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Peppermint Swirl Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

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150-200 Hours 62 made this

Intermediate Level

You need to know hdc, dc, sc and how to change colors in the round.

150-200 Hours

Each motif is small, so you can make the cover one piece at a time.

Candy Cane Look

Red and white swirls give your bed a cozy, festive feel.

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About This Peppermint Swirl Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

This bed cover is made from 180 round peppermint swirl motifs. Each motif has eight curved red and white wedges that spiral out from a red center, then a white octagon border. The motifs are joined in a grid with small lacy gaps at the corners, and the whole cover is finished with a white scalloped edge with tiny red picot tips.

The finished size is about 74 by 92 inches, which fits a full or queen bed. It is worked in worsted cotton with a 5.0 mm hook, using hdc, dc and sc only. It suits a crocheter who is comfortable with two colors and wants a big, rewarding project.

Why You'll Love This Peppermint Swirl Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

I love this project because every motif is small and easy to carry. I can make one in the car, on the sofa or at the kitchen table. Nothing feels too big until the day I lay them all out together.

It also makes a lovely gift. The red and white swirls look like candy, and they bring a warm, happy feel to a bedroom, especially around the holidays.

Switch Things Up

Try pink and white for a sweet baby blanket, navy and cream for a cozy cottage look, or green and white for a Christmas tree color scheme. For a sofa throw, make only 6 columns by 8 rows (48 motifs). For a matching pillow, join 3 by 3 motifs and add the same scalloped edge around the front. You can also work the last edge round in the main red for a bolder border.

Materials Needed

— Main Fabric

01 Worsted weight (4) cotton or cotton blend yarn, matte finish

02 Color A, bright candy-apple red: about 2,000 g (about 4,000 yd) for 180 motifs and the red edge round

03 Color B, bright white: about 3,000 g (about 6,000 yd) for 180 motifs, the joins and the first two edge rounds

04 Buy a little extra of both colors from the same dye lot in case a motif needs to be redone

— Tools Required

05 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook

06 Yarn needle

07 Stitch markers

08 Sharp scissors

09 Blocking mats and rustproof pins

10 Measuring tape

The Free Pattern

Intermediate 150-200 Hours

0% complete

— Peppermint Swirl Motif (Make 180, red center and white border) :

Color A is red and color B is white. The starting ch 2 of each hdc round does not count as a stitch. Join every round with a sl st to the first stitch of the round. Carry the color you are not using loosely along the wrong side, or cut and rejoin for each block.

Round 1: With A, make a magic ring, ch 2, work 16 hdc in the ring, pull the ring tight, sl st to the first hdc. (16 hdc)

Round 2: Ch 2. With A, work 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts. Change to B, work 2 hdc in each of the next 2 sts. Change to A. Rep until you have 8 color blocks (4 red, 4 white), sl st to the first hdc. (32 hdc, 8 blocks of 4)

Round 3: Ch 2. Keep each block in its color. In each block work hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st. Rep for all 8 blocks, sl st to the first hdc. (48 hdc, 8 blocks of 6)

Round 4: Ch 2. In each block work hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st. Rep for all 8 blocks, sl st to the first hdc. (64 hdc, 8 blocks of 8)

Round 5: Ch 2. In each block work hdc in the next 2 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st. Rep for all 8 blocks, sl st to the first hdc. Fasten off A and B. (80 hdc, 8 blocks of 10)

For the swirl, start each color change one stitch further along than the change in the round below. The color edges will lean and spiral. Keep the stitch count of each round exactly as written in the brackets.

Round 6: Join B in any hdc. Ch 3 (counts as dc). In the same st work (dc, ch 2, dc), then dc in the next 9 sts. *(Dc, ch 2, dc) in the next st, dc in the next 9 sts. Rep from * 6 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (88 dc and 8 ch-2 corner sps)

Round 7: Ch 1. *Sc in the next dc, 3 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the next 10 dc. Rep from * 7 more times. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. (112 sc)

The finished motif is about 6 inches across. Block each motif lightly before joining so they are all the same size.

— Layout :

Lay the motifs out in a straight grid of 12 columns across and 15 rows down, 180 motifs in total. Every motif is identical: red center, red and white wedges, white border.

Turn all the motifs the same way so every swirl spins in the same direction. Do not rotate any motif.

