The Monstera Breeze Window Valance is a lace header band with eight strands of crocheted monstera leaves and round beads hanging below it. In a bright window, the leaves cast soft shadows and move whenever there’s a draft.
There are just two colors. Deep forest green is used for the band, the cords and the leaf bodies. Natural cream picks out the scalloped edge, the leaf outlines, the raised veins and half of the beads. The style is somewhere between boho macramé and botanical lace.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished valance is 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide. The band is 4 in (10.2 cm) deep including the border, and the longest strands hang 27 in (68.6 cm) from the top edge.
You’ll crochet the header band flat in rows and add a two-row cream scallop border. Then you’ll make 24 leaves and 32 beads. Last, you’ll chain each strand down from a scallop tip, linking the leaves as you go.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished width: 36¼ in (92.1 cm)
- Band depth: 3¼ in (8.3 cm) before the border, 4 in (10.2 cm) after it
- Border depth: ¾ in (1.9 cm)
- Strand A (×4): 18½ in (47.0 cm) long
- Strand B (×4): 23 in (58.4 cm) long
- Total drop: 27 in (68.6 cm) at the longest strands
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 band, 24 leaves (8 large, 8 medium, 8 small) and 32 beads
- Layout: 8 strands, alternating A-B-A-B, spaced 4½ in (11.4 cm) apart
- Leaf sizes: large 4½ × 5 in (11.4 × 12.7 cm), medium 4 × 4¾ in (10.2 × 12.1 cm), small 2¼ × 2¾ in (5.7 × 7.0 cm)
- Bead size: ¾ in (1.9 cm) across
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized or combed cotton. It holds the leaf shape, shows the surface-stitch veins clearly and won’t stretch over time. The amounts below assume roughly 190 m per 100 g.
- Forest green: 260 g (about 495 m)
- Natural cream: 130 g (about 247 m)
These amounts include about 15% extra.
Tools
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- A small handful of polyester fiberfill
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray bottle
- Curtain rod with 10 clip rings
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
Special stitch: surface slip stitch (surface sl st). Hold the yarn behind the work. Insert the hook from front to back through the fabric, pull up a loop, and pull it through the loop on your hook. Repeat, moving one stitch along the line each time. This makes a raised line on the front that looks like a chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). 16 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Chains: about 4 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one large leaf as a test piece before you start the band. Every leaf size depends on your tr height, so this one leaf will tell you a lot.
- Large leaf after Rnd 1: 4¼ in (10.8 cm) long × 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
- After Rnd 2: 3½ in (8.9 cm) wide
- After Rnd 4: 4½ × 5 in (11.4 × 12.7 cm)
- Band after Row 1: 36¼ in (92.1 cm) long
- Band after Row 7: 3¼ in (8.3 cm) deep
If the leaf is more than ¼ in (0.6 cm) too big, go down half a hook size. If it’s too small, go up half a size. Measure the band after Row 1 and correct it before you continue.
Header Band
Work the band in green and turn at the end of every row. A ch-1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch. A ch-3 or ch-4 does count.
Row 1: Ch 146. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (145 sc) This is the top edge, where the clip rings go.
Row 2: Ch 3. Dc in each st across. Turn. (145 dc)
Row 3 (shells): Ch 1, sc in the first st. Skip 2 sts, 5 dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * to * 24 times. Turn. (24 shells + 25 sc = 145 sts)
Row 4 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Ch 2, sc in the center dc of the next shell, ch 2, tr in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 24 times. Turn. (25 tr, 24 sc, 48 ch-2 sps)
Row 5: Ch 1. Sc in the first tr. 2 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the sc, 2 sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in the tr. Repeat from * to * across, putting the last sc in the top of the ch-4. Turn. (25 + 24 + 96 = 145 sc)
Row 6: Repeat Row 2. (145 dc)
Row 7: Repeat Row 3. (24 shells + 25 sc = 145 sts) Fasten off.
Checkpoint: The band should measure 36¼ × 3¼ in (92.1 × 8.3 cm). Each shell repeat should be 1½ in (3.8 cm) wide.
Large Monstera Leaf (make 8)
You work this leaf in joined rounds around both sides of a foundation chain. The stem notch is at the top and the point is at the bottom.
Foundation: With green, ch 15. Ch 1 is the tip end and ch 14 is the stem end.
