A-B-C-D Bobble Letter Border

Intermediate Textured Crochet Blanket Border

A clean half-double-crochet border featuring four raised bobble-stitch letters—A, B, C and D—one centered on each side of the blanket. Worked in joined rounds onto a finished blanket whose edges measure 74 stitches (top & bottom) and 68 stitches (sides).

Finished border width: approximately 2½″ (6.5 cm)
Skill level: Intermediate

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn (category 4), approximately 350 yd (320 m) for the border
• Crochet hook size I/9 (5.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers (8)
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Gauge

15 hdc and 10 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in hdc
(Bobble fabric is slightly denser; measure gauge in plain hdc.)

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch – chain
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sl st – slip stitch
• hdc – half double crochet
• Bo – bobble (see Special Stitch)
• sp – space
• pm – place marker
• rep – repeat
• rnd – round

Special Stitch

Bobble (Bo):
Yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook);
[yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops] 4 times (6 loops on hook);
yo, draw through all 6 loops on hook. Ch 1 to close.
(The ch-1 does not count as a stitch; skip it when working the next stitch.)

Notes

• Border is worked in joined rounds with right side always facing.
• Blanket edge counts given: 74 sts top, 74 sts bottom, 68 sts each side (corner stitches not included in these counts).
• Corner treatment: (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in each ch-2 corner space every round.
• Letters are 5 stitches wide and 5 rounds tall. Centering:
  – Top & bottom (74 sts): 34 plain hdc, 5 letter sts, 35 plain hdc.
  – Sides (68 sts): 31 plain hdc, 5 letter sts, 32 plain hdc.
• Move markers up each round.
• Keep bobble tension even so letters remain crisp; do not pull closing ch-1 too tight.

Stitch Diagrams (Letter Graphs)

Work Bo in the stitches marked “B”; work hdc in stitches marked “·”.
Read every round right-to-left on the right side (as crocheted).

Letter A (top edge)
Rnd 5: B · · · B
Rnd 4: B · · · B
Rnd 3: B B B B B
Rnd 2: B · · · B
Rnd 1: B · B · B

Letter B (right edge)
Rnd 5: B B B B ·
Rnd 4: B · · · B
Rnd 3: B B B B ·
Rnd 2: B · · · B
Rnd 1: B B B B ·

Letter C (bottom edge)
Rnd 5: · B B B B
Rnd 4: B · · · ·
Rnd 3: B · · · ·
Rnd 2: B · · · ·
Rnd 1: · B B B B

Letter D (left edge)
Rnd 5: B B B B ·
Rnd 4: B · · · B
Rnd 3: B · · · B
Rnd 2: B · · · B
Rnd 1: B B B B ·

Border Instructions

Setup – Join yarn
With right side facing, join yarn with sl st in any corner stitch of the blanket.

Rnd 1 (foundation hdc):
Ch 2 (counts as first hdc here and throughout), hdc in same corner st, ch 2, hdc in same corner st (first corner made),
*hdc in each of next 74 (top) sts, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next corner st,
hdc in each of next 68 (side) sts, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next corner st;
rep from * once more, working 74 sts on bottom and 68 sts on remaining side,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.
(74 + 74 + 68 + 68 = 284 hdc + 4 corner groups ✓)
Pm in each ch-2 corner sp.

Rnd 2:
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
*hdc in each hdc to next ch-2 sp, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in ch-2 sp;
rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.
(Each side increases by 2 hdc ✓)

Rnd 3:
Rep Rnd 2.
Side counts now: top/bottom 78 hdc between corner sps; sides 72 hdc between corner sps.

