Bringing It All Together – Joining and Border Tutorial for the Garden Medley Blanket

We’ve made it! All the squares are finished, and now it’s time to bring everything together. This is where your Garden Medley Blanket really comes to life. The moment when all those bees, butterflies, leaves, and flowers turn into one beautiful finished piece.

If you’ve been following along since week one, I just want to say how amazing it’s been seeing everyone’s progress. Whether you’ve kept up week by week or you’re catching up at your own pace, this stage is such a satisfying part of the project.

Before we start joining, take a moment to lay out all your squares. If you’ve been playing around with your own layout, this is when you’ll finalize it.

You can use the recommended layout below, or go completely your own way. Once you’re happy with how everything looks, it’s time to get your hook ready for the finishing touches.

Before You Start

You’ll need around 872 yards / 800 meters of Ecru (A) for joining and the border. We’ll also continue using the same 5 mm crochet hook (or whichever size you’ve used throughout the project).

Here’s what we’ll be doing today:

1. Add a single crochet border around each square to tidy up the edges.
2. Slip stitch the squares together using your hook (no sewing needed!).
3. Finish with a camel stitch border to give your blanket that lovely, textured edge.

This part of the project really ties everything together, both literally and visually.

Adding a Border

Before joining, we will add a simple single crochet border around each square. This helps create clean edges and makes seaming easier later. It is recommended that you block each individual square before adding the border.

Using Ecru (A) and with the right side facing you, attach your yarn in any corner.

*Work 1 SC in each st/row along the edge. At the corner, work (1 SC, ch 2, 1 SC) all into same st. Repeat from * around. When you reach the corner where you began, work (1 SC, ch 2) into the same st as your first SC, then sl st to the first SC to join. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Joining the Squares – Horizontal Seams

Lay out your squares in the correct order, following the diagram provided. You’ll join all the horizontal seams first, then move on to the vertical ones after.

Using Ecru (A), make a slip knot on your hook.

• Right-handed crocheters: Start with the first two squares on the right-hand side of Row 1 and Row 2.
  
• Left-handed crocheters: Start with the first two squares on the left-hand side of Row 1 and Row 2.

Hold the two squares with wrong sides facing each other, matching stitches along the edges. Join your yarn in the ch-2 corner space of both squares by inserting your hook through both ch spaces and working a SC join.

Then continue to work 1 SC through the outer loops only of both squares across the edge.

When you reach the end of the squares, work 1 SC into the ch-2 corner space on both squares, then continue straight into the next pair without fastening off or slip stitching between them.

Once all eight squares in the row are joined, fasten off and repeat the process for each remaining row.

Joining the Squares – Vertical Seams

Once all the horizontal seams are complete, it’s time to join the rows together vertically.

Using Ecru (A), make a slip knot on your hook and hold the two rows with the wrong sides facing each other.

Join your yarn in the ch-2 corner space of both squares by inserting your hook through both ch spaces and working a SC join.

Then continue to work 1 SC through the outer loops only of both squares across the edge.

Continue in this way across the entire edge, keeping your stitches aligned. When you reach the next corner, work 1 SC into the ch-2 corner space of both squares.

Then, work directly over the top of the seam to keep the join smooth and continuous. Do not work into the seam itself; skip over it and insert your hook directly into the ch-2 corner space of the next two squares. Continue working SC through the outer loops only as before.

Blanket Border

Once all of the squares are joined, we will finish off the blanket with a camel stitch border. If you’re new to this stitch, you might find my camel stitch video tutorial helpful for this step. With the right side facing you, join Ecru (A) in the middle SC of any corner (the second of the three corner stitches).

Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 HDC in each stitch and seam along the edge, *at the corner work (1 HDC, Ch 2, 1 HDC) all into the same corner stitch, work 1 HDC in each stitch and seam along the edge, repeat from * around. In the last corner, work (1 HDC, Ch 2) and sl st to the first HDC to join. 

Rounds 2-4: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 HDC into the ch-2 corner space, work 1 HDC in the back loop only of each stitch, *at the corner work (1 HDC, Ch 2, 1 HDC) all into the Ch-2 corner space, work 1 HDC in the back loop only of each stitch, repeat from * around. In the last corner, work (1 HDC, Ch 2) and sl st to the first HDC to join. 

Note: You can repeat this round as many times as you like to make the border thicker.

Final Round: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), work 1 sl st into the ch-2 corner space, work 1 sl st in the back loop only of each stitch, *at the corner work (1 sl st, Ch 2, 1 sl st) all into the Ch-2 corner space, work 1 sl st in the back loop only of each stitch, repeat from * around. In the last corner, work (1 sl st, Ch 2) and sl st to the first sl st to join. Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Finishing Touches

Once your border is complete, block your finished blanket one last time. This will help smooth everything out and make your stitches sit beautifully. Lay it flat on blocking mats, pin it in place, and steam it lightly without touching the surface.

After that, your Garden Medley Blanket is officially done!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this CAL as much as I have. It’s been so lovely seeing everyone’s creativity shine through. If you’ve made it this far, make sure to share your finished blanket using #GardenMedleyCAL so I can see and share your work.

If you’ve fallen in love with the garden theme, you’ll definitely want to check out the Bloom & Buzz Bundle. It includes two matching cushions that were designed to go perfectly with the Garden Medley Blanket. The colors, motifs, and textures all tie together beautifully, so it’s a great way to expand your collection and create a full, cohesive set for your home.

Thank you for joining me on this colorful, garden-inspired journey. I can’t wait to show you what’s next!