Rnd 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next 4 ch, tr in the next 7 ch. In the last ch, work (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr). Now work along the other side of the foundation: tr in the next 7 ch, dc in the next 4 ch, hdc in the next ch. In the last ch, work (sc, ch 2). Sl st to the first sc. (32 sts: 16 per half, plus a ch-2 stem sp and a ch-2 tip sp)
Rnd 2 (holes): Ch 1. Work the first half:
- sc in the first st, hdc in the next st
- 2 dc in each of the next 2 sts, dc in the next 2 sts
- ch 3, skip 1 st (first hole)
- 2 tr in the next st, tr in the next st, 2 tr in the next st
- ch 3, skip 1 st (second hole)
- 2 tr in the next st, tr in the next st
- 2 tr in the next st, 2 dc in the next st, hdc in the next st
That gives 21 sts and 2 holes on this half. Sc in the stem ch-2 sp.
Work the second half as a mirror of the first:
- hdc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st, 2 tr in the next st
- tr in the next st, 2 tr in the next st
- ch 3, skip 1 st
- 2 tr in the next st, tr in the next st, 2 tr in the next st
- ch 3, skip 1 st
- dc in the next 2 sts, 2 dc in each of the next 2 sts, hdc in the next st, sc in the next st
In the tip ch-2 sp, work (sc, ch 2, sc). Sl st to the first sc. (21 + 1 + 21 + 2 = 45 sts, plus 4 ch-3 holes and the tip ch-2 sp)
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Sc in each st, with 3 sc in each ch-3 sp. Sl st in the stem sc. At the tip, sc in each tip sc and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip sp. Sl st to the first sc. (42 + 12 + 1 + 4 = 59 sts, including 1 sl st) Fasten off green.
Rnd 4 (cream edging): Join cream in any sc. Sc in each st around, except: sl st in the stem sl st, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip ch-2 sp. Sl st to join. (59 sts worked one per st + 2 extra = 61 sts) Fasten off.
Veins: With cream and RS facing, start at the stem notch. Work 14 surface sl sts down the center, along the foundation line, to the tip. Then add 2 side veins on each half. Start each side vein on the center vein, between or beside the holes, and work 5 surface sl sts angled up toward the edge. Weave in all ends on the back.
Medium Monstera Leaf (make 8)
Work the Foundation and Rnds 1–2 exactly as for the large leaf. Fasten off green.
Rnd 3 (cream edging): Join cream. Sc in each st, with 3 sc in each ch-3 sp. Sl st in the stem sc. At the tip, sc in each tip sc and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip sp. (42 + 12 + 1 + 4 = 59 sts)
Add veins as for the large leaf, but work only 4 sts in each side vein. Checkpoint: 4 × 4¾ in (10.2 × 12.1 cm).
Small Leaf (make 8)
Foundation: With green, ch 9.
Rnd 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next 3 ch, tr in the next 2 ch. In the last ch, work (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr). Along the other side, work tr in the next 2 ch, dc in the next 3 ch and hdc in the next ch. In the last ch, work (sc, ch 2). Sl st to the first sc. (18 sts + 2 ch-2 sps)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st. Sl st in the stem sp, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip sp. Sl st to join. (18 + 1 + 2 = 21 sts) Fasten off.
With cream, work a center vein of 8 surface sl sts. Checkpoint: 2¼ × 2¾ in (5.7 × 7.0 cm).
Round Beads (make 16 green, 16 cream)
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it. (6)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st. (12)
Rnd 3: Sc in each st. (12)
Rnd 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6)
Stuff the bead lightly and close the hole. Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail for sewing. Each bead should be about ¾ in (1.9 cm) across.
Make All Pieces
- Green: 1 band, the green rounds of all 24 leaves, 16 beads and all the cords
- Cream: the band border, the edgings on the 8 large and 8 medium leaves, all the veins and 16 beads
Strand A (×4), top to bottom:
- ch 8 with a cream bead
- large leaf
- ch 8 with a green bead
- medium leaf
- ch 8 with a cream bead
- small leaf
Strand B (×4), top to bottom:
- ch 26 with a green, a cream and a green bead
- large leaf
- ch 8 with a cream bead
- medium leaf
- ch 8 with a green bead
- small leaf
Layout across the band, left to right (scallop number in brackets):
[2] [5] [8] [11] [14] [17] [20] [23]
A B A B A B A B
Border
Border gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm). Each scallop is 1½ in (3.8 cm) wide.
