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A Simple Crochet Border to Complete Your 2020 Traveling Afghan

by | Crochet, Free Patterns

With 2020 coming to an end, we’re finishing our Traveling Afghan with a simple crochet border that features puff stitches and clusters for a clean, modern look.

crochet blanket border with rows of puff stitches

Reflections and Connections

When then Traveling Afghan idea was conceived in late 2019, no one had any idea what the next year would bring. This creative collaboration between almost 50 different knit and crochet designers was meant to highlight our maker stories, learn new stitches, and make new friends; who knew it would become a lifeline of connection in a world sorely lacking it? With most of us locked down in our homes, towns, and countries, passing this heirloom from one designer to the next seems so much more significant than we originally gave it credit for.

family heirloom crochet blanket

I was there at Vogue Knitting Live when the first few squares were transferred from Alexi @twoofwands to Cecilia @MammaDIY and Wilma @Wilmade. We gathered together and took photos and videos of the beginning of this year long project. Vanessa @vanessaknits and I, slated to be the end of the knit and crochet afghans respectively, vowed to get together to document the completion of these two one-of-a-kind blankets. And now it is December. We live an hour away from each other and yet, are separated by snow and Covid.

The Power of Friendship and Fiber Arts

But the blankets are complete! Despite the pandemic, the shipping delays, and everything this year has thrown at us, all 49 designers came together to create two masterpieces. Each designer wrote a note to the next as they shipped their package on. I am lucky enough to read them all, the sweet words of encouragement and friendship written on scraps of notebook paper being my favorite part of it all.

2020 traveling crochet afghan

Below, you’ll find the the free pattern for the final crochet border of the 2020 Traveling Crochet Afghan. It is a simple combination of stitches that creates a textured complement to the 24 unique squares. If you’d like to start at the beginning, head over to Two of Wands to read more about the Traveling Afghan project, and find links to all 50 free knit and crochet squares and border patterns. You can also purchase complete knit and crochet kits directly from Lion Brand Yarn.

2020 Traveling Crochet Afghan Square Patterns

Here is the full list of patterns for the 2020 Traveling Crochet Afghan.

#1 – 11/1-1/13 – New York City, USA – Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 – 1/15-1/28 – Barcelona, Spain – Cecilia Losada of Mamma DIY
#3 – 1/29-2/11 – Utrecht, The Netherlands – Wilma Westenberg of Wilmade
#4 – 2/12-2/25 – Gloucestershire, UK – Lindsey Newns of Lottie and Albert
#5 – 2/26-3/10 – New Brunswick, Canada – Kimberley Giggie of Lakeside Loops
#6 – 3/11-3/24 – Ontario, Canada – Lee Sartori of Coco Crochet Lee
#7 – 3/25-4/7 – Alberta, Canada – Janine Myska of Knits n’ Knots
#8 – 4/8-4/21 – Alberta, Canada – Abigail Ellazar of Knits and Knots by AME
#9 – 4/22-5/5 – California, USA – Arica Presinal of Skeinsnsticks
#10 – 5/6-5/19 – California, USA – Meghan Ballmer of Meghan Makes Do
#11 – 5/20-6/2 – California, USA – Nicole Riley of Nicki’s Homemade Crafts
#12 – 6/3-6/16 – Arizona, USA – Bailey Williams of Hooked on Tilly
#13 – 6/17-6/30 – Colorado, USA – Jess Coppom of Make & Do Crew
#14 – 7/1-7/14 – Kansas, USA – Emily Davies of Hooked Hazel
#15 – 7/15-7/28 – Michigan, USA – Jennifer Pionk of A Crocheted Simplicity
#16 – 7/29-8/11 – Michigan, USA – Melissa Fisher of Woods and Wool
#17 – 8/12-8/25 – Ohio, USA – Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts
#18 – 8/26-9/8 – Georgia, USA – Vincent Williams of Visuvio’s Crafts
#19 – 9/9-9/22 – North Carolina, USA – Tia Edwards of Simple Things Crochet
#20 – 9/23-10/6 – North Carolina, USA – Ashleigh Kiser of Sewrella
#21 – 10/7-10/20 – North Carolina, USA – Rohn Strong of Rohn Strong
#22 – 10/21-11/3 – Pennsylvania, USA – Jessica Benvenuto of Fly the Distance
#23 – 11/4-11/17 – New York, USA – Brianna Iaropoli of Life and Yarn
#24 – 11/18-12/1 – New York City, USA – Teresa Carter of Debrosse
#25 – 12/2-12/16 – New Jersey, USA – ChiWei Ranck of 1 Dog Woof

