The Seaside Swirl is a round motif made of a blue and cream spiral wrapped in airy lace. A two-color spiral sits in the center, framed by a crisp blue ring. Tall cream spokes open the middle band, and 18 soft scallops finish the edge, with small blue blocks tucked into each valley.
The colors are cream and cornflower blue, which suits a calm coastal look. The motif works as a doily, a table centerpiece, or a decorative accent.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished motif measures 8.5 in (21.6 cm) across after blocking.
You’ll work it in the round from the center out. Rounds 1–5 build the spiral with two yarns used in turn, and no joins. Rounds 6–9 add the frame and the spokes. Rounds 10–12 form the scalloped border.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) diameter
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light worsted, #3), cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (US E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 (single motif)
- Layout: one round motif, worked center-out
- Piece size: 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
- Size before border (after Rnd 9): 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) on each side, so 6.5 in + 1 in + 1 in = 8.5 in (16.5 cm + 2.5 cm + 2.5 cm ≈ 21.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized or combed DK cotton, about 125 m (137 yd) per 50 g. Cotton gives crisp stitch definition and blocks flat. A fuzzy yarn will blur the spiral lines.
- Cream (Color B / main): 15 g, about 38 m (42 yd)
- Blue (Color A / contrast): 10 g, about 25 m (27 yd)
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (US E-4) crochet hook
– 2 locking stitch markers
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Blocking mat and rustproof pins
– Spray bottle
These quantities include a margin of about 20% for your gauge swatch and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet (yarn over twice, insert hook, pull up a loop, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops] 3 times)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
- rep – repeat
Special technique – Two-Color Spiral (drop-and-pick-up): Two yarns are active at the same time. Each color works only into the stitches made by the other color, then stops just before the other color’s waiting loop. When you stop, pull the working loop up long and put a marker in it so it can’t unravel. Then pick up the other color. Never cut a yarn mid-spiral.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make Rounds 1–5 first as your test. Measure flat without stretching.
- After Rnd 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- After Rnd 5: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) — this is the main gauge
- After Rnd 6: 4 in (10.2 cm)
- After Rnd 7: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- After Rnd 8: 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
- After Rnd 9: 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- After Rnd 10: 7.25 in (18.4 cm)
- After Rnd 11: 8.25 in (21 cm)
- After Rnd 12, blocked: 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
Allow ±0.25 in (0.6 cm) at any checkpoint.
If your spiral is too big: go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it’s too small: go up to a 3.75 mm hook. If the spiral cups into a bowl, your increases are too tight, so go up a hook size. If it ruffles, go down one size.
Pattern
Spiral Center (Rounds 1–5)
Color A is Blue and Color B is Cream.
Rnd 1: With A, make a MR. Ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st). Work sc, hdc, 4 dc into the ring. That’s 6 A sts. Drop A, lengthen the loop and put a marker in it.
Join B in the ring. Ch 1, then work sc, hdc, 4 dc into the ring. That’s 6 B sts. Drop B and add a marker. Pull the ring closed.
Total: 12 sts (6 A, 6 B).
From here, each color works into the other color’s stitches from the previous pass.
Rnd 2: Pick up A. Work 2 dc in each of the next 6 sts (B’s sts) = 12 A sts. Drop A.
Pick up B. Work 2 dc in each of the next 6 sts (A’s Rnd 1 sts) = 12 B sts. Drop B.
Total: 24 sts (12 A, 12 B).
Rnd 3: A: dc in next st, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 6 times = 18 A sts. Drop A.
B: work the same over A’s sts = 18 B sts. Drop B.
Total: 36 sts.*
Rnd 4: A: dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 6 times = 24 A sts. Drop A.
B: same = 24 B sts. Drop B.
Total: 48 sts.*
Rnd 5 (with taper): A: dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st; rep from * 5 times. For the last repeat, work: dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, (sc, sl st) in next st. That’s 30 A sts. Fasten off A.
B: work the same 5 repeats plus the same tapered final repeat = 30 B sts. Don’t fasten off.
Total: 60 sts.*
The taper drops the end of each arm down to the next round. That gives the smooth, swirled finish shown in the photo.
Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Frame (Rounds 6–7)
Rnd 6 (Cream, continuing B): Hdc in each st around. Over the 2 lowest taper sts of each color (the sc and the sc/sl st group), work sc instead of hdc so the edge stays level. Sl st to the first st.
Total: 60 sts. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm).
Rnd 7 (Blue): Join Blue in any st. Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 12 times. Sl st to the first sc.
Total: 72 sc (60 sts + 12 increases). Fasten off.
