Expert: Bea Harrell - 9/9/2008

Question
Do you have any tips for how to keep afghan fringe from fraying after washing and drying?  Do you have any other methods of putting a border on an afghan?

Answer
Hey, Marypat!  A great deal depends on the type yarn you use. 100% acrylic is the worst offender, an acrylic/cotton blend is better, but I prefer 100% cotton yarn for fringe trim, because it tends to shrink a bit, and tighten up. My grandmother used to tie loose knots in the fringe before washing, then undo the knots and line dry. That works great, but sure is labor intensive! I gave up on fringe long ago, and have instead tried different borders. I can recommend the following:

Lacy Border

Row 1: Once all squares(this works with continious pieces too) are joined sc crochet with the primary color around the entire afghan.

Row 2: Choose another accent color & make one row of single crochet around with this color.

Row 3: Changing to Soft White,(or color of your choice) work 1 puff stitch, sk 1 stitch, chain 2 and repeat all the way around. A puff stitch is: YO, insert hook, draw loop through, YO, insert hook, draw loop through, YO, insert hook, draw loop through. YO and draw through all 6 loops on hook.

Row 4: Single crochet all the way around with color from row 1.

Row 5: With Soft White,(or color you have chosen on row 3) 1 single crochet in next sc, chain 3, skip two stitches, sc in next stitch. This pattern is repeated all the way around. This makes chain-3 loops around the blanket.

Row 6: With Soft White(or row 3 color), slip stitch into the first chain-3 loop and chain 1. Single crochet in the same chain-3 loop, * chain 5, single crochet in next chain-3 loop. Repeat from * all the way around ending with five chains and slip stitching to the first single crochet.

Row 7: With Soft White,(or row 3 color) slip stitch into the first chain 5 loop and chain 1. Single crochet in chain-5 loop, * chain 6, slip stitch into fourth chain from hook, chain 2, single crochet into next chain-5 loop. Repeat from * all the way around ending with two chains and slip stitching to the first single crochet.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

This works up fast, and is sooo pretty!

Best of luck with your project!
Bea