2020 Traveling Crochet Afghan Border

Let’s talk about this border! First, this blanket is massive. I shouldn’t be surprised, with each square measuring 10×10 inches. Because there are 24 unique squares, there is no consistency in the number of stitches on each side of the blanket. On some squares, I can work into easily defined stitches. On others, I’d have to pick up stitches evenly across. With a blanket of this size, I wasn’t going to try to count all the way around, and then hope for a magical multiple needed for complicated borders. That meant shells and scallops were out. Besides, the border should complement the shapes and designs of the blanket itself.

puff stitch blanket border

I chose to work a simple straight edge border using a combination of puff stitches and clusters. This accentuated the puffs, bobbles, and many straight lines already in the blanket. The math only requires a multiple of two, which means if things don’t line up exactly, a skipped stitch won’t be noticeable. Adding an extravagant puff stitch border also gives the blanket a little extra weight around the edges. Even in a sleepy state, you’ll always be able to find the edge of the blanket!

To start, you’ll need to work single crochet stitches evenly around the entire blanket. This gives us a good base from which to start the combination of clusters and puffs. You don’t need to count, and the number of stitches on each side do not need to match. Just make sure you work evenly across each square. I averaged 30-35 stitches across each square.

finish your blanket with clean straight lines

On the next round, you’ll be working into every other stitch. When you hit a corner, you may realize that you’re one stitch short and can’t skip a stitch before hitting the corner. That’s ok. It all works out in the end, and a few skipped stitches won’t hurt the overall effect. The same goes for the other rounds – if you can’t skip a stitch before the corner, just work the corner as usual and keep going.

defined corners with puff stitch blanket border

At the end of Round 5, you have the option of stopping, or repeating the border again. If you purchased a kit from Lion Brand Yarn, you should have enough yarn to complete another full repeat of the border. By my measurement, you should have 4-5 full balls of yarn from the crochet kit leftover. The border itself takes around 2 balls, since the puff stitches are such big yarn eaters.

And that’s it! Thank you for joining all of us on this journey around the world. We hope you’ve learned new stitches, made some new connections, and created a gorgeous masterpiece of your own. Will you be keeping your new blanket, or gifting it to someone else?

puff cluster crochet blanket border

Puff and Cluster Crochet Border Instructions

Yarn used: Two (2) skeins of Lion Brand Wool Ease

Hook used: Size J/6.00mm crochet hook

Abbreviations

  • ch – chain
  • 2-dc cluster – [yo, insert hook into st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] 2x, yo, pull through all loops on hook.
  • 3-dc cluster – [yo, insert hook into st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops] 3x, yo, pull through all loops on hook.
  • puff st – [yo, insert hook into st, yo, pull up a loop] 5x, yo, pull through 11 loops on hook, ch 1 to lock the st.
  • sc – single crochet
  • sk – skip
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sp – space
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • yo – yarn over

Crochet Border Instructions

Round 1: Join yarn with a standing sc, work sc evenly around the blanket, with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners. Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2-dc cluster in same st, ch 1, sk 1. *Work 3-dc cluster in next st, ch 1, sk 1. Repeat from * around, while working [3-dc cluster, ch 3, 3-dc cluster] in the ch-3 sp at the corners. Join to first cluster with sl st.

puffs and clusters crochet border

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp directly behind join, ch 1, sk 1. *Sc 1 in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1. Repeat from * around, while working (sc 1, ch 3, sc 1) in the ch-3 sp at the corners. Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 4: Ch 3 (does not count as st). *Work puff st in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1. Repeat from * around, while working (puff, ch 3, puff) in ch-3 sp at the corners. Join to first puff with sl st.

