This curtain hangs like a row of gold jewelry in a sunny window. Thirteen strands drop from a rod. Each one alternates lacy fleur-de-lis motifs with small wheel medallions, with ivory pearl beads between them and a full tassel at the bottom.
Everything is worked in one warm mustard gold, so the texture does the work. Each fleur-de-lis has a pointed center petal, two scalloped side curls, a raised band across the middle and a small three-lobed foot. The medallions are wheels with open spokes and a scalloped rim.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 45 in (114.3 cm) wide. Each strand is 50 in (127.0 cm) long from the top connector to the tip of the tassel, plus a hanging loop.
Construction is modular. You crochet and block the motifs separately. Then you link them into strands with short beaded chain connectors and add a hanging loop at the top and a tassel at the bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 45 in (114.3 cm) wide x 50 in (127.0 cm) strand length, not counting the loop
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 78 fleur-de-lis, 78 medallions, 13 hanging loops, 13 tassels
- Layout: 13 strands, each made of 6 fleur-de-lis and 6 medallions, alternating, with a fleur-de-lis at the top
- Piece size: medallion 2 in (5.1 cm) across; fleur-de-lis 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall x 3 in (7.6 cm) wide
- Size before border: each strand is 46 in (116.8 cm) long before the tassel
- Border depth: there is no border. The edge finish is a 4 in (10.2 cm) tassel at the bottom and a hanging loop that measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) laid flat at the top.
Materials
Use smooth mercerized cotton thread. It gives crisp stitch definition, takes stiffener well and resists sagging over a long drop. Look for about 270 m (295 yd) per 100 g.
- Gold (mustard/antique gold): 850 g, about 2,300 m (2,515 yd)
- 180 ivory glass pearl beads, 10 mm (0.4 in / 1.0 cm), with holes of at least 1.5 mm (you need 169)
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and a big-eye beading needle
- Stiff card 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, for tassels
- Rustproof pins, blocking board, spray bottle
- Fabric stiffener or heavy starch (recommended)
- Scissors, stitch markers
- Curtain rod at least 48 in (121.9 cm) long and no more than 1.5 in (3.8 cm) thick
Quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch chain
- sl st slip stitch
- sc single crochet
- hdc half double crochet
- dc double crochet
- tr treble crochet
- dtr double treble crochet
- sp space
- st(s) stitch(es)
- rep repeat
Ch-3 picot: ch 3, sl st into the top of the last stitch made.
Bead lock: slide one bead up against the hook, then ch 1 around it so the bead sits snug inside that chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 7 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm), 8 sc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) and about 8 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one medallion first. It is your gauge test.
- After Rnd 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Rnd 2: 1.6 in (4.1 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 2 in (5.1 cm) across
If your medallion is larger, change to a 2.0 mm hook. If it is smaller, change to a 2.5 mm hook. On the fleur-de-lis band, 11 sc should measure 1.6 in (4.1 cm).
Medallion (make 78)
Ch 8 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 23 dc in ring, sl st to top of ch-3. (24 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, ch 2, skip next dc. *2 dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc; rep from * 10 more times. Sl st to top of ch-3. (24 dc in 12 pairs, 12 ch-2 sps)
The ch-2 spaces form the wheel’s open spokes.
Rnd 3 (trim): Sl st in next dc and into the ch-2 sp. Ch 1. *(Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in ch-2 sp, sl st between the 2 dc of the next pair; rep from * around. (12 scallops of 5 sts = 60 sts, plus 12 sl sts)
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Mark the center dc of scallop 1 as the top point and the center dc of scallop 7 as the bottom point.
Fleur-de-Lis (make 78)
Each fleur-de-lis has four pieces: a center petal, two side curls and a band. You add the foot into the band after assembly.
Center Petal
Ch 17.
Rnd 1:
1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook (this end is the tip), hdc in next ch, dc in next 3 ch, tr in next 7 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. (16 sts on the first side)
2. Ch 1 for the base sp.
3. Rotate and work along the other side of the foundation chain: sc, hdc, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 7 ch, dc in next 3 ch, hdc, sc.
4. Ch 3 for the tip sp, then sl st to the first sc.
(32 sts, 1 ch-1 base sp, 1 ch-3 tip sp)
Rnd 2 (trim): Ch 1. Sc in each of the 16 sts on the first side, 2 sc in the base sp, sc in each of the 16 sts on the second side, then (sc, ch 3, sc) in the tip sp. Sl st to the first sc. (32 sc worked 1 per st + 4 extra sc = 36 sc, plus 1 ch-3 tip picot)
Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The petal measures 2.3 in (5.8 cm) x 1.1 in (2.8 cm). The open treble section gives it a lacy center. The tip picot is the top point.
Side Curls (make 2 per fleur-de-lis)
Ch 13.
Row 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, 2 dc in each of next 3 ch, 3 tr in each of last 2 ch. (19 sts)
All the increases are on one edge, so the strip bends into a crescent.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across, working a ch-3 picot after every 3rd sc. (19 sc, 6 picots)
Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Laid straight, the curl measures 2 in (5.1 cm). The thin sl st end is the root.
Band
Ch 12.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (11 sc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (11 sc)
Do not fasten off. The band measures 1.6 in (4.1 cm) x 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Assembly
- Lay the center petal vertically with the tip up.
- Tuck one curl root behind each side of the petal’s lower 0.5 in (1.3 cm). Keep the picot edges facing outward, and sweep the curl tips out and down.
- Lay the band across all three bases, with Row 4 at the bottom.
