This window curtain lets light through while still showing plenty of texture. A lace valance sits at the top, finished with 12 triangular points, and a strand of fern leaves, flowers, small round beads and a tassel hangs from each point.
The whole curtain uses one color, a soft sage green. Because there’s only one color, the different stitch textures do the decorating. It suits a cottage, farmhouse or boho kitchen window, and it looks good with sun coming through it. All terms are US crochet terms.
The finished curtain measures 41 in (104.1 cm) wide by 41 in (104.1 cm) long. That’s a 9 in (22.9 cm) valance plus 32 in (81.3 cm) strands.
Here is the construction in order. First you work the valance flat in rows and add the points. Next you make all the small motifs. Then you build each strand as one continuous chain cord that picks up the motifs as it goes. Finally, a two-round border finishes the valance and attaches each strand to its point tip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 41 x 41 in (104.1 x 104.1 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (3), cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 97 (1 valance, 24 flowers, 24 leaves, 36 beads, 12 tassels)
- Layout: 12 strands, one at each valance point, alternating Strand A and Strand B
- Piece sizes: flower 3.5 in (8.9 cm); leaf 5 x 2.5 in (12.7 x 6.4 cm); bead 1 in (2.5 cm); tassel 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Valance before border: 40 x 8 in (101.6 x 20.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized DK cotton. It shows stitch detail clearly and hangs straight without stretching. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because the fern leaflets would lose their definition.
- Sage green: 300 g / 750 m (820 yd), which is 6 balls of 50 g / 125 m (137 yd)
These quantities include about a 25% margin.
Tools
– 4.0 mm (G-6) hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers
– A piece of cardboard 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, for the tassels
– Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
– 12–14 curtain clip rings and a rod (for hanging)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dc2tog / dc3tog – double crochet 2 / 3 stitches together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- lp – loop
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Crossed dc pair: Sk the next st, dc in the following st, then dc in the skipped st, working over the dc you just made.
Leaflet (long / medium / short): Ch 7 / 6 / 5, then work back along the chain toward the spine:
– Long: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch (6 sts).
– Medium: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch (5 sts).
– Short: sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next 2 ch (4 sts).
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Double crochet: 18 sts and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Single crochet: 18 sts and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Chain cord: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm)
Before you start the valance, make one flower and a 5 in (12.7 cm) dc swatch.
Flower checkpoints:
– After Rnd 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across
– After Rnd 3: 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
– After Rnd 4: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
Valance checkpoints:
– After Row 2: 40 in (101.6 cm) wide
– After Row 9: 4 in (10.2 cm) deep
– Each point: 4 in (10.2 cm) deep and about 3 1/3 in (8.5 cm) wide at its base
If your pieces come out more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If they’re too small, go up 0.5 mm. Measure your swatch again after any change.
Valance
Ch 181.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (180 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), dc in each st across, turn. (180 dc)
Row 3 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st. Ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; repeat from * 88 more times. Dc in last st, turn. (91 dc + 89 ch-1 sps = 180 sts)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in each ch-1 sp and each dc across, turn. (180)
Row 5 (crossed): Ch 3. Work 89 crossed dc pairs, then dc in last st, turn. (1 + 178 + 1 = 180)
Row 6: Repeat Row 2. (180)
Row 7: Repeat Row 3. (180)
Row 8: Repeat Row 2. (180)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (180 sc) Fasten off.
The valance now measures 40 x 4 in (101.6 x 10.2 cm).
Points (make 12)
Each point is worked over 15 sts of Row 9. The 12 points use all 180 sts with no gaps (12 x 15 = 180).
Row 1: With RS facing, join yarn in the first st of the section. Ch 3, dc in next 14 sts, turn. (15)
Row 2: Ch 2, dc in next st (counts as dc2tog). Dc in each st to the last 2 sts, then dc2tog, turn. (13)
Rows 3–7: Repeat Row 2. (11, 9, 7, 5, 3)
Row 8: Ch 2, dc2tog over the next 2 sts (counts as dc3tog). (1) Fasten off.
Join the next point in st 16, then st 31, and so on. Each point has 8 dc rows, so it measures 4 in (10.2 cm) deep. The valance is now 40 x 8 in (101.6 x 20.3 cm).
Flower (make 24)
Rnd 1: Magic ring. Ch 3, then work 15 dc in the ring. Close the ring, leaving a small center hole, and join with a sl st. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st. Ch 7, sk 1, sc in next st; repeat from * around, ending with ch 7, sk 1. Join. (8 sc + 8 ch-7 lps)
Rnd 3: Sl st into the first lp. In each lp work (sc, hdc, 7 dc, hdc, sc). Join. (11 sts per petal; 88 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1. Sc in each st around, but work 2 sc in the center (4th) dc of each petal. Join. (88 + 8 = 96 sc)
Fasten off.
Each petal sits over a ch-7 loop, and the stitch skipped in Rnd 2 leaves a small eyelet at the base of each petal.
