I like the design of the blanket. I do not like the border, so I changed it. I like it better the way I made it.

Instructions for the Border

Level of difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
Requirement: Must have completed the Mayflower Baby Blanket by Tammy Hildebrand following the instructions in the online pattern (exact measurements)
Number or rows: 6 Rows
Stitches you must know:
• HDC Half Double Crochet
• Ch Chain
• DC Double Crochet
• SC Single Crochet
• Sl Slip
• 3-chain picot

Note: This border can be made on other blanket patterns if the condition for the number of 3-chain spaces in row 3 meets this specification: The 3-chain spaces should be a multiple of 3 plus 2 on each side of the blanket not counting the 3-chain spaces in the corners

The Pattern

Once the last row of Half Double Crochets (HDC) is finished, as per the pattern instruction, do not cut the yarn; instead turn the work 90 degrees and start the first row of the border on the long side of the blanket.

Row 1

Work the first row of Single Crochets (SC):

1. Chain (Ch) 1 then SC at the end of each row on the side of the blanket. The number of SC stitches will equal the number of rows.
2. When you reach the corner, Ch 2 then SC in each of the stitches of the starting chain stitch.
3. When you reach the next corner, Ch 2 again, and SC at the end of each row on the other side of the blanket. The number of SC stitches will equal the number of rows.
4. Repeat on the remaining side and two corners till you reach the first chain stitch. Ch 2 and Slip (Sl) stitch into the first chain stitch.

A row of single crochets is completed around the entire blanket

Row 2

Ch 1, and work another row of SC as follows:

• On the long sides of the blanket, work 2 SC in each SC stitch done in row 1 to double the number of stitches.
• At the top and bottom of the blanket, work 1 SC in each SC stitch done in row 1 to keep the same number of stitches.
• When you reach the 2-chain space at the corners: SC, Ch 2, SC in the 2-chain space. Repeat this for ALL 4 corners.
• Sl stitch into the first chain stitch to complete the row.

A second row of single crochets is completed around the entire blanket

Row 3

To make 3-chain spaces around the blanket, proceed as follows:

• On both sides of the blanket, Ch 3, skip 3 stitches, and SC in 4th stitch. Total of 38 3-chain spaces on each side.
• At the top and bottom of the blanket, SC, Ch 3, skip 2 stitches, and SC in 3rd stitch. Total of 35 3-chain spaces at the top and the bottom.
• In the 2-chain spaces at each of the 4 corners, SC, chain 3, SC.

Important to Note

• This row will not start at the corner, it starts at the side. At the end of the row you will work the fourth corner and one 3-chain space before you Sl stitch into the starting chain stitch.

• The count of the 3-chain spaces given excludes the chain 3 spaces of the 4 corners.

• The 3-chain space count is important for the pattern to work well in row 4. The 3-chain spaces should be a multiple of 3 plus 2 excluding the corners.

To maintain the needed count, you may adjust by altering the number of skipped SC (increase or decrease as needed) to get the exact number of chain spaces. For example, in my project the count was one 3-chain space short at the top and bottom borders, so I had to improvise.
If you follow the pattern and find that you got only 34 3-chain spaces at the top or at the bottom adjust to add one chain space. This pattern worked well for me on the sides.

Ensure that the number of the 3-chain spaces matches the requirement before you proceed

Row 4

To create an alternating fan and 3-chain spaces, proceed as follows:

1. Sl stitch once or twice to get to the middle of the second 3-chain space on the side (not counting the corner chain space).
2. Starting at the middle of the second 3-chain space make 7 Double Crochets (DC) in the next 3-chain space, SC in the next 3-chain space, Ch 3, SC in the next 3-chain space
3. Repeat the stitches between brackets … in step 2 until you reach the last 3-chain space on the side, excluding the corner 3-chain.
4. In the corner 3-chain space make 5 DC, Ch 2, 5 DC, turn to bottom border of blanket and SC in first 3-chain space, chain 3, SC in the next 3-chain space.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 on all the sides till you reach the fourth corner 3-chain space.
6. In the fourth corner 3-chain space make 5 DC, Ch 2, 5 DC, turn to the side and SC in the first chain space on the side, Ch 1, HDC in the initial slip stitch you made at the beginning of the row.

Row 4 is complete. You are now at the middle of the first 3-chain space on the side. This is the starting point for the next row

Row 5

From the starting point, proceed as follows to complete the fans:

1. Working in the 7 DC of the fan created in row 4, DC 1 and Ch 1 six times and DC 1, then SC in the 3-chain space repeat stitches in … till you reach the corner fan.
2. At the corner fan and working in the DC stitches of the fan, DC and Ch 1 five times, DC in the 2-chain space, Ch 2, DC in the 2-chain space again, Ch 1 and DC in the next 5 stitches, turn the work and SC in the first 3-chain space at the other side.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 to complete all the sides and the 4 corners, then Sl stitch at the starting point to complete the row.

Row 5 is complete. You have fans all around the blanket border

Row 6

Working in the fan stitches, proceed as follows:

1. Ch 1, (SC 2 in the chain stitch, 3-chain picot, skip the next DC) 5 times, skip the SC repeat stitches between … starting at the first chain stitch in the next fan till you reach the 2 chain space at the corner.
2. In the 2-chain space at the corner, SC 2, Ch 1, SC 2, 3-chain picot, skip DC, SC 2 in next chain stitch) 5 times, skip the SC.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 till you reach the starting point, Sl stitch into the first Ch stitch.
4. Weave in the ends.

Congratulations The border is complete