The Terracotta Prism Lattice Curtain turns one simple shape into a bold, airy room divider. Each panel is made of open triangle frames that hang point down and join only at their corners. The joined frames form a continuous triangle lattice with six-point “star” nodes, and the open spaces read as a second set of upturned triangles.
The whole curtain uses one warm terracotta (burnt orange) yarn, so light coming through the openings does the decorating. A chunky tassel hangs from every point along the bottom edge, and a solid top band runs straight along the rod. The style is both boho and modern, and the curtain works as well in a doorway as on a window.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 42 in (106.7 cm) wide and about 68.3 in (173.5 cm) tall with the border, plus 6 in (15.2 cm) tassels. The pattern makes a pair of panels.
Construction is simple. You crochet open triangle motifs in the round and join them as you go at the corners in the final round. Then you add a three-row top border and tie tassels to the bottom points.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished panel size: 42 in x 68.3 in (106.7 cm x 173.5 cm), plus 6 in (15.2 cm) tassels
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (Category 4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 85 triangle motifs per panel (170 for the pair)
- Layout: 13 rows of point-down triangles, alternating 7 and 6 motifs per row
- Piece size: 6 in (15.2 cm) per side, 5.2 in (13.2 cm) tall
- Size before border: 42 in x 67.5 in (106.7 cm x 171.5 cm)
- Border depth: about 0.8 in (2.0 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, firm worsted yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton or a cotton blend hangs straight and resists stretching. Avoid very soft acrylic, because a long curtain will sag under its own weight.
- Terracotta: 800 g (about 1,600 m) of worsted yarn at around 200 m per 100 g
That covers both panels: about 600 g (1,200 m) for the 170 motifs, a small amount for the borders, and about 150 g (300 m) for 14 tassels. These quantities include a margin of roughly 15%.
Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers
– Measuring tape
– Cardboard strip, 6.5 in (16.5 cm) long, for tassels
– Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle
– 16 curtain clip rings (8 per panel) and a rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rnd – round
- JAYG – join as you go
Special stitch – Joining corner (JC): In the ch-2 corner sp, work sc, ch 1, sl st into the matching ch-2 corner sp of the neighboring motif, ch 1, then sc in the same corner sp of the current motif. The ch 1 + sl st + ch 1 replaces the ch 2, so the stitch count does not change.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 14 hdc = 4 in (10.2 cm). One hdc rnd is about 1/3 in (0.8 cm) tall, and one sc rnd is about 1/4 in (0.6 cm) tall.
Before anything else, make one complete motif and block it. Every measurement in the panel is a multiple of this triangle.
Checkpoints (measure one outer side, tip to tip, laid flat):
– Foundation ring: about 3.4 in (8.6 cm) per side when shaped into a triangle
– After Rnd 1: about 4.3 in (10.9 cm)
– After Rnd 2: about 5.4 in (13.7 cm)
– After Rnd 3: 6 in (15.2 cm)
Too big? Go down a hook size (4.5 mm). Too small? Go up a hook size (5.5 mm). Do not change the stitch counts, because the border math depends on 21 sts per side.
Triangle Motif
The motif is worked in the round from a chain ring. The ring becomes the inner edge of the open center, and each round grows outward with increases only at the 3 corners. Each side count includes the corner sts at both ends of that side.
Foundation: Ch 36 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist it. Place markers in the 1st, 13th, and 25th ch. These are the corner chs, with 11 chs between each pair.
Rnd 1 (hdc): Ch 2 (does not count as a st). (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the marked corner ch, then hdc in each of the next 11 ch. Repeat from * 2 more times. Sl st to the first hdc.
Count: 15 hdc per side (2 + 11 + 2), 45 hdc total, plus 3 ch-2 corner sps.*
Rnd 2 (hdc): Sl st in the next hdc and into the ch-2 sp, then ch 2. (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner sp, then hdc in each of the next 15 sts. Repeat from * 2 more times. Sl st to the first hdc.
Count: 19 hdc per side (2 + 15 + 2), 57 hdc total.*
Rnd 3 (sc): Sl st in the next hdc and into the ch-2 sp, then ch 1. (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner sp, then sc in each of the next 19 sts. Repeat from * 2 more times. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Count: 21 sc per side (1 + 19 + 1), 63 sc total.*
At this gauge, a triangle needs about 4 extra sts per side for each hdc rnd it grows. The 2-hdc corners add exactly 4, so the frame lies flat. The final sc rnd adds 2 sts per side and gives a firm edge for joining.
The finished frame band is about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide, and the open center measures about 3 in (7.6 cm) per side. Hang the motif point down, so that one side forms a horizontal top edge.
Make All Pieces
Each panel has 13 rows, numbered from the top:
- Odd rows (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13): 7 motifs each = 49 motifs
- Even rows (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12): 6 motifs each = 36 motifs
- Per panel: 85 motifs. For the pair: 170 motifs, all in Terracotta.
Work Rnds 1–2 on every motif first. Work Rnd 3 on each motif as you join it.
Layout grid (one panel; ▽ = one motif; each even row is offset by half a motif):
Row 1: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
Row 2: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
Row 3: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
Row 4: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
... continue alternating ...
