The Lilac Swirl is a lacy spiral hanging made from two crocheted strips, one lavender and one soft peach, twisted around each other like a ribbon. Each strip has a solid center spine with open spoke windows fanning out to a firm rim, so light passes through the lace as the spiral turns.
Wooden beads finish the top and bottom, and a small lavender bell cap with a beaded rim hangs at the tip. The look is soft and boho, and it works well in a window, on a door, or beside a plant shelf.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The spiral body measures about 15 in (38.1 cm) long and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide. The full hanging, from the top of the loop to the tip bead, is about 22 in (55.9 cm).
You make each strip lengthwise on a foundation row, add lace to both long edges, then work an sc border all the way around. You then join the two strips at their short ends, twist them together, tack them in place, and finish with beads and the bell cap.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: spiral body 15 in (38.1 cm) long x 4 in (10.2 cm) wide; overall hanging about 22 in (55.9 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light worsted, #3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 3 crocheted pieces (2 lace strips, 1 bell cap) plus beads
- Layout: 2 strips twisted together in a vertical spiral, bell cap at the bottom
- Strip size (flat, bordered): 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 18.5 in (47.0 cm)
- Strip size before border: 3 in (7.6 cm) x 18 in (45.7 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge
- Bell cap: 2 in (5.1 cm) across the rim, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied DK cotton or cotton blend. Cotton keeps the spokes crisp and stops the spiral from sagging. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, which blur the lace and let the twist drop.
- Lavender (Color A): 40 g, about 92 m (strip A, bell cap, hanging cords)
- Peach (Color B): 30 g, about 69 m (strip B)
These amounts assume DK cotton at about 115 m per 50 g. They include a margin of roughly 15% for swatching and tails.
Tools and notions:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle with an eye large enough for doubled yarn
- 2 natural wooden beads, 16 mm (hole at least 4 mm)
- 2 natural wooden beads, 12 mm (hole at least 4 mm)
- 1 natural wooden bead, 10 mm, for the tip
- 10 natural wooden beads, 6 mm, for the bell rim (hole large enough for one strand of yarn)
- Stitch markers, scissors, measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking board or folded towel
- Spray bottle with water
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- dtr – double treble crochet (yo 3 times, insert hook, pull up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 4 times)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
- rep – repeat
- yo – yarn over
Special stitch – bead sc (Bsc): Insert hook in st, yo, pull up a loop, slide one pre-strung bead up against the hook, yo, pull through both loops. The bead sits on the side of the work facing away from you.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm) in a single row; 18 sc and 20 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). That is 4.5 sts per inch.
Make one strip first. Work the foundation and Row 1, then measure before you add any lace. Checkpoints:
- After Row 1: 81 dc = 18 in (45.7 cm) long, spine 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall
- After Row 2 (one side): dc spokes reach about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the spine, dtr spokes about 1 in (2.5 cm)
- After Row 3 (both sides): strip 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the widest point of each lobe
- After border: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 18.5 in (47.0 cm)
- After twisting: spiral body 15 in (38.1 cm) long
If Row 1 is longer than 18 in (45.7 cm), switch to a 3.5 mm hook. If it is shorter, switch to a 4.5 mm hook. A small difference in length is fine, but the spine must stay firm enough not to stretch under the weight of the bell.
Lace Strip (Make 2)
Make strip A in lavender and strip B in peach. Both strips are worked the same way.
Spine
Foundation: Ch 83.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 ch count as first dc) and in each ch across. (81 sts)
Checkpoint: 18 in (45.7 cm) long. This row is the solid spine that runs down the center of each strip.
Side 1 Lace
Each side has 5 lobes. Each lobe has 5 spokes graded short, tall, tallest, tall, short (dc, tr, dtr, tr, dc), which shapes the scalloped fan edges.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 2 sts, *[ch 2, sk 2, dc in next st], [ch 2, sk 2, tr in next st], [ch 2, sk 2, dtr in next st], [ch 2, sk 2, tr in next st], [ch 2, sk 2, dc in next st]; rep from * 4 more times, ch 2, sk 2, sc in last 2 sts.
