Blue Carnation Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

This blue carnation bed cover is a garden you can sleep under. It is made from cream granny squares, and on every square blooms a raised, layered carnation in royal blue and light blue. Each flower has ruffled petals that stand up from the square, a sage green stem and two leaves. A light blue band and a royal blue outline frame every square, and the squares are joined in a straight grid with royal blue seams, so each flower sits in its own little blue window. Along the sides and foot of the bed, a blue border with long cream tassels finishes the cover with a soft, old-fashioned touch.

The background squares are classic granny squares worked in cream. You make seven rounds of three double crochet clusters, with chain spaces between them and bigger chain spaces at the corners. The little holes between the clusters give the square that familiar, cozy granny look you see in the photo. Then you work one round of light blue double crochet and one round of royal blue single crochet to make the frame. These two rounds make the square sturdy and give a neat, even edge for joining.

The carnation is the star of each square, and it is made in layers. Each layer is a small fan worked in rows of double crochet, growing from a few stitches at the base to many stitches at the top. The last row of every fan is a frilly edge of single crochet and chain loops, which makes the ruffled petal look of a real carnation. You make a large royal blue back layer, a light blue middle layer, a small royal blue top layer and a tiny light blue center, then stack them and sew them together at the base. A green calyx, stem and two leaves finish the flower.

The finished bed cover measures about 94 by 103 inches before the tassels. That is 10 squares across and 11 squares down, which makes 110 squares and 110 carnations, each square about 9 inches across after blocking, plus a 2 inch border. The cream tassels add about 6 more inches on the sides and foot. On a queen bed, the cover lies across the top and drops about 17 inches on each side, with the tassels reaching toward the floor. I used worsted weight matte cotton with a 5 mm hook, which makes plump clusters and full, soft petals.

The finished cover has real weight and lots of texture. The granny squares are cozy and lightly open, while the carnations and leaves add raised, dimensional detail that you can feel with your hands. Blue and cream is a classic, fresh color pairing that feels calm and cheerful at the same time. It looks lovely with beige headboards, white furniture, gold lamps and fresh daisies, and it brings a cottage garden feeling into the bedroom. The tassels add movement and charm along the edges.

This pattern suits an intermediate crocheter who knows granny squares and is comfortable making small pieces and sewing them together. The granny squares are quick and relaxing, and the carnation layers are fun once you see the ruffles form. There are many parts, so this is a project for someone who enjoys a long, slow make and the joy of building something big from small, pretty pieces. Every part is portable, so you can make petals and leaves on the go and save the sewing for quiet evenings.

I love this bed cover because it feels like a garden that never fades. Carnations have always been one of my favorite flowers. They are cheerful and full, with those lovely ruffled petals that look like little skirts. My mother always kept a vase of them on the kitchen table, and making these blue carnations brings back that happy memory every time. Seeing a whole bed covered with them makes my bedroom feel bright and loved.

The granny squares are pure comfort to make. I have been making granny squares since I was a girl, and the rhythm of three double crochet and a chain is like an old friend. I can make a square without even thinking, while I chat with my family or listen to music. Then the blue frame rounds feel like putting a pretty ribbon around a gift. My stack of cream squares grew so fast, and I loved seeing it get taller.

The carnations are where the real fun begins. Each layer starts as a tiny fan and grows wider row by row. When you work that last frilly row, the edge ruffles up like real petals, and it always makes me smile. Stacking the layers together and seeing the flower come to life is my favorite moment. I like to make all the back layers first, then all the middle layers, so my petals look the same on every flower.

• Classic, relaxing granny squares.
• Raised carnations with real ruffled petals.
• A fresh blue and cream cottage palette.
• Long cream tassels for an old-fashioned finish.

This cover truly changes a room. My guest bedroom used to feel a little plain, and now it feels like a sunny cottage in the countryside. Every guest reaches out to touch the flowers and asks how long it took. When I tell them it took most of a year, they look at it with new respect. A handmade bed cover like this is a true heirloom. It carries love in every stitch and will be treasured long after I am gone.

Making this cover taught me patience and planning. I learned to make all the parts of one kind in batches, so my tension stayed even. I learned to pin each flower in place before sewing so they all sit at the same height. And I learned that a simple granny square can become something truly special with a little decoration. If you love flowers and granny squares, I think this carnation garden will make you very happy.

The first and easiest change is the flower color. Blue carnations are fresh and striking, but you can make them in pink and rose, red and burgundy, purple and lilac or yellow and gold. Just keep two shades of the same color for the outer and inner petals, so the flower looks layered. Change the frame color to match your flowers, such as a pink frame for pink carnations. You can also make a mix of flower colors across the bed, like a real cottage garden in full bloom.

You can make this bed cover for any bed size by changing the number of squares. Each square is about 9 inches across after blocking, and the border adds about 2 inches on each side before the tassels. Here are the counts I use:

• Twin: 7 by 11 squares, 77 squares, about 67 by 103 inches.
• Full: 9 by 11 squares, 99 squares, about 85 by 103 inches.
• Queen: 10 by 11 squares, 110 squares, about 94 by 103 inches.
• King: 12 by 11 squares, 132 squares, about 112 by 103 inches.

For a sofa throw, join 5 squares across and 6 down. That is 30 squares and finishes at about 49 by 58 inches before the tassels. A throw is a wonderful way to try the pattern before committing to a whole bed cover. It looks lovely folded over the back of a sofa or the end of a bed, and the tassels make it feel cozy and classic. It makes a meaningful gift for Mother's Day, a birthday or a new home.

A baby blanket is sweet in this pattern too. Join 4 squares across and 4 down for 16 squares, about 40 inches square with the border. Use a soft cotton or cotton blend and gentle colors, such as pale pink carnations or soft yellow ones. Leave off the tassels for a baby blanket, and sew the flowers on very securely, because little hands love to pull. A handmade flower blanket is a keepsake that families treasure for years.

You can also make a simpler version. For a quicker cover, put a carnation on every other square and leave the rest as plain cream granny squares in a checkerboard. You could also make flat carnations by using only the back and middle layers, or replace the carnations with small flowers or hearts. For a lighter look, skip the tassels and finish with a simple picot edge along the border. Lay out a few squares to see which look you love.

To make matching pillow covers, join 2 squares side by side for a standard pillow sham front about 18 by 9 inches, or 2 by 2 squares for a square cushion. Make a back panel the same size in rows of cream double crochet. Join the front and back around three sides with royal blue single crochet, slip in the pillow and close the last side. Use a cream pillow insert so the granny holes show a matching color. Matching pillows make the whole bed look finished.

Finally, try a different yarn weight. In DK cotton with a 4 mm hook, each square is about 7.5 inches across, so a queen needs about 12 by 13 squares, and the flowers look more delicate. In bulky yarn with a 6.5 mm hook, a square grows to about 11 inches, and a queen needs only about 8 by 9 squares. Make the flowers in the same weight as the squares so they stay in proportion. Always make one test square and one flower before you plan your layout.