Row 12: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
Row 13: ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽
Joining
Method: Join as you go at the corners only, during Rnd 3. No edges are sewn together. Each upturned open triangle in the lattice is outlined by two sides of neighboring motifs and the top edge of the motif below.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Every motif has 2 top corners and 1 bottom point. Work the side sts exactly as written. Wherever a corner touches a finished motif, work a JC instead of the plain (sc, ch 2, sc).
- Row 1: Complete the first motif. On each following motif, work a JC at its top-left corner into the top-right corner of the motif to its left.
- Even rows: Each motif joins its top-left and top-right corners to the bottom points of the 2 motifs above it. Every motif except the first also joins its top-left corner to its left neighbor in the same row.
- Odd rows 3–13: The first and last motifs each have one free outer top corner. Every other top corner joins to a bottom point in the row above and to the left neighbor.
Where 3 corners meet, sl st into the corner sp of the first finished motif, around its existing join. This stacks all 3 joins into one tight point and forms the star node.
Tension advice: Keep the ch 1 on each side of the joining sl st snug. On a long panel, loose joins let the motifs droop and pull the lattice out of shape.
Size checkpoint: After Row 1, the top edge should measure 42 in (106.7 cm). After 4 rows, the height should be about 20.8 in (52.8 cm). After all 13 rows, the panel should measure 42 in x 67.5 in (106.7 cm x 171.5 cm).
Border
The border is a straight band across the top edge of Row 1 only. The sides keep their natural triangle edges, and the bottom points carry tassels.
Border gauge: 14 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the motifs.
Row 1 (sc): With the right side facing, join yarn in the first sc of the top edge of the first motif in Row 1, then ch 1. Sc in each of the 21 sts along the top edge of every motif, skipping the corner chs and join points between motifs.
Count: 7 motifs x 21 sts = 147 sc.
Row 2 (hdc): Ch 2 (does not count), turn. Hdc in each st across.
Count: 147 hdc.
Row 3 (sc): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. Fasten off.
Count: 147 sc.
Why the math works: Each motif’s top side is 21 sts = 6 in (15.2 cm). Seven motifs give 147 sts = 42 in (106.7 cm), so working 1 st into each st keeps the border exactly as wide as the lattice. No sts go into the joins, because the 21-st side count already includes both corner sc. The 3 border rows add about 1/4 + 1/3 + 1/4 in, or about 0.8 in (2.0 cm).
Clip rings: Mark 8 points evenly along the border: one at each end and one every 21 sts in between, giving 7 equal spaces. Clip a ring at each mark.
Tassels
You need 7 tassels per panel, 14 in total. For each one, wrap yarn 30 times around the 6.5 in (16.5 cm) cardboard. Tie the top with a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand and cut the bottom loops. Wrap a second strand around the bundle 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top. Trim to 6 in (15.2 cm). Tie one tassel to the bottom-point ch-2 sp of each Row 13 motif.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends along the frame bands, never across the open spaces.
- Lay the panel flat on mats. If space is short, work in sections.
- Pin the top border straight and check that it measures 42 in (106.7 cm).
- Pin every star node so that each triangle side is 6 in (15.2 cm) and each row is 5.2 in (13.2 cm) tall.
- Mist the panel until damp but not soaked.
- Let it dry completely before unpinning.
- Steam the tassels lightly, comb them straight, and re-trim if needed.
- Hang the panel for 24 hours, then recheck the length. Cotton may settle by about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every motif has 21 sts per side and measures 6 in (15.2 cm).
- Rows alternate 7 and 6 motifs, for 85 motifs per panel.
- Every interior node joins 3 corners at one tight point.
- No motif hangs point up, and no foundation ring is twisted.
- Every border row has 147 sts and measures 42 in (106.7 cm).
- Each panel has 7 tassels, all trimmed to 6 in (15.2 cm).
- Both panels match in height within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
Motif cups or curls: The corners are too tight or your gauge is off. Loosen the ch-2 corners or go up a hook size.
Motif sides ruffle: You probably have extra sts. Recount each side: 15, 19, then 21.
Foundation ring is twisted: Rip back and rejoin. Blocking can’t fix a twist.
Gaps at the nodes: Make sure all 3 corners share one sl st point.
Panel slants: Check that each even row starts half a motif in from the edge, as shown in the grid.
Border waves: You worked into the joins. Rework the row with exactly 21 sts per motif.
Uneven tassels: Trim them together while the panel hangs.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent, lay flat to dry, and re-pin the nodes if needed. Never tumble dry or hang the panels while wet, because the weight will stretch the lattice.
Final Notes
The whole curtain follows one measurement chain:
- A gauge of 14 hdc = 4 in gives a 21-st motif side of 6 in (15.2 cm).
- Seven motifs make a 42 in (106.7 cm) row.
- Thirteen rows at 5.2 in (13.2 cm) each make a 67.5 in (171.5 cm) lattice.
- The 0.8 in (2.0 cm) border brings each panel to 68.3 in (173.5 cm).
- The 6 in (15.2 cm) tassels finish the lower edge.
If your first motif measures right, everything after it will too.
Happy crocheting!