The Bluebell Fanlight is a round lace tablecloth worked in a single soft powder-blue cotton. It starts from a six-petal flower, moves through a ring of tall spokes and a solid band, and then grows outward in rings of small fans, open mesh, and wide fans. It finishes with a deep scalloped edge of picot loops.
The look is classic heirloom lace in a fresh, cottage-style color. Using one color keeps the stitch texture front and center, and the open fans let the tabletop show through softly.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tablecloth measures about 32 in (81.3 cm) across after blocking. It’s sized to cover the top of a small round side table and hang down in a soft drape.
You’ll make one single piece, worked in joined rounds from the center out. Rounds 1–21 form the body, and Rounds 22–25 form the fan border. Nothing gets sewn or joined except the slip stitches that close each round.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 32 in (81.3 cm) in diameter, blocked
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Fine (#2, sport) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: a single circle, worked in joined rounds from the center
- Piece size: 32 in (81.3 cm) in diameter
- Size before border (after Round 21): about 26 in (66.0 cm) in diameter
- Border depth: about 3 in (7.6 cm) on each side
Materials
Yarn: Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton in sport weight. Mercerized cotton gives crisp stitch definition, holds a blocked shape well, and stands up to washing. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy blends, because the fans and picots will lose their shape.
- Powder blue: 300 g, about 840 m
This amount includes about 15% extra for your gauge test, small tension differences, and weaving in ends. Buy all your yarn from one dye lot.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 4–6 stitch markers
- Rust-proof blocking pins (at least 100)
- Blocking mats or a padded surface at least 34 in (86.4 cm) across
- Spray bottle with clean water
- Measuring tape
- Optional: light spray starch
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet (yo twice)
- dtr: double treble crochet (yo 3 times, then [yo, pull through 2 loops] 4 times)
- sk: skip
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- yo: yarn over
Special stitches:
- 3-dc cluster (3-dc cl): (Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops) 3 times in the same st, then yo and pull through all 4 loops on the hook.
- Beginning cluster: Ch 2, then work a 2-dc cluster in the same st. The ch-2 counts as the first leg.
- Picot unit: (Sc, ch 3, sc) worked in the same space.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 dc and 9 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in dc rows, before blocking.
The center makes the best gauge test. Work Rounds 1–9 and measure before going further. If you’re on gauge, those rounds lie flat and match the checkpoints below.
Checkpoints (measured flat, unblocked, ±0.5 in / 1.3 cm):
- After Round 3: about 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
- After Round 5: about 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- After Round 8: about 7 in (17.8 cm)
- After Round 9: about 8 in (20.3 cm)
- After Round 13: about 13 in (33.0 cm)
- After Round 16: about 17 in (43.2 cm)
- After Round 19: about 22 in (55.9 cm)
- After Round 21: about 26 in (66.0 cm)
- After Round 25 and blocking: about 32 in (81.3 cm)
Too big? If your piece is more than 0.5 in (1.3 cm) over a checkpoint, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. Too small? Go up to a 3.75 mm hook. If the piece ruffles, your stitches are too loose for these stitch counts. If it cups, they’re too tight. Change the hook size, not the counts.
Pattern
Join every round with a sl st to the top of the starting chain or to the first st, unless the instructions say otherwise. Starting chains count as a stitch where stated.
Center Flower
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Beginning cluster in the same st, ch 3, sk next st, 3-dc cl in next st, ch 3, sk next st; repeat from * 4 more times. Join to the top of the beginning cluster. (6 clusters, 6 ch-3 sps)
Round 3: (Sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc) in next ch-3 sp, sl st in top of next cluster; repeat from * around. (6 petals of 9 sts each = 54 sts, plus 6 sl sts)
The petals sit over the chain spaces, and the clusters form the dips between them.
