The Periwinkle Honeycomb Curtain is a pair of airy lace panels made from flat-topped hexagon motifs. Each hexagon frames a puffy six-petal flower, and the open spaces around the petals let soft light through the panel.
Two colors alternate in a checkerboard: periwinkle blue and deep charcoal gray. Each motif uses only one color, so you never carry yarn or change colors partway through a motif. The result is graphic and modern, with a cottage-garden feel.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished panel measures 12 in (30.5 cm) wide and 56 in (142.2 cm) long across the motifs alone. With the top band, it is 56.5 in (143.5 cm). Measured to the top of the hanging tabs, it is 59 in (149.9 cm).
How it works: you crochet 48 hexagon motifs for each panel and join them into three vertical columns of 16. Then you tack the columns together at their side points and finish with a narrow top band that carries six hanging tabs. Make two panels for the pair shown.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished panel: 12 in (30.5 cm) wide × 56 in (142.2 cm) long (motifs only)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (US E-4)
- Number of pieces: 48 motifs per panel, 96 for the pair
- Layout: 3 columns × 16 motifs per panel, in a checkerboard of colors
- Motif size: 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat side to flat side, 2 in (5.1 cm) per side
- Size before border: 12 in × 56 in (30.5 cm × 142.2 cm)
- Border depth: a top band of 0.5 in (1.3 cm), plus tabs that form loops 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized DK cotton or a cotton blend. Crisp cotton shows off the cluster petals and holds the hexagon points after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarn, because a long curtain will sag under its own weight.
Yarn (for two panels):
- Color A, periwinkle blue: 250 g / 560 m (612 yd). This covers 48 motifs plus all joining.
- Color B, charcoal gray: 250 g / 560 m (612 yd). This covers 48 motifs plus the top bands and tabs.
These amounts include a margin of about 13% for gauge differences and swatching. One motif uses about 9 m (9.8 yd) of yarn.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking board or foam mats
- Measuring tape
- Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
- BLO: back loop only
Special stitch: 4-tr cluster (tr4tog in one stitch). Yarn over twice, insert the hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, [yarn over and draw through 2 loops] twice. Repeat from * 3 more times in the same stitch (5 loops on the hook). Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops.
Petal: (ch 3, 4-tr cluster, ch 3, sl st) all in the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 22 sc × 24 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in rows.
Before you start, crochet one full test motif and block it. Hexagon size matters more than the gauge swatch, because 16 motifs stack along the panel length. A small error per motif adds up fast.
Checkpoints for one motif:
- After Round 2: the flower measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) from petal tip to petal tip.
- After Round 4: the hexagon measures about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) point to point.
- After Round 5, blocked: the hexagon measures 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat side to flat side, and 2 in (5.1 cm) per side.
If your motif is too big: go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it is only slightly large, tighten your chain-7 loops in Round 3.
If your motif is too small: go up to a 3.75 mm hook. An error of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per motif changes the panel length by 4 in (10.2 cm).
Hexagon Flower Motif (make 48 per panel)
Work every motif in a single color, either A or B. Work with the RS facing throughout and do not turn.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in the ring, sl st to the first sc. Pull the ring snug but leave a small open center, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) across. (12 sc)
Round 2 (petals): Petal in the next sc, sl st in the next sc. Repeat from * 5 more times. You finish with a sl st in the same st as the first petal. (6 petals, 6 sl sts)
Each petal stands out from the center as a puffy, elongated cluster. Every second sc of Round 1 holds a petal, and the sl sts between them give each petal room to sit flat.
Round 3 (frame anchor): Sl st into each of the first 3 ch of the first petal, then sl st into the top of its cluster. Ch 1, sc in the same cluster top, ch 7. Sc in the top of the next petal’s cluster, ch 7. Repeat from * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-7 sps)
Each sc at a petal tip becomes a corner of the hexagon, which is why every petal points into a corner.
Round 4: Sl st in the first sc. Ch 1. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner sc, 7 sc in the next ch-7 sp. Repeat from * 5 more times. Sl st to the first sc.
(54 sc, 6 ch-2 corner sps. Each side has 9 sc: 1 corner sc + 7 sc + 1 corner sc.)
Round 5: Ch 1. Sc in the same st. Sc in each sc to the next corner, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the ch-2 sp. Continue around and sl st to the first sc.
(66 sc, 6 ch-2 corner sps. Each side has 11 sc between corner sps: 1 new corner sc + 9 sc + 1 new corner sc.)
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Count check: 11 sc × 6 sides = 66 sc. Every side’s count of 11 already includes the sc on each side of its two corners. The ch-2 corner spaces are not counted as stitches.
Make All Pieces
Each panel needs 48 motifs: 24 in Color A and 24 in Color B. For the pair, make 48 in A and 48 in B in total.
Lay out each panel with the flat sides of the hexagons at the top and bottom:
Row 1: A B A
Row 2: B A B
Row 3: A B A
Row 4: B A B
... (continue alternating)
Row 15: A B A
Row 16: B A B
The 8 odd rows hold 16 A and 8 B. The 8 even rows hold 8 A and 16 B. That gives 24 A and 24 B per panel.
Joining
The joins happen in two stages: first build three vertical columns, then tack the columns together.
Stage 1 – join the columns. Join each column with Color A, because it blends into both colors on the back.
- Hold two motifs RS together. Line up the bottom flat side of the upper motif with the top flat side of the lower motif.
- Sl st through both matching ch-2 corner sps.