Count: 4 sc + 25 spokes = 29 sts, plus 26 ch-2 sps. Check the math: 2 + (5 lobes x 15 sts) + 2 skipped + 2 = 81, which matches Row 1.
Row 3 (outer rim): Ch 1, turn. Sc in first 2 sc, ch 2, sc in top of first spoke, [ch 4, sc in top of next spoke] 4 times; *ch 2, sc in top of first spoke of next lobe, [ch 4, sc in top of next spoke] 4 times; rep from * 3 more times, ch 2, sc in last 2 sc.
Count: 4 sc + 25 sc on spoke tops = 29 sc, plus 20 ch-4 sps and 6 ch-2 sps. Fasten off.
The ch-4 loops span the wide gaps between spoke tops within each lobe. The ch-2 loops at the pinch points pull the rim in between lobes, which defines each fan.
Side 2 Lace
Rotate the strip so the foundation chain is on top. Join the same color with a sl st in the first bottom loop at the right-hand end.
The foundation has 81 bottom loops to work into: the 80 chains holding the Row 1 dc, plus the chain at the base of the turning chain.
Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Work as for Side 1 Row 2, working into the bottom loops. (29 sts, 26 ch-2 sps)
Row 3: Work as for Side 1 Row 3. (29 sc, 20 ch-4 sps, 6 ch-2 sps) Do not fasten off.
Checkpoint: strip 3 in (7.6 cm) wide at the widest point of a lobe, 18 in (45.7 cm) long.
Bell Cap (Make 1)
With lavender, string 10 beads (6 mm) onto the yarn before you start. Work in continuous rounds and mark the first st of each round.
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4: Sc in each st. (18)
- Rnd 5: [Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 6: Sc in each st. (24)
- Rnd 7: [Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] 6 times. (30) Sl st in next st, ch 1, and turn so the inside of the bell faces you.
- Rnd 8 (bead rim): [Sc in next 2 sts, Bsc in next st] 10 times. (30 sts, 10 beads) Sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Because the inside faces you on Rnd 8, the beads land on the outside of the bell. Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) across the rim and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall. Leave the MR slightly open, about the width of a pencil, so the hanging cord can pass through.
Make All Pieces
- Lavender: 1 lace strip, 1 bell cap, 2 hanging cords
- Peach: 1 lace strip
Vertical layout, top to bottom:
[ hanging loop ]
[ 12 mm bead ]
[ 16 mm bead ]
[ lavender strip + peach strip, twisted ]
[ 16 mm bead ]
[ 12 mm bead ]
[ bell cap with 10 rim beads ]
[ 10 mm tip bead ]
Border
Work the border on each strip before joining. Border gauge is the same as sc gauge: 4.5 sts per inch.
Border Round: Continuing from the end of Side 2 Row 3, ch 1, do not turn.
- Long side (Side 2 rim): Sc in each sc, 4 sc in each ch-4 sp, and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp. Count: 29 sc in sts + 80 sc in ch-4 sps + 12 sc in ch-2 sps = 121 sc.
- Short end: 1 sc in the row-end of Side 2 Row 3, 1 sc in the row-end of Side 2 Row 2, 2 sc around the post of the end dc of Row 1, 1 sc in the row-end of Side 1 Row 2, 1 sc in the row-end of Side 1 Row 3. (6 sc)
- Long side (Side 1 rim): Work as for the first long side. (121 sc)
- Short end: Work as for the first short end. (6 sc)
Sl st to first sc. Total: 121 + 6 + 121 + 6 = 254 sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.
The 6 end sts include the corners, so no extra corner stitches are added. Each long-side count of 121 does not include the end sts.
Why the math works: One sc covers about the same length as one chain, so 4 sc in a ch-4 and 2 sc in a ch-2 keep the rim flat along its own length. The rim is still much longer than the spine: 121 sc is about 27 in (68.6 cm) of edge against an 18 in (45.7 cm) spine. That extra length makes the strip twist naturally into a spiral, the same way the outer edge of a corkscrew is longer than its center line.
Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 18.5 in (47.0 cm) when laid flat and gently straightened.
Joining
Method: Whipstitch the short ends together, then tack the spines.
- Stack strip A on top of strip B, right sides out, with the ends matching.
- Top end: With lavender and a tapestry needle, whipstitch the 6 end sts of strip A to the 6 end sts of strip B, one stitch to one stitch, through both loops of each. Pull snug but not tight. The seam should be about as wide as the strip end, about 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
- Hang the top end from a hook or clip. Holding the bottom ends apart, twist the strips around each other 2.5 full turns, in the direction the strips naturally curl.
- Bottom end: Bring the bottom ends together and whipstitch 6 sts to 6 sts, as at the top.
- Tacking: At each half-turn where the two spines cross (about every 3 in or 7.6 cm), take 2 small stitches through both spines with matching yarn. This gives you 4 tack points.
Tension advice: Tack only through the spines, never through the spokes or rim, so the lace stays free to flare. If the strips bunch, untwist a quarter turn before you tack.
Size checkpoint: spiral body 15 in (38.1 cm) long and about 4 in (10.2 cm) across the widest lobes.
Hanging hardware:
- Top cord: Cut 36 in (91.4 cm) of lavender. Fold it in half and thread both ends through the top seam, then through the 16 mm bead and the 12 mm bead. Tie an overhand knot above the beads, leaving a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) hanging loop. Trim the tails to 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- Bottom cord: Cut 24 in (61.0 cm) of lavender. Fold it in half and thread it through the bottom seam, then through the 16 mm bead, the 12 mm bead, the bell cap MR from inside to outside, and the 10 mm tip bead. Knot below the tip bead and trim.
Final Blocking
- Before joining, lay each strip flat on a blocking board, wrong side up.
- Mist with water until damp, not soaked.
- Pin the spine straight to 18.5 in (47.0 cm).
- Pin the top of each dtr spoke outward so the windows open evenly and each strip is about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide.
- Let the strips dry completely, about 6 to 8 hours.
- Join and twist as described above. Mist the finished spiral lightly and hang it to dry. Gravity and the weight of the bell will settle the twist.
- Fill the bell cap with a scrap of plastic wrap and mist it so the flare holds its shape while it dries.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each strip has 81 sts in Row 1 and 254 sts in the border.
- Each side has 5 lobes, each with 5 graded spokes.
- Spokes are straight, not twisted around themselves.
- The ch-2 pinch points line up across the spine on both sides.
- Both short-end seams are 6 sts to 6 sts with no gaps.
- All 4 tack points sit on the spines, not on the lace.
- The bell cap has 10 evenly spaced beads on the outside.
- The spiral body measures 15 in (38.1 cm), and the overall length is about 22 in (55.9 cm).
- All tails are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
- Strip curls into a tube instead of a spiral: The rim is too tight. Go up one hook size for the border only.
- Edges ruffle too much: Work 3 sc instead of 4 in each ch-4 sp on the border (100 sc per long side) and keep everything else the same.
- Spokes lean to one side: Check that you skip exactly 2 sts before each spoke in Row 2.
- Spiral drops and straightens: Add a tack stitch at each crossing, or use a firmer cotton.
- Beads are on the inside of the bell: You missed the turn before Rnd 8. Turn the bell inside out, or redo Rnd 8 with the inside facing you.
Care
Spot clean with a damp cloth, or hand wash in cool water, roll in a towel, and hang to dry. Keep the hanging out of strong direct sun so the lavender and peach stay soft and bright.
Final Notes
Here is the full measurement chain. Row 1 sets the spine at 81 sts and 18 in (45.7 cm). The lace rows add 1.25 in (3.2 cm) per side, for a strip 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. The 254-st border brings each strip to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 18.5 in (47.0 cm). Twisting 2.5 turns shortens the pair to a 15 in (38.1 cm) spiral. The beads, loop, and bell bring the whole hanging to about 22 in (55.9 cm).
Check your gauge on the spine and count each row, and the spiral will take care of itself.
Happy crocheting!