Work the border along the bottom edge only (Row 7), with RS facing. The top edge stays plain for the clip rings, and the row-end sides stay as they are.
Border Row 1: Join cream in the first sc of Row 7, ch 1. Sc in each sc. Over each shell, sc in the first 2 dc, 3 sc in the center dc and sc in the last 2 dc. Turn. (145 sts worked one per st + 48 extra = 193 sc, which is 7 per shell × 24 + 25)
Border Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Hdc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in the next st, dc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts, sl st in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 24 times. On the last repeat, work a sc in place of the final sl st. (193 sts worked one per st + 24 extra = 217 sts, plus 24 ch-1 scallop tips) Fasten off.
Why the math works: Row 7 has exactly 145 sts: 24 shells of 5 dc and 25 sc. Border Row 1 adds 2 sts at the center of each shell to ease the curve, so each shell becomes 7 sts. Border Row 2 turns each 7-st group into a scallop with one point. As a result, every 6-st band repeat ends in exactly one ch-1 tip, and nothing is added at the ends.
Joining
- Mark the hanging points. Lay the band RS up and count the scallop tips from the left. Mark tips 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20 and 23. Every third tip falls 4½ in (11.4 cm) further along, so the strands are evenly spaced.
- Make each strand.
- Join green with a sl st in a marked ch-1 tip. Ch 8 for Strand A, or ch 26 for Strand B.
- Insert the hook from front to back through the stem sl st of a large leaf, through both the cream and the green layers, and sl st. Fasten off.
- Join green in the leaf’s tip ch-2 sp, ch 8 and sl st into the stem of a medium leaf. Fasten off.
- Do the same from the medium leaf’s tip to attach a small leaf.
- Sew on the beads. Center each bead over its chain. Sew through the bead twice around the chain so the cord looks like it passes through the bead.
- On Strand A, put each bead at the 4th ch of its cord.
- On the top cord of Strand B, put the beads at chs 6, 13 and 20.
Tension: Chain at the same tension as your gauge, because tight chains make the strands shorter. Hang the band up while you work so the leaves can twist naturally and don’t pull to one side.
Size checkpoint: Strand A measures 18½ in (47.0 cm) and Strand B measures 23 in (58.4 cm). The beads don’t add any length.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all the ends before you block.
- Pin the band flat at 36¼ × 4 in (92.1 × 10.2 cm), with a pin at each scallop tip.
- Pin each leaf to its finished size. Shape the stem notch, open the holes and sharpen the tips.
- Spray until damp, but don’t soak.
- Leave everything pinned until it’s completely dry, which takes 6–12 hours.
- Unpin it and attach the clip rings about 4 in (10.2 cm) apart along Row 1.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Every band row has 145 sts, and the band is 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide.
- [ ] There are 24 even scallops, each with one ch-1 tip.
- [ ] Each large leaf has 4 enclosed holes and a complete cream outline.
- [ ] The veins are raised on the front and the back is tidy.
- [ ] The strands alternate A-B, and Strand B is 4½ in (11.4 cm) longer than Strand A.
- [ ] The beads are firm, centered and secure.
- [ ] All the leaves point down, with their notches at the top.
Troubleshooting
- The band ripples: Your dc rows are looser than your sc rows. Go down a hook size for the dc rows only.
- The scallops cup: Border Row 1 is too tight. Work it more loosely, or use a hook half a size larger.
- The holes close up: The ch-3 is too tight. Chain more loosely, or change it to ch 4.
- The leaves curl: Block them flat again. Check that the stem has a sl st, not an extra sc.
- The strands twist: Steam them lightly while they hang, and let them settle overnight.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then press the water out in a towel. Reshape the valance, dry it flat and hang it back up.
Final Notes
Everything depends on a chain of measurements. Your test leaf sets your tr height, and the tr height gives you the 4½ × 5 in (11.4 × 12.7 cm) large leaf. The 145-st band gives you the 36¼ in (92.1 cm) width. The 24 shells give you 24 scallops of 1½ in (3.8 cm), and using every third scallop spaces the strands 4½ in (11.4 cm) apart. The chains and leaves set the 27 in (68.6 cm) total drop. Check each measurement as you reach it and the valance will come out the right size.
Happy crocheting!