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Crochet Edging for Anti Pill Fleece Girl Toddler Blanket – FREE Pattern – Plus Fabric Review

August 30, 2014

This is the second post I’ve done for crochet edging on fleece blankets – my first being the Crochet Edging for Ultra Cuddle Fleece Boy Toddler Blanket.

This blanket was inspired by as well as a gift to my little cousin, Madison. The fabric is so cute! I was thinking it would also make a nice gift to give at a baby shower.

Find below my free pattern and Anti Pill Fleece fabric review.

Materials:
– Anti-Pill Fleece – I was not able to find the link to the fabric I bought from JoAnn‘s so I will have to update once I find out the name
– Skip-Stitch Blade #1 (Skip-Stitch site)
– 45mm Fiskar’s Rotary Cutter (Joann’s)
– Self Healing Mat to Cut on (I didn’t have) 
– 4.25mm Crochet Hook (a 4mm or 4.5mm will also work!)
– Worsted Weight Yarn – I used about 135 yards of Red Heart Soft in Chocolate and 135 yards I Love This Yarn in Pink Neon (I tried to match the colors in the blanket.)
   – Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends and/or for Foundation Blanket Stitch (if you don’t have/want to use the skip stitch blade)
   – Ruler and/or Tape Measure

Notes on Supplies:
   
   Skip Stitch Blade: There are three different sizes of skip stitch blades. I choose the Blade #1 because it states that it is “perfect for perforating fleece and similar fabrics…” 
On my post for the Ultra Cuddle Fleece, you will find I DO NOT recommend using the skip stitch blade for the foundation perforation as the fabric is quite fragile, however, it works perfect on the Anti-Pill Fleece!
*I do have a post on Changing the Blade on Your Rotary Cutter in case you need some help!

   Ultra Cuddle Fleece: During my trip to Joann’s, I found it rather difficult to choose just two yards out of all of the great options available. My inspiration was my little cousins, Tyler and Madison. Tyler is obsessed with Star Wars hence the choice of the Star Wars fleece – you can find my post on this in the Crochet Edging for Ultra Cuddle Fleece Boy Toddler Blanket. Madison is a girly girl.

Along with all the great theme options, I also found SEVERAL different types fleece. I am not a sewer or quilter and not really familiar with the different fabric types so to guide my choice, I took a look at the No Sew Throw kits to see which type of fleece they use. Then, I went back to the fleece. I decided to get a yard of the Anti Pill fleece (same as kits) and one yard of the Ultra Cuddle Fleece so I could test the differences myself.

After working with the Ultra Cuddle Fleece and finding that it was quite fragile as it tears easily, I was a little worried that I’d go through the same thing with the Anti Pill Fleece. I found this was NOT the case at all! The Anti-Pill Fleece isn’t quite as soft as the Ultra Cuddle Fleece but it is much stronger and sturdier. I found on the Ultra Cuddle Fleece that if the hole was missing, I could simply poke my regular crochet hook through the fabric and create a hole. I tried to do this with the Anti Pill Fleece FIRST to see if it was as easy before I ran my Skip Stitch Blade across it and as hard as i tried, I was unsuccessful. There wasn’t any tearing at any point and I did not feel the need to be gentle while holding and manipulating the fabric. 
CONCLUSION: Skip Stitch Blades work GREAT on Anti-Pill Fleece.

Time Spent:
   It took me approximately three and a half hours to complete this blanket including the cutting and crocheting.

Measurements:
   This blanket measures 40.5″ long by 31.5″ long.
*To achieve this size, I cut the fleece to these exact measurements. When you perforate it, you will take it in 1″ on each side but the border will bring it back to these measurements as it adds 1″ on each side.

Abbreviations:
   SC – Single Crochet
   ea – each
   ST – stitch
   sl st – slip stitch
   CH – chain
   HDC – Half Double Crochet
   DC – Double Crochet
   SC2TOG – Single Crochet Two Stitches Together (Decrease)

Notes for Pattern:
   If you are interested in working the foundation round with a blanket stitch instead of with the skip stitch blade and your crochet hook, I found a really great tutorial courtesy of Kelli and Greta of Holiday Crafts and Creations – How to Do Blanket Stitch.

