The Mossy Canopy Bedspread is an open, airy coverlet covered in leaf sprigs. Each square block holds a five-leaf sprig hanging from a short chain stem, and a chain-loop frame squares it off. Once the blocks are joined, the sprigs line up into a lattice of leaves, and the sheets underneath show through every gap.
The sample is worked in one moss-green chunky yarn. The single color keeps attention on the texture, where the ribbed leaves stand out against the lacy frame. The style is relaxed and botanical, and it suits a neutral, natural bedroom.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The bedspread measures 80 x 96 in (203.2 x 243.8 cm) before the border, 83 x 99 in (210.8 x 251.5 cm) at the mesh edge, and 89.5 x 105.5 in (227.3 x 268.0 cm) to the tips of the hanging leaves.
Construction is simple to follow. You crochet one leaf sprig, frame it into an 8 in (20.3 cm) square, make 120 squares, join them in a 10 x 12 grid, and finish with a four-round border that ends in hanging leaves. A short section also covers the two matching pillow fronts.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 83 x 99 in (210.8 x 251.5 cm) at the mesh edge; 89.5 x 105.5 in (227.3 x 268.0 cm) to the leaf tips
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: #5 bulky
- Hook: 6.5 mm (US K-10.5)
- Number of pieces: 120 motifs (plus 8 for two pillow fronts)
- Layout: 10 motifs wide x 12 motifs long
- Motif size: 8 x 8 in (20.3 x 20.3 cm)
- Size before border: 80 x 96 in (203.2 x 243.8 cm)
- Border depth: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of mesh, plus leaf drops hanging 3.25 in (8.3 cm), for 4.75 in (12.1 cm) in total
Materials
Pick a smooth, round-plied bulky yarn with good stitch definition. Wool blends and soft acrylic blends both work well. Avoid fuzzy or brushed yarns, because they blur the leaf ribs and fill in the lace.
- Moss green, bedspread: 2,600 g (approximately 3,380 m), based on 130 m per 100 g
- Moss green, two pillow fronts: 220 g (approximately 286 m)
These quantities include a margin of roughly 10%. Buy all the yarn from one dye lot.
Tools:
– 6.5 mm (US K-10.5) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers (at least 8)
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – Leaf (worked from a base point):
Ch 11.
Side 1: Working back toward the base, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 6 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch (10 sts). Sl st into the base st.
Side 2: Working toward the tip along the opposite side of the foundation chain, sc in first ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 6 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch (10 sts).
Tip: Ch 2, sl st in the first sc of Side 1. This ch-2 is the leaf tip.
Rib: Sl st in BLO of the remaining 9 sts of Side 1, then sl st into the base st.
Each leaf has 20 sts plus a ch-2 tip, and you finish back at the base. The BLO slip stitches raise a ridge down one side, which gives the leaf its ribbed look. A finished leaf is about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long and 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 11.5 sc and 12 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). In practice, the 23 sc along one finished motif side should measure 8 in (20.3 cm).
Make one complete motif and block it before you start on the rest. Check it at each stage:
- One leaf: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long.
- Finished sprig, stem top to bottom leaf tip: about 6.75 in (17.1 cm).
- After Rnd 3: about 7.25 in (18.4 cm) across.
- After Rnd 4: 8 in (20.3 cm) on each side.
Motif too big? Go down a hook size, to 6 mm. Too small? Go up to 7 mm. Tight chains are the most common cause of small motifs. If your leaves cup, loosen your foundation chains before you change hooks.
Motif: Leaf Sprig
Stem: Ch 13. The slip knot end is the top of the stem, and your hook is at the bottom.
Leaf A (bottom leaf): Work a Leaf using the last stem ch (the one on your hook) as its base. Leaf A hangs straight down.
Sl st up the stem into the next 4 ch.
Leaves B and C: Work a Leaf to the left using the current stem ch as its base, then work a second Leaf to the right from the same ch.
Sl st up the stem into the next 4 ch.
