This lace curtain is built from dozens of layered five-petal flowers set into an airy cream chain mesh. Each flower has large pointed outer petals with a fanned, ridged texture, a ring of smaller cupped inner petals, and a burgundy center with knobbed stamens. A crisp burgundy edge outlines every outer petal, so the blooms stand out when light comes through the window.
The palette is just cream and deep burgundy. The style is romantic and slightly vintage, close to Irish-lace flower work, but each motif is made in continuous rounds with basic stitches. All instructions use US crochet terms.
One finished panel measures 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm) after blocking. The photo shows a matching pair hung side by side, so make two panels for the same look.
Construction: you crochet each flower in rounds from the center out. Two cream mesh rounds then turn it into a 6 in (15.2 cm) square block, and you join each new block to its neighbors in the last mesh round. A two-round cream border finishes the edges, and the panel hangs from clip rings.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one panel): 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm)
- Skill level: Experienced
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Fingering-weight (Super Fine, #1) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm
- Number of pieces: 105 flower motifs per panel (210 for a pair)
- Layout: 7 motifs wide x 15 motifs tall
- Piece size: flower 5 in (12.7 cm) across; full mesh block 6 x 6 in (15.2 x 15.2 cm)
- Size before border: 42 x 90 in (106.7 x 228.6 cm)
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) on every side
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized cotton thread or fingering yarn of about 170 m per 50 g. Cotton holds sharp petal tips and sags less than acrylic.
Per panel:
- Cream: 900 g (about 3,060 m), eighteen 50 g balls
- Burgundy: 250 g (about 850 m), five 50 g balls
Double these amounts for a pair. The quantities include about a 10% margin for swatching and differences in tension. Buy each color from a single dye lot.
Tools:
- 2.5 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Blocking mats, rustproof pins, spray bottle
- 8 curtain clip rings per panel, plus a curtain rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- FLO / BLO: front loop only / back loop only
- rep: repeat
Special stitch: Stamen. Ch 6. *Yo, insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, yo and pull up a loop; rep from * 2 more times (7 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 7 loops, then ch 1 to close the knob. Sl st in each of the 3 remaining chs back down to the base. This makes a short stalk with a round knob on top.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete motif, including both mesh rounds, before you start the panel. Block it and measure.
- After Round 1: center ring about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
- After Round 5: inner flower about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
- After Round 9: flower 5 in (12.7 cm) across, measured from one petal tip straight through the center.
- After Mesh Round B: block 6 x 6 in (15.2 x 15.2 cm).
If your block is bigger than 6 in (15.2 cm), use a 2.25 mm hook. If it is smaller, use a 2.75 mm hook. A difference of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per block adds up to 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across the width and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) down the length.
Flower Motif
Center (Burgundy)
Round 1: With burgundy, make a magic ring. Ch 1, 10 sc in ring. Sl st to first sc and pull the ring tight. (10 sc)
Round 2 (stamens): Working in FLO only, *sl st in next sc, Stamen; rep from * 9 more times. Sl st to first sl st and fasten off. (10 stamens)
The back loops of Round 1 stay free for the cream layers, so the stamens stand up in front.
Inner Petals (Cream)
Round 3: Join cream in the BLO of any Round 1 sc. Ch 1, 2 sc in the BLO of each sc around. Sl st to first sc. (20 sc)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, skip 3 sts. *Sc in next st, ch 3, skip 3 sts; rep from * 3 more times. Sl st to first sc. (5 sc, 5 ch-3 sps)
Round 5: In each ch-3 sp, work (sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to first sc. (5 petals of 9 sts each, 45 sts)
Putting 9 stitches into a short ch-3 space makes each inner petal round and cupped.
Outer Petal Base
Round 6: Turn the flower to the back. Sl st into the back bar of the center (3rd) dc of any inner petal. *Ch 7, sc in the back bar of the center dc of the next inner petal; rep from * 3 more times. Ch 7 and sl st to first sl st. (5 ch-7 loops)
Each loop runs from the middle of one inner petal to the middle of the next. This puts the outer petals between the inner petals, as in the photo.
