crochetguideCount the edges and mark the four corners before the first border stitch; a border will not hide a wrong count.
Before you start: Single crochet
Mark the corners; check each edge as you go
Prepare the edge
Count the top and bottom edges and mark each corner. Check row counts on the sides. A border cannot correct an unnoticed extra row or make unmatched squares the same size.
Use the yarn label to wash and dry the piece before deciding whether its unevenness is a count error or a finishing issue.
Make a single-crochet border
- Join yarn at a top-edge stitch away from a corner. Chain 1 without counting it, then single crochet in that stitch and each following stitch.
- At a rectangular corner, try (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner space. Keep the chain space marked so you can inspect its angle.
- Along a row edge, distribute single crochets through stable edge loops. Lay each short section flat before moving on.
- At the starting point, slip stitch into the first counted single crochet. Fasten off and weave the tails.
Adjust from the shape
If the border ruffles while the body lies flat, there are too many edge stitches or the border stitches are too loose. Undo a short section and reduce the attachment frequency.
If the edge cups or pulls in, there may be too few stitches or too much tension. Add an attachment within the affected section or adjust the working loop. There is no universal stitches-per-row formula for all yarns and stitch heights.
Add a decorative shell row only after the foundation border lies flat. Count the repeat needed on each side and resolve the corners before starting.