How to Crochet a Bedspread: The “OLIS” Pattern by 1Hobby1
There is something deeply satisfying about making your own bedspread. It takes patience, creativity, and a love for the craft, but when you lay that finished piece across your bed and step back to admire it, nothing quite compares to that feeling. The OLIS bedspread pattern by 1Hobby1 is one of those projects that strikes a beautiful balance between being achievable for an intermediate crocheter and impressive enough to become the centerpiece of any bedroom. In this guide, we are going to walk through everything you need to know to start and finish this project successfully — from choosing your yarn and hook to understanding the stitch construction and finishing details.
Whether you are an experienced maker looking for your next big project or someone who has been crocheting for a year or two and wants to try something more substantial, the OLIS bedspread is a wonderful choice. It is elegant, it is textured, and once you understand the pattern repeat, it moves along at a satisfying rhythm that keeps the work engaging from the first row to the last.
What Makes the OLIS Bedspread Special
Before we get into materials and instructions, it is worth taking a moment to talk about what sets this pattern apart from a basic granny square or simple shell stitch blanket.
The OLIS design by 1Hobby1 features a combination of mesh-style openwork and raised texture that gives the finished bedspread a light, airy quality while still providing enough structure and visual interest to look sophisticated. The pattern uses a central motif approach where individual blocks are worked and then joined, so the project is highly portable — you can work on a single motif during a commute or a quiet evening and then join as you go or at the end.
This join-as-you-go approach is also one of the reasons the pattern is so popular. Instead of crocheting one enormous piece all at once, which can be physically awkward and difficult to manage, you build the bedspread in sections. Each finished motif gives you a sense of accomplishment, and watching the piece grow as you join blocks together is genuinely motivating.
The resulting texture has a slightly lacy feel without being delicate in a way that makes the bedspread impractical. It works beautifully in cotton yarn, which is the most commonly recommended fiber for this kind of home textile project, since cotton is durable, washable, and gets softer with every wash.
Materials You Will Need
Getting your materials right is one of the most important steps before you begin. Here is what you will need to crochet the OLIS bedspread.
Yarn: The pattern is designed to work with a smooth, medium-weight cotton yarn. A mercerized cotton in weight category 2 (fine) or weight category 3 (light DK) works best for achieving the delicate yet structured look of the OLIS pattern. If you want a thicker, cozier result you can go up to a weight 4 cotton, though the finished dimensions will change accordingly. Plan for roughly 1,800 to 2,500 meters of yarn depending on your bed size. For a standard double bed (approximately 160 x 220 cm finished measurements including the overhang), you will typically need closer to 2,200 to 2,400 meters. Always buy a little more than you think you need, and if possible buy all your yarn from the same dye lot to ensure color consistency across the entire bedspread.
Hook: For a fine to light cotton, a 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm hook is typical. The exact size will depend on your personal tension and the yarn weight you choose. Always work a gauge swatch before beginning. The OLIS pattern’s gauge is approximately 20 stitches and 22 rows to a 10 cm square in the basic pattern stitch, though because it features open lacework this can vary slightly depending on which section of the motif you are measuring.
Notions: You will also want a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and joining motifs if you are not working join-as-you-go, a pair of sharp scissors, stitch markers to keep track of pattern repeats, and a blocking mat with rust-proof pins for the finishing stage. Blocking is particularly important with this pattern because it opens up the lace sections and evens out the tension across the whole piece, making the finished bedspread look professional and polished.
Optional: A row counter app or manual tally is very helpful for keeping track of where you are in longer joining rows.
Understanding the OLIS Pattern Structure
The OLIS bedspread is built around a repeating square motif. Each motif begins with a magic ring or a beginning chain worked into a loop, and is then built outward in rounds rather than rows. This gives each block a neat, four-sided structure with defined corners that make joining straightforward and precise.
The center of each motif features a small cluster or flower element — the exact stitch depends on which version of the OLIS pattern you are working, as 1Hobby1 has released slight variations over time. In the most widely referenced version, the center is a 6-stitch or 8-stitch round worked into the magic ring, followed by a chain-space round that begins to open the work up into its characteristic mesh quality.