- Using the tails, whipstitch both long edges of the band through all layers from the back.
Foot
With the band’s loop still on your hook, ch 1 and rotate to work across Row 4.
Foot Row: Sc in st 1, skip st 2, 5 dc in st 3, skip st 4, sc in st 5. In st 6 work (tr, dtr, ch-3 picot, dtr, tr). Sc in st 7, skip st 8, 5 dc in st 9, skip st 10, sc in st 11. (18 sts: 4 sc, 2 five-dc shells, a 4-st center lobe, plus 1 picot)
Fasten off. The center lobe drops 0.7 in (1.8 cm) below the band. Its picot is the bottom point.
Checkpoint:
– Height: 2.3 in + 0.5 in + 0.7 in = 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
– Width: 1.6 in band + about 0.7 in of curl on each side = 3 in (7.6 cm)
Block the Motifs
- Wet each motif and pin it to its checkpoint size.
- Pin the curls into firm C-shapes.
- Apply stiffener.
- Let everything dry fully.
Make All Pieces
All pieces are gold:
- 78 medallions
- 78 fleur-de-lis
- 13 hanging loops
- 13 tassels
- 169 beads (13 per strand)
The layout below runs from top to bottom. All 13 strands are identical and hang side by side.
Top: Loop x 13
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11: Fleur-de-lis x 13
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12: Medallion x 13
Bottom: Tassel x 13
Joining
Method: use a separate beaded chain for each connection. Each connector takes a 12 in (30.5 cm) length of thread with one bead strung on it.
Connector:
1. Sl st into the bottom point of the upper piece.
2. Ch 2, work a bead lock, ch 2.
3. Sl st into the top point of the lower piece.
4. Fasten off and weave the ends into the motifs.
Each connector is 5 ch plus 1 bead, about 1 in (2.5 cm) long.
Stitch-to-stitch logic:
– Loop’s joining sl st → fleur-de-lis tip picot
– Fleur-de-lis foot picot → center dc of medallion scallop 1
– Center dc of medallion scallop 7 → next tip picot
– Last medallion’s scallop 7 → tassel top tie
Join only into the marked points. A connector placed one scallop off center tilts the motif.
Tension: keep the chains firm and identical. If they are loose, beads wobble and the strand grows longer.
Size checkpoint: one repeat (fleur-de-lis + connector + medallion + connector) is 3.5 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 7.5 in (19.1 cm). The top connector plus 6 repeats is 1 + 45 = 46 in (116.8 cm).
Border: Hanging Loop and Tassel Finish
There is no traditional border. The edge finish is a loop at the top and a tassel at the bottom of each strand. Use the same gauge, 7 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Hanging Loop (make 13)
Ch 35 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, sl st to first sc. (35 sc)
Fasten off. The joining sl st is the bottom point.
Why the math works: 35 sc ÷ 7 sc per inch = 5 in (12.7 cm) around, so the loop measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) laid flat. A 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rod measures about 4.7 in (11.9 cm) around, so the loop slides easily.
Tassel (make 13)
- Wrap thread 60 times around the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) card.
- Slide a 9 in (22.9 cm) tie under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly. This tie is the top point.
- Cut the wraps along the bottom edge.
- Wrap the neck tightly 10 times, 0.6 in (1.5 cm) below the tie. Knot and bury the ends.
- Trim the tassel to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Why the math works: you cut the wraps at 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and trim 0.5 in (1.3 cm), which leaves 4 in (10.2 cm). The 46 in strand plus the 4 in tassel makes 50 in (127.0 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lay the strands flat on a long surface, or hang them on the rod.
- Mist them until damp. Don’t soak them, because wet cotton stretches.
- Straighten each motif and center its beads.
- Re-shape any curls that have relaxed.
- Finger-comb the tassels and trim any stray strands.
- Measure each strand. Ease it to 50 in (127.0 cm) while it is still damp.
- Let the strands dry completely.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every strand measures 50 in (127.0 cm), within 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
- Every medallion is 2 in (5.1 cm) across with 12 even scallops
- Every fleur-de-lis is 3.5 x 3 in (8.9 x 7.6 cm) with symmetrical curls
- The bands are sewn on both edges, and no curl roots show
- All 169 beads are locked in their chains and centered
- The tassels match in fullness and length
- All ends are woven in
- The strands hang 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart, center to center
Troubleshooting
Medallion cups: Rnd 3 is too tight. Go up one hook size for that round only.
Medallion ruffles: recount Rnd 2. It should have exactly 12 pairs.
Curls straighten out: re-pin them tighter while damp and add stiffener.
Fleur-de-lis leans: the connector is off center. Re-join it into the exact picot.
Strand too long: the connector chains are loose. Rework them with firmer tension.
Thin tassels: add 10 wraps, and do the same on all 13 tassels so they match.
Care
Dust the curtain with a cool hair dryer or a soft brush. If it needs washing, hand wash it in cool water, then reblock it and re-stiffen the fleur-de-lis.
Final Notes
How the measurements build up:
- One 2 in (5.1 cm) medallion, one 3.5 in (8.9 cm) fleur-de-lis and two 1 in (2.5 cm) connectors make a 7.5 in (19.1 cm) repeat.
- Six repeats plus the top connector make 46 in (116.8 cm).
- The 4 in (10.2 cm) tassel brings each strand to 50 in (127.0 cm).
- Thirteen strands spaced 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart give a curtain 45 in (114.3 cm) wide.
Get your first medallion right, and the rest follows.
Happy crocheting!