The Fernhollow Valance puts a bit of greenery across the top of a window. A cream lace header with an open diamond mesh hangs from a wooden rod. Five strands of crocheted foliage drop from its scalloped lower edge: three leafy vines and two fern fronds, alternating across the width.
The palette is cream, sage green, olive green and deep forest green. The vines and ferns are in different shades, so the window gets a layered, natural look without any color work inside a single piece. The style is cottage and botanical, light enough to let daylight through the mesh.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The header measures 28.2 in (71.6 cm) wide and 4.4 in (11.2 cm) deep, plus tab loops. The vines hang about 23 in (58.4 cm) and the ferns about 14.6 in (37.1 cm).
You will crochet the header in rows, add the scalloped edge, and make each strand from a single chain that you work back along to create its leaves. Then you sew the strands to the scallops and finish with the tab border and side edging.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished header: 28.6 in x 4.4 in (72.6 cm x 11.2 cm) after side edging
- Tab loops: rise about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the header
- Longest drop (vines): about 27.4 in (69.6 cm) from the header top to the vine tip
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (light worsted, weight 3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 6 (1 header, 2 ferns, 3 vines)
- Layout: 5 strands hung from the header’s scallops in the order vine, fern, vine, fern, vine
- Header size before border: 28.2 in x 4.4 in (71.6 cm x 11.2 cm)
- Border depth: about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on each side edge, with 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tabs on top
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or combed DK cotton, about 115 m per 50 g. Cotton holds the leaf points crisply and blocks well. Acrylic will work, but the leaflets curl more.
- Cream (header): 70 g, about 161 m
- Sage green (Fern 2 and Vine 5): 45 g, about 104 m
- Forest green (Vines 1 and 3): 40 g, about 92 m
- Olive green (Fern 4): 25 g, about 58 m
These quantities include a safety margin of roughly 15–20%.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers (at least 5)
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Spray bottle or steamer
– Wooden curtain rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter, at least 32 in (81.3 cm) long
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sk: skip
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
Surface slip stitch (surface sl st): Hold the yarn behind the work. Insert the hook from the front through the fabric, pull up a loop, and draw it through the loop on your hook. Here you work it down the center of each vine leaf to make the raised vein.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Chain gauge: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one fern frond first. It is quick, uses little yarn, and shows your chain gauge clearly.
- Checkpoint 1: The fern’s 66-ch spine measures 13.2 in (33.5 cm) before you work back along it.
- Checkpoint 2: A finished Large leaflet is about 2.8 in (7.1 cm) long.
- Checkpoint 3: Header Row 1 (141 sc) measures 28.2 in (71.6 cm).
- Checkpoint 4: After Row 10, the header is 4.4 in (11.2 cm) deep.
If your piece comes out too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. On the strands, tight chains make stiff spines, so chain a little looser than you stitch.
Header Band (Cream)
Row 1: Ch 142, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (141 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 5, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * 35 times total, turn. (35 ch-5 loops)*
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first ch-5 loop, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop; rep from * 34 times total, ch 2, dc in last sc, turn. (34 ch-5 loops + 2 half loops)*
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop; rep from * 34 times total, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of turning ch, turn. (35 ch-5 loops)*
Rows 5–8: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 twice. Row 8 ends with 35 ch-5 loops.
Rows 2–8 form the open diamond mesh, and each mesh row is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep.
Row 9 (conversion row): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 3 sc in next ch-5 loop, sc in next sc; rep from * 35 times total, turn.
(36 sc worked into sc + 105 sc worked into loops = 141 sc)*
Checkpoint: The header now measures 28.2 in x 3.9 in (71.6 cm x 9.9 cm).
Row 10 (scallop row): Ch 1, sc in first sc, sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st, sc in next st; rep from * 35 times total. Fasten off.
(36 sc + 175 dc = 211 sts, making 35 scallops)*
Each scallop sits over 4 stitches of Row 9, which is 0.8 in (2.0 cm). Scallop k is worked into stitch 4k − 1 of Row 9.
Fern Frond (make 2)
The spine is chained from the top down. You make the terminal leaflet at the tip, work up one side of the spine, then down the other side. Number the spine chains from the tip end, so ch 1 is the one closest to the tip.