Checkpoint:* 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Spoke Band (Rounds 8–9)
Rnd 8 (Cream): Join Cream in any sc. Ch 6 (counts as tr + ch 2), sk next st. Tr in next st, ch 2, sk next st; rep from * 34 more times. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch-6.
Total: 36 tr, 36 ch-2 sps (72 sc ÷ 2 = 36 repeats).
Checkpoint:* 5.25 in (13.3 cm).
Rnd 9 (Cream): Sl st into the next ch-2 sp, then sl st into the next tr. Ch 7 (counts as tr + ch 3). Tr in next tr, ch 3; rep from * 34 more times. Sl st to the 4th ch of the beginning ch-7.
Total: 36 tr, 36 ch-3 sps.* Fasten off.
The ch-3 spaces are slightly longer than the ch-2 spaces below them. That lets the spokes fan outward, so the lace stays flat.
Checkpoint (size before border): 6.5 in (16.5 cm).
Border
Border gauge: The border is worked in 18 repeats, and each repeat sits over 2 spokes (2 ch-3 sps) of Rnd 9. Each repeat adds 1 in (2.5 cm) of depth all around. On a round piece, “per side” means per repeat.
Rnd 10 (Blue – blocks and dots): Join Blue in any ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3. 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3; rep from * 16 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3.
– Per repeat: 3 dc, 1 sc, 2 ch-3 sps
– Total: 18 blocks (54 dc) + 18 sc = 72 sts, plus 36 ch-3 sps.* Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
Rnd 11 (Cream – scallops): Join Cream with a sc in the center dc of any blue block. Sk the next dc, 3 dc in the next ch-3 sp, dc in the next sc, 3 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk the next dc, sc in the center dc of the next block; rep from * 17 more times. On the last repeat, replace the final sc with a sl st into the first sc.
– Per repeat: 1 sc + 7 dc = 8 sts
– Total: 18 × 8 = 144 sts* (18 sc, 126 dc)
The skipped outer dc of each blue block stays visible. That’s what creates the little blue accents in the valleys.
Checkpoint: 8.25 in (21 cm).
Rnd 12 (Cream – trim): Ch 1. Sl st in the sc, sc in the next 3 dc, 3 sc in the center (4th) dc, sc in the next 3 dc; rep from * 18 times. Sl st to the first sl st. Fasten off.
– Per repeat: 8 sts worked 1-per-st + 2 extra at the scallop tip = 10 sts
– Total: 144 + 36 = 180 sts*
Why the math works: Rnd 7’s 72 sts make 36 spokes. Two spokes per repeat gives 18 repeats. Every repeat of Rnds 10–12 uses exactly 2 ch-3 sps, so the border never runs short or long. The extra stitches at each tip round the scallop without stretching the edge. The valleys stay anchored by a sc or sl st, which keeps the outline crisp.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along same-color stitches. Weave the spiral tails into the same-color arm.
- Soak the motif in cool water for 10 minutes. Press out the water in a towel without wringing.
- Lay it right side up on a blocking mat. Mark an 8.5 in (21.6 cm) circle.
- Pin the center first, gently flattening the spiral.
- Pin each of the 36 spokes straight, measuring outward from the center.
- Pin the tip of each of the 18 scallops on the circle. Pin each valley about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) inside the line.
- Mist lightly and let it dry completely before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Spiral arms are even and both tapers are smooth
- Rnd 6 sits level with no steps
- 72 sc in the blue ring
- 36 straight spokes, evenly spaced
- 18 blue blocks, each showing blue at both valley edges
- 18 matching scallops, 180 sts in Rnd 12
- Diameter is 8.5 in (21.6 cm) and the motif lies flat
- No visible tails on the front
Troubleshooting
- Spiral looks lopsided: One color probably worked too many or too few sts. Count 30 per color in Rnd 5.
- The center pokes up: Your MR wasn’t pulled tight, or your gauge is too tight. Re-close the ring and go up a hook size.
- The edge ruffles: Your tr spokes are too tall. Try a 3.25 mm hook for Rnds 8–9 only.
- The edge cups: Check that every ch-3 has exactly 3 chains, then block firmly.
- Blue blocks are hidden: You worked into the outer dc in Rnd 11. Remember to skip them.
- The scallops are pointy: Work 2 sc in the center dc instead of 3. Your total becomes 162 sts.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Dry flat, pinning it back into shape if needed.
Final Notes
The measurement chain runs from the spiral outward. Rnd 5 measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm), the frame brings it to 4.25 in (10.8 cm), and the spokes take it to 6.5 in (16.5 cm). The 1 in (2.5 cm) border finishes it at 8.5 in (21.6 cm). If you check each stage as you go, the final round lands where it should.
Happy crocheting!