Round 4: Sl st in the next 5 sts (the sc, hdc, and first 3 dc) to reach the center dc of the first petal. Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 7, sc in center dc of next petal; repeat from * 4 more times, ch 7, join to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-7 sps)
Round 5 (conversion round): Ch 1, sc in next sc, 7 sc in next ch-7 sp; repeat from * around. (6 sc worked over sc + 42 sc worked in sps = 48 sc)
Checkpoint: about 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Spoke Ring and Solid Band
Round 6: Ch 4 (counts as tr), ch 2, sk next sc, tr in next sc, ch 2, sk next sc; repeat from * around. (24 tr, 24 ch-2 sps)
Round 7: Ch 5 (counts as dtr), ch 3, dtr in next tr, ch 3; repeat from * around. (24 dtr, 24 ch-3 sps)
These tall stitches stack directly on top of the trebles to form the spokes.
Round 8 (conversion round): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next dtr, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * around. (24 dc over dtr + 72 dc in sps = 96 dc)
Round 9 (growth round): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around. (24 repeats of 5 sts = 120 dc)
Checkpoint: about 8 in (20.3 cm). The center should lie completely flat.
Small Fan Ring
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 5, sk next 4 dc, sc in next dc, ch 5, sk next 4 dc; repeat from * around. (24 sc, 24 ch-5 sps)
Round 11: Sl st in first ch-5 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same sp, sc in next sc, 7 dc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (24 fans of 7 dc + 24 sc = 192 sts)
Round 12: Sl st in next 3 dc to reach the 4th (center) dc of the first fan. Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 9, sc in center dc of next fan; repeat from * around, ending with ch 9. (24 sc, 24 ch-9 sps)
Round 13: Sl st in first ch-9 sp, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), (dc, ch 1) 3 times, dc in same sp, ch 1, [(dc, ch 1) 4 times, dc] in next ch-9 sp, ch 1; repeat from * around. Join to 3rd ch of ch-4. (24 shells of 5 dc = 120 dc, 120 ch-1 sps)
Each shell has 4 ch-1 sps inside it, plus 1 ch-1 sp between shells.
Checkpoint: about 13 in (33.0 cm).
Mesh Band
Round 14: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, sl st in next dc, sl st in next ch-1 sp (the 2nd sp of the shell). Ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 6, sc in 4th ch-1 sp of same shell, ch 6, sc in 2nd ch-1 sp of next shell, ch 6, sc in 4th ch-1 sp of same shell; repeat from * around, ending with ch 6. (48 sc, 48 ch-6 sps)
Round 15: Sl st in first 3 ch, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 6, sc in next ch-6 sp; repeat from * around, ending with ch 6. (48 sc, 48 ch-6 sps)
Round 16: Work as for Round 15, but with ch 7 between sc. (48 sc, 48 ch-7 sps)
Checkpoint: about 17 in (43.2 cm).
Medium Fan Ring
Round 17: Sl st in first ch-7 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 8 dc in same sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 3, 9 dc in next ch-7 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around. (24 fans of 9 dc, 24 sc, 48 ch-3 sps)
Round 18: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), (dc in next dc, ch 1) 7 times, dc in next dc, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next sc, ch 2, sk ch-3 sp, dc in first dc of next fan, ch 1; repeat from * to ** around, ending the last repeat at the second , and join. (24 fans of 9 dc and 8 ch-1 sps, 24 sc, 48 ch-2 sps)*
Round 19: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), (dc in next dc, ch 2) 7 times, dc in last dc of fan, sk (ch-2 sp, sc, ch-2 sp), dc in first dc of next fan, ch 2; repeat from * to ** around, ending the last repeat at the second , and join. (24 fans of 9 dc and 8 ch-2 sps = 216 dc, 192 ch-2 sps)*
The fans now touch, and the skipped sc pulls each pair into a neat V.
Checkpoint: about 22 in (55.9 cm).
Outer Mesh
Round 20: Sl st across to the 3rd ch-2 sp of the first fan. Ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 8, sc in 6th ch-2 sp of same fan, ch 8, sc in 3rd ch-2 sp of next fan, ch 8, sc in 6th ch-2 sp of same fan; repeat from * around, ending with ch 8. (48 sc, 48 ch-8 sps)
Round 21: Sl st in first 4 ch, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 9, sc in next ch-8 sp; repeat from * around, ending with ch 9. (48 sc, 48 ch-9 sps)
Checkpoint: about 26 in (66.0 cm). This is your size before the border.