Rounds three through six build the body of the motif, alternating between solid cluster sections and open chain arches. This rhythm of solid and open is what creates the textured, lacy appearance. By the time you complete round six or seven (again, depending on the version), each motif measures approximately 12 to 15 cm square before blocking, and slightly larger after.
The corners of each motif are worked with a larger chain space or a special corner cluster that creates a natural join point. This is what makes join-as-you-go so clean with this pattern — the corner architecture is built right into the design.
Step-by-Step: Working the Basic OLIS Motif
Here is a general guide to working one motif. Note that specific stitch counts may vary slightly depending on the exact pattern version and your yarn weight, so always refer to the original 1Hobby1 pattern for precise stitch-by-stitch instructions.
Starting the center: Make a magic ring or chain 6 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring. Chain 3 (counts as first double crochet), work 11 more double crochets into the ring, join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3. You should have 12 stitches around the ring. Pull the magic ring tail snug.
Round 2: Chain 5, skip 1 stitch, single crochet into next stitch; repeat from the beginning all the way around. You will create a series of chain arches that form the inner mesh of the motif. Join to the first single crochet.
Round 3: Work clusters into the chain-5 spaces. A cluster here is typically 3 or 4 double crochets worked into the same chain space, with chain spaces between them. This round begins to define the four-sided structure of the motif by working corner clusters that are larger or separated by longer chains than the side sections.
Round 4: Work single crochets and chain spaces across the sides, with corner chain spaces that are slightly longer (typically chain 5 or 6 at each corner versus chain 3 along the sides). This creates the clear corner architecture mentioned earlier.
Rounds 5 and 6: Continue building the motif outward, alternating cluster sections with mesh sections. By round 5, the four-sided nature of the motif is very clear, and you can see how each corner will eventually align with its neighbors.
Final round: Work the last round either as a finishing round if you plan to join later, or begin joining to previously completed motifs at the corner and midpoint join locations. The join is typically made with a slip stitch or a single crochet through the corresponding chain space of the neighboring motif.
Fasten off and weave in your ends before moving on to the next motif, or leave a tail of about 15 cm to use when joining if you prefer to join all motifs at the end.
Planning Your Bedspread Layout
Before you start crocheting motifs by the dozen, take a few minutes to plan your layout. The number of motifs you need depends entirely on your bed size and how much overhang you want.
For a single bed (90 cm wide): plan for a layout of roughly 7 to 8 motifs across and 14 to 16 motifs lengthwise, depending on your motif size. This gives a finished spread of approximately 100 x 220 cm with a modest side overhang.
For a double or full bed (135 to 140 cm wide): a layout of 10 to 11 motifs across and 16 to 18 down works well for a spread that covers the mattress and has enough length to tuck under pillows or drape nicely at the foot of the bed.
For a queen bed (150 to 160 cm wide): you are looking at approximately 11 to 12 motifs across and 17 to 20 motifs in length, depending on your motif size and how much overhang you prefer on the sides.
Draw out your layout on grid paper before you begin. Mark which motif will be the first, and number them in a logical joining sequence so that when you reach the join-as-you-go stage you are always adding a new motif to one that is already securely attached.
Joining the Motifs
One of the most satisfying moments in this kind of project is when you begin joining motifs and see the larger design emerge. The overall pattern created by the arrangement of OLIS motifs has a secondary geometry to it — the way the corners meet creates small diamond-shaped spaces between the blocks, and the mesh sections of neighboring motifs align to create longer diagonal lines across the finished bedspread.
If you are joining as you go, work the last round of each new motif up to the first join point, then connect to the neighboring motif with a slip stitch or single crochet through the corresponding chain space. Continue along the round to the next join point and repeat. Be consistent about which direction you join (always inserting your hook from the right side to the wrong side, for example) to ensure that the joins are invisible or form a consistent decorative line on the right side.
