Red and Burgundy Granny Square Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

This bed cover is a bold, cheerful take on the classic granny square. It is made from forty two large squares, and every square starts with a small black center, then grows outward in rings of 3 double crochet clusters in white, gray, bright red and deep burgundy. The colors repeat in a steady rhythm, white and gray pairs separated by red and burgundy rings, so the eye moves from the center to the edge like ripples on water. A solid red frame closes each square, and when the squares are joined, the red frames become a strong grid that holds the whole design together.

The finished size is about 75 by 87 inches with the border. 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 a good drop at the foot. Worked in worsted weight yarn, the cover is warm and substantial, perfect for cold winter nights and lovely during the holidays, when the red and white feel festive and cozy. It also has the comforting weight that makes you want to curl up under it with a cup of tea.

The technique is the traditional granny square, one of the first things many of us ever learn in crochet. Each round is made of groups of three double crochet stitches, called clusters, with a chain 1 space between them along the sides and a chain 2 space at each corner. Every round adds one cluster to each side, which keeps the square perfectly flat. You change color at the end of each round, so the stripes come from the color order, not from any special stitch. It is simple, relaxing and very satisfying.

After eleven rounds of clusters, a round of solid double crochet in red fills every space and turns the lacy granny into a firm, smooth frame. A final round of single crochet gives each square a neat edge for joining. I join the squares with red single crochet worked on the right side, which leaves a raised red ridge between every square, like the leading in a stained glass window. That ridge is a big part of why this cover looks so crisp and graphic from across the room.

The border is three simple rounds in red: a round of double crochet, a round of half double crochet, and a round of reverse single crochet, also called crab stitch. The crab stitch makes a twisted, rope like edge that is strong, lies flat and wears beautifully over time. It frames the bold squares without competing with them, and it gives the whole bed cover a finished, professional look that will hold up to years of washing and use.

I rate this pattern Beginner. You only need chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet, plus the crab stitch at the very end, which I explain right in the pattern. The most important skills are counting your clusters, changing colors neatly and weaving in ends. It suits a new crocheter who wants a real, finished bed cover as a first big project, and it also suits an experienced maker who wants a relaxing, rhythmic project to work on while watching a movie or chatting with family.

I love this bed cover because it takes the humble granny square and makes it bold. Most of us picture granny squares in soft pastels or scrappy rainbows, but red, burgundy, black, white and gray make it feel modern and strong. When I look at the bed from the door, the black centers look like little eyes in the middle of each square, and the red rings almost seem to pulse. It is a cover with real personality, and it makes a quiet bedroom feel warm and full of life.

I also love how relaxing it is to make. The granny square is so familiar that my hands know it by heart. Three double crochet, chain one, three double crochet, chain one, round and round. After the first square, I barely look at my work, and I can crochet while I talk on the phone or watch my favorite show. The color changes keep it interesting, because every round brings a new shade, and I never got bored, even on the fortieth square.

The squares are wonderful to take along. One square needs only small amounts of each color, so I wind little balls and keep them in a bag with my hook and scissors. I made squares on the train, in the car while waiting, and at my kitchen table early in the morning. Because each square is a finished piece, I always feel like I am making progress, and the stack grows faster than I expect. Seeing the pile of red frames grow week by week kept me motivated all the way to the end.

Here is what I learned while making it:

• Weaving in ends after every few squares, not at the very end, saves a lot of tears.
• Joining each new color in a different corner hides the seams in the stripes.
• Making all the centers first, then all the next rounds, speeds things up.
• Laying the squares out on the floor before joining helps you spot any mix ups.

This bed cover makes a heartwarming gift. A granny square blanket carries a feeling of home and family, and the red and white colors feel especially lovely for a Christmas gift, a Valentine's present or a housewarming. I can picture it on a cabin bed, in a farmhouse guest room or in a college dorm, bringing comfort far from home. I always add a little tag with the yarn names and washing notes so it can be loved for many years.

Finally, I love how it changes a room. Against a cream headboard and white furniture, the red cover becomes the heart of the bedroom. Add the matching pillow shams, a vase of red and white roses, and the room feels warm and welcoming. On a snowy evening with the lamp glowing, it is the coziest spot in the house. Every time I see it, I think of all the quiet hours I spent making it, and that makes it even more special to me.

Try a new color story. The color order works with any five shades, as long as you have one dark center, two light neutrals and two strong colors. Navy, royal blue, white, gray and black feel crisp and nautical. Forest green, sage, cream, taupe and black feel calm and earthy. Mustard, burnt orange, cream, tan and brown feel warm and retro. Keep the frame and the border in your strongest color so the grid stays bold, just like the red does here.

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. The border has no repeat to match, so it fits any grid. Here are some grids I like:

• Twin: 5 x 8 squares, 40 squares, about 63 x 99 inches.
• Full: 7 x 8 squares, 56 squares, about 87 x 99 inches.
• Queen: 8 x 9 squares, 72 squares, about 99 x 111 inches.
• King: 9 x 9 squares, 81 squares, about 111 x 111 inches.

Make a baby blanket. Six squares laid 2 across and 3 down make a baby blanket of about 27 by 39 inches. For a nursery, you might soften the colors to pale pink, rose, white, light gray and charcoal, or mint, sage, white, gray and navy. Use a soft acrylic or cotton blend made for babies, and weave every end in very securely so nothing comes loose. It is a quick gift that still feels special.

Make a sofa throw. Twelve squares laid 3 across and 4 down give you a throw of about 39 by 51 inches. Twenty squares laid 4 across and 5 down make a larger throw of about 51 by 63 inches. A throw is a great way to try the pattern before a bed cover, and it looks wonderful folded over the arm of a couch. The red and white version is especially cheerful for the winter holidays.

Add matching pillow shams. The shams in my bedroom are each made from one square front and back. For a standard sham, join 2 squares side by side for the front and 2 more for the back, then join front and back with red single crochet on three sides and close the last side with buttons or a slip stitch seam. For an accent pillow, use 1 square for the front and 1 for the back around a 12 inch pillow form.

Change the edge. If you want a softer edge, replace the crab stitch with a round of small shells: skip 1 st, 5 dc in next, skip 1, sc in next. For a farmhouse look, add red tassels at the four corners. You can also work the first border round in burgundy and the rest in red for a deeper frame, or add a round of white between them for a crisp stripe that echoes the white rings in the squares.

Change the yarn weight. In DK yarn with a 4.0 mm hook, each square comes out about 9 to 10 inches, so you will need more squares for the same bed. In bulky yarn with a 6.5 mm hook, squares grow to about 15 inches, and you can finish a whole bed cover with only about 30 squares. Always make one test square in your yarn, measure it, and plan your grid from that real size.

Use up your stash. The granny square loves leftovers. Keep the black center, the red frame and the red border the same in every square, and use any leftover shades for the cluster rings in between. The strong red grid holds everything together, so a scrappy version still looks planned. It is the perfect way to turn a basket of half balls into something your family will use every day.