How to Crochet a Foundation Row for a V-Stitch Blanket

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Looking to add a nice border to your crochet blanket? First, you need to crochet a foundation row for a v-stitch blanket.

After crocheting a lovely blanket, it’s nice to add a border to it. It gives it a nice, finished look. I always find it easier to start with a foundation row.

What is a Foundation Row?

A foundation row is a row of single crochets, all around the perimeter of your crocheted blanket. This serves as a nice base for whatever border you want to do.

Depending on the stitch you used to crochet your blanket, adding a border is not always easy. For instance, a more lacy pattern can have more holes and gaps in the pattern. Simply crocheting your border right away can cause pulling and more gaping than you want.

Having a simple single crochet border helps you maintain the pattern of your crochet blanket while serving as a nice foundation for the border.

But as mentioned, it may not necessarily be as simple as single crocheting all the way around.

How to Crochet a Foundation Row for a V-Stitch Blanket

I recently finished making up a v-stitch baby blanket for a friend. The v-stitch is quick and easy to do and results in a lovely texture. Read about how to make a v-stitch baby blanket here.

One of the challenges I face when doing a foundation row is doing too many stitches or even doing the right amount of stitches (matching it stitch for stitch). For some reason, it always seems bigger and results in a funny wave in my blanket. Now I am a loose crocheter – and perhaps that is part of the issue.

Previously, I’ve done a foundation row in a C2C blanket, which with its alternating angles of stitches can be challenging. In the post on the V-Stitch baby blanket, I incorporated that foundation row technique but still encounter some waves.

But I have figured out a way to crochet a foundation row on the v-stitch blanket, keeping it neat and intact. For me, the trick is to actually crochet fewer stitches. This results in a nice and neat foundation row.

Now keep in mind that this will not work for everyone – especially if you are a tight crocheter; it’ll end up even tighter! This technique has a bit of stretch, so if it ends up a bit snug (or bowing in), you can block it and stretch it out.

Foundation Row: the Sides of the V-Stitch Blanket

Let’s continue on to crochet a foundation row for a v-stitch blanket. The sides of my v-stitch blanket consist of double crochet stitches. I used to simply single crochet twice around the entire double crochet stitch on the edge, but it resulted in gaping and pulling.

My solution was to limit the number of stitches around the double crochet. So now what I do is one single crochet around the double crochet and then I chain 1. So for each double crochet stitch, it is a single crochet stitch and a chain 1. That’s 2 stitches for each double crochet. As mentioned, I am a loose crocheter, so 2 stitches work well for the length of the double crochet. If you are a tight crocheter, you may wish to try chaining 2 stitches and see if it works better.

Look at how nice and neat that looks. As you can see – 2 stitches (the single crochet and the chain) work nicely for that double crochet edge.

Foundation Row: the Top and the Bottom

Now for my v-stitch blanket, this is the actual v-stitches with a space in between (if you are at the bottom).

For the top, I crochet one single crochet in the middle of the v-stitch (the top, open part of the V) and one single crochet in between each v-stitch.

For the bottom, I crochet one single crochet in the middle of the v-stitch (so the bottom part of the V) and one single crochet in between each v-stitch.

Look at how nice and neat the foundation row looks. Now I’m ready to crochet the border of my choosing.

For me, a foundation row is crucial when adding a border to any blanket. Even if you are doing a simple border, the foundation row makes everything lay flat and look nice.

Again, don’t forget that while this works for me and my crochet blankets, it may not necessarily work for you. But if you find yourself with borders too big and long and that resulting wavy look, consider trying to crochet a foundation row for a v-stitch blanket.

I guess my problem is that I’m not consistent in my crochet, in terms of tension. That’s what you get when you pick up and put down a project often. Perhaps if I had the time (and energy!) to crochet a blanket in one fell swoop, it would turn out more evenly.

Want to remember how to crochet a foundation row for a v-stitch blanket? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.