1:48 scale crocheted bedspread
Idea and instructions by Anna-Carin Betzén
This is the bedspread I crocheted for the bedroom of my English Cottage. It has three by four small squares (there is overhang at the sides only due to the footboard). Four by four squares would make a bedspread with overhang on three sides. Use cotton sewing thread and a #14 hook for squares that are approximately 12 mm (½") after shrinking.
If you've never crocheted before, I think it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with the technique using thicker yarn and larger needle before attempting to do it in this scale.
General hints on mini crocheting
I use cotton sewing thread and a #14 hook (try the smallest you can find). Your stitches will be a little loose, but don't worry. When you're done and have secured the ends, rinse your work thoroughly under the hot water tap (preferably in a sieve, so it won't go down the drain). It'll shrink a little, and the stitches will firm up noticeably (giving you nice firm crocheting without having to struggle with a tiny needle sharp hook). Note: if you substitute a synthetic thread, you won't be able to shrink your work in this manner.
Very nice nearly-in-scale crochet work can be done in 1:12 scale, but in 1:48 scale you'll probably have to accept that it looks slightly too coarse (well, "slightly" is an understatement here). Be careful to select the right pattern, in order not to spoil the impression. Generally, I look for patterns that don't have very large dense nor open areas. If you want to adapt full-scale patterns, look for small squares and round doilies, and remember that sometimes you can use just the center part of a larger pattern.
I use American names for the crochet stitches; I understand the names denote different stitches to British crocheters than to Americans.
Bedspread pattern
| Abbreviations | |
|---|---|
| ch | chain stitch |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet |
| dc | double crochet |
| n(<whatever>) | do <whatever> a total of n times |
Cast on: ch 6, sl st in first ch.
Round 1: ch 4, 7(dc in ring, ch 1), sl st in 3rd ch.
Round 2: ch 5, 7(dc in ch 1 space, ch 2, dc in dc, 2 ch), sl st in 3rd ch.
Round 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc of first repeat), 4( 2 dc in ch 2 space, ch 3, 2 dc in same space, 3(ch 3, sc in next ch 2 space), ch 3), sl st in 3rd ch. Break thread and fasten.
Crochet more squares, and on round 3 join each of them to the previous ones by replacing the 2nd ch in the ch 3 loops with a sc in the corresponding ch of the adjoining square.
Edge, first round: Attach thread in the 2nd ch 3 loop after a corner loop and make a sc. Ch 3, sc in next ch 3 loop, repeat to next corner ending with ch 3, and make 2 dc, ch 3, and 2 dc in the corner loop. Repeat around the bedspread, ending with a sl st in the sc. (If you'd like a wider edge, you can slip stitch to the top of the next loop and work this round a few more times, but the total number has to be odd so you have an odd number of loops between the corners when you commence the last round.)
Edge, last round: There are two different versions of the last round. On the bedspread I used version A, and on the sample shown in the closeup I used version B.
Last round, version A: Dense edge (photo at top of page). Sl st in the first two ch. 5 dc in next loop, sc in the loop after it - repeat around the bedspread, making 10 dc in the corner loops. Break thread and fasten.
Last round, version B: Airy edge (sample closup to the right). Sl st in the first two ch. In next loop crochet 3(dc, ch 1), dc in same loop, sc in the loop after it - repeat around the bedspread, making 6 rather than 3 repeats in the corner loops. Break thread and fasten.
I shrunk the bedspread as described above, and stretched it on a board (placing a pin in each scallop) so it would be nice and straight. At the pic it looks a little crooked, as I've had it on my mini bed for some time, and didn't re-stretch it for the photo.