Lavender Flutter is a light, lacy curtain made of butterflies. They hang in vertical strands, and each strand finishes in a full yarn tassel. Every butterfly has a firm, ridged body and four open wings with scalloped picot edges, so sunlight comes through each one.
The palette is dusty lavender and soft cream. The colors alternate down every strand, and each strand starts on the opposite color from the one beside it. The result is a gentle checkerboard across the window. The style is cottage-romantic but simple to make: the butterflies are small, repetitive and easy to carry with you.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is about 44.5 in (113.0 cm) wide and 48 in (121.9 cm) long, including the tassels. You crochet 72 butterflies, link them into 9 strands of 8 with small chain-ring connectors, then add a hanging loop at the top of each strand and a tassel at the bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 44.5 in (113.0 cm) wide x 48 in (121.9 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 72 butterflies (36 lavender, 36 cream) and 9 tassels
- Layout: 9 strands x 8 butterflies, hung on hooks spaced 5 in (12.7 cm) apart
- Piece size: each butterfly is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Size before the edge finish: each strand is 40.5 in (102.9 cm) long, from the top of the hanging loop to the bottom of the eighth butterfly
- Edge finish depth: 7.5 in (19.1 cm) at the bottom: a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) connector plus a 6 in (15.2 cm) tassel
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend of about 200 yd (183 m) per 100 g. Cotton keeps the picots crisp and stops the strands from stretching as they hang. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the lace.
- Lavender: 250 g, about 500 yd (458 m), for 36 butterflies and 5 tassels
- Cream: 250 g, about 500 yd (458 m), for 36 butterflies and 4 tassels
Each butterfly with its connector uses about 5 g, or 10 yd (9.1 m). Each tassel uses about 7.5 g, or 15 yd (13.7 m). These quantities include a margin of roughly 15% for gauge swatches and yarn ends.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stiff card, 6 in (15.2 cm) tall, for the tassels
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Spray bottle
– 9 curtain-rail clips or rings (gold jump rings work well)
– Locking stitch markers
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
Special stitches:
- Picot: Ch 3, then sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.
- Ring link: Ch 4, then sl st in the 4th ch from the hook to close a small ring. Each ring link is about 0.375 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in BLO.
Before you start the full curtain, make one complete butterfly and measure it:
- After the body: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall
- After upper wing Row 3: the loops reach about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) out from the body edge
- Finished butterfly: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, measured after a light steam
- Connector: 4 ring links = 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
If the butterfly is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. Being off by 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each butterfly adds up to 2 in (5.1 cm) over a strand of 8, so match the size before you go on.
Butterfly Pattern (Make 72)
Body
The body is worked in rows of BLO sc, which builds the horizontal ridges.
Foundation: Ch 4.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in the next 2 ch. Turn. (3 sc)
Rows 2–10: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), sc in BLO of each st across. Turn. (3 sc per row)
At the end of Row 10 you have 30 sc in total. Do not fasten off. Each long side of the body now has 10 row-ends. Mark row-ends 1–5 for the lower wing and 6–10 for the upper wing. Fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Upper Wing (Make 2 per Butterfly)
Row 1: With the RS facing, join yarn in row-end 6 on the right side of the body. Ch 1, then work 1 sc in each of row-ends 6–10. Turn. (5 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, *ch 2, 2 dc in the next sc; repeat from * 3 more times. Turn. (10 dc and 4 ch-2 sps: 5 groups of 2 dc)
This row fans the wing outward.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first dc, *ch 5, sc in the next ch-2 sp; repeat from * 3 more times, ch 5, sc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (6 sc and 5 ch-5 loops)
Row 4 (scallop edge): In each ch-5 loop, work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, picot, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st in the last sc. Fasten off. (5 scallops, each with 10 sts and 1 picot)
For the left upper wing, join at row-end 10 on the left side and work Row 1 across row-ends 10 down to 6. This makes the two wings mirror each other. Then repeat Rows 2–4.
Lower Wing (Make 2 per Butterfly)
Row 1: Join yarn in row-end 1 on the right side of the body. Ch 1, then work 1 sc in each of row-ends 1–5. Turn. (5 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the first sc, *ch 4, sc in the next sc; repeat from * 3 more times. Turn. (5 sc and 4 ch-4 loops)
Row 3 (scallop edge): Ch 1. In each ch-4 loop, work (sc, hdc, 2 dc, picot, 2 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st in the last sc. Fasten off. (4 scallops, each with 8 sts and 1 picot)
On the left side, work the lower wing on row-ends 5 down to 1.
The lower wings are shorter and have one fewer scallop, so they come out smaller than the upper wings, as they should.
Top Connector
Join the butterfly’s own color in the center sc of Row 10 (the top of the body). Work 4 ring links. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail for joining.
For the 9 butterflies that will sit at the top of a strand, add a hanging loop after the 4th ring link instead: ch 6, then sl st in the last ring link to make a loop. Fasten off. The connector and loop together measure 2 in (5.1 cm).
