This steering wheel cover is a soft, romantic piece of lace for your daily drive. A fine diamond net forms the base, popcorn bobbles are scattered across the junctions, and small five-petal flowers with clustered popcorn centers sit along the front of the rim.
The cover uses one color only, a warm ivory or cream cotton. All the texture comes from the stitches, so it suits beige, black, or wood-trimmed interiors. The style is vintage and feminine but still tidy enough for everyday use.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Before installation, the strip measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, including the edging, by 39.5 in (100.3 cm) long. It stretches to fit standard wheels 14.5–15 in (36.8–38.1 cm) across.
You crochet one long, flat lace strip in short rows, add a two-row edging along both long edges, and sew small flowers along the center line. Then you wrap the strip around the rim, seam the short ends, and lace the long edges together on the back of the rim between the spokes.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (relaxed, flat): 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 39.5 in (100.3 cm)
- Fits: wheels 14.5–15 in (36.8–38.1 cm) across, with a rim grip circumference of 4.25–4.75 in (10.8–12.1 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Sport (2, fine) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
- Number of pieces: 1 main lace strip plus 10 small flower appliqués
- Layout: one continuous strip, seamed into a ring around the rim
- Strip size before edging: 4 in (10.2 cm) x 39.5 in (100.3 cm)
- Edging depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per long edge
- Flower size: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton or cotton blend. Cotton gives crisp stitch definition, holds the popcorns firmly, and grips well under your hands. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which blur the net.
Yarn (one color):
- Ivory/cream: 100 g, approx. 310 m (339 yd)
- Lace strip: about 60 g (186 m / 203 yd)
- Edging: about 5 g (16 m / 17 yd)
- 10 flowers: about 20 g (62 m / 68 yd)
- Seaming and lacing: about 5 g (16 m / 17 yd)
These quantities include a safety margin of about 10%. The project uses roughly 90 g, so buy the full 100 g.
Tools:
- 3.25 mm (US D/3) crochet hook
- Blunt tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray bottle
- Tape measure
- 10 locking stitch markers
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp(s): space(s)
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- rep: repeat
- RS/WS: right side/wrong side
- MB: mesh bobble
Mesh bobble (MB): Work 5 dc into the indicated ch-5 sp. Drop the loop from your hook, insert the hook from front to back into the top of the first dc, pick up the dropped loop, and draw it through. Ch 1 to lock. Each MB replaces one sc junction, so the number of junctions stays the same. You only work MBs on RS rows, so every popcorn pops to the RS.
4-dc popcorn (flowers): Work 4 dc into the ring, drop the loop, insert the hook into the first dc, pick up the dropped loop, and draw it through.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: In the mesh pattern, 8 ch-5 loops = 4 in (10.2 cm) across, and 4 rows (one pattern repeat) = 2 in (5.1 cm), measured after a light wet block.
Make a test section first: work Row 1, then Rows 2–5 twice (9 rows). Block it and measure.
- Width: 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Height of Rows 2–9: 4 in (10.2 cm)
If the swatch is too wide, go down to a 3 mm hook. If it is too narrow, go up to a 3.5 mm (US E/4) hook. Width matters most, because it decides whether the long edges meet around the rim. If the swatch is on gauge, keep it and continue the strip from Row 10.
Checkpoints:
- After Row 20: 10 in (25.4 cm) long
- After Row 40: 20 in (50.8 cm) long
- After Row 79: 39.5 in (100.3 cm) long
- After edging: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
Lace Strip
The strip is worked in short rows across its width. Odd-numbered rows are RS rows.
Foundation: Ch 34.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 5, sk 3 ch, sc in next ch; rep from * 7 more times. Turn. (9 sc, 8 ch-5 loops)*
Row 2 (WS): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp; rep from * 6 more times, ch 2, dc in last sc. Turn. (8 sc, 7 full ch-5 loops, 2 half loops)*
Row 3 (RS, bobble row A): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, MB in next ch-5 sp, [ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, MB in next ch-5 sp] 2 times, ch 5, sc in last full ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch-5. Turn. (9 junctions: 2 edge sc, 4 inner sc, 3 MB; 8 ch-5 loops)
The MBs sit in the 2nd, 4th, and 6th full loops of Row 2.
Row 4 (WS): Rep Row 2. (8 sc, 7 full loops, 2 half loops)
Row 5 (RS, bobble row B): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, MB in next ch-5 sp, [ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5, MB in next ch-5 sp] 3 times, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch-5. Turn. (9 junctions: 2 edge sc, 3 inner sc, 4 MB; 8 ch-5 loops)
These MBs sit in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th full loops of Row 4, between the Row 3 bobbles. This offset creates the diagonal scatter of bobbles.
Rows 6–77: Rep Rows 2–5 another 18 times, for 19 repeats in total. Row 77 is a bobble row B.
Row 78 (WS): Rep Row 2.
Row 79 (RS, plain): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp; rep from * 6 more times, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch-5. (9 sc, 8 ch-5 loops)*
Fasten off, leaving a 16 in (40.6 cm) tail. Like Row 1, Row 79 has no bobbles, so both ends stay flat for seaming.