Border
Border gauge: One border repeat covers 2 ch-9 sps of Round 21. After blocking, each repeat measures about 4.2 in (10.7 cm) along the outer edge, and the border adds about 3 in (7.6 cm) on every side.
Round 22: Sl st in first ch-9 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 10 dc in same sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-9 sp, ch 4, 11 dc in next ch-9 sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-9 sp, ch 4; repeat from * around. (24 fans of 11 dc, 24 sc, 48 ch-4 sps)
Round 23: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), (dc in next dc, ch 1) 9 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, sc in next sc, ch 3, sk ch-4 sp, dc in first dc of next fan, ch 1; repeat from * to ** around, ending the last repeat at the second , and join. (24 fans of 11 dc and 10 ch-1 sps, 24 sc, 48 ch-3 sps)*
Round 24: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), (dc in next dc, ch 2) 9 times, dc in last dc of fan, sk (ch-3 sp, sc, ch-3 sp), dc in first dc of next fan, ch 2; repeat from * to ** around, ending the last repeat at the second , and join. (24 fans of 11 dc and 10 ch-2 sps = 264 dc, 240 ch-2 sps)*
Round 25 (scallop edge): Sl st in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, [picot unit in next ch-2 sp] 10 times, sc in the gap between the last dc of this fan and the first dc of the next fan; repeat from * around. Join to first sc and fasten off. (24 repeats of 21 sc = 504 sc, 240 ch-3 picots)
Why the math works: Round 21 has 48 loops. The 24 fans sit in every other loop, with a sc anchoring the loop between each pair. Each fan keeps its 11 dc through Rounds 22–24 and only gets wider through its chains: none in Round 22, then 10 ch-1 sps, then 10 ch-2 sps. That widens the edge without adding stitches that would make it ruffle. In Round 25, each fan’s 10 ch-2 sps get 10 picot units (20 sc), plus 1 sc in the valley, so each repeat has 21 sc. Then 24 × 21 = 504 sc.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along solid stitches, not through chain spaces.
- Soak the tablecloth in cool water for 15 minutes. Gently press out the water without wringing.
- Roll it in a towel to remove extra moisture.
- Lay it flat on the mats. Pin the center flower first, then pin the solid band of Round 9 into an 8 in (20.3 cm) circle.
- Pin the tip of every 4th fan of Round 24 to a 32 in (81.3 cm) circle, giving you 6 evenly spaced anchor points. Then pin the fans between them.
- Pin out every picot loop on Round 25 to open the scallops.
- If you like, mist with light starch. Let it dry completely (24 hours or more) before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The flower has 6 even petals.
- The spoke ring has 24 straight spokes.
- Round 9 has 120 dc and lies flat.
- The small fan ring has 24 fans.
- Each mesh round has 48 loops.
- The medium and border fan rings each have 24 fans.
- Round 25 has 240 picots.
- The blocked diameter is 32 in (81.3 cm), ±0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- All ends are hidden, and no round joins show as bumps.
Troubleshooting
The center cups: Your tension is tight. Loosen up on the tall stitches in Rounds 6–7, or go up a hook size.
The center ruffles: Recount Round 9. Any extra increases will make the band wavy.
Mesh loops sag unevenly: Count the chains in each loop. A single loop with an extra chain will show clearly after blocking.
Fans tilt sideways: You probably worked into the wrong space. Check that each fan in Rounds 17 and 22 sits in every other loop.
The edge ruffles: Recount the dc in each border fan. There should be 11 in every fan. If your counts are right, use a smaller hook for Rounds 22–25 only.
The edge pulls in: Make the ch-2 sps in Round 24 a little looser, or block the edge more firmly.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent, then dry flat, reshaping and pinning if needed. Press lightly with a warm iron through a cloth, avoiding the picots.
Final Notes
Here is the full measurement chain. The flower measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm), the solid band 8 in (20.3 cm), and the shell round 13 in (33.0 cm). The mesh band reaches 17 in (43.2 cm), the medium fans 22 in (55.9 cm), and the piece measures 26 in (66.0 cm) before the border. The 3 in (7.6 cm) fan border then brings it to 32 in (81.3 cm). Check each stage as you go, and the finished tablecloth will block out round, flat, and even.
Happy crocheting!