Adding a Crochet Edge to Paper - Valentines & Frames

I am so excited to finally share this fun crochet project! For the past month I've been trying to come up with a way to use my old 2011 calendars. They were far to pretty to just put in the recycling bin so I decided to recycle them in my own way. I initially thought I wanted to make a bunting, then a photo album, but I knew I had to incorporate some yarn into this project. So I decided to add a pretty crochet edge to the paper to make some art for my walls and valentine cards! 

For this project you will need:

- Yarn. I used a relatively thin yarn to make sure it would fit through the holes and not be too bulky.

- A crochet hook. A smaller crochet hook works best, so I used a G6. 

- Thick paper, not easily torn. You need to make sure the hole doesn't rip when you are crocheting around the edge. 

- A single hole punch or needle to puncture the paper. 

Directions:

1. Cut out your desired shape. For the valentine I simply drew a heart and cut it out. It's a little lopsided but I think that's cute! 

2. Punch holes around the edge of your shape far enough away from the edge so it won't tear easily. I spaced mine about an inch apart. 

3. Slip your first stitch into one of the holes. Chain a desired amount of stitches (I did about 3 or 4 chs) and slip stitch into the next hole. When you come to a corner, slip two stitches into the same hole. Repeat this process around until you are back at the beginning and join with a slip stitch (sl st). I used two types of edging, scallop and picot. 

For scallop edging (pictured above)....

- Sl st into the space underneath the chains from the previous round. Add 1 single crochet (sc), 1 double crochet (dc), 1 sc, and then end with a sl st in that same space. Repeat this pattern all the way around until you reach the beginning. Join with a sl st and bind off. Weave in your ends. 

For picot edging (pictured above)...

- Sl st into the space underneath the chains from the previous round. Add 2 sc, ch 3, sc into your last sc stitch, sc, and end with a sl st. Repeat this pattern all the way around until you reach the beginning. Join with a sl st and bind off. Weave in your ends. 

4. If you are creating a piece of art to hang on the wall, ch your desired number of stitches so you can decide how high or low you want it to hang on the wall. I ch 30 for my string. 

5. All finished! Hang it up or mail it to someone you love! :-)

I hope you all enjoy this project! I certainly did. I'm addicted to crocheting on paper now. It's such a great way to give something I would normally toss out a new life!

Because I love you all so much I would like to send the first five U.S. citizens who comment on this post a crochet Valentine from me to you! Please leave your email address and I will contact you shortly. I wanted to do this just for fun because I love getting mail and I'm sure a lot of you do too! :-)