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If you took part in the Greenwich Mystery CAL last year, you’ll probably have 12 beautifully crocheted panels staring at you now begging to be sewn into a blanket that you can cuddle with all 2021 (and beyond!) long. Here are the instructions on how to join your blanket panels together.

Everyone is different, and each blanket will have your own unique spin on it, so there’s no reason this uniqueness should stop with the joining and bordering of your blanket. For this reason, I’ve copied lots of useful links that I have tried and tested so that you can pick a joining method and border style that suits YOU.

#1 – Border your Individual Panels

When bordering your panels – make sure each side of every panel has the same number of stitches. This will help in the joining process.

At this point, you may also decide that you want a thicker border around each square… this is the time to add more rounds to your panels – again, ensure that you repeat this for the same number of times around each panel.

At this point, you may want to decide on your entire blankets border (scroll to Step 4) as this will help you determine how many stitches you would need for particular styles, i.e. multiples of 3, and so you need to ensure that the number of stitches your individual panels end up with when worked side-by-side is enough to account for this final border.

#2 – Block your Individual Panels

At this point, blocking doesnt have to be perfect. What you want is to make sure all your panels are the same size. This again, helps with joining and helps keep things from going wonky…. we want a rectangular blanket at the end of this after all!

It doesn’t matter what size your panels are so long as they are all the same. Everyone has a different gauge and has used different yarns so I cannot give foolproof sizing. Go with your gut!

I like to ‘stack and spray’ my squares, so instead of making sure theyre soaking wet, I gently pull the first one to the size I want, pin it down and spray it with water. I then stack the next square on top, spray and stack the next. This helps me ensure they’re all the same size as each other.

If you’re using acrylic or any kind of synthetic fibre, avoid ‘hot blocking’ as the heat will potentially melt or burn your piece.

#3 – Joining Your Panels

This is the fun part! I’ve attached videos of my FAVOURITE joining methods, but again, you don’t need to commit to any of these and there are thousands of ways of joining and most of them are documented on YouTube.

Invisible Joining Seam

This is BY FAR my most favourite way of joining, as it is SO easy and gives a really polished look. There is no visible seam and only requires a tapestry needle. This is the way I recommend joining your squares, but it depends on the look you want to achieve.

Slip Stitch Join

This is a really easy beginner-friendly join. It leaves a ridged seam that’s visible, but this is a great way of introducing colour and texture between your panels. All you need is your hook!

Braided Join

This join is not for the faint hearted. Its a variation of the Slip Stitch Join above but with an added step that gives it a bit more texture and looks amazing. Again, an opportunity to explore colour to make the braid really pop.

#4 – Border Your Blanket

Once you’ve completed the joining process, its time to put a border around your entire blanket. Again, the style is entirely up to you, but I’ve attached some of my favourite methods below.

UK Dc / US Sc border with a Final round of Crab Stitch

I’m a big believer in that sometimes ‘less is more’, and with the multitude of colours used in this blanket, a simple border of UK Dc/US Sc might be enough. But then to really finish the piece, a simple, yet effective crab stitch around the final round gives a beautiful hint of texture.

Simple Waves

This border is great for a more ambitious crocheter who loves texture. Its slightly more complex, but gives a beautiful polished result.

Pom Pom

This one is for any lovers of anything folky… in my opinion. I LOVE a pom pom border and it screams whimsy for me. Its really easy once you get the hang of it.

#5 – Weave in Ends & Block Your Final Blanket

This is the part you’ve been waiting for – the final hurdle! Your blanket is all joined, your border has been applied and you might be thinking “well I’m done now” but alas, there is one more step!

As you’ve been joining panels and adding borders, things may have become a bit skew-iff as you’ve gone on. This final block ensures your blanket stays rectangular. So following Step 2 above, pin your blanket to shape and block – you might need a lot of foam boards and/or a mattress for this one!

And once its dried – you are DONE!

Congratulations on completing your Greenwich Mystery CAL! I would absolutely adore seeing them. So please, either post them to our Facebook group, email them to me or tag me on Instagram so that I can see all the beautiful combinations! Thank you so much for taking part!