How to Knit Edging for a Baby Blanket

Knitting edging for a baby blanket adds a decorative touch and provides a finished look to your project. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to knit simple garter stitch edging:

Materials:

- Baby blanket (knitted or crocheted)

- Knitting needles (size suitable for the yarn you are using)

- Yarn in a contrasting color (or the same color as the blanket, depending on your preference)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Blanket:

- Cast off any remaining live stitches on the blanket if it is still attached to the needles.

2. Cast On for Edging:

- With your contrasting color yarn, cast on the number of stitches needed to go around the entire perimeter of the blanket.

- The number of stitches will depend on the size of your blanket and the desired edging width. For example, if you want a 1-inch edging and your blanket measures 20 inches wide by 30 inches long, cast on 100 stitches (20 stitches for the width + 30 stitches for the length + 20 stitches for the width = 100 stitches).

3. Knit Garter Stitch:

- Knit all the stitches in every row. This creates the classic garter stitch pattern, where every row is knit.

- Continue knitting in garter stitch until the edging reaches the desired width. For a 1-inch edging, knit approximately 10-12 rows.

4. Bind Off:

- Once the edging is the desired width, it's time to bind off the stitches.

- Knit the first stitch, then lift it over the second stitch and off the needle.

- Knit another stitch, then lift it over the next stitch and off the needle. Repeat this process until you have bound off all the stitches.

5. Complete the Edging:

- Weave in the ends of the yarn by passing them through nearby stitches using a tapestry needle.

6. Repeat for All Sides:

- Repeat steps 2 to 5 for all sides of the baby blanket to complete the edging.

Note:

- You can customize the edging by choosing a different stitch pattern or yarn color. Common edging stitch patterns include single crochet, moss stitch, or picot edging.

- When casting on for the edging, you can also pick up stitches directly from the blanket instead of casting them on separately. This method creates a seamless edge.

- If your blanket is large and you find it challenging to knit the entire edging in one go, you can work on it in sections, joining them together later with a whip stitch or mattress stitch.

By following these steps, you can add a beautiful and functional knitted edging to your baby blanket, giving it a professional and polished look.