now you have an anchor sc row to work the lace into.
Edge pattern — round/row-by-row
Row 1 — anchor loops
Working into the base sc row:
- sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc — repeat across.
- Finish with sc in the last 1–2 sc so the row ends evenly.
Check: evenly spaced ch-3 loops along the base.
Row 2 — leaf body (main decorative row)
Work each leaf all into the same ch-3 loop:
- Into loop: sc, hdc, 3 dc, tr, 3 dc, hdc, sc.
- Sl st into the next base sc to anchor, then sc in next 2 sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc (or continue the base rhythm) and repeat the leaf into the next ch-3 loop.
Check: a row of pointed leaf scallops projecting from the edge.
Row 3 — tip picots & tidy underside
- Attach yarn at the top of any leaf (or continue). For each leaf tip: sl st into the tr (top), ch 3, sl st into the same tr — that makes a tiny picot dot at each tip.
- After placing the picot, tidy the underside by working sc 2 across the small base between leaves (or
sl st + scdepending on how your base row is spaced). - Repeat for all leaves, fasten off and weave in ends.
Alternative finish: replace the tiny picot with (sc, ch 3, sc) for a small bud instead of a single dot.
Corners (turning a rectangular piece)
When you reach a corner:
- After the last full leaf, make a corner loop: ch 6 (use ch 4 for a sharp corner or ch 8 for a gentle curve). Anchor the next leaf of the adjacent side into that corner loop (work the leaf cluster into the ch-6). This gives a smooth 90° turn.
Attaching a strip to fabric (if you made a strip)
- Align the strip to the fabric edge and sew with a fine whipstitch through the base sc row and the fabric’s edge.
- Or crochet-on: hold strip to edge and work sc through both the fabric edge and the strip’s base sc to attach cleanly.
Blocking & finishing
- Pin each leaf tip and picot to the blocking board or towel so points are sharp. Pull corners to shape if used. Mist lightly and allow to dry completely.
- For crisp table linens, try light spray starch after blocking (test on a scrap first). For wearables keep it soft — just pin and dry.
Troubleshooting & adjustments
- Edge waves / too many scallops: increase spacing:
sc 4, ch 3, sk 3(wider anchors) instead ofsc 3, ch 3, sk 2. - Tips curl up (cupping): shorten the center tr (use dc instead of tr) or use a slightly smaller hook for Row 3 so picots pull tips taut.
- Leaves flatten / lack pointiness: block more firmly or shorten chains slightly; for sharper points, tighten tension on the tr.
- Uneven repeats: count first 3 repeats to set rhythm and keep your tension consistent.
Quick variations
- Petite trim: change
3 dc→2 dcandtr→dc; use smaller hook and finer yarn. - Bolder leaves: change
3 dc→5 dcand usech 4anchors for bigger dramatic leaves. - Two-colour: work base sc row in Color A; switch to Color B for leaf rounds so leaves pop.
- Beaded edge: slide tiny seed beads onto yarn beforehand and work one bead onto the central tr of each leaf for sparkle (slip the bead up the yarn then work tr so bead sits on top).
- Fringe: after finishing, attach fringe between scallops for boho runner/scarf.
Compact stitch repeat (for your notes)
Base: multiple of 6 + 2.
Repeat unit: sc, sc, sc, ch3, sk2 → into ch3: (sc, hdc, 3dc, tr, 3dc, hdc, sc) → sl st to base → sc, sc, ch3, sk2 → repeat.
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