Why not double the boarder and embroider on each side? That way it would be reversible and the heavier ends would make in lay nicely.

That would make for an extremely heavy afghan, wouldn't it? Maybe that would work with 2 ply yarn. I have made very large heavy afghans in the past and find that I can't wash them in my machine --- must take to a laundramat.

I guess it might be heavy. I thought you might be able to just double the borders and fold them over so that only the top and bottom would be heavy and you could embroider upside down before folding over. Maybe I don't have a clear picture of what the afghan looks like. And I misread the first time. Thought you were going to line the whole thing. I've done that in the past and was not happy with the results. Good luck with it and be sure to post a pic. I just found this site and would love to see what others are working on.

Couldn't you do your embroidery on the surface using chain-stitch-embroidery with a crochet hook? It should be easier and reversible (provided your pattern looks okay in mirror image).

Here is a link that might be useful: How to surface crochet

Thanks so much for your help all! This is a Tunisian (afghan stitch) piece so the cross stitch embroidery is probably best. It has five vertical panels and then a top and bottom horizonal panel. The horizontal panels will be embroidered with daylilies. It really is a lovely pattern - I will post a picture if I can figure out how.

The vertical panels are done in a basket weave stitch with puff stitches on the sides and slip-stitched together. The horizontal panels are done in the basic afghan stitch for embroidering. I am done with the 5 verticals and am starting the top and bottom panels. I plan to connect them all before starting to 'decorate'.