Leaves D and E: Work a Leaf to the left (D) and a Leaf to the right (E) from the current stem ch.
Sl st up the stem into the remaining 4 ch. You are now at the top of the stem.
Stem check: 1 base ch + 4 + 4 + 4 = 13 ch. The sprig now has 5 leaves. Lay it flat so the side leaves angle down and away from the stem.
Motif: Frame
Rnd 1 (chain ring): From the top of the stem, ch 9, sc in ch-2 tip of Leaf D, ch 9, sc in tip of Leaf B, ch 9, sc in tip of Leaf A, ch 9, sc in tip of Leaf C, ch 9, sc in tip of Leaf E, ch 9, sl st in top of stem. You now have 6 ch-9 loops.
Rnd 2 (growth): Sl st in first ch-9 loop, ch 1, work 12 sc in each ch-9 loop around. Join with sl st to first sc. (72 sc)
Before Rnd 3, sl st in the next 3 sts. That way the first corner sits above Leaf D and the bottom edge falls just below Leaf A’s tip.
Rnd 3 (squaring): Ch 1. *(Tr, ch 3, tr) in next st [corner made], dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts, tr in next st; repeat from * 3 more times. Join with sl st to first tr.
Each repeat uses 1 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 18 sts, and 4 repeats use all 72 sts. (76 sts: 19 sts per side between corner sps, plus 4 ch-3 corner sps)
Rnd 4 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in each st around, working 3 sc in each corner ch-3 sp. Join and fasten off, leaving a 24 in (61.0 cm) tail for joining.
Count: 76 sc worked 1 per st + 12 sc in corners = 88 sc. Each side has 23 sts including both corner sts. (That is the center sc of each 3-sc group: 4 x 23 = 92, minus 4 shared corners = 88.)
Make All Pieces
- Bedspread: 120 motifs (10 x 12)
- Pillow fronts: 8 motifs (4 per front, 2 x 2)
All pieces are the same color: moss green.
Layout grid (M = one motif, top edge at the headboard, all sprigs hanging downward):
Row 1: M M M M M M M M M M
Row 2: M M M M M M M M M M
Row 3: M M M M M M M M M M
... (10 motifs per row)
Row 12: M M M M M M M M M M
Keep every sprig pointing the same way so the leaves run down the bed in neat columns.
Joining
Join with a flat sc seam worked through the back loops. Hold two motifs with wrong sides together and the stems pointing the same way. Starting in the corner sts, sc through the back loops of both layers, matching st to st, and work 23 sc along the side, ending in the opposite corner sts.
Join every motif into horizontal rows of 10. Then join the rows to each other with long seams the same way. Where four corners meet, work through all of them in one sc so the meeting point stays flat.
Seam with the same tension as Rnd 4. If a seam puckers, your stitches are too tight, so take it out and redo it with the next hook size up for seaming only.
Size checkpoint: The joined panel should measure 80 x 96 in (203.2 x 243.8 cm). Each short edge holds 10 x 23 = 230 sts and each long edge holds 12 x 23 = 276 sts. No stitches are added at the seams. The two corner sts that meet at each seam both stay in the count.
Border
Border gauge: Same as the motifs, 11.5 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). Every border round keeps exactly 23 or 24 sts per motif length, so the edges stay straight.
Rnd 1 (trim): Join yarn in any outer corner st. Ch 1, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in corner st, sc in each st along the side to the next corner st; repeat from * around. Join.
- Short side: 230 sc between corner ch-2 sps
- Long side: 276 sc between corner ch-2 sps
- Count: 1,008 sts worked 1 per st + 4 extra corner sc = 1,012 sc (2 x 230 + 2 x 276 = 1,012), plus 4 ch-2 corner sps
Rnd 2 (growth): Sl st into corner sp, ch 1. Along each side, work sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 11 sts once for each motif. At each corner, ch 2 and skip the corner ch-2 sp. Join.
