Materials
- Cotton yarn in powder blue and ivory, sport or DK weight
- Hook suited to your yarn, approximately 3–4 mm
- Two stitch markers
- Yarn needle and scissors
Make and block one sample before calculating yarn quantities or the number of motifs.
US terms
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- inc = 2 dc in the same stitch
- sp = space
Two-color spiral technique
Work with one color at a time, leaving the other color’s working loop resting on a marker. Do not cut either yarn between rounds. Before switching colors, enlarge the resting loop so it cannot unravel.
The spiral is worked continuously: do not join or turn between rounds. Mark the first stitch of each color’s section.
1. Spiral center
Round 1: With blue, make a magic ring. Into the ring, work 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc. Secure the blue working loop.
Join ivory into the same ring and work 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc. Tighten the ring gently.
12 stitches total: 6 of each color.
Round 2: Continue with ivory, working 2 dc in each of the 6 blue stitches. Secure the ivory loop.
Pick up blue and work 2 dc in each of the 6 ivory stitches from Round 1.
24 stitches total: 12 of each color.
Round 3: With each color in turn, work (dc in next stitch, inc in next stitch) 6 times, working over the opposite color’s stitches.
36 stitches total: 18 of each color.
Round 4: With each color, work (dc in next 2 stitches, inc in next stitch) 6 times.
48 stitches total.
Round 5: With each color, work (dc in next 3 stitches, inc in next stitch) 6 times.
60 stitches total.
Round 6: With each color, work (dc in next 4 stitches, inc in next stitch) 6 times.
72 stitches total: 36 of each color.
To soften the ends, replace the last three dc of each color’s Round 6 section with hdc, sc, sl st. Keep the same stitch count. Fasten off both colors.
The finished spiral should lie reasonably flat. Check this sample before making more motifs.
2. Openwork border
Join ivory in any perimeter stitch.
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in the same stitch, ch 3, skip 1 stitch, sc in the next stitch. Continue around, ending with ch 3 and skipping the last stitch. Join to the first sc.
36 chain spaces.
Round 8: Sl st into the first ch-3 space. Ch 1, sc in that space. Ch 4, sc in the next ch-3 space; repeat around. Finish with ch 4 and join to the first sc.
36 ch-4 spaces.
Round 9: In each ch-4 space, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Join and fasten off.
36 small scallops.
For a simple finish, use ivory throughout the lace border. To introduce blue around the edge, work Round 9 in blue.
3. Join the medallions
Block the motifs to the same diameter before joining.
Arrange them in staggered rows. Each interior motif will meet six neighboring motifs.
Each shared edge uses 6 consecutive scallops:
- Place neighboring motifs right sides up.
- Align their six facing scallops.
- With matching yarn, sew the top center dc of each scallop to the corresponding center dc on its neighbor.
- Keep joins relaxed so the bedspread drapes.
This arrangement leaves small decorative openings between groups of three motifs.
4. Bedspread size
Make a small joined panel first and measure it.
Your target measurements are:
- Width: mattress width plus the desired drop on both sides.
- Length: mattress length plus the desired drop at the foot.
Add motifs until the joined panel reaches those dimensions. Leave the exposed scallops as the outer edge.
5. Matching pillow
Join enough medallions to cover the front of a plain fabric cushion cover. Sew the crochet panel around its perimeter and secure a few interior joining points to support the lace.
Finishing: Weave in all ends securely, wash according to the yarn label, and dry flat while gently shaping the medallions.
