Edging Rows 3-4 and Tassels
Welcome to the Final Part of the Drift Throw Crochet Along.
Well lovely people, here we are!
After weeks of stitching, learning new techniques, repeating rows, sharing progress, helping one another and generally drifting along together, we’ve reached the final part of the Drift Throw Crochet Along.
This week we’re adding the finishing touches that bring the whole piece together; the final edging rows and those beautiful, knotted tassels.
If you’ve done other Ray’s Room blanket projects before, you’ll already know how much I love a tassel. But for Drift I wanted to try something a little different. We’re creating macramé-inspired knotted tassels which felt like the perfect finishing touch for the natural, beachy, boho feel of this throw. It’s a technique I hadn’t used in a Ray’s Room blanket before, so I couldn’t resist sharing something new with you.
I’ve also shared a video tutorial to accompany this final section if you’d like a little extra guidance with the tassels.
Final Edging & Tassels
Abbreviations
Pattern notes
This pattern is written using UK terminology.
Refer to my previous blogs for Part 1-4 of this pattern. You'll also find a blog post on the inspiration behind the Drift Throw and What you'll need. You will need to start there before moving on to this blog post, part 5.
Turning chain at the beginning of each row is counted in your stitch count.
At the beginning of a row after turning chain the first stitch is worked into the stitch at the base of the turning chain. At the end of a row your last stitch is worked into the last actual stitch of the row, not into the turning chain from the beginning of the last row.
Edging Rows 3-4
Edging row 3-4 - Turn, ch2, htr in each stitch to the end (152)
After edging row 4, fasten off.
Sew in any ends.
Tassels
Next up - macramé-inspired knotted tassels to really set this off!
Spacing
We’re going to evenly space 26 tassels along both the top and bottom edges of the blanket (along edging row 1 and edging row 4). We need one in the first stitch, one in the last and the rest evenly spaced in between.
To get them looking evenly spaced you’re going to space them 6 stitches apart. So that's one tassel in stitch 1, another tassel in stitch 7, another tassel in stitch 13 (5 empty stitches in between each tassel) and so on until you get to the final two tassels where you’ll have an extra stitch. So the last two tassels will be 7 stitches apart (6 empty stitches in between the penultimate and last tassel)
Making the tassels
Using Colour A
To make the first and last tassels cut 3 lengths of yarn, 40 cm long.
For all other tassels cut 6 lengths of yarn, 40 cm long.
Working one tassel at a time, take the lengths of yarn and fold them in half. Then using a chunky crochet hook (I recommend between 5.5-7.5mm) hook the folded loop end through the two strands on the edge of the stitch. With the looped end poking through, bring the other end of the tassel through the loop and pull it tight to secure. Repeat this with 26 tassels spaced out as explained above.
Knotting
Take the first tassel and half (six strands) of the second tassel, pass the second under the first, bring it back over the front of the first tassel, round the back, up through the space between the two and down through the loop you’ve now created to form a knot. Pull it tight while adjusting the positioning so the knot sits evenly between the two tassel starting points.
Now take the remaining half of the second tassel, take half (six strands) of the third tassel and tie them in the same way as detailed above. Repeat this all the way along with all tassels. At the last tassel you’re not going to split it, but tie the whole tassel to the remaining half of the penultimate tassel.
Trim your tassels so they look relatively straight. No real need for rulers here just a trim to a regular length is perfect for this laid back coastal dream of a throw.
Check out my video tutorial for this on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
And just like that… your Drift Throw is complete!
Before I leave you to enjoy finishing your blankets, I just want to say thank you.
Thank you for choosing to spend your time making Drift.
Thank you for embracing the new techniques, trusting the process, sharing your progress, encouraging one another, answering questions, cheering each other on and creating such a wonderfully supportive community around this project.
One of my favourite things about designing isn’t actually the finished pattern. It’s seeing what happens when creative people come together around a shared project, and you’ve all made this Crochet Along feel incredibly special.
Now comes the exciting bit…
If you’ve finished your Drift Throw (or you’re nearly there!) I’d absolutely LOVE to see it.
Please share your photos in the Ray’s Room communities and across your social media channels too.
Tag:
@tash_raysroom on TikTok
I’ll be sharing tagged Drift Throws to Ray’s Room Stories so we can all celebrate your beautiful creations together.
From the bottom of my heart. Thank you for drifting along with me. I hope you've loved every moment as much as I have.
With love,
Tash x
ps. If you're now wondering what to work on next, check out the Ray's Room shop for more craft patterns, kits and workshops.