Edging a crocheted blanket with fabric..... How tricky will that be?

[Tobermory]

I'm close ish to finishing my granny stripe blanket.

I say close ISH as its immense! My first striped blanket and I decided I wanted it to be at least double, it's taking an age. Fab though!

In 40 lines when it's compete I need to think about an edge. Thinking abouy it now to will myself to finish!
I was going to use a new colour and do an edge like the attic 24 design then remembered a baby blanket I had when my daughter was small this

So how tricky would it be to do an edge like that?
What fabric would. Need? Something with a bit of give?
Or is the crochet blanket not 'solid' enough to have an edge sewn on with a machine?

I don't want to ruin it having invested so much time on it!!

I don't think it would be difficult as such and I don't think a granny stripe is too flimsy. I've had baby blankets edged in satin ribbon which has no give so I don't think a stretch fabric is necessary.

Would a fabric edge change the Snuggle Factor though?

I don't know, I don't think so.
I imagine the fabric edge would reinforce where the edges are IYSWIM and I think that's a good thing.

But am quite worried about making the wrong choice on something tat I've invested so many hours in!

How about fleece? You could cut it into strips and use it like bias binding. Still snuggly.

Fleece....

Not sure how keen I am on that.

The problem is I don't know fabrics well enough. My solution would be to go into a fabric shop and choose he colour I like rather than anything else!

I've just thought of a potential problem - shrinkage. What would happen if you washed it and either it or the blanket shrank or the blanket could stretch?
Not a problem on something you've bought from a shop but on something you'd invested a lot of time and effort into...

Shrinkage?

Crocheted blankets shrink?!

Is shrinking a dead cert or a maybe?

depends on the yarn, I put my finished blankets through on hand wash in my machine and check/measure to see if there was any shrinkage, I do pin it to shape and let it dry. But to be honest I've used child friendly acyrlic in the form of stylecraft dk. The shrinkage has been minimal and they wash really well, I've made a variety for cot size [the king size granny stripe has been on hold for a while] and friends were at first worried about shrinkage, but now wash with ease.

With the fabric, I met someone at a quilt show a weekend ago who does quilts with used/washed cotton. So they may previously have been a bed sheet or duvet set. The quilts looked lovely, my eye was taken with a lovely knitted blanket that she'd edged with a lovely chintzy floral print that had faded quite lovely. So wonder if a more 'used' cotton would be better for edging your blanket.

I do think the blanket will be very snuggleable with a nice soft cotton edge.

Kelle, thanks for that info.
I used stylecraft special for this blanket, I wonder if I dare wash it? Maybe we won't have to use it to keep it pristine!

Pin it to shape... Might have to investigate that. Do you arrange it then literally put pins theough? What do you pin it onto?

I have an old quilt cover that both my girls used in their cot bed which has the soft washed luck, though to sure if it will go with the brightness of the wool.

Look NOT luck!!

Stylecraft should be fine wrt shrinkage. With a big blanket there is always a risk of it stretching with the weight so it would need to be dried flat.

My mum made baby blankets and edged then with sation ribbon, they were lovely, and there was no problem with shrinkage - as for the snuggle factor - dd snuglled them to death.

Pinning - once it's finished washing I pin it out on the carpet in the dining room, while it is still damp but not sodden.

Pin with normal bobble headed sewing pins, the plan is to make all sides even in length so your blanket dries to a neat square or rectangle. I use an old wooden metre rule and a tape measure and start at a corner and work down the sides, it's fiddly as you may need to reposition some of the pins. I also pin some central parts too, if they look squiffy.

You aren't stretching it, but finding it's natural shape. Will make it easier to edge whatever you decide in the end.

Thanks for all that info re shrinakge and pinning, when i finally finish i will reread and then get it wet!

FOTM, edged in sating ribbon sounds lovey for a baby blanket, very tactile fabric.

I have either got 2.5 more colour stripes to go or 19.5 if I'm doing the colour range one more time.

Decisions, decisions!
It would probably benefit from being bigger but I think I'm about ready to move onto another project and want to goet this one completed.

Ah, this is what I need to know! But mine is only cot blanket sized and 2'3 rows in!

I have just found out that a couple of friends are pregnant so will be starting cot blankets soonish.
How big have you made yours?