- Work 11 sl sts in the BLO, one through each matching pair of sc. Join stitch to stitch: 11 on one motif pair with 11 on the other.
- Sl st through the next pair of ch-2 corner sps. (13 sl sts per seam)
Work each seam separately, and repeat until each column holds 16 motifs. That is 15 seams per column and 45 seams per panel. Keep your slip stitches as loose as the sc rounds. A tight seam makes the columns pucker and shortens the panel.
Stage 2 – join the columns side to side. Lay the three columns flat. Each motif’s right side point meets the left side point of the motif next to it at the same height. Use a tapestry needle and Color A to tack the two ch-2 corner sps together with 3 whipstitches. Secure the yarn and weave in the end.
You make 16 tacks between Columns 1 and 2 and 16 between Columns 2 and 3, so 32 tacks per panel. Between each pair of tacks, a diamond-shaped opening forms where the slanted sides of the hexagons meet.
Size checkpoint: the panel should now measure 12 in (30.5 cm) wide: 3 motifs × 4 in (10.2 cm). It should measure 56 in (142.2 cm) long: 16 motifs × 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Border: Top Band and Hanging Tabs
The sides and bottom keep their natural scalloped hexagon outline, as shown in the photo. The only border is a top band that bridges the three top motifs and holds the tabs. Work it in Color B.
Border gauge: 22 sc × 24 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the main gauge.
Row 1 (RS): Find the top-left corner ch-2 sp of the first motif in Row 1. Join B with an sc in the first sc after that corner and work 10 more sc across the top side, finishing at the top-right corner. (11 sc) Ch 11 to bridge the gap. Sc in each of the 11 sc on the top side of the next motif, ch 11. Repeat from * once more, but leave out the final ch 11 after the third motif. Turn.
(3 motifs × 11 sc = 33 sc, plus 2 bridges × 11 ch = 22 ch. Total: 55 sts.)
Why the bridges are 11 chains: the top-right corner of one motif sits 2 in (5.1 cm) from the top-left corner of the next motif. Eleven chains at gauge equals 2 in (5.1 cm), so the band lies flat without pulling the motifs together or rippling.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (55 sc) Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (55 sc) Turn.
The band is now 10 in (25.4 cm) wide: 55 ÷ 5.5 sts per inch. It sits centered above the 12 in (30.5 cm) panel, and the outer motif points extend 1 in (2.5 cm) past it on each side. The band is 3 rows deep, which is 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Tabs: The tabs divide the 55 band stitches into 6 tabs of 5 sts and 5 gaps of 5 sts: (6 × 5) + (5 × 5) = 55.
- Tab 1: With the RS facing, ch 1 and sc in the first 5 sts. Work 29 more rows of 5 sc, turning each row. (30 rows = 5 in / 12.7 cm) Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
- Tabs 2–6: Skip the next 5 sts of Row 3. Join B in the following st and repeat the Tab 1 instructions. Continue until you have 6 tabs.
- Finish the tabs: Fold each tab to the WS and whipstitch its last row to the back loops of band Row 1. Each tab forms a loop 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall and 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide, which fits a rod up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends, and split each tail into the back of its own color.
- Soak the panel in lukewarm water for 15 minutes, then press out the water. Do not wring it.
- Roll the panel in towels to remove excess moisture.
- Lay it flat on mats in sections, working one column length at a time if your space is limited.
- Pin each motif at all six corner points. Check that each one is 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat to flat.
- Pin the band straight and to its 10 in (25.4 cm) width. Pull each diamond opening into an even shape.
- Ease the petals outward with your fingertips so they point into the corners.
- Let the panel dry completely, then unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Every motif has 66 sc, 6 corner sps, and 6 petals.
- [ ] Each panel has 24 A and 24 B motifs in a correct checkerboard.
- [ ] There are 45 column seams of 13 sl sts each.
- [ ] There are 32 side tacks, all at matching heights.
- [ ] The band has 55 sts in each of its 3 rows.
- [ ] There are 6 tabs, each 5 sts wide, evenly spaced with gaps of 5 sts.
- [ ] The panel measures 12 in × 56 in (30.5 cm × 142.2 cm) across the motifs.
- [ ] Both panels match in length to within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Troubleshooting
- Petals twist or flop: tighten the closing yarn over on each cluster and keep the ch-3 legs even.
- The hexagon cups: Round 3’s chain-7 loops are too tight. Loosen them or add one ch per sp, and remember to work 8 sc in each loop in Round 4.
- The hexagon ruffles: your corners are too loose. Keep the ch-2 corners snug.
- Seams pucker: your slip stitches are too tight. Go up a hook size for joining only.
- The band ripples: count the bridge chains. There should be exactly 11 at each gap.
- The panel grows when hanging: cotton relaxes. Block the panel and let it hang for a day before hemming or adjusting the rod height.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent, and dry the panel flat. Re-pin the points as needed. Do not tumble dry, because the open lace can stretch and catch.
Final Notes
The measurements build in a simple chain. Each motif is 2 in (5.1 cm) per side, 4 in (10.2 cm) point to point, and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat to flat. Three columns make a panel 12 in (30.5 cm) wide, and 16 rows make it 56 in (142.2 cm) long. The 55-stitch band adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and the tabs bring the total to 59 in (149.9 cm). If you need a longer curtain, each extra row of motifs adds 3.5 in (8.9 cm). Keep the checkerboard going and the rest of the pattern stays the same.
Happy crocheting!