- Short side: 10 x 24 = 240 sc
- Long side: 12 x 24 = 288 sc
- Total: 1,056 sc (1,012 + 44 increases), plus 4 ch-2 corner sps
Rnd 3 (mesh): Ch 1. Along each side, sc in next st, ch 4, skip 3 sts across. At each corner, sc in corner ch-2 sp, ch 4. Join.
- Short side: 240 ÷ 4 = 60 ch-4 loops
- Long side: 288 ÷ 4 = 72 ch-4 loops
- Corners: 1 loop each
- Total: 2 x 60 + 2 x 72 + 4 = 268 loops
Rnd 4 (leaf drops): Sl st into the first loop of a short side. Ch 1. Along each side, 3 sc in next loop, 3 sc in next loop, in next loop work (2 sc, Leaf, 2 sc) across. In each corner loop, work (2 sc, Leaf, 2 sc). Join and fasten off.
For each leaf drop, the sc just worked is the base. Ch 11, work the Leaf, and when you sl st back into the base, the leaf hangs outward with its tip pointing away from the bedspread.
- Short side: 60 ÷ 3 = 20 leaves
- Long side: 72 ÷ 3 = 24 leaves
- Total: 2 x 20 + 2 x 24 + 4 corners = 92 leaves, which works out to 2 leaves per motif along each side
Why the math works: 23 is a prime number, so a 23-st motif side can’t take a mesh repeat. Rnd 2 adds one stitch per motif to make 24. Since 24 divides by 4 (mesh) and then by 3 (leaves), every side comes out even with no partial repeats.
Pillow fronts: Join 4 motifs (2 x 2) into a 16 in (40.6 cm) square, giving 46 sts per side. Work the same border: Rnd 1 gives 46 sc per side, Rnd 2 gives 48, Rnd 3 gives 12 loops, and Rnd 4 gives 4 leaves per side plus 4 corner leaves. Stitch the finished front onto a plain cushion cover.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along seams and stems, never through the lace openings.
- Lay the bedspread flat on mats or a clean sheet on the floor.
- Pin the four corners first so they measure 83 x 99 in (210.8 x 251.5 cm).
- Pin along each edge every 8 in (20.3 cm), at each seam.
- Open the leaves. Shape each tip to a point and smooth the side leaves so they angle downward.
- Pin each border leaf straight out from the edge.
- Mist until damp, but not soaked. Let it dry completely before you unpin.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- All 120 sprigs point the same way.
- Every motif side measures 8 in (20.3 cm) and has 23 sts.
- Seams are flat and match st to st.
- Border Rnd 1 counts are 230 / 276 per side.
- Border Rnd 2 counts are 240 / 288 per side.
- Mesh counts are 60 / 72 loops per side.
- There are 92 leaf drops, with one in each corner.
- All ends are woven in and none show through the lace.
Troubleshooting
- Leaves curl: The foundation chain is too tight. Chain more loosely or chain with a hook one size up.
- Rnd 2 ruffles: Your loops are too short for 12 sc. Make sure every Rnd 1 loop has 9 ch.
- Motif isn’t square: The corners are in the wrong place. Re-count the sl sts before Rnd 3, and check for 18 sts per repeat.
- Border waves: Recount Rnd 2, which should have one increase per motif and no more.
- Edge pulls in: Loosen the ch-4 loops in Rnd 3.
Care
Hand wash cool or machine wash on a gentle wool cycle in a mesh bag, following the yarn label. Lay flat to dry and reshape the leaves while damp.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A 3.25 in (8.3 cm) leaf builds a 6.75 in (17.1 cm) sprig. The sprig frames into an 8 in (20.3 cm) motif with 23 sts per side. Ten by twelve motifs make an 80 x 96 in (203.2 x 243.8 cm) panel. The border brings it to 83 x 99 in (210.8 x 251.5 cm), and the leaf drops reach 89.5 x 105.5 in (227.3 x 268.0 cm). If your first motif hits 8 in (20.3 cm), the rest of the bedspread will follow.
Happy crocheting!