If you are joining after the fact, lay your blocked motifs out in the planned arrangement on a flat surface. Use a tapestry needle and a length of your project yarn to whipstitch or mattress stitch the motifs together through the corresponding edge stitches. Take your time with this step — careful joining makes a huge difference in the finished appearance of the spread.
Finishing and Blocking
Once all your motifs are joined, you are almost done. The final step is the border and the blocking, and both deserve careful attention.
Border: The OLIS bedspread typically finishes with one to three rounds of border. The simplest approach is a single round of single crochets worked evenly around the entire perimeter, followed by a picot edge or a simple shell stitch border to give the piece a polished frame. Work corner increases (typically 3 stitches into the corner stitch or space) to keep the border lying flat.
Blocking: Fill a clean tub or large basin with cool water and submerge the entire bedspread. Allow it to soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes so the fibers are thoroughly saturated. Gently squeeze out excess water without twisting or wringing — cotton is heavy when wet and wringing can distort the fabric. Roll the bedspread in clean towels to remove as much moisture as possible, then lay it flat on your blocking mat.
Pin the bedspread to the mat, using your grid paper layout as a guide to ensure the piece is square and the dimensions are correct. Pay special attention to the corners and to the edge of the border. Open up the lace sections gently with your fingers before pinning. Allow the piece to dry completely — this may take 24 to 48 hours depending on your climate and the thickness of the yarn.
When you unpin the finished bedspread and lay it on your bed for the first time, the difference blocking makes will be immediately clear. The open mesh sections bloom, the overall dimensions stabilize, and the whole piece gains a professional, finished quality that makes it look like something you might find in a high-end home textile shop.
Care and Maintenance
A cotton bedspread worked in this pattern is wonderfully practical for everyday use. Cotton is machine washable on a gentle cycle with cool water, and it gets softer with each wash. Avoid hot water and high heat drying, which can cause cotton yarn to shrink and may affect the structure of the open lacework sections. Either dry flat (the best option for preserving shape) or dry on a low heat setting and reshape while slightly damp.
Store the bedspread folded in a breathable cotton bag or pillowcase if you are putting it away seasonally. Avoid plastic storage bags, which can trap moisture and cause mildew in natural fiber textiles.
Tips for Success
A few practical suggestions that will make the OLIS project go more smoothly from start to finish.
Work a full sample motif before committing to your yarn and hook combination. This gives you an accurate sense of your motif size, your tension, and how the stitch pattern looks in your chosen yarn. It is much better to discover that your tension runs tight or loose during the first motif than after you have made forty of them.
Keep your tension consistent throughout the project. With a large project made in separate motifs, it is easy for your tension to shift slightly over the weeks or months the project takes to complete. If you notice your tension changing, adjust your hook size rather than trying to force your hands to work differently.
Take breaks. A bedspread is a marathon, not a sprint. Setting small, achievable goals — five motifs per week, for example — keeps the project moving without turning it into a source of stress. Celebrate each milestone along the way.
Join a community. The 1Hobby1 patterns have an active following on social media and in crochet communities online. Sharing your progress, asking questions, and seeing how other crafters have interpreted the OLIS pattern in different yarn colors and weights is genuinely inspiring and often provides practical problem-solving help when you hit a tricky section.
A Project Worth Every Stitch
The OLIS bedspread by 1Hobby1 is the kind of crochet project that stays with you long after it is finished. You will spend hours working those repeating motifs, and in that time you will develop an intimate familiarity with the pattern that makes each round feel natural and meditative. When the project is done and the bedspread is lying across your bed, softened and opened up by blocking, it becomes more than a textile — it becomes evidence of what patient, careful handwork can create.
Whether you are making it for yourself, as a gift for someone you love, or as a way to challenge your skills and grow as a crocheter, the OLIS pattern rewards the investment of time and attention you bring to it. Pick up your hook, choose a cotton you love the feel of, work your first magic ring, and begin. Every beautiful bedspread starts with a single stitch.