Tutorial and Pattern:

First, remove the fine print section.
You will want to cut just inside of the color separation so you
don’t get any of the white line.
One of my sides looked like this –
all frilly and such.
I did not cut this off because I
figured I’d be crocheting over it
anyway.
My fabric was only slightly uneven. I took
out my scissors and cut it even.
As my second go round, I found it much easier
to fold the fabric in half and cut both layers together.
You could also just use the straight edge that comes
on the rotary cutter to cut across. (It was too late
when I thought of this!)
Instead of eyeballing it this time, I
decided to use a really big ruler I found
in my mom’s room – thanks Mom! and a
pen to mark my line. Then, I cut just
inside the line to ensure none would be
left visible (but it is going to be
crocheted over anyway so it doesn’t
matter!)
I had previously seen someone sew a
border around the blanket and then add
the foundation round just underneath
the sewn stitches.
I asked my mom how she normally does
it and she told me she just folds over the
end and crochets over it so, I
measured out 1″.
Then, I moved this really long ruler over just a
touch and used it as a guide for my cutting.
I didn’t get any pictures of the rotary
cutter in action on this blanket so I
borrowed this one from my Ultra CuddleFleece post.
Make sure to move your ruler over just
a tiny bit so you are perforating at the 1″
mark and not inside of it.
*NOTE: I did not have a self healing mat to
do this cutting on. I took LOTS of scrap
paper that I had and just stacked them on
top of each other – each sheet was a piece
of computer paper. I folded them in half and
then stacked them in piles of 5 sheets.
These are what your perforations will
look like.
This is a view from the backside.
You will insert your hole from the
right side facing you. Fold over the
top edge of the fabric so that the tip
lays right on top of the holes you
made. You will be crocheting over this
piece all the way around. This is for
added security.
Attach your yarn with a SC to the first hole (preferrably
not the corner as it puts added pressure on the stitch),
and then CH 1.
Continue along side down to first corner:
(SC in next hole, CH 1) across.
This is a back view of your first few stitches. You can see my tail
on the left side. I tucked this into the center of the fabric I folded
over and crocheted over both together.
On my Ultra Cuddle blanket, I just
folded over the edge. It came out a
little more bulky then I would have liked,
so in this blanket, I decided to trim the
edge. I did this at an angle.
Be careful not to cut too close to the
stitches.
You will still need to slightly fold over the
remaining corner fabric.
To work the corner:
(You will have previously worked a SC, CH 1),
SC, CH 1, SC, CH 1 all in same ST.
Then, continue working the side as previously
done (SC, CH 1) across.
Once all the way around, Join to the first ST and CH 1.

You’ve finished the foundation round of your blanket!
You can leave your blanket like this if you want. You will
find in the stores that they sell fleece blankets with
just the blanket stitch around them.
OR, you can continue on…

I had one odd piece in which one hole did not get made by my
Skip Stitch Blade. To compensate, I CHd 2 (instead of 1).
It does stick out a little here, but with the rest of the crocheting,
you won’t even notice it!
I did try to poke a hole in it with one of my sharper crochet
hooks, and was unsuccessful.
Round 1:
From the previous CH 1:
(HDC in ea HDC and CH 1 sp across to corner,
2 HDC in ea HDC of the corner, 1 HDC in CH 1 sp of corner)
around blanket.
Join to first HDC, CH 1.
For the next round, I changed to pink.
You can continue on with the first color if you like.
*For my first blanket, I did my first round with SCs. It came out
thin so I decided with this one, I wanted more substance
choosing a HDC to do so.
You’ve finished the first round of your blanket!
You can leave your blanket like this if you want.
OR, you can continue on…
To complete Round 2:
CH 1, [(SC in ea HDC across to corner, (2 SC in
next ST of corner,  SC in ea of next 2 HDC of corner, repeat
twice more)] around blanket.
Join to first SC, CH 1.
For Round 3, I changed to a Shell border, that’s why I only
made this round in SC. If you don’t want to do the shells, but
want to continue on, just do so in same manner (with increases
in each corner).
You’ve finished the second round of your blanket!
You can leave your blanket like this if you want.
OR, you can continue on…
Round 3:
To work the Shell: SC in the first ST, then
(SK 2 SCs, 5 DC in next SC, SK 2 SCs, SC in next SC) around entire blanket.
There will be no increases done at the corners but it will still lay flat.
*I did not have the extra number of STs needed to evenly work
the shells around so to correct this, for the last four SCs, I worked
a SC2TOG (decrease).
Join to first ST. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Finished Round 3!

I stopped here. Initially, I did not plan on doing the last round
as a Shell border hence, the two colors in the border. If I were to
make another, I’d probably only use one color for all of the rounds.
It still came out really cute though!

