Emerald Green Pineapple Lace Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

This bed cover brings the classic pineapple lace of vintage bedspreads into a rich emerald green. It is made from forty two squares, and each one starts with a small raised ring at the center, followed by a ring of double crochet clusters. From there, four pineapples grow outward, one toward each side of the square, built from rows of chain loops that narrow to a point. Between the pineapples, solid double crochet wedges fill the corners, and a round of shells scallops the edge of every square. The squares are joined shell to shell, so the seams look lacy instead of heavy.

The finished size is about 74 by 86 inches including the scallops. Each square measures about 12 inches, and the layout is 6 squares across and 7 squares down. That covers the top of a full or queen bed and drapes down the sides, with the outer shells forming a soft scalloped edge along the bottom and sides. I worked mine in DK cotton, which gives clear, crisp lace and a cool, smooth feel. The open pineapples keep the cover light, and it looks lovely over a green or cream quilt for extra warmth in winter.

The pineapple is one of the most loved shapes in crochet lace, and it is easier than it looks. It starts as a fan of nine double crochets with chain spaces between them. On the next round, you work a single crochet into each chain space with chain 3 loops between, which gives eight stitches and seven loops. On every round after that, you work into the loops instead, and each round has one loop fewer than the last. Seven rounds later, the pineapple ends in a single point, and the long chains on either side of it turn into the frame of the square.

While the pineapples narrow, the corners grow. Each corner starts with a shell of three double crochets, a chain 3 and three more double crochets, and every round adds three stitches on each side of the corner. By the end, the corners are solid wedges of double crochet that give the square its structure and frame the lacy pineapples beautifully. A round of solid double crochet then squares everything up, and the last round turns the edge into fourteen shells per side with a big shell at every corner.

The squares are joined as you go on that last round. When you reach a side that touches a finished square, you slip stitch into the center of the matching shell instead of finishing the shell on its own. The result is a row of little points where the shells hold hands, with small lacy openings between them. The outer shells stay free, so the bed cover has a scalloped edge built right in, and one round of crab stitch along the outside gives those scallops a firm, rope like finish.

I rate this pattern Intermediate. The stitches are simple: chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet. What makes it Intermediate is the counting, because the pineapple loses one loop each round while the corners gain stitches, and the side chains grow longer. I give every round with its stitch count, so if you count as you go you will never get lost. It suits a maker who has made a granny square or two, loves vintage lace, and wants a dramatic, elegant bed cover that looks like it came from a grandmother's linen chest.

I love this bed cover because pineapple lace always reminds me of the bedspreads I saw in old farmhouses as a child, usually in white or ecru, folded carefully at the foot of a bed. Making it in a deep emerald green gives that old pattern new life. The green feels rich and calm, like a forest after rain, and it makes the lace look bold and modern while keeping all the charm of the classic design. It is the best of both worlds, old fashioned and fresh at the same time.

I also love watching each pineapple take shape. The first rounds feel like any other square, but then the fan opens, the chain loops start stacking, and round by round the pineapple narrows to its little point. Meanwhile the corners grow solid and strong. By the time I work the shells around the edge, the square looks like a piece of fine lace, and it is hard to believe it came from such simple stitches. That moment of surprise never gets old, even after forty squares.

The squares are easy to carry. One square uses a single ball of yarn or less, so I keep a ball, my hook and a few stitch markers in a small bag and take it with me everywhere. I crocheted squares at my kitchen table with my morning coffee, in the garden in the afternoon and in my armchair in the evening. Because each square is finished on its own, I always feel like I accomplished something, and seeing the stack of green squares grow kept me happily going.

Here is what I learned while making it:

• A stitch marker in the first loop of each pineapple keeps the four pineapples even.
• Counting the corner stitches every round keeps the square perfectly square.
• Joining as you go saves hours compared to sewing squares together at the end.
• Cotton yarn makes the pineapples crisp, especially after blocking.

This bed cover also makes a beautiful heirloom gift. Pineapples have long been a symbol of welcome and hospitality, so a pineapple lace bed cover is a lovely gift for a new home, a guest room or a couple starting their life together. I like to tuck a little card into the folded cover explaining the meaning of the pineapple, with the yarn name and washing notes, so the new owner can care for it and someday pass it on.

Finally, I love what it does to a bedroom. Emerald green with a cream headboard, gold lamps and white furniture feels elegant and warm, like a room in a country house hotel. Add matching lace pillows, a vase of green hydrangeas and a candle, and the bed becomes the heart of the room. Every time the lamp is on in the evening and the light shines through the pineapples, I am reminded of all the peaceful hours that went into it.

Try a classic or a bold color. Pineapple lace looks wonderful in any solid color. Ivory or ecru gives you the traditional heirloom look of a grandmother's bedspread. Navy feels crisp and elegant, burgundy feels rich and warm, and dusty blue or blush pink feels soft and romantic. For a modern room, try charcoal gray. Avoid variegated yarn, because the color changes blur the pineapple loops. A single solid shade lets the lace do all the talking.

Make it in other bed sizes. Each square is about 12 inches, so planning a new size is easy. Measure the top of the mattress, add the drop you want on each side, and divide by 12. Because the squares join as you go and the edge is built into the shells, any grid works. Here are some grids to start from:

• Twin: 5 x 8 squares, 40 squares, about 62 x 98 inches.
• Full: 7 x 8 squares, 56 squares, about 86 x 98 inches.
• Queen: 8 x 9 squares, 72 squares, about 98 x 110 inches.
• King: 9 x 9 squares, 81 squares, about 110 x 110 inches.

Make a baby blanket. Six squares joined 2 across and 3 down make a baby blanket of about 25 by 37 inches. For a baby, use a soft cotton blend in pale mint, butter yellow or soft white, and go down half a hook size so the loops are a little smaller and tiny fingers cannot catch. Lay it over a solid blanket in the crib or use it as a christening shawl. It makes a beautiful keepsake that can later become a doll blanket or a table topper.

Make a throw or table topper. Twelve squares joined 3 across and 4 down make a throw of about 37 by 49 inches, perfect for draping over a sofa or the foot of a bed. Four squares joined 2 by 2 make a lovely square table topper of about 25 inches, and a single square makes a large doily for a nightstand or side table. A matching doily under the lamp on your nightstand ties the whole room together with very little effort.

Add matching pillow covers. My cushions are each made from one square for the front and one for the back, joined with single crochet on three sides around a 12 inch pillow form, then closed on the fourth side. For standard shams, join 2 squares side by side for the front and add a back panel in plain double crochet. Use a green fabric pillow underneath so the lace shows clearly and nothing white peeks through the pineapples.

Make a runner or curtain panel. Join squares in a single strip of 5 or 6 for a dining table runner about 12 by 62 to 74 inches. For a lace curtain, join squares in a panel the width of your window and as long as you need, and add a row of chain loops at the top for the rod. Light coming through pineapple lace throws beautiful patterns across the room in the afternoon, and green curtains with a matching bed cover look stunning.

Change the yarn weight. In size 10 crochet thread with a 1.75 mm hook, each square comes out about 6 inches, perfect for doilies, runners and fine heirloom pieces. In worsted cotton with a 5.0 mm hook, the squares grow to about 14 inches, making a bolder cover with fewer squares. Always make one test square, block it, measure it, and plan your grid and yarn from that real size.

Change the edge. If you want a lacier finish, skip the crab stitch and add a picot to the center of each outer shell instead: work 2 dc, ch 3, sl st in the top of the last dc, then the rest of the shell. For a heavier, more dramatic drape, add a green tassel to every corner shell along the bottom of the cover, so the tassels swing gently when the cover hangs over the side of the bed.