The Olive Grove Leaf Curtain is a light, airy window hanging. It is made of 8 strands of openwork olive-green leaves linked by small cream rings, all hanging from a cream header band with a scalloped lower edge. Light comes through the open veins of every leaf, so the curtain looks soft and botanical without blocking the view.
The palette is just two colors. Olive green is used for the leaves, and warm cream is used for the rings and the header. The style is a mix of cottage and modern: the design is simple, but the lacy texture looks good up close.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 29 in (73.7 cm) wide and 49 in (124.5 cm) long, including the header.
You’ll make 64 leaves, 56 rings, and 1 header. You build each strand by joining the leaves to the rings as you go. Then you work the header and attach the strands during its last row, so there’s no sewing.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 29 in (73.7 cm) wide × 49 in (124.5 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (3) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E/4)
- Number of pieces: 64 leaves, 56 rings, 1 header band
- Layout: 8 strands, each made of 8 leaves and 7 rings
- Leaf size: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) long, tip to tip
- Ring size: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Strand length (before header): 47 in (119.4 cm)
- Header depth: 2 in (5.1 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized cotton. It gives crisp stitch definition, holds the leaf shape after blocking, and won’t stretch much while hanging. The amounts below assume about 112 m per 50 g ball.
- Olive green: 200 g / 448 m (4 balls), for the leaves
- Cream: 50 g / 112 m (1 ball), for the rings and header
These quantities include a margin of about 25–35% for gauge swatches and weaving in ends.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E/4) crochet hook
– 4.0 mm (G/6) hook, for the header foundation chain only
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Blocking mats and rustproof pins
– Spray bottle
– 9 curtain clip rings
– Tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
Special technique, drop-loop join: Remove your hook from the working loop. Insert the hook from front to back through the loop you want to join to. Pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. Then continue as written. This join does not count as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sts and 16 rows of sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). In dc, 20 sts and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Make one leaf and one ring before anything else, then block them and measure:
- Leaf after Rnd 1: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide × 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long
- Leaf after Rnd 2: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) long
- Ring: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
If your leaf is longer than 5 in (12.7 cm): your chains are loose. Go down to a 3.25 mm hook, or tighten your chains only.
If your leaf is shorter than 5 in (12.7 cm): go up to a 3.75 mm hook.
If the length is right but the leaf cups: your Rnd 2 tension is too tight, so relax your sc edge.
Even small differences matter here because every leaf is repeated 8 times down the strand. An error of 0.1 in (0.3 cm) per leaf becomes 0.8 in (2.0 cm) over the full strand.
Leaf Motif (Make 64)
With olive green and the 3.5 mm hook, ch 22.
The first chain you made is the bottom tip (tip B). The 2nd chain from the hook is the top tip (tip A). The foundation chain becomes the raised center spine.
Rnd 1 (spine and veins):
(Sc, ch 3, sc) in the 2nd ch from the hook. This is tip A.
Side A: ch 1, sk next ch, hdc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, dc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, tr in next ch. [Ch 3, sk next ch, tr in next ch] 4 times. Ch 2, sk next ch, dc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, hdc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch.
(Sc, ch 3, sc) in the last ch. This is tip B.
Side B (working in the free loops on the other side of the foundation chain): ch 1, sk next ch, hdc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, dc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, tr in next ch. [Ch 3, sk next ch, tr in next ch] 4 times. Ch 2, sk next ch, dc in next ch, ch 2, sk next ch, hdc in next ch, ch 1, sk next ch. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
Count: 22 sts (4 sc, 4 hdc, 4 dc, 10 tr), plus 20 side ch-sps and 2 tip ch-3 loops.
The 9 posts on each side stand out from the spine like veins. They are short near the tips and tall in the middle, which creates the pointed oval shape. Each side has 22 chains in its spaces: 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1.
Rnd 2 (outline):
Ch 1, sc in the same sc as the join, (sc, ch 3, sc) in the tip-A loop, sc in the next sc.
Side A: sc in ch-1 sp, sc in hdc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in dc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in tr. [3 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in tr] 4 times. 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in dc, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, sc in hdc, sc in ch-1 sp. That’s 31 sc.
Sc in the next sc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in the tip-B loop, sc in the next sc.
Side B: work as for side A (31 sc). Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and leave a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Count: 70 sc (31 per side, plus 4 at each tip) and 2 tip ch-3 loops.
Each side gets 1 sc per chain (22) plus 1 sc per post (9), which is 31. That keeps the outline flat.
Note: when you make the strands, most leaves join to rings during Rnd 2 instead of making plain ch-3 tip loops (see Joining).
Ring (Make 56)
With cream and the 3.5 mm hook, ch 8 and join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 18 sc into the ring, join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in the ends. Count: 18 sc.
Mark sc 1 and sc 10. There are 8 sc between them on each side, so they sit exactly opposite each other. These are the two joining points.
Make All Pieces
- Olive green: 64 leaves (8 per strand × 8 strands)
- Cream: 56 rings (7 per strand × 8 strands), plus 1 header
Make all the rings first. Make the leaves while you assemble the strands.
Layout grid (L = leaf, o = ring; columns are strands 1–8, top to bottom):
HEADER BAND (29 in / 73.7 cm)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
o o o o o o o o
L L L L L L L L
Joining (Building the Strands)
Method: join as you go during Rnd 2 of each leaf. To join a tip, work (sc, ch 1, sl st in the marked ring sc, ch 1, sc) instead of (sc, ch 3, sc). The ch-1 + sl st + ch-1 takes the place of the ch-3 loop, so the leaf still has 70 sc.
