Receiving Blanket

Here is the latest item I have finished for Miss Ellie Grace. Her Momma picked out the items for her room at Sears . . butterflies that are in the lavender color scheme with some pink and green. I needed more blankets, but didn't have time for a Sears run, so WalMart had to do.
I found a set of pale green patterned blankets so I decided to add edgings to them. Well, to as many as I can before the shower. This way, I have the lavender/purple and green thing going for me :-}

Ellie's Green Receiving Blanket

Materials:
  1 receiving blanket
#10 Crochet Thread
 Crochet Hook - either choice
    Steel - 3/2.10MM
    Aluminum - B/1-2.25MM
     (For me, the thread works better on the steel . . but it is you preference.)
 Yarn / Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
sp - space
st - stitch

You do not need to do these two steps, but I feel they make the edging neater AND that makes your 1st Round neater.

Step 1:
Before you start, you will need to iron the blanket . . . I know, that dirty 4 letter word I-R-O-N!
Step 2:
Fold 1/4" of the blanket edging to the back and iron the crease. This step helps you maintain the hem you need.
If your blanket has a pattern you can use that as your gauge for round 1. (My pattern was 1/4" x 1/4" checks.) The width of your stitch should also be the depth of your stitch.

Round 1: Thread your needle and blanket stitch around the edge of the blanket. (I would suggest 1/8" to 1/4" intervals. Fasten off and secure all threads.)

Round 2: Attach thread with a sc anywhere on the blanket st. Ch 1, sc in same sp, evenly sc around the blanket stitch thread, sl st to beginning ch 1.

Some of the blanket stitches are longer than others . . . no problem.
In the finished blanket, they don't show up like they do in this close-up.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sc in next st,* repeat from * to * around, stopping 1 stitch before the end. To finish this round, dc into the beginning sc.

Doesn't it look like the ch 3's are different heights?
That is caused by the "ruffling" of the stitches starting.

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in the space just made by the dc you used to finish Round 3, then repeat Round 3.

You may finish now or do as many rounds as you like.

Hint . . . do you like how I "park" my hook? I started doing this when I lost the hook I was using.

By the way . . . it felt like it took forever to get to Round 2 . . but once I started Round 3 . . .  it seemed to go faster.

If you would like a tutorial on how to make the Buttonhole Stitch and this pattern, download here for a PDF copy.