Leaflet sizes (work each one into the leaflet chain only, starting in the 2nd ch from hook and moving back toward the spine):
- Small (S): Ch 7. Sl st, sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc. (6 sts) About 1.2 in (3.0 cm) long.
- Medium (M): Ch 11. Sl st, sc in next 2, hdc in next 2, dc in next 3, hdc, sc. (10 sts) About 2.0 in (5.1 cm) long.
- Large (L): Ch 15. Sl st, sc in next 2, hdc in next 3, dc in next 5, hdc in next 2, sc. (14 sts) About 2.8 in (7.1 cm) long.
Leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail, then ch 74 (66 spine ch + 8 for the terminal leaflet).
Terminal leaflet: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc, hdc, dc in next 2, hdc, sc. (7 sts) You are now at the base of the tip.
Side A (working up, into the back bumps of the spine):
Sl st in next 3 spine ch, work a leaflet; rep from * 20 times total.
Order of leaflets: 4 S, 6 M, 10 L.
Then sl st in the remaining 6 spine ch to make the bare stem.
(66 sl sts, 20 leaflets; leaflets sit on spine ch 3, 6, 9 … 60)*
Side B (working down, into the remaining top loops):
Sl st in the first 6 spine ch (ch 66 down to ch 61), then work an L leaflet.
Sl st in next 3 spine ch, work a leaflet; rep from * 19 times.
Order of leaflets: 10 L, 6 M, 4 S.
Then sl st in the last 3 spine ch (ch 3, 2, 1).
(6 + 57 + 3 = 66 sl sts, 20 leaflets; leaflets sit on spine ch 61, 58 … 4)*
Sl st into the base of the terminal leaflet and fasten off. Each fern has 41 leaflets in total.
The Side B leaflets sit one chain lower than the Side A leaflets, which gives the slightly staggered look of a real frond.
Checkpoint: The frond is about 14.6 in (37.1 cm) long and 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at the top.
Leafy Vine (make 3)
Vine leaf: Ch 9.
- Side 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from hook and working toward the stem, sc, hdc, dc in next 3, hdc, sc, sl st. (8 sts)
- Side 2: Ch 1, rotate, and work in the unused loops from the base out to the tip: sl st, sc, hdc, dc in next 3, hdc, sc. (8 sts)
- Tip: Ch 2, sl st in the tip ch to make the point.
- Vein: Work 8 surface sl sts down the center of the leaf to the base.
Each leaf is about 1.6 in (4.1 cm) long and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide.
Leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail, then ch 117 (108 stem ch + 9 for the terminal leaf). Number the stem chains from the tip end.
Terminal leaf: Work a vine leaf in the last 9 ch, ending at stem ch 1.
Side A (working up):
Sl st in next 6 stem ch, work a leaf; rep from * 16 times total.
Then sl st in the remaining 12 stem ch.
(108 sl sts, 16 leaves on ch 6, 12 … 96)*
Side B (working down):
Sl st in the first 16 stem ch, then work a leaf.
Sl st in next 6 ch, work a leaf; rep from * 15 times.
Then sl st in the last 2 ch.
(16 + 90 + 2 = 108 sl sts, 16 leaves on ch 93, 87 … 3)*
Join to the base of the terminal leaf and fasten off. Each vine has 33 leaves.
Checkpoint: The stem chain measures 21.6 in (54.9 cm), and the finished vine is about 23 in (58.4 cm) long and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide.
Make All Pieces
- Cream: 1 header
- Forest green: 2 vines (Vine 1 and Vine 3)
- Sage green: 1 fern (Fern 2) and 1 vine (Vine 5)
- Olive green: 1 fern (Fern 4)
Layout, from left to right across the header:
[==================== Cream Header, 28.2 in (71.6 cm) ====================]
Scallop 4 Scallop 11 Scallop 18 Scallop 25 Scallop 32
Vine 1 Fern 2 Vine 3 Fern 4 Vine 5
Forest Sage Forest Olive Sage
23 in 14.6 in 23 in 14.6 in 23 in
Joining
Lay the header RS up and place a marker in the center (3rd) dc of scallops 4, 11, 18, 25 and 32.
Spacing logic:
– Scallop 4 sits on Row 9, st 15, which is 2.9 in (7.4 cm) from the left edge.
– Scallop 32 sits on st 127, also 2.9 in (7.4 cm) from the right edge.
– The strands are 28 sts apart, which is 5.6 in (14.2 cm).