Don’t Crochet but Interested in Purchasing an Anti-Pill Fleece Blanket with a Crochet Edge?
I will be adding this blanket and more to my Etsy shop! 
Find some options here: Anti Pill Fleece, I Love This Yarn (for border), Red Heart Soft (for border). Feel free to send in your custom requests! Visit my Etsy shop for other baby blankets!

*JoAnn’s also sells licensed fabrics (ie Disney, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, NHL, MLB, etc), however, licensed fabrics are not to be used for commercial purposes so I will not be able to sell any of these.
Any licensed fabric blanket would be a great gift to donate to a local children’s hospital. Make sure to contact the volunteering department of the hospital first for rules and regulations for handmade items. I plan on making some to donate!


Linked Up To…
10 Simple DIY Projects, I’m Lovin It – Tidy Mom
Kitchen Fun and Craft Friday #28 – Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
Wonderful Blog Hop #5 – A Mother’s Shadow
Yarn Fanatic Party #4 – The Philosopher’s Wife
Sharing Time Week 5 – Raising Memories
Creative Collection Link Party – Blooming Homestead / The Cards We Drew
Best DIY Projects and Recipes #19 – The 36th Avenue
Serenity Saturday #148 – Serenity You
Craft Schooling Sunday – Creative Jewish Mom
Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas, Inspiration Monday – Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
Grateful Heart Linky Party – It’s Overflowing
Think Pink Sunday No. 180 – Flamingo Toes
The Sunday Showcase No. 257 – By Stephanie Lynn

Filed Under: Free Crochet Patterns, Uncategorized Tagged With: 4.25/G Hook, Acrylic, Alexandra Original Crochet, Baby, Blue, Crochet, Donate, Fabric Review, Fleece, Flowers, FREE, Gift Idea, Girl, I Love This Yarn, One Skein, Photo Prop, Pink, Red Heart Soft, Spring

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Comments

  1. T'onna Peters says

    August 31, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    Cute blanket! Love the crochet edging!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party!

    Reply
    • knots1prime says

      September 1, 2014 at 3:45 am

      Thanks! It was something new to me but lots of fun. Can't wait to see my little cousin, Madison, using it.

      Reply
  2. Rachel @ The Philosophers Wife says

    September 1, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    Cute fleece and wonderful edging! Love it! Thank you for sharing.

    I included your two edging posts as features in this week's Yarn Fanatic Party. Can't wait to see what you have for this week!

    Reply
    • knots1prime says

      September 7, 2014 at 11:24 pm

      I'm honored! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  3. creativejewishmom.com says

    September 1, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    such a wonderful way to combine two of my favorites, fleece and crochet, and to make something that will ultimately very likely last much longer than a crocheted blanket, and is of course much much quicker! thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday, and now i need to add one of those cutters that make holes to my wish list!

    Reply
    • knots1prime says

      September 7, 2014 at 11:26 pm

      It's been on my wish list for awhile. Glad I actually bought it! Now, I feel like putting holes in EVERYTHING and crocheting around it. Hehe.

      Reply
  4. Jenny Guldin says

    October 23, 2014 at 9:57 am

    I was going to purchase a Sharp Crochet Hook for edging blankets…then I saw this. I already have a rotary cutter, but I had no idea a skip stitch blade existed. Thanks for the info; and I love that border!

    Reply
    • knots1prime says

      November 10, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      I also have a Sharp Crochet Hook on my list but for now, this helps a bunch! Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment.

      Reply

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Welcome!

Welcome!

Hey! I'm Alexandra, the blogger and creator behind EyeLoveKnots and On Rockwood Lane! My passion is being creative. My favorite thing to do is crochet, and you will almost always find me having a cup of coffee and working on a new crochet project, but when I'm not doing that, you might find me out at a local park rollerblading, baking some fresh cookies, picking veggies in the garden or re-decorating for a new season or holiday. My two cats are great supervisors for all my adventures (minus the being outside because they think it's too hot in Florida to be anywhere but inside), and make sure I take plenty of breaks.

Meet the Team!

Meet the Team!

On the left, Abby is the maker behind A Stitch Shy of Normal, and on the right Jessica is the maker behind Nice and Knotty and Candace is the maker behind TandC Crafters.

Together, they help me bring awesome crochet projects to you! Click the image to learn more about them, and get their Instagram links, where they are constantly sharing tons of crochet inspiration.

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