The Seaside Fan is a half-circle motif that looks like a scallop shell. Seven teal wedges fan out from a small open ring, with narrower peach wedges between them. A lacy peach edge of chain arches and picot scallops frames the curve.
Peach and teal give the motif a soft, coastal look. The solid wedges keep their shape, and the open border keeps the motif light. You can use one motif as a coaster, a table accent, or an appliqué. It is also a good test piece if you later plan to repeat the motif.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished motif measures 9 in (22.9 cm) wide and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall after blocking.
Construction is simple. You make a ring of single crochet, then work 6 turned rows of double crochet into its upper half. The colors change in a tapestry method, and each row has 13 color sections. Two peach border rows finish the curved edge, and a single crochet row finishes the straight edge.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 9 in (22.9 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate (tapestry color changes)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 (one single motif)
- Layout: Single half-circle motif, worked flat
- Piece size (Rows 1–6, before border): 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Size before border: 7 in (17.8 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) on the curved edge
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized DK cotton. It shows stitch definition clearly and blocks crisply. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the edges of the wedges and hide the picots.
- Color A, Peach: 10 g, about 22 m (24 yd)
- Color B, Teal: 8 g, about 18 m (20 yd)
Quantities are for one motif and include a margin for your gauge swatch and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins
- Blocking mat or folded towel
- Spray bottle
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp: space
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
- picot: ch 3, sl st into the 3rd ch from the hook
Special technique, tapestry color change: Work the last dc of a section until 2 loops remain on the hook. Drop the old color, yarn over with the new color, and pull it through both loops. Lay the unused color along the tops of the stitches you are working into, and work over it so it is hidden inside the stitches. Change colors on the WS rows the same way.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each dc row is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Make one complete motif before you make any more. It is your real gauge test, and it shows you whether the fan lies flat.
Checkpoints:
- After the ring: outer diameter 1.1 in (2.8 cm), with a center hole of about 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
- After Row 2: 3 in (7.6 cm) wide across the straight edge.
- After Row 4: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide.
- After Row 6: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
- After the border: 9 in (22.9 cm) wide x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall.
If your motif is too big, go down to a 3.75 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 4.5 mm hook. If the fan cups at Row 6 while your gauge is correct, loosen the tension on your increase stitches. If it ruffles, tighten it. Don’t change any stitch counts.
Pattern
Center Ring
With peach, ch 10 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Ring Round: Ch 1, work 24 sc into the ring, and sl st to the first sc to join. (24 sts)
Fasten off and weave in the tail. Number the stitches 1 to 24, starting with the first sc. Sts 1–13 form the upper half that holds the fan. Sts 14–24 (11 sts) stay free and become the center of the straight edge later.
Checkpoint: The ring has an outer diameter of 1.1 in (2.8 cm).
Fan (Tapestry Colorwork)
Each row has 13 color sections that alternate teal and peach and begin and end with teal. That is 7 teal sections and 6 peach sections. Teal and peach increase on alternate rows, so the fan grows by 6 or 7 stitches per row, about the amount a flat half circle needs.
Row 1 (RS): With RS facing, join teal with a sl st in st 1 of the ring, ch 3 (counts as dc). Lay the peach strand along sts 2–13 so you can work over it. Work 1 dc in each of sts 2–13, alternating colors: peach, teal, peach, teal, and so on, ending with teal in st 13. (13 sts: 7 teal, 6 peach, 1 st per section)
Row 2 (WS): Teal, ch 3 (counts as dc), and dc in the same st. Peach dc in the next st, teal 2 dc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 more times; the last 2 dc go in the top of the ch-3. (20 sts: teal sections 2 sts each, peach sections 1 st each)
Row 3 (RS): Teal, ch 3 (counts as dc), and dc in the next st. Peach 2 dc in the next st, teal dc in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat from * 5 more times. (26 sts: teal 2 each, peach 2 each)
Row 4 (WS): Teal, ch 3 (counts as dc), and 2 dc in the next st. Peach dc in each of the next 2 sts, teal dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 more times. (33 sts: teal 3 each, peach 2 each)
Row 5 (RS): Teal, ch 3 (counts as dc), and dc in each of the next 2 sts. Peach dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st, teal dc in each of the next 3 sts. Repeat from * 5 more times. (39 sts: teal 3 each, peach 3 each)
Row 6 (WS): Teal, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the next st, and 2 dc in the next st. Peach dc in each of the next 3 sts, teal dc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 more times. (46 sts: teal 4 each, peach 3 each)
Check the count: (7 x 4) + (6 x 3) = 28 + 18 = 46. ✓
Change to peach on the final yarn over of Row 6 and fasten off teal. Keep peach attached.
