How to Crochet a Ribbed Border

How to crochet a ribbed border

Learn how to crochet a ribbed border for edging necklines, sleeves, scarves, and more. In this post and video I’m using my free children’s pattern, Roland Poncho, as an example.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for details.

Where can I use crochet ribbed borders?

You can use ribbed borders or edgings in many crochet projects! Blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, pants, shorts, boot cuffs, almost any crochet project could have one.

In the video and pictures here I’ve crocheted a ribbed border on a poncho sweater. This crochet poncho is a free pattern here on my website called Roland Poncho, a children’s crochet poncho.

How do you add a ribbed edge to crochet?

Well, as usual with crochet, there is more than one way to do this. In the video here you’ll see my favorite way to do this, and one of the easiest.

We start by working a row of double crochet stitches across the edge on which we want to place the border. While working this first row of the edging you want to have the right side of your work facing you.

If you are working across row ends you might wonder where to place your hook. There are a few guidelines, but no exactly right or wrong place to put it. First, always place your hook under at least two strands of yarn. Second, be consistent. The more consistent you are with hook placement, the better your edging will look.

For the second row, you begin by chaining 2 for a turning chain. Then you alternate half double crochet stitches with back post double crochet stitches.

On the third row, you will again start with a chain 2 for the turning chain. Then you will alternate half double crochet stitches with front post double crochet stitches.

The post stitches pull the posts of those stitches toward the front side of the fabric, making a raised line. Since we alternate them with the half double crochet stitches, which are not raised, we get ribbing. You can apply this same edging to anything you want.

What crochet stitches are best for ribbing?

As explained above, I like to use post stiches for ribbing. They pull the post of the stitch out, creating a raised line. I like the look of post stitch ribbing as an edging.

Another common way to make ribbing is with single crochet in the back loop. I often use this method of ribbing when I am making the ribbing first. It’s possible to use this type of ribbing afterward to add an edging, it’s just a little more complicated to explain this method in a pattern when you add it after crocheting the rest of the piece.

This type of ribbing is a little more stretchy than post stitch ribbing, though, so it can be a good choice for edging hats or making mitten cuffs.

How to crochet a ribbed border video tutorial

Watch the video below to learn how to double crochet across one edge and then use post stitches to create a textured, ribbed edging.

Roland Poncho tutorials

If you are making my Roland Poncho, you’ll find the other tutorials for its construction below.

Learn to crochet the side panels

Learn to crochet the center lace panel

How to assemble the panels of the Roland Poncho

Now hopefully you’ve learned to crochet a ribbed border and ready to put this to use in your own projects! I’d love to see your work! Come join my Facebook group and share your work there.

Happy stitching,

Save this for later with Pinterest!