Round 7: In each ch-7 loop, work (sc, hdc, 4 dc, 3 tr, 4 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to first sc. (5 petals of 15 sts each, 75 sts)
The tall trebles fan out and form the lines that radiate through each outer petal.
Outer Petal Points
Round 8: Work in BLO for a ridged texture. Number each petal’s 15 sts from 1 to 15 and work:
Sl st in st 1, sc in st 2, hdc in sts 3-4, dc in sts 5-6, 2 dc in st 7, (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) in st 8, 2 dc in st 9, dc in sts 10-11, hdc in sts 12-13, sc in st 14, sl st in st 15.
Rep for all 5 petals. Sl st to first sl st and fasten off cream. (20 sts and 1 ch-2 tip per petal; 100 sts and 5 ch-2 tips total)
The stitches rise from sl st to tr and back down again, so each petal comes to a point.
Burgundy Edge
Round 9: Join burgundy in the first sl st of any petal. Ch 1, sc in each of the next 10 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the ch-2 tip, then sc in each of the last 10 sts of the petal. Rep for each petal. Sl st to first sc and fasten off. (22 sc and 1 ch-2 tip per petal; 110 sc and 5 ch-2 tips total)
Count check for one petal: 20 sc worked one per stitch, plus 2 extra sc in the tip, gives 22 sc.
Mesh Rounds
Mesh Round A (Cream)
Join cream in any ch-2 tip. Ch 1, sc in the tip. *Ch 7, sc between the 2 burgundy sc at the next valley, ch 7, sc in the next ch-2 tip; rep from * around. On the last repeat, replace the final sc with a sl st to first sc. (10 ch-7 loops)
Number the loops 1-10 clockwise, starting with the first loop you made. Do not fasten off. Sl st into the start of loop 1.
Mesh Round B (Cream): First Motif
This round makes 16 anchors and 16 loops, which square off the block.
Anchors: each anchor is one sc into a loop. Work anchors into loops 1-10 in this order: 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1 (16 anchors in total). Where a loop gets 2 anchors, put one in each half of the loop.
Chains between anchors: repeat the sequence ch 7, ch 7, ch 7, ch 9 a total of 4 times. Sl st to first sc and fasten off.
This gives 12 ch-7 side loops and 4 ch-9 corner loops. Each side of the block has 3 side loops between 2 corner loops. Per-side count: 5 loops, including both corner loops.
Joining
Work every motif through Mesh Round A as written, then join it to its neighbors while you work Mesh Round B:
- Side loop: in place of ch 7, work ch 3, sl st into the matching side loop of the neighbor, ch 3.
- Corner loop: in place of ch 9, work ch 4, sl st into the neighbor’s corner loop, ch 4. Where 3 or 4 blocks meet, sl st into the same joining point the earlier blocks used.
How the joins line up: on each shared side, the 3 side loops join to the neighbor’s 3 side loops, and the 2 corners join to its 2 corners. No extra stitches are added. The joining chains plus the sl st take the place of the original chain lengths, so each block stays 6 in (15.2 cm).
Keep the joining chains relaxed. If they are tight, the panel narrows and the flowers start to cup.
Size checkpoint: row 1 should measure 42 in (106.7 cm) wide, and 5 rows should measure 30 in (76.2 cm) tall.
Make All Pieces
Per panel, make 105 complete motifs, each with a burgundy center and edge and cream petals and mesh. Join them row by row, attaching each new motif to the one on its left and the one above.
Layout grid (7 wide x 15 tall; F = flower motif):
F F F F F F F row 1
F F F F F F F row 2
F F F F F F F row 3
... rows 4-14 repeat
F F F F F F F row 15
The finished grid measures 42 x 90 in (106.7 x 228.6 cm).
