The Sage Grove Leaf Curtain is a light, airy window hanging made of crocheted leaves linked into vertical strands. Each strand hangs from a solid header band with fold-over tabs and ends in two small crocheted balls that add a little weight and swing.
The palette is soft and natural: olive green and warm cream. Within each strand the leaves alternate colors. Neighboring strands start with the opposite color and hang half a leaf lower, so the colors form a staggered checkerboard across the window. Each leaf has a center vein and a line of openwork eyelets on each side, which let light shine through the motif itself.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 40 in (101.6 cm) wide. Odd strands measure 51.75 in (131.4 cm) from the top of the band to the bottom ball, and even strands measure 54.35 in (138.0 cm), not counting the tabs.
Construction is simple and modular. You crochet 144 leaves in three rounds each and make 32 small balls. Then you link the leaves into 16 strands with short chains, work the header band, and attach the strands to it.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 40 in (101.6 cm) wide; 51.75 in (131.4 cm) and 54.35 in (138.0 cm) long on alternating strands
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) for leaves and band; 4.0 mm (G-6) for balls
- Number of pieces: 144 leaves, 32 balls, 1 header band, 7 tabs
- Layout: 16 strands of 9 leaves each
- Leaf size: 2.25 in x 4.25 in (5.7 cm x 10.8 cm)
- Strand spacing: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) center to center
- Header band: 40 in x 2 in (101.6 cm x 5.1 cm), 160 stitches x 9 rows
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in worsted weight. Cotton hangs straight, keeps the leaf shape crisp, and does not stretch much on the rod. The quantities below assume about 190 m (208 yd) per 100 g.
- Olive green: 300 g, about 570 m (623 yd)
- Cream: 450 g, about 855 m (935 yd)
Cream covers half the leaves plus all the links, balls, the band, and the tabs, so it needs more yarn. Both amounts include a margin of roughly 15 percent for swatching and weaving in.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Small amount of polyester fiberfill
– Stitch markers
– Tape measure
– Blocking mat, rust-proof pins, and a spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
Surface slip stitch: Hold the yarn behind the work. Insert the hook from front to back through the fabric, pull up a loop, and draw it through the loop on the hook. Repeat, moving one stitch length at a time, to draw a chain-like line on the surface.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Leaf gauge: One finished leaf measures 2.25 in x 4.25 in (5.7 cm x 10.8 cm) with the 5.0 mm hook.
Chain gauge: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Band gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) square.
Make one complete leaf first and check it at each stage:
- After Round 1: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) long x 0.6 in (1.5 cm) wide
- After Round 2: 4 in (10.2 cm) long x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide
- After Round 3: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) long x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
If your leaf is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. Most of the length comes from the foundation chain, so if only the length is off, check your chain tension first. A difference of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per leaf adds up to 2.25 in (5.7 cm) over a strand.
Leaf Motif
Make 72 in olive green and 72 in cream. Every leaf is worked the same way.
The leaf is worked in rounds around both sides of a foundation chain. The hook end of the chain becomes the stem end, and the slip knot end becomes the tip.
Foundation: With the 5.0 mm hook, ch 17.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook (stem end) and in each of the next 14 ch, 3 sc in the last ch (tip). Rotate and work along the opposite side of the foundation: sc in each of the next 14 ch, 2 sc in the same ch as the first sc. Join with sl st to the first sc. (34 sc)
Number the stitches for reference: st 1 is the first sc, sts 2–15 are the first side, sts 16–18 are the tip, sts 19–32 are the second side, and sts 33–34 finish the stem end.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in st 1.
First side (sts 2–15): hdc in next st, 2 dc in next st, [dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st] 4 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st. (16 sts, counting each ch-1 sp as 1)
Tip (sts 16–18): sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st, sc in next st.
Second side (sts 19–32): sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, [ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st] 4 times, 2 dc in next st, hdc in next st. (16 sts)
Stem end: sc in each of the last 2 sts. Join with sl st to the first sc.
Count: 1 + 16 + 4 + 16 + 2 = 39 sts (including 8 ch-1 sps), plus the ch-2 tip sp.
The paired 2-dc increases widen the middle of the leaf, while the hdc and sc at each end keep it pointed. The four ch-1 sps on each side form the eyelet line that reads as the leaf’s ribs.
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in each st and each ch-1 sp up to the tip sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip ch-2 sp, sc in each st and each ch-1 sp to the end, ch 2. Join with sl st to the first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Count: 39 + 2 = 41 sc: one sc in each existing st and sp, plus 2 extra sc at the tip. The round also has 2 ch-2 sps, one at the tip and one at the stem.
Center vein: Thread the tail to the front at the stem. Use the hook to work 16 surface sl sts down the center line of the foundation chain, from the stem to just before the tip. Pull the last loop to the back and weave in the end.