– Check the math: 2.9 + (4 x 5.6) + 2.9 = 28.2 in (71.6 cm).
Thread the starting tail of each strand onto a needle. Pass it through the marked dc from front to back, then through the top bare stem chain. Repeat 3 times so the stem hangs straight down from the point of the scallop. Weave the tail up into the stem.
Sew firmly but don’t pull too hard. If you pull the scallop down into a V, it will distort the mesh above it.
Checkpoint: Measured from the scalloped edge, the vines hang about 23 in (58.4 cm) and the ferns about 14.6 in (37.1 cm). The header should still measure 28.2 in (71.6 cm) across.
Border
The border uses the same gauge as the header: 5 sts = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Top tab row T1: With RS facing, join cream in the first unused loop of the Row 1 foundation chain. Work 141 sts across:
– Ch 1, sc in first 4 loops.
– *Ch 16, sk 3 loops, sc in next 7 loops; rep from * 13 times total.
– Ch 16, sk 3 loops, sc in last 4 loops, turn.
(4 + 14 x 3 + 13 x 7 + 4 = 141 loops used; 99 sc + 14 ch-16 loops)
Top tab row T2 (conversion row): Ch 1, sc in each sc and 22 sc in each ch-16 loop. Fasten off.
(99 sc worked 1-per-sc + 308 sc in loops = 407 sts)
Each tab rises about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and fits a rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Side edging: Join cream at the top corner of one short side and work 17 sc evenly down the row ends:
– 1 sc in Row 1
– 2 sc in each of Rows 2–8 (14 sc)
– 1 sc in Row 9
– 1 sc in Row 10
Fasten off and repeat on the other side.
(17 sc per side; there are no corner stitches because the top and bottom edges are worked separately)
Why the math works: All 141 foundation loops are used, so the top edge stays flat. Seventeen sc over 4.4 in (11.2 cm) is about 4 sc per inch, which suits row ends. The edging adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) per side, bringing the width to 28.6 in (72.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends, keeping the ends on the strands hidden inside the spines.
- Soak all pieces in cool water for 10 minutes, then press the water out in a towel. Don’t wring them.
- Pin the header to 28.6 in x 4.4 in (72.6 cm x 11.2 cm). Pin every scallop and open each mesh diamond evenly.
- Pin each fern flat. Angle the leaflets toward the tip at about 45 degrees, and pin out the point of every Large leaflet.
- Pin the vines straight, with the leaves spread to alternate sides and each leaf point pinned.
- Let everything dry completely, about 24 hours.
- If you want stiffer leaflets, mist them lightly with spray starch before they dry.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Header Row 9 has 141 sc and Row 10 has 35 scallops.
- There are 14 tabs, evenly spaced with 7 sc between each pair.
- Each fern has 41 leaflets (20 per side + tip).
- Each vine has 33 leaves (16 per side + tip).
- The strands hang from scallops 4, 11, 18, 25 and 32 in the order vine, fern, vine, fern, vine.
- Both side edges have 17 sc.
- The width measures 28.6 in (72.6 cm).
- The strands hang straight without twisting.
Troubleshooting
- Spine twists into a spiral: Your chain is too tight. Re-chain with a hook one size larger for the spine only.
- Leaflets curl under: Block them wet and pin each tip. Starch helps with cotton.
- Mesh rows slant: Check that you start Row 3 with ch 5 and end it with a dc into the sc.
- Header narrower than 28.2 in: Re-count Row 9. Three sc per loop is essential.
- Scallop pulls down at a joining point: Loosen the stitches you sewed and re-sew with less tension.
- Tabs too tight for your rod: Rework T1 with ch 18 loops and 24 sc in each loop on T2.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press dry in a towel, and re-block flat. Keep the valance out of strong direct sun if you want the greens to stay fresh.
Final Notes
The measurement chain runs like this:
- Gauge of 5 sts per inch
- 141 sc = 28.2 in (71.6 cm)
- 35 scallops, with strands every 7 scallops, 5.6 in (14.2 cm) apart
- Fern spine of 66 ch = 13.2 in (33.5 cm)
- Vine stem of 108 ch = 21.6 in (54.9 cm)
- Edged header of 28.6 in (72.6 cm), plus 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tabs
If you check each link as you go, the finished valance will hang evenly across your window.
Happy crocheting!