Border
Border gauge: 20 sc = 3 in (7.6 cm), so 8 sc = 1.2 in (3.0 cm). Each edge loop spans 1.2 in (3.0 cm): a 6 in (15.2 cm) block side divided by 5 loops.
Starting count: the top and bottom edges each have 7 motifs x 5 loops = 35 loops. Each side edge has 15 x 5 = 75 loops. The 4 panel corner loops each belong to two edges, so there are 2 x (35 + 75) – 4 = 216 unique loops. No stitches are added at seams.
Round 1 (cream): Join in the top right panel corner loop. Ch 1, (sc, ch 9, sc) in the corner loop, ch 7. *Sc in next loop, ch 7; rep from * to the next panel corner loop. In each panel corner loop, work (sc, ch 9, sc), ch 7. Continue around and sl st to first sc.
Count: 216 sc (one per existing loop) + 4 extra corner sc = 220 sc. The round has 216 ch-7 sps and 4 ch-9 corner sps. Between corners, the top and bottom edges each have 34 ch-7 sps and each side edge has 74.
Round 2: Sl st into the corner sp. Ch 1. Work (5 sc, ch 2, 5 sc) in each ch-9 corner sp and 8 sc in each ch-7 sp. Sl st to first sc and fasten off.
Counts: the top and bottom edges have 34 x 8 = 272 sc each, and the side edges have 74 x 8 = 592 sc each. Each corner adds 10 sc and 1 ch-2. Total: 2 x (272 + 592) + 4 x 10 = 1,768 sc and 4 ch-2 corners.
Why the math works: at border gauge, 8 sc measure 1.2 in (3.0 cm), which equals the span of each loop. The border lies flat without ruffling or pulling in. It adds 1 in (2.5 cm) per side, taking the panel from 42 x 90 in (106.7 x 228.6 cm) to 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the petal edges, never through the open mesh.
- Soak the panel in cool water for 15 minutes.
- Press out the water in towels. Do not wring.
- Lay the panel flat on mats, working in sections if needed.
- Pin the border straight to 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm).
- Pin each petal tip outward and open the mesh loops evenly.
- Lift the inner petals slightly so they cup, and fluff the stamens upright.
- Let the panel dry completely, usually 24-48 hours, before you unpin it.
- Clip on 8 rings evenly along the top edge, one at each block seam and one at each end.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each flower has 10 stamens, 5 cupped inner petals, and 5 pointed outer petals.
- The outer petals sit between the inner petals.
- Every outer petal has a complete burgundy edge with a sharp ch-2 tip.
- Each block measures 6 x 6 in (15.2 x 15.2 cm).
- Each shared side is joined at 3 side loops and 2 corners.
- Border Round 2 has 272 sc on the top and bottom edges and 592 sc on each side.
- The panel measures 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm).
Troubleshooting
- Outer petals look rounded: make sure the (dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc) group goes into st 8, the center tr.
- Petals ruffle: your tension is loose. Go down one hook size.
- Stamens are floppy: pull each knob tight after the ch 1 and work the stalk sl sts firmly.
- Block is lopsided: recount the anchor sequence 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1. One missed anchor shifts a corner.
- Panel is narrower than 42 in (106.7 cm): your joining chains are too tight. Redo them more loosely.
- Border is wavy: use 7 sc per ch-7 sp and check your border gauge again.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and dry flat, pinning the petal tips again if needed. Keep the curtain out of harsh direct sun so the burgundy doesn’t fade.
Final Notes
Here is how the measurements build up. A 5 in (12.7 cm) flower becomes a 6 x 6 in (15.2 x 15.2 cm) block with 5 loops per side. A grid of 7 x 15 blocks measures 42 x 90 in (106.7 x 228.6 cm). The 1 in (2.5 cm) border brings one panel to 44 x 92 in (111.8 x 233.7 cm). If your first motif meets every checkpoint, the rest of the panel will come out to size.
Happy crocheting!