Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

EDGING EASE

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I like to edge a lot of flannel and fleece pieces.  These make really great quick and inexpensive baby gifts.  A yard of fleece can be purchased for just a couple of dollars on sale.  There are many baby themed fleece prints.  Also available in fleece at great prices are full panels, perfectly sized for cribs and twin beds, that are inexpensive and can be edged easily.

Usually, when I want to edge a piece of fabric, I just use a tapestry needle and some thread and work an evenly spaced initial edging of blanket stitch.  Then, using the yarn I want to work with, I work a row of single crochet into the initial edging.  After that, I can work any number of rows to create a simple or elaborate edging.  This works well for me and I find it to be a reliable method.  Problems with my method – well…um… I sometime have difficulty counting.  So, I…um… might have 36 stitches on one side of the blanket and only 35 stitches on the matching side.  Now, that can be a problem.

So, I found a tool that solves this problem, reliably and for a reasonable price.  Here it is:

Skipstitch rotary blade

and there are pictures showing step by step how to use the tool and edge your fabric.  Here’s a sample:

This picture shows the Foundation Row.

If you are set on using flannel rather than fleece, you need to be sure to roll the raw edge under in that first row of blanket stitch.  It’s pretty easy to do with a little practice.  Most good quality fleece won’t ravel if treated this way – but some cheaper flannels with lower thread counts need to be surged or hemstitched before you edge them.

Fleece is a ‘no fault’ fabric.  It never ravels, can be cut and sewn with out regard to the nature of its edges.  The only thing you need to do with fleece is be sure to cut off the selvedges before you crochet or sew into them.  They don’t have the same feel or stretch as the rest of the fleece piece and will ruin your finished project.

Start small and make a burp rag or infant wrap with flannel or fleece.  Create a lovely crocheted edging using baby or sport weight yarn.  I think you’ll find the results are pleasing to you and to the baby you make it for.

NOTE:  These projects need not be limited to baby.  Making a snuggly TV throw for a teen or adult (maybe in the favorite sports team fleece) or a simple ponch for anyone of any age.

Comments

  1. Thank you for the link! I love making fleece blankets but haven’t done many recently because marking the sides was so time consuming. This should solve that problem. I love getting bargain remnants at fabric stores, often for less than $3, and turning them into something useful that moms and kids enjoy.

  2. Check out the Edgery Doo too!

    A little more prep BUT I find that I am able to more acuratly plan my stitches.

    Cheers!
    Michell

Have you read?

Red Melt The Ice Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern Review

Some crochet projects are made simply because we need a warm hat. Some are made because we need a quick gift, a stash-busting project, or something easy to work on while watching television. And then there are crochet projects that carry a message.

This Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF sits firmly in that last category.

Inspired by the Melt the ICE craftivism movement, this red crochet beanie is more than just a wearable winter accessory. It is a handmade political statement — soft, practical, visible, and rooted in the long tradition of protest through craft.

You can find the Red Slouch Beanie Crochet Pattern PDF here.

Crochet as Protest

Crafters have always had a way of saying things with their hands. Quilts have carried coded messages, embroidery has documented women’s lives, banners have marched through the streets, and yarn crafts have wrapped public spaces in colour and defiance.

This beanie belongs to that same creative lineage.

The phrase Melt the ICE gives this pattern its political edge. It connects the humble red crochet hat to conversations around immigration enforcement, detention, family separation, human rights, community care, and the role ordinary people can play in public protest.

And that is what makes this pattern interesting. It is not loud in the way a placard is loud, but it is visible. A red handmade hat catches the eye. It invites questions. It gives the maker a way to wear their values without needing to shout over anyone.

Sometimes craftivism works because it is disarming. People expect political protest to be hard-edged, but handmade work brings something different to the conversation. It says, “I cared enough to make this stitch by stitch.”

About the Pattern

The pattern itself is beginner-friendly and refreshingly straightforward. The hat is worked flat in rows, then seamed and gathered to create a relaxed slouch beanie shape. That makes it especially approachable for crocheters who are still building confidence with wearable projects.

Instead of needing to work in the round or fuss with crown shaping from the start, you are essentially making a rectangle and turning it into a hat. I love that kind of construction because it gives beginners a real sense of achievement. You are not just practising stitches — you end up with something wearable and meaningful.

The design uses a textured crochet fabric, giving the finished beanie a cozy, slightly chunky look. The slouchy shape keeps it casual and modern, while the bold red colour gives it that unmistakable activist feel.

Why Red Matters

The red yarn is not just a colour choice here. It is part of the visual language of the project.

Red is urgent. Red is warm. Red is visible in a crowd. It can suggest anger, love, warning, solidarity, courage, and care all at once. For a political crochet project, that matters.

A red slouch beanie can be worn to rallies, community events, mutual aid gatherings, craftivism meet-ups, or simply out in everyday life as a quiet statement of support. It is one of those pieces that can be as bold or as subtle as the wearer wants it to be.

Of course, you could make the pattern in any colour, but for the Melt the ICE inspiration, red feels intentional. It gives the hat its message before a single word is spoken.