This seashell bedspread is like a walk on a sunny beach. Every little fan is worked in soft peach, mint and lavender rings around a cream center, and a cream outline holds the colors together. Overlapped row by row like fish scales, the fans make a bright, cheerful bedspread that looks lovely with pale blue bedding and a white bed frame.
All fans are worked in the same five rounds, so it is easy to learn and easy to carry around. You only need chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet. Make one practice fan first to get the shells right.
What you need
- Yarn: DK weight (light 3) cotton in 4 colors: cream (center, outline, joining and border), lavender, mint and peach.
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4). Go up or down a size if your fan is too tight or too floppy.
- Tools: tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, blocking mats and pins.
- How much yarn? Estimate for a double bed with two pillow fronts: about 1,900 m (2,080 yd) cream and 1,100 m (1,200 yd) each of peach, mint and lavender. For a better number, weigh one finished fan, multiply by the number of fans and add 15%.
Abbreviations and size
- ch chain
- sl st slip stitch
- sc single crochet
- sc2tog 2 sc worked together
- dc double crochet
- st(s) stitch(es)
Fan size: about 13 cm (5 in) wide and 6.5 cm (2.5 in) tall after blocking.
Fans needed: 506 for the bedspread (about 155 x 200 cm) plus 56 for two pillow fronts, so 562 in total. Make about 150 for a lap throw.
How to crochet the shell fan
Each fan is a flat half circle worked with the right side facing you. Turn your work at the end of every round and attach the next color at the right-hand end. The chain-3 at the start of a round counts as 1 dc.
- Round 1 (cream): Ch 4, work 15 dc in the 4th ch from the hook. [16 dc, counting the ch 3]
- Round 2 (lavender): Join lavender in the top of the ch 3. Ch 3, 1 dc in the same st, then 2 dc in each st across. Fasten off. [32 dc]
- Round 3 (mint): Join mint in the top of the ch 3. Ch 3, 1 dc in the same st. *Dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st. Repeat from * 14 more times, then dc in the last st. Fasten off. [48 dc]
- Round 4 (peach, shells): Join peach with a sl st in the first st. *Skip 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, skip 1 st, sl st in the next st. Repeat from * 10 more times (11 shells). Then skip 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, and sl st in the last st. Fasten off. [12 shells]
- Round 5 (cream outline): Join cream at the right-hand end of the straight edge. Ch 1, sc in each dc and each sl st around the curve (73 sc), then sc evenly along the straight bottom edge (about 16 sc). Join, fasten off and weave in the ends. [about 90 sc]
Rule to remember: Round 4 always ends with 12 peach shells. If you count 11 or 13, check Round 3 for 48 dc before you move on.
Block and lay out the fans
Pin each fan flat on a blocking mat, steam lightly and let it dry. Blocking makes every fan the same size and opens the shells. Mix the colors so no two fans next to each other look the same: keep the order lavender, mint, peach for some fans and swap the three ring colors on others (mint, peach, lavender and peach, lavender, mint). Lay them out in 44 rows, alternating 12 and 11 fans (22 rows of 12 and 22 rows of 11 = 506). Take a photo of your layout so you can always find your place again.
Join the fans
- Start at the bottom. Lay row 1 with all the curves facing up.
- Place row 2 so that each fan sits over the gap between two fans below, with its straight base overlapping the row below by about 2 cm. The rows will look like fish scales.
- Whipstitch the straight base of each fan to the fans below, through the back loops only of the cream outline, with cream yarn.
- Where the corners of three fans meet, make one small stitch through all three.
- Keep your joining stitches loose. Tight seams make the bedspread stiff.
Scalloped edge
- Round 1 (cream): Join at any outer corner. Ch 1, sc evenly around, with 3 sc in each of the 4 corners and sc2tog in each notch between fans. Join.
- Round 2 (cream): Ch 1, sc in each st around, keeping the same increases and decreases. Join.
- Round 3 (cream): Ch 1, *skip 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, skip 1 st, sl st in the next st. Repeat from * around, adjusting the last scallop to fit. Fasten off.
Matching pillow covers (make 2)
- Make 28 fans for each pillow front, in 8 rows alternating 4 and 3. Overlap and join them as you did for the bedspread. The panel is about 52 x 38 cm.
- Work 1 round of sc around the outer edge in cream.
- Make the back from cream cotton fabric. Place front and back wrong sides together, sew around three sides, insert a 50 x 35 cm (20 x 14 in) pillow form and close the last side.
Tips for success
- Check your gauge. Make one fan first. It should be about 13 cm wide after blocking.
- Keep the shells even. Put 5 dc in every shell stitch so the peach edge looks neat.
- Count every round. Wrong counts make fans curl or ruffle.
- Use one dye lot of cream and buy extra. It is used for the outline of every fan.
- Work in small steps. Make 6 fans a day and the bedspread is done in about 12 weeks.
- Weave ends as you go. 562 fans of ends at the end is a big job.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Fans with 11 or 13 shells. Check for 48 dc before Round 4.
- Skipping the blocking step. Unblocked fans look lumpy and overlap unevenly.
- Pulling the joining yarn too tight, which creates ridges.
- Placing the rows without overlap. The gaps between the fans will show.
- Choosing colors that are too dark. Soft pastels keep the seashell look.
Ways to change this pattern
- Sunset version: coral, gold and rose rings with a cream outline.
- Ocean version: aqua, sky blue and sand rings.
- Lap throw: join about 150 fans in 25 rows, alternating 6 and 6.
- Table runner: join 5 fans in a row.
Frequently asked questions
What skill level do I need?
Easy. If you can make a chain, a slip stitch and a double crochet, you can do it. The shell round takes a try or two, so make a practice fan first.
How long does it take?
Each fan takes about 12 minutes. A full bedspread with two pillow fronts needs about 115 hours. At 10 hours a week, plan on 10 to 12 weeks.
What is the best yarn?
Soft mercerized cotton gives clean stitches and bright pastel colors. Choose a smooth yarn, not a fuzzy one, so the shells stay sharp.
How do I wash it?
Hand wash or use a gentle cycle in cool water, then dry flat. Avoid hot water because cotton can shrink.
Can I make it smaller or bigger?
Yes. Use about 150 fans for a lap throw. To size it for your bed, divide the bed width by 13 cm for fans per row and the bed length by 4.5 cm for the number of rows.
Can I sell things I make from this pattern?
Yes, you can sell finished items. Please credit this website as the designer and do not copy or share the written pattern.