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in ch-1 sp directly behind join, ch 2, sk the puff st. *Sc 1 into each ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk the puff st, repeat from * around, while working (sc 1, ch 3, sc 1) into the corners. Join to first sc with sl st.

If you have enough yarn, you can repeat Rounds 2-5 to increase the width of your border.

On your final Round 5,  you can end your round with an invisible join. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

large granny square blanket on chair

[sc 1, ch 2, sc 1]

[sc 1, ch 2, sc 1]

25 Comments

  1. Norma

    A question: in round 1, should it be “3” instead of “a” in the corners?

  2. Ann Haslem

    I’ve loved following the Afghan and reading about all the designers. Your border is the perfect ending, as I knew it would be – I’ve fallen for so many of your patterns. Thank you! Wishing you happy holidays.

  3. ChiWei

    Thank you so much! Happy holidays!

  4. Lydia Granger

    I’ve been a part of the Traveling Afghan since it started. Your border is the perfect finished for the unique project. Can’t wait to complete.

  5. Jennifer Haddad

    There seems to be a word missing in the instructions for round 1, “with a in the corners”. With a what?

    Thank you!

  6. Jordan

    Lovely border! I just finished sewing all of my squares together and can’t wait to add this beautiful finishing touch. Thanks so much!

  7. Kathy

    In the directions for round 1, it says “ with a in the corners”. What do you mean? Typo?

  8. Helen Lim

    Hi, I am working on your beautiful border now, but I wonder if Row 1, might be missing some instructions… “With a in the corner”. Was it a three chain in corner. I am row 2 , and do not have 3 chains to work into… I just added a stitch

  9. Sue

    I’ve started in the beginning in Jan with both the crochet and knit Afghans. Looking forward to seeing them completed. My squares are attached and I’m ready for the borders. What happens to the designer Afghans? Such a beautiful project and perfect for this year!

  10. Erin

    Hello, in round 1 – what stitch goes in the corner – you wrote ” with a in the corners” but did not state what stitch. Thank you ! Beautiful border by the way , it is the perfect ending to this beautiful afghan.

  11. Claudia Skelton

    In your instructions: “Round 1: Join yarn with a standing sc, work sc evenly around the blanket, with a in the corners. Join to first sc with sl st.”

    I’m unclear as to what the “a” is in the corner. Is it a chain?

    Thank you for your speedy reply,
    Claudia

  12. Judie

    Do you plan a 2021 Traveling Crochet Afghan? The 2020 version is beautiful!

  13. Lisabeth Wachutka

    First of all, I LOVE our border design. What a perfect finish for the afghan.

    For Row 1 of the border, you say:
    “Round 1: Join yarn with a standing sc, work sc evenly around the blanket, with a in the corners. Join to first sc with sl st.”
    My questions: what is a standing SC? And what do you mean “with a in the corners”?
    Thank you for your help!

  14. ChiWei

    Sorry for the confusion! The post has been updated, in round 1 it is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  15. ChiWei

    Thank you!
    The post has now been updated, in round 1 it is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  16. ChiWei

    Sorry, there was an instruction missing there! The post has been updated and the missing instruction in Round 1 is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  17. ChiWei

    Sorry the stitches were missed there! The post has been updated and Round 1 is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  18. ChiWei

    Sorry for the omission! The post has been updated and the missing instruction is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  19. ChiWei

    Sorry for the missing instruction! The post has been updated and the missing bit is: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.”

  20. ChiWei

    There was an omission in the pattern, it should be: “with a (sc, ch 3, sc) in the corners.” And the post has been updated!
    You can watch my tutorial on the standing SC here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Prj2W8C-o

  21. Flo Graham

    HI,
    How big is the finished product please.
    discovering the idea of travelling afghan and I will be ordering yarn….very soon ! can’t wait to start! thank you
    Also, which yarn/ colour did you use for the pics above. thanks you

  22. ChiWei

    Each square is 10″ x 10″, so with the ~2″ border it comes 44″ x 64″. Lion Brand Wool-ease Fisherman was used for this afghan.

  23. hotmail.com login

    What a beautiful idea!! Love the work, all the pattern are stunning!

  24. 2048

    So beautiful!

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