Blue and Cream Hourglass Block Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

This blue and cream bed cover is made from square blocks, and each block hides a clever little design. Every square is split from corner to corner into four triangles. The top triangle is a solid denim blue, the bottom triangle is a solid light sky blue, and the two side triangles are cream granny clusters with tiny open holes. When the blocks are joined all facing the same way, the cream triangles meet to form cream diamonds, and the two blues meet to form two-tone blue diamonds. The result looks like an old patchwork quilt made in yarn, with a calm, coastal feel.

Each block is worked in one piece from the center out, just like a classic granny square. The difference is that each side of the square uses its own yarn and its own stitch. On the two blue sides, you work solid rows of double crochet. On the two cream sides, you work classic granny clusters of three double crochet with a chain space between them. Because every round grows outward on all four sides at once, each side becomes a triangle, and the diagonal lines between the colors run neatly from the center to the corners.

To keep each color on its own side, you use four small yarn bobbins: one denim, one sky blue and two cream. You turn your work at the end of every round, so each bobbin is always waiting at the right corner when you need it. This also keeps the block square and flat, because turned rounds stop the twist that granny squares sometimes get. After eight rounds, a final round of sky blue single crochet frames the whole block and gives it that crisp light blue outline you see in the photo.

The finished bed cover measures about 102 by 110 inches. That is 12 blocks across and 13 blocks down, which makes 156 blocks, each about 8.5 inches square after blocking. On a queen bed, the cover lies across the top and drops about 21 inches on each side and about 30 inches at the foot, so it reaches toward the floor on most frames. I used worsted weight matte cotton with a 4.5 mm hook. The section on switching things up gives you block counts for twin, full, king, a throw, a baby blanket and matching pillows.

The finished cover feels solid and cozy, with just enough lace to keep it light. The blue triangles are firm and warm, and the cream granny triangles add texture and little peeks of air. Cotton makes it breathable, so it works well in spring and summer and layers nicely over a quilt in winter. Blue and cream is a timeless pair, and it suits a beach cottage, a farmhouse guest room or a simple modern bedroom. After the first wash, the stitches soften and the blocks settle into a relaxed drape that only gets better with use.

This pattern suits an intermediate crocheter who knows granny squares well and is ready to try simple color work with bobbins. The color changes take a few blocks to feel natural, but once you get the rhythm, the blocks work up steadily. The stitches are basic, so you can relax and enjoy the process. Every block is small and portable, which makes this a lovely long project to carry with you. A few blocks a week will slowly become a stack, and that stack will one day become a bed cover you keep for the rest of your life.

I love this bed cover because it looks so much harder than it really is. When people see it, they think each triangle was made separately and sewn in. The truth is that each block is just a granny square with a little color trick. I still smile when I finish a round and see the diagonal lines grow sharper and longer. It feels a bit like magic, and it never gets old, even after more than a hundred and fifty blocks.

Blue and cream are my favorite colors for a bedroom. They remind me of a seaside cottage, of blue china on a kitchen shelf and of crisp sheets drying on a line. Two shades of blue give the design depth, so the blue diamonds look like they are lit by sunshine from one side. The cream granny clusters keep the whole piece soft and bright. Together they make a room feel calm, clean and welcoming, which is exactly what I want in a place where I rest.

I also love the way the two textures play together. The solid triangles are smooth and sturdy, and the granny triangles are open and lacy. That mix gives the bed cover a handmade patchwork look that you cannot get with just one stitch. When light falls across the bed, the little holes in the cream clusters cast tiny shadows, and the whole surface comes alive. It is a quiet kind of beauty, but you notice it every time you walk into the room.

• Each block is made in one piece, with no triangles to sew.
• Turned rounds keep every square flat and straight.
• Only three colors, easy to shop for.
• A classic quilt look that suits almost any bedroom.

This project is wonderfully portable too. I kept a small basket with my four bobbins and a hook, and I made blocks on the porch in the mornings and in my reading chair at night. The bobbins look fussy at first, but they hang neatly from the block and never tangle if you turn the work the right way. One block takes a little over an hour, which is the perfect size for an evening. Watching the stack grow week by week kept me happy and motivated.

Making this cover taught me a lot about color work. I learned how to twist yarns at a color change so no holes form, how to keep bobbins short so they stay tidy, and how much a final outline round can pull a design together. These are skills I now use in many other projects. If you have made granny squares before and want a gentle step forward, this bed cover is a lovely way to grow your skills while making something you will treasure.

The first and simplest change is the color palette. Keep the layout and swap the two blues for two shades of another color. Sage green and soft mint with cream feels fresh and earthy. Dusty rose and blush pink with ivory looks romantic and vintage. Charcoal grey and dove grey with white gives a crisp modern look. Mustard and butter yellow with cream feels warm and sunny. The trick is to choose one darker shade for the top triangle and one lighter shade for the bottom, so the diamonds keep their two-tone glow.

You can make this bed cover for any bed size by changing the number of blocks. Each block is about 8.5 inches square, so divide your bed width and length, including the drop, by 8.5. Here are the counts I use:

• Twin: 9 by 12 blocks, 108 blocks, about 77 by 102 inches.
• Full: 11 by 12 blocks, 132 blocks, about 94 by 102 inches.
• Queen: 12 by 13 blocks, 156 blocks, about 102 by 110 inches.
• King: 14 by 13 blocks, 182 blocks, about 119 by 110 inches.

For a sofa throw, join 6 blocks across and 7 blocks down. That is 42 blocks and finishes at about 51 by 60 inches. A throw is a great way to try the pattern before you commit to a whole bed cover. It also makes a thoughtful gift, because it looks like a family heirloom even though it takes only a month or so of evenings. Fold it at the foot of a bed or drape it over a reading chair, and it instantly makes the space feel cozy.

A baby blanket works beautifully as well. Join 4 blocks across and 4 down for 16 blocks, about 34 inches square. Choose a soft cotton or a cotton blend in gentle shades like pale blue, powder blue and white, or blush, rose and cream. The small holes in the granny triangles are tiny, so this makes a cozy stroller or crib rail blanket. Add the full border so the edges stay firm through many washes. New parents love a handmade blanket they can keep long after the baby years.

You can also turn the blocks to make new layouts. If you rotate every other block by a quarter turn, the cream diamonds and blue diamonds turn into a pinwheel pattern. If you rotate whole rows, you get zigzag stripes across the bed. Lay out a few blocks on the floor and try different turns before you start joining. Each layout uses the same blocks, so you can decide once your stack is finished.

To make matching pillows, join 3 blocks across and 2 blocks down for a 25 by 17 inch panel, which fits a standard pillow. Make two panels and join them on three sides with sky blue single crochet, slip in the pillow and close the last side. For a lumbar pillow, join 3 blocks in a single row for the front and back. Use a pillow insert in cream or light blue so the small holes show a matching color. Matching pillows make the whole bed look planned and finished.

Finally, you can change the yarn weight or the edge. In DK cotton with a 4 mm hook, each block is about 7 inches square, so a queen needs about 15 by 16 blocks. In bulky yarn with a 6 mm hook, a block grows to about 11 inches, and a queen needs only about 9 by 10 blocks. For the edge, you can add a picot after every fifth stitch in the last round, or work a few extra rounds of denim and sky blue stripes for a wider frame. Always make one test block first and measure it after blocking.