Make All Pieces
Butterflies (72 in total):
– Lavender: 36 (5 of them with a hanging loop)
– Cream: 36 (4 of them with a hanging loop)
Tassels (9 in total):
– Lavender: 5
– Cream: 4
Layout grid (L = lavender, C = cream; columns are strands 1–9 from left to right):
Row 1: L C L C L C L C L (hanging loops)
Row 2: C L C L C L C L C
Row 3: L C L C L C L C L
Row 4: C L C L C L C L C
Row 5: L C L C L C L C L
Row 6: C L C L C L C L C
Row 7: L C L C L C L C L
Row 8: C L C L C L C L C
Tassel: L C L C L C L C L
Check the totals: the odd rows have 5 L each (4 rows = 20 L), and the even rows have 4 L each (4 rows = 16 L). That gives 36 lavender and 36 cream.
Joining the Strands
Method: Sew each connector’s tail to the center foundation ch at the bottom of the butterfly above it.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The foundation ch has 3 free loops, and the center loop sits directly under the middle sc of every body row. Each connector starts from the center sc of Row 10, so joining center to center keeps every butterfly hanging straight down the same line. Thread the tail through the center loop twice, then back through the last ring link, and weave the end into the body.
Order: Lay strand 1 flat in its order from the grid. Attach butterfly 2 to butterfly 1, butterfly 3 to butterfly 2, and so on down to butterfly 8.
Tension advice: Pull each join snug but not tight. If you pull too hard, the body puckers and the butterfly tilts forward. If the join is loose, the connector gains length, and the strands end up uneven.
Size checkpoint: A finished strand without its tassel measures 2 in (5.1 cm) for the hanging loop and top connector, plus 8 x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) for the butterflies, plus 7 x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) for the connectors. That totals 40.5 in (102.9 cm). Lay all 9 strands side by side and compare them. They should match within 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Edge Finish: Tassel Fringe (the Curtain’s Border)
This curtain has no fabric border. The bottom fringe and the top loops do the same job: they square off the edges and make the piece look finished.
Border gauge: 4 ring links = 1.5 in (3.8 cm). One tassel is 6 in (15.2 cm) long.
Round 1 – tassel connector (worked on each strand): Join the tassel color in the center foundation ch of butterfly 8. Work 4 ring links. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. You get 9 connectors in total, with 4 ring links each.
Round 2 – tassels: Wrap the yarn 40 times around a 6 in (15.2 cm) card. Each wrap is 12 in (30.5 cm) long. Slide the connector tail under the wraps at the top edge of the card and tie it tightly. Cut through the wraps along the bottom edge. Wrap a separate 18 in (45.7 cm) strand 8 times around the tassel, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top, and tie it off. Hide the ends inside the tassel. Trim the bottom so it is even.
You make 9 tassels with 40 wraps each, which gives 80 strands per tassel.
Top edge: Each strand has one ch-6 hanging loop, so there are 9 loops in total. Attach one loop to each rail clip.
Why the math works: Each butterfly is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and the rail clips are 5 in (12.7 cm) apart, which leaves a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) gap between neighboring wing tips. That gap stops the picots from catching on each other.
The total width is 8 gaps of 5 in (12.7 cm) between hook centers, plus half a butterfly on each end: 40 + 4.5 = 44.5 in (113.0 cm).
The total length is 40.5 in (102.9 cm) for the strand, plus 7.5 in (19.1 cm) for the connector and tassel, which comes to 48 in (121.9 cm).
Final Blocking
- Before you join the strands, block every butterfly flat. Pin it to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- Put one pin in each scallop tip, and one in the picot if needed, so the wing edges open fully.
- Mist the butterfly lightly until it is damp, or hover a steam iron over it. Never press the iron directly onto the lace.
- Let the butterflies dry completely, at least 4 hours.
- After joining, hang each strand and steam the connectors lightly so they lie straight.
- Steam the tassels and comb them gently with your fingers so the strands sit smooth.
- Trim the tassel ends again so all 9 match at 6 in (15.2 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 72 butterflies, all 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- Every body has 10 BLO rows with visible ridges
- Every upper wing has 5 scallops and every lower wing has 4
- Every picot is closed and stands out
- Each strand has 8 butterflies and 7 connectors of 4 ring links each
- The colors match the layout grid exactly
- All strands measure 40.5 in (102.9 cm) before the tassel
- 9 tassels, each 6 in (15.2 cm), alternating colors to match the grid
- All yarn ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
Wings curl toward the front: Your Row 2 dc are too tight. Loosen your tension or use a hook 0.5 mm larger for the wings only.
Body is wider than the wings allow: Check that you are working in BLO only. Sc through both loops makes a thicker, wider body.
The two upper wings don’t match: Make sure the left wing starts at row-end 10 and works down toward row-end 6.
Strand twists when hung: One connector is joined off-center. Undo it and rejoin it in the center foundation ch.
Strands are different lengths: Count the ring links on every connector. A loose sl st can add about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) per link.
Tassels look thin: Add 10 more wraps on the card, and keep the same 6 in (15.2 cm) card so the length doesn’t change.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent, roll the curtain in a towel to remove water, and dry it flat, re-pinning the butterflies if needed. Comb the tassels gently with your fingers once they are dry.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other:
- 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- That gauge gives a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) body
- The finished butterfly is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- With connectors and the hanging loop, each strand is 40.5 in (102.9 cm)
- With the tassel, the full length is 48 in (121.9 cm)
- Nine strands on clips 5 in (12.7 cm) apart give a 44.5 in (113.0 cm) wide curtain
If you hit the first checkpoint, the rest falls into place. Make one butterfly, measure it, and then enjoy the repetition.
Happy crocheting!