Letter Band (Rnds 4–8)

Letters are worked on Rnds 4–8. All non-letter stitches and all corner stitches remain plain hdc.
Follow the graphs above for exact Bo placement. Centering offsets (after Rnd 3 growth):

• Top (A): 36 hdc, letter 5 sts, 37 hdc
• Right (B): 33 hdc, letter 5 sts, 34 hdc
• Bottom (C): 36 hdc, letter 5 sts, 37 hdc
• Left (D): 33 hdc, letter 5 sts, 34 hdc

Rnd 4 (Letter Rnd 1 – bottoms of letters):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
Top (A): hdc in next 36 hdc, work Letter A Rnd 1 (Bo, hdc, Bo, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 37 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Right (B): hdc in next 33 hdc, work Letter B Rnd 1 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, hdc), hdc in next 34 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Bottom (C): hdc in next 36 hdc, work Letter C Rnd 1 (hdc, Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo), hdc in next 37 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Left (D): hdc in next 33 hdc, work Letter D Rnd 1 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, hdc), hdc in next 34 hdc,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.
(Letter widths 5 sts each ✓; centering 36+5+37=78 and 33+5+34=72 ✓)

Rnd 5 (Letter Rnd 2):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
Top (A): hdc in next 37 hdc, work Letter A Rnd 2 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 38 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Right (B): hdc in next 34 hdc, work Letter B Rnd 2 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 35 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Bottom (C): hdc in next 37 hdc, work Letter C Rnd 2 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc), hdc in next 38 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Left (D): hdc in next 34 hdc, work Letter D Rnd 2 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 35 hdc,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.

Rnd 6 (Letter Rnd 3 – widest/bar round):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
Top (A): hdc in next 38 hdc, work Letter A Rnd 3 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo), hdc in next 39 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Right (B): hdc in next 35 hdc, work Letter B Rnd 3 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, hdc), hdc in next 36 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Bottom (C): hdc in next 38 hdc, work Letter C Rnd 3 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc), hdc in next 39 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Left (D): hdc in next 35 hdc, work Letter D Rnd 3 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 36 hdc,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.

Rnd 7 (Letter Rnd 4):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
Top (A): hdc in next 39 hdc, work Letter A Rnd 4 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 40 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Right (B): hdc in next 36 hdc, work Letter B Rnd 4 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 37 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Bottom (C): hdc in next 39 hdc, work Letter C Rnd 4 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc), hdc in next 40 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Left (D): hdc in next 36 hdc, work Letter D Rnd 4 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 37 hdc,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.

Rnd 8 (Letter Rnd 5 – tops of letters):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
Top (A): hdc in next 40 hdc, work Letter A Rnd 5 (Bo, hdc, hdc, hdc, Bo), hdc in next 41 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Right (B): hdc in next 37 hdc, work Letter B Rnd 5 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, hdc), hdc in next 38 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Bottom (C): hdc in next 40 hdc, work Letter C Rnd 5 (hdc, Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo), hdc in next 41 hdc,
(hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp,
Left (D): hdc in next 37 hdc, work Letter D Rnd 5 (Bo, Bo, Bo, Bo, hdc), hdc in next 38 hdc,
join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.
(Letters complete ✓)

Finishing Rounds

Rnd 9:
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in same sp,
*hdc in each st to next ch-2 sp, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in ch-2 sp;
rep from * around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.

Rnd 10:
Rep Rnd 9.

Rnd 11 (final edging):
Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp,
*sc in each hdc to next ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp;
rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side with yarn needle.
2. Blocking (essential for bobble definition):
   – Wet block: soak border gently, roll in towel, pin blanket to measurements with border lying flat and letters square; dry completely.
   – Or steam block: hover steam iron above bobbles (never press) to set stitches without flattening texture.
3. Check that each letter reads clearly; gently reshape any bobble with the tip of a needle if needed.

Inline math validation summary

• Original edges: 74 + 74 + 68 + 68 = 284 ✓
• Letter widths: 5 sts each ✓
• Centering after Rnd 3: 36+5+37=78 (top/bottom), 33+5+34=72 (sides) ✓
• Corner treatment identical every round → border remains flat ✓

End of pattern.