Yellow Fan Scale Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

This yellow bed cover is made from hundreds of little lace fans, and together they look like warm golden fish scales spread across the bed. Each fan has a solid half-circle at its center, a ring of radiating spokes, a solid band and a scalloped edge of shells. The fans are arranged in offset rows, and each one tucks neatly under the scalloped edges of the two fans above it. All the scallops point toward the foot of the bed, so the cover seems to flow down the bed like water. At the sides and foot, the outer fans make a soft scalloped edge that hangs toward the floor.

Each fan is worked in turned rows from a small ring. You begin with a solid half-circle of double crochet, growing over three rows. Then you work two rows of spokes, double crochet with chain spaces between them, so the fan opens up like a little sunburst. A solid row of double crochet closes the spokes and gives the fan strength, and a row of chain loops prepares for the edge. In the last row, you work a shell of seven double crochet into each loop, which makes the pretty scalloped border and the round shapes you see in the photo.

The fans are joined in two ways. Side by side, each new fan links to the fan on its left at the tip of its first shell as you work the last row, so the row of fans holds together. Then each fan is tucked behind the two fans in the row above, with its straight top edge hidden under their scallops, and sewn in place. That overlap is what creates the beautiful scale look. It also hides the straight edges of every fan, so all you see is a sea of scallops, spokes and solid curves.

The finished bed cover measures about 95 by 105 inches. It uses 276 fans in 29 rows that alternate between 10 and 9 fans. Each fan is about 9.5 inches wide and 4.75 inches tall, and each new row adds about 3.5 inches in length because of the overlap. On a queen bed, the cover lies across the top and drops about 17 inches on each side and about 25 inches at the foot, with the fans reaching toward the floor. I used worsted weight matte cotton with a 4.5 mm hook, which gives crisp spokes and full, rounded shells.

The finished cover has a lovely weight and a soft, flowing drape. Because the fans overlap, the cover is denser than a single layer of lace, so it feels cozy and substantial, while the spokes and loops keep it light and pretty. Sunny yellow is a cheerful, warm color that fills a bedroom with light. It looks wonderful with white furniture, gold accents, peach flowers and warm wood floors. On a gray winter morning, this cover feels like a burst of sunshine, and in summer it looks fresh and bright.

This pattern suits an intermediate crocheter who is comfortable working in turned rows and counting chain spaces. Each fan is small and quick, and after a few you will be able to make them almost without looking. Sewing the overlaps takes a little patience, but it is calm work, and it is satisfying to watch the scales build row by row. Since you use only one color, there are very few ends to weave in. Every fan fits in a small bag, so you can make them anywhere and save the joining for quiet evenings at home.

I love this bed cover because it is pure sunshine. Yellow is such a happy color, and when it covers a whole bed, the room glows. I made mine for my sunny guest room, and now every morning when the light comes through the window, the fans seem to shine. It reminds me of sunflowers, fresh lemons and warm summer afternoons. I cannot walk past that room without smiling, and every guest who sleeps there says it feels like waking up in the sun.

The fan motif is one of my favorite shapes to crochet. It starts as a tiny solid half circle, then opens up into spokes, then closes into a solid band and finishes with a frilly edge of shells. In just eight short rows, you have something that looks like a little lace sunrise. It is quick enough to finish in one sitting, and every fan feels like a small win. I kept my fans in a big basket, and watching the golden pile grow was half the fun.

I also love the scale effect. When I first started tucking the fans under each other and sewing them down, I was amazed at how the cover came alive. Single fans are pretty, but overlapping rows of them look like something from an old palace or a seaside shell collection. The scallops catch the light, and the shadows between the layers give the cover real depth. People always want to touch it to see how it was made.

• Quick, eight-row fans that you can finish in one sitting.
• One color only, with just two ends per fan.
• A beautiful overlapping scale effect.
• A sunny color that brightens any bedroom.

This project is also very portable. I carried a small pouch with a ball of yellow yarn and a hook, and I made fans in the car, at the doctor's office and while waiting for my grandchildren after school. Because each fan is so small, I could always finish one before I had to stop. Then at home in the evenings, I would sit with a cup of tea and sew a new row of fans onto the growing cover. It was a lovely rhythm for months.

Making this cover taught me a lot about consistency. I learned to keep every fan the same size so the rows line up neatly. I learned to pin each row before sewing so the overlap stays even across the bed. And I learned that a simple shape, repeated many times, can become something truly grand. If you want a cheerful, eye-catching bed cover that is made of small, easy pieces, I think this sunny fan cover will make you very happy.

The first and easiest change is the color. Sunny yellow is bright and cheerful, but these fans look beautiful in many shades. Soft peach or coral makes a warm, romantic cover. Sky blue or aqua turns the fans into ocean waves or fish scales, perfect for a beach house. Soft sage green looks calm and natural, and classic white or ivory gives an elegant heirloom look. You can also make an ombre cover, starting with a dark shade at the headboard and moving to lighter shades toward the foot, so the fans fade like a sunset.

You can make this bed cover for any bed size by changing the number of fans. Each fan is about 9.5 inches wide, and each new row adds about 3.5 inches in length. Here are the layouts I use:

• Twin: 27 rows alternating 8 and 7 fans, 202 fans, about 76 by 96 inches.
• Full: 27 rows alternating 9 and 8 fans, 229 fans, about 86 by 96 inches.
• Queen: 29 rows alternating 10 and 9 fans, 276 fans, about 95 by 105 inches.
• King: 29 rows alternating 12 and 11 fans, 334 fans, about 114 by 105 inches.

For a sofa throw, make 15 rows alternating 5 and 4 fans. That uses 68 fans and finishes at about 48 by 54 inches. A throw is a wonderful way to try the pattern before committing to a whole bed cover. It looks lovely draped over a sofa arm or folded at the end of a bed, and the scale effect is just as striking on a smaller piece. If you make a few fans most evenings, you can finish a throw in about a month and a half.

A baby blanket looks sweet in this pattern too. Make 11 rows alternating 4 and 3 fans for 40 fans and a blanket about 38 by 40 inches. Use a soft cotton or cotton blend in a gentle shade like pale yellow, mint or soft blue. The overlapping layers make it cozy for tummy time or a stroller ride, and the scalloped edges look beautiful in photos. A mermaid scale baby blanket in aqua is also a popular gift for little ones.

You can also change the direction of the fans. If you turn the fans so the scallops point toward the headboard, the cover looks like rising suns. You can also make the fans alternate direction row by row to create a wavy, ribbon-like pattern. For a lighter cover, skip the overlap and simply join the fans at their shell tips in rows, which uses fewer fans and gives a very open, airy lace. Lay a few rows on the floor to see which look you love most.

To make matching pillow covers, sew 5 rows alternating 3 and 2 fans onto a plain yellow crochet backing panel about 26 by 20 inches, which fits a standard pillow sham. You can make the backing in simple rows of double crochet. Join the front and back around three sides, slip in the pillow and close the last side. Use a yellow pillow insert so the lace shows a matching color. Matching pillows make the whole bed look planned and finished.

Finally, try a different yarn weight. In DK cotton with a 3.5 mm hook, each fan is about 7.5 inches wide, so a queen needs about 36 rows alternating 13 and 12 fans, and the lace looks finer and more delicate. In bulky yarn with a 6 mm hook, a fan grows to about 12 inches wide, and a queen needs only about 23 rows alternating 8 and 7 fans. Bulky fans make a thick, cozy cover that works up fast. Always make one test fan in your chosen yarn and measure it before planning your layout.