Strip check: 79 rows, 4 in (10.2 cm) x 39.5 in (100.3 cm). To adjust the length, add or remove 4-row repeats; each one changes the length by 2 in (5.1 cm).
Flowers (make 10)
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (does not count as a st), then [4-dc popcorn in ring, ch 2] 5 times. Pull the ring tight, leaving a tiny center hole, and sl st to the top of the first popcorn. (5 popcorns, 5 ch-2 sps)
Rnd 2: Sl st into the first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in the same sp, ch 4, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 4; rep from * 3 more times, sl st to first sc. (5 sc, 5 ch-4 sps)*
Rnd 3: In each ch-4 sp work (sc, hdc, 4 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to first sc. (40 sts: 5 petals of 8 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Each flower is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across. The ch-4 loops pass behind the popcorns, so the popcorn cluster sits raised above the petals.
Edging
Work the edging along the two long edges only. The short ends are seamed together later.
Edging gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the row ends.
Edging Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, join yarn at the Row 1 corner of one long edge and ch 1. Work 1 sc in each odd-row end (the edge sc) and 3 sc around each even-row end (the dc or ch-5 post). Turn. (157 sc)
Edging Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Fasten off. (157 sc)
Repeat both rows on the second long edge. (157 sc per long edge, 314 sc total)
Why the math works: The strip has 40 odd rows and 39 even rows, so one edge gets (40 x 1) + (39 x 3) = 40 + 117 = 157 sc. Each pair of rows (one odd, one even) is 1 in (2.5 cm) long and gets 1 + 3 = 4 sc, which matches the edging gauge. At that gauge, 157 sc measure 39.25 in (99.7 cm), within the lace’s normal give, so the edge neither ruffles nor pulls in. The two edging rows add 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per side, bringing the width from 4 in (10.2 cm) to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Attaching the Flowers
Lay the strip RS up. Mark the middle (4th) full ch-5 loop of Rows 4, 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, 52, 60, 68, and 76. This places the 10 flowers every 8 rows, or 4 in (10.2 cm), and leaves a similar gap across the end seam.
Center one flower RS up over each marker. Sew around the base of each petal through the mesh with small, hidden stitches, leaving the petal tips free. Weave in the tails on the WS.
Installation
- Lay the strip around the wheel with the flowers facing you.
- At the bottom of the wheel, whipstitch the 9 sc of Row 79 to the 9 sc bases of Row 1, matching junction to junction. Tack the center of each loop, then fasten off.
- Cut three 36 in (91.4 cm) lacing lengths, one for each section of rim between the spokes.
- Fold the long edges around the rim so they meet on the back. Lace them zigzag-style through every second sc of Edging Row 2, pulling just snug.
- At each spoke, knot the lacing securely and start the next length on the far side of the spoke.
The strip is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) shorter than the 42 in (106.7 cm) center-line circumference of a 15 in (38.1 cm) wheel. This light negative ease stops the cover from twisting.
Final Blocking
- Before installation, soak the strip and flowers in cool water for 10 minutes.
- Roll them in a towel to press out the water. Do not wring.
- Pin the strip to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 39.5 in (100.3 cm), working in sections if your mat is short.
- Open each ch-5 loop into a clean diamond, and pin the edging straight.
- Pin each flower to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and shape the petals with your fingers.
- Let everything dry completely, about 12–24 hours. Never press the popcorns flat.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The strip has 79 rows, with 8 ch-5 loops across every RS row.
- The bobbles alternate positions row to row, and all pop to the RS.
- Each edging row has exactly 157 sc.
- The blocked strip is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 39.5 in (100.3 cm).
- All 10 flowers are centered, 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
- The end seam is flat, with junctions matched.
- The lacing is even and snug, and every knot at the spokes is secure.
- All tails are woven in on the WS.
Troubleshooting
The edges don’t meet on the back. The strip is too narrow. Lace with wider zigzags, or rework it with a larger hook.
The edges overlap or bunch. The strip is too wide. Tighten the lacing, or rework it with a smaller hook.
The cover slides or twists. The strip is too long. Remove one 4-row repeat, which takes off 2 in (5.1 cm).
The bobbles pop to the back. Work MBs only on odd rows, inserting the hook from front to back.
The edging ruffles or pulls. Recount it: 3 sc per even-row end and 1 sc per odd-row end.
The flower centers look flat. Pull the magic ring tighter and keep the popcorns firm.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel, and dry flat. To clean the cover in place, wipe it with a damp cloth and let it dry fully before driving.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before it. Your swatch of 8 loops = 4 in (10.2 cm) and 4 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm) sets the base. From there, 79 rows give a strip of 4 in x 39.5 in (10.2 cm x 100.3 cm), and 157 edging sc per long edge bring the width to 4.5 in (11.4 cm), wrapping a rim of 4.25–4.75 in (10.8–12.1 cm). Check each link as you go, and the cover will fit neatly the first time.
Happy crocheting!