Stitch-to-stitch logic for one strand:
- Leaf 1 (top): Tip A is a plain ch-3 loop; it attaches to the header later. Tip B joins to ring 1 at sc 1.
- Leaves 2–7: Tip A joins to the ring above at sc 10. Tip B joins to the ring below at sc 1.
- Leaf 8 (bottom): Tip A joins to ring 7 at sc 10. Tip B is a plain ch-3 loop.
Because each ring is joined at 2 opposite points, the strand hangs in a straight line.
Tension: keep the joining chains the same tension as your normal ch-3 loops. If they’re tight, the tips pucker. If they’re loose, the strand sags at every ring.
Strand checkpoint: lay the strand flat without stretching it. It should measure 47 in (119.4 cm): 8 leaves × 5 in (12.7 cm) + 7 rings × 1 in (2.5 cm). Check this on your first strand before making the other 7.
Header Band (Border)
Border gauge: 20 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each strand gets an 18-st section of the header, which is 3.6 in (9.1 cm) wide.
With cream and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 146. Switch to the 3.5 mm hook for Row 1. The larger hook keeps the foundation chain from pulling the band narrower than the rows above it.
Row 1 (top edge): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. Count: 145 sc.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. Count: 145 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] across. Turn. Count: 73 dc and 72 ch-1 sps (145 sts).
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first dc. [Sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc] 72 times, ending in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. Count: 145 sc.
Row 5 (scallops and strand join): Ch 1, sc in the first st. [Sk 2, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st] 24 times.
Within each strand’s 18-st section, the middle shell is the attachment point. These are shells 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, and 23. For each one:
- Work 3 dc.
- Make a drop-loop join through tip A of a strand’s top leaf. Check that the strand isn’t twisted.
- Work the remaining 2 dc in the same st.
Count: 24 shells and 25 sc (1 + 24 × 6 = 145 sts). Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: 145 = 8 sections × 18 sts + 1 closing st. Each 18-st section holds exactly 3 six-st shell repeats. The extra stitch gives the row its final sc.
The 1st strand hangs from st 10, which is 1.8 in (4.6 cm) from the left edge. The 8th strand hangs from st 136, which is 1.8 in (4.6 cm) from the right edge. So the layout is symmetrical.
The strands are 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart center to center. Each leaf is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide, which leaves 1.1 in (2.8 cm) of open space between strands.
Header checkpoint: 29 in (73.7 cm) wide × 2 in (5.1 cm) deep. The rows add up as follows:
| Row | Depth |
|---|---|
| Row 1 (sc) | 0.25 in (0.6 cm) |
| Row 2 (dc) | 0.5 in (1.3 cm) |
| Row 3 (mesh) | 0.5 in (1.3 cm) |
| Row 4 (sc) | 0.25 in (0.6 cm) |
| Row 5 (shells) | 0.5 in (1.3 cm) |
Clip positions: attach the 9 clip rings to Row 1 at sts 1, 19, 37, 55, 73, 91, 109, 127, and 145. They are 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart. These positions are the same from either end, so it doesn’t matter which side faces you.
Final Blocking
- Lay the curtain on mats with the header at the top and the strands straight down.
- Mist everything until it is evenly damp, but not soaked.
- Pin the header to 29 in (73.7 cm) × 2 in (5.1 cm), with a pin in each scallop point.
- Pin each leaf to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) × 5 in (12.7 cm). Put a pin at each tip and at the widest point on each side.
- Open up the vein spaces with your fingertips so the chain spaces lie flat.
- Round each ring with a pin through its center.
- Check that the strands are 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart along the whole length.
- Let everything dry completely, then unpin.
- Hang the curtain for 24 hours. The cotton settles under its own weight, often by 0.25–0.5 in (0.6–1.3 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every leaf has 70 sc in Rnd 2 and lies flat.
- Every ring has 18 sc and is joined at sc 1 and sc 10.
- Each strand has 8 leaves and 7 rings and measures 47 in (119.4 cm).
- No strand is twisted where it joins the header.
- The header has 145 sts, 24 shells, and 8 strand joins on the middle shells.
- The header is 29 in (73.7 cm) wide, and the full curtain is 49 in (124.5 cm) long.
- All tails are woven in along the spines or the sc edges.
Troubleshooting
- Leaf ruffles: your Rnd 2 is too loose. Work 2 sc instead of 3 in the 2 middle ch-3 spaces on each side, or go down a hook size for Rnd 2.
- Leaf cups or curls: the edge is too tight. Rework Rnd 2 with a looser tension or a hook 0.25 mm larger.
- Veins lean to one side: the foundation chain twisted. Make sure the side-B stitches go into the free loops, not the back bumps.
- Rings turn oval: the joins are tight. Lengthen the ch-1s slightly.
- Strands hang at uneven lengths: one leaf is off gauge. Measure each leaf and remake the outlier.
- Header is narrower than expected: the foundation chain is tight. Remake it with the 4.0 mm hook.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap and press out the water in a towel. Pin flat to reshape the leaves, and let the curtain dry fully before hanging it again.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain from start to finish:
- One leaf blocks to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) × 5 in (12.7 cm), and one ring is 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- Eight leaves and 7 rings make a 47 in (119.4 cm) strand.
- The 145-st header is 29 in (73.7 cm) wide and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep, with 8 strands spaced 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart.
- Together, they make a 29 in (73.7 cm) × 49 in (124.5 cm) curtain.
Check each stage before moving on, and the finished curtain will hang straight and even. Happy crocheting!