Checkpoint: The fan measures 7 in (17.8 cm) across the straight edge and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from the straight edge to the top of the curve. The teal wedges should look clearly wider than the peach wedges at the outer edge, with both colors narrowing to a point at the ring.
Border
Border gauge: One ch-5 arch with its anchoring sc spans 3 sts of Row 6, about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) along the curve. Along the straight edge, 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
The motif has two sides: the curved edge and the straight edge.
Border Row 1 (RS, curved edge, peach): Turn, ch 1, sc in the first st. Ch 5, sk 2 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 14 more times; the last sc goes in the top of the ch-3. (16 sc and 15 ch-5 arches)
Border Row 2 (WS, curved edge): Turn, ch 1, sc in the first sc. In the next ch-5 sp work (sc, hdc, 2 dc, picot, 2 dc, hdc, sc), then sc in the next sc. Repeat from * 14 more times. (15 scallops of 8 sts plus 1 picot each, and 16 sc: 136 sts and 15 picots)
Fasten off.
Border Row 3 (straight edge, peach): With RS facing, join peach at the bottom corner where Border Row 1 began, and ch 1. Work 1 sc in the end of Border Row 1 and 2 sc in the end of each of Rows 6 to 1, for 13 sc. Then work 1 sc in each of the 11 free ring sts (sts 14–24), for 11 sc. Then work 2 sc in the end of each of Rows 1 to 6 and 1 sc in the end of Border Row 1, for 13 sc. (37 sc: 13 + 11 + 13)
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Why the math works: Row 6 has 46 sts, and Border Row 1 uses 1 starting sc plus 15 repeats of 3 sts: 1 + (15 x 3) = 46. Each arch lands evenly, and the last sc sits in the last st. Each scallop fills one arch, so 15 arches give 15 scallops.
On the straight edge, each dc row is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall, and 2 sc per row end works out to 4 sc per inch. That is a little fewer than the 4.5 sc per inch of sc gauge, so the bottom stays firm and doesn’t flare. Each half of the straight edge has 13 sc, and the 11 sc across the ring match the 11 free ring sts exactly, 1 for 1.
The border adds 1 in (2.5 cm) on each side of the curve: 7 in + 1 in + 1 in = 9 in (22.9 cm) wide, and 3.5 in + 1 in = 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Draw or mark a straight line 9 in (22.9 cm) long on your blocking mat. Mark its center point.
- Mark a half circle with a radius of 4.5 in (11.4 cm) around that center point.
- Lightly spray the motif until it is damp all through. For cotton, you can also soak it and roll it in a towel.
- Pin the straight edge along the line, starting at the center of the ring and working out to both corners.
- Pin the center of the ring hole open so it stays round, at about 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
- Pin the tip of each picot to the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) curve. Start with the center scallop, then the two end scallops, then fill in evenly.
- Straighten each teal and peach wedge so it runs straight out from the ring like a spoke.
- Let the motif dry completely before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The ring has 24 sc, and 11 of them form the center of the straight edge.
- Row 6 has 46 sts: 7 teal sections of 4 and 6 peach sections of 3.
- No carried strands show on the RS.
- Border Row 1 has exactly 15 ch-5 arches.
- Border Row 2 has 15 scallops, each with 1 centered picot.
- The straight edge has 37 sc (13 + 11 + 13) and lies flat.
- The finished motif measures 9 in (22.9 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- All ends are woven in securely, inside matching colors.
Troubleshooting
The fan cups or curls up: Your increases are too tight, or your gauge is too tight. Recount each row, then loosen up or go up a hook size.
The fan ruffles: Your gauge is too loose. Go down a hook size and keep the double crochets compact.
Teal shows through the peach wedges: Keep the carried strand along the tops of the stitches and pull it snug every few stitches. Peach is the lighter color, so check the RS often.
The scallops flare or wave: The ch-5 arches are too loose. Work the chains a little tighter, or use ch 4 if your chains are always loose.
The straight edge is wavy: Work 2 sc per row end, not 3. Make sure the 11 ring sts get exactly 1 sc each.
The ring hole has closed up: Work the 24 sc evenly around the ch-10 ring, not bunched together. Pin the hole open when you block.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent. Press out the water in a towel, then reshape and dry flat. Don’t wring the motif or put it in the dryer.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short. A ring of 24 sc, 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across, holds a fan that grows from 13 to 46 sts over 6 rows and measures 7 in (17.8 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm). Fifteen arches and fifteen picot scallops add 1 in (2.5 cm) on the curve, and a 37 sc straight edge finishes the bottom. The blocked motif measures 9 in (22.9 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
If your checkpoints match at the ring, at Row 6, and after the border, your fan will lie flat with a crisp shell shape. If you want to repeat the motif later, keep your tension the same so every fan blocks to the same size.
Happy crocheting!