Dreaming of Vintage Crochet Bedspreads
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Seeing an image of a vintage crocheted bedspread instantly transports me in time to visiting my grandmother’s house as a young girl. Cookies would be fresh baked ahead of our arrival, and there wasn’t much to do except absorb family history and play with snails in the backyard. The guest room would always have these thin, beautiful and intricate crocheted or knitted bedspreads that covered the bed and draped over the sides. These handmade bedspreads offered a touch of class that is hard to find today. I think many of us have memories like this and they are very fond remembrances.
Texas Modern Bedspread
by Coats & Clark, 1953
How to Make a Crochet Bedspread
Crochet bedspreads are a classic, and they invoke ohhs and ahhs of admiration. The sheer amount of time invested into making a bedspread, doily, centerpiece or tablecloth represents a dedication to and mastery of a craft that many dream of achieving today.
Beside time and dedication, to replicate vintage bed covers, you will need crochet thread– oh, about 14,000 yards – and a #7 steel crochet hook. Of course, you will also need a great pattern.
If you are not familiar with steel hooks, they are the super small hooks that make you wonder if you will be able to see straight after working with them for long. To put it in perspective, compare the hook size next to a dime and imagine working with this and 14,000 yards of thread! I would not try to tackle this without a task lamp with a magnifying glass on it first.
#7 Steel Crochet Hook
Vintage Crochet Bedspread Patterns
Crochet and knit bedspread patterns were originally produced in pamphlets and pattern books like this out of print pamphlet from Coats & Clark, 1953. Nowadays, these vintage patterns can be found on Etsy, eBay, flea markets, estate sales, etc. Online, you will find a lot of sellers selling reprints of patterns that are out of copyright and are now public domain. They own the original hard copy of the pattern, scan it, clean it up and either mail you a reprint or email you a PDF file. I feel a new collection obsession coming on!
Coats & Clark #301, O.N.T. Bedspreads and Tablecloths
Pamphlet, Published in 1953
Since most vintage crochet bedspread patterns are out of copyright, you can also find them easily for free. Check out this collection of crochet bedspreads on Free Vintage Crochet.
The Yahoo! Group Celt’s Vintage Crochet is dedicated to “Saving Our Crochet History…one pattern at a time”. Besides free vintage crochet patterns in PDF format, there is great conversation with people dedicated to vintage patterns of all types; doilies, tablecloths, bedspreads, etc. This group seems very helpful and friendly. The patterns are offered for educational and personal use (non-commercial).
If you are the type that loves looking through pattern books and would like an instant download of a nice collection all at once, you can get the 90 page pattern book 31 Vintage Bedspread Patterns to Crochet – A Collection of Vintage Bedspreads Crochet Patterns available as a Kindle eBook.
31 Vintage Bedspread Patterns to Crochet – A Collection of Vintage Bedspreads Crochet Patterns
You don’t need a Kindle to read this book. You can have it delivered to your Kindle Cloud Reader and it will be available on any device that has the Kindle app installed. I import books to the reader and read on my Android or on the PC. 
Of course modern patterns can fit the bill very nicely, too. Take for example the Super Cable Aran Spiral Bedspread pattern on elann.com, stunning!
Up to the Challenge?
Much like Babette Blankets, making a bedspread from a vintage pattern seems a wee bit intimidating, but well worth the effort. I’d love to be able to focus on something so intently and see it to completion, God willing.
I’d like to live in a world where people have the time to make beautiful things like this again, wouldn’t you?
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