Only the 4 straight sides of each motif touch a neighbor (top, bottom, left, right). The 4 short diagonal sides stay open and form the small lacy gaps.

— Joining the Motifs (Make 15 strips of 12, then join the strips) :

Hold two motifs with right sides together, or side by side with wrong sides facing up. With B and the yarn needle, whip stitch through the back loops only along the 10 sc of the straight side that touch.

Do not sew the 5 sc at each corner (sc, 3 sc, sc). Leaving them open creates the lacy gap where four motifs meet.

Join 12 motifs into a strip. Make 15 strips. Then join the strips side by side in the same way, matching the open corners across the rows.

— Scalloped Edge (Make 1, worked around the whole cover) :

The cover has 54 outer motif sides: 12 across the top, 15 down each side and 12 across the bottom, with a motif counted twice at each of the 4 corners.

Round 1: Join B at any outer corner. Ch 1, sc evenly across each outer motif side, working 30 sc per side (54 sides x 30 = 1,620 sc). At each of the 4 bed corners work 3 sc in the corner stitch in place of 1 sc (+2 sc per corner, +8 total). Sl st to the first sc. (1,628 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1. *Skip the next sc, 5 dc in the next sc, skip the next sc, sl st in the next sc. Rep from * around, placing a shell centered on each of the 4 corner stitches. Sl st to the first sl st and fasten off B. (407 shells of 5 dc, 2,035 dc)

Round 3: Join A in any sl st between two shells. Ch 1. *Sc in the first 2 dc of the shell, (sc, ch 3, sl st in the sc just made) in the next dc, sc in the last 2 dc, sl st in the sl st between shells. Rep from * around. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off. (2,035 sc, 407 picots)

Assembly Instructions

Make 180 peppermint swirl motifs and weave in the ends from the color changes.
Block every motif to about 6 inches across so they all match.
Lay out the motifs in a grid of 12 columns by 15 rows, with every swirl turning the same direction.
Join 12 motifs into a strip along their straight sides with white yarn, leaving the 5 corner stitches open to form the lacy gaps. Make 15 strips.
Join the 15 strips side by side in the same way.
Work Round 1 of the scalloped edge with white yarn, placing 3 sc in each of the 4 corners.
Work Round 2 (the white shells) and Round 3 (the red picot round) of the edge.
Weave in all ends and block the whole cover flat to open the lace and set the scallops.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

Turning some motifs the other way. Keep every swirl spinning in the same direction, or the grid will look uneven.

Pulling the carried yarn too tight on the wrong side. This puckers the motif, so keep the strands loose.

Skipping blocking before joining. Motifs of different sizes make the cover wavy and hard to join.

Sewing the corner stitches shut. Leave the 5 corner sc open so the lacy gap forms.

Denise

Denise designs cozy crochet home decor patterns with clear stitch counts and a lot of heart.

Important Notes

Make a test motif first. It should measure about 6 inches across; if it is smaller or larger, change the hook size and recount the grid and the edge.

The edge counts are worked out from 30 sc per outer motif side. If your motifs come out a different size, adjust the Round 1 count so the total divides evenly by 4.

Check your yarn amounts after about 20 motifs and buy more from the same dye lot if needed.

Wash gently in cold water and use a color catcher, because the red can bleed onto the white. Lay flat to dry.

I hope this cover makes your bedroom feel warm and happy. Take your time, enjoy each little swirl, and share a photo when you finish yours. Happy crocheting!

Crochet Abbreviations

01 ch — chain

02 sl st — slip stitch

03 sc — single crochet

04 hdc — half double crochet

05 dc — double crochet

06 st(s) — stitch(es)

07 sp — space

08 rep — repeat

09 A — red yarn

10 B — white yarn

You Ask, We Answer

What size is the finished bed cover?

About 74 by 92 inches with the edge, made from 12 by 15 motifs of about 6 inches each. That fits a full or queen bed.

Can I make it smaller or use a different yarn weight?

Yes. For a sofa throw, make 6 columns by 8 rows (48 motifs). A thinner yarn gives smaller motifs, so you need more of them. Recount the edge stitches for any new size.

How do I wash and care for it?

Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water with a color catcher, or hand wash. Lay it flat to dry and reshape the scallops while it is damp.