Bead Drops
Make 16 in olive green and 16 in cream. Use the 4.0 mm hook.
- Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6 sc)
- Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
- Round 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
- Round 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sc)
Stuff firmly. Fasten off with a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail, close the opening, and keep the tail for sewing. Each ball is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Make All Pieces
- Olive green leaves: 72
- Cream leaves: 72
- Olive green balls: 16
- Cream balls: 16
Layout grid (strands 1–16 run left to right; leaf positions 1–9 run top to bottom; G = green, C = cream):
Leaves 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: G C G C G C G C G C G C G C G C
Leaves 2, 4, 6, 8: C G C G C G C G C G C G C G C G
Upper ball: C G C G C G C G C G C G C G C G
Lower ball: G C G C G C G C G C G C G C G C
Odd strands use 5 green and 4 cream leaves. Even strands use 5 cream and 4 green leaves and hang about half a leaf lower. That gives 8 x 5 + 8 x 4 = 72 leaves of each color.
Joining
Make all links in cream with the 5.0 mm hook. Each link joins one ch-2 sp to one ch-2 sp, so it adds no stitches to the leaves and takes none away.
Leaf-to-leaf link: Lay two leaves in strand order, with the tip of the upper leaf pointing down toward the stem of the lower leaf. Join cream with sl st in the tip ch-2 sp of the upper leaf, ch 5, sl st in the stem ch-2 sp of the lower leaf. Fasten off and weave both ends back through the link chain.
Make 8 links per strand to join all 9 leaves.
Bottom link: Join cream with sl st in the tip ch-2 sp of leaf 9, ch 5, and fasten off. Sew the upper ball to the end of this chain, then sew the lower ball directly below it. Follow the grid for colors.
Tension: Work the links at the same relaxed tension as your gauge chain. Tight links shorten the strand and pucker the leaf points. Loose links let the leaves twist.
Size checkpoint: Lay one finished strand flat without stretching it. From the top of leaf 1 to the bottom of leaf 9, it should measure 46.25 in (117.5 cm). That is 9 leaves x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) = 38.25 in (97.2 cm), plus 8 links x 1 in (2.5 cm) = 8 in (20.3 cm). The bottom link and two balls add 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Border: Header Band and Tabs
On this curtain, the header band does the job of the border. It uses the band gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), or 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Band starting count: 16 strands x 10 sts per strand = 160 sts.
Foundation: With cream and the 5.0 mm hook, ch 161.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (160 sc)
Rows 2–9: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (160 sc)
Counts per side: The top edge has 160 sts, the bottom edge has 160 foundation loops, and each short side has 9 row ends. The band measures 40 in x 2 in (101.6 cm x 5.1 cm). Fasten off.
Tabs (make 7): Place the tabs over sts 1–4, 27–30, 53–56, 79–82, 105–108, 131–134, and 157–160 of Row 9.
- Row 1: With RS facing, join cream in the first st of the tab, ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 3 sts. (4 sc)
- Rows 2–14: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (4 sc)
Fasten off with a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Each tab strip is about 3.1 in (7.9 cm) long. Fold it to the back and sew its last row across the back of band Row 5. This makes a loop for a rod up to about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Attaching the strands: Divide the foundation edge into 16 sections of 10 sts. For each strand, join cream with sl st in the stem ch-2 sp of leaf 1. Ch 5 for odd strands, or ch 18 (about 3.6 in / 9.1 cm) for even strands. Sl st in the 5th foundation loop of that strand’s section, then sl st in the 6th. Fasten off and weave in.
Why the math works: Each 10-st section is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide: a 2.25 in (5.7 cm) leaf plus a 0.25 in (0.6 cm) gap. Sixteen sections give 160 sts, which is 40 in (101.6 cm). The band therefore matches the strands exactly, with no extra seam stitches. Attaching at sts 5 and 6 centers each strand in its section. The 7 tabs use 28 sts and the 6 gaps of 22 sts use 132 sts, for 160 in total. Even strands have 13 more chains, about 2.6 in (6.6 cm). That drops them by roughly half of the 5.25 in (13.3 cm) leaf-plus-link repeat.
Final Blocking
- Lay the curtain flat on blocking mats, with the band at the top.
- Spray the leaves and band until damp, not soaking.
- Pin the band to 40 in x 2 in (101.6 cm x 5.1 cm).
- Pin each leaf at the tip and stem to 4.25 in (10.8 cm), and ease the sides to 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- Gently open each ch-1 eyelet with a fingertip so the rib lines show.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Hang the curtain on the rod for a day so gravity evens out the strands.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 16 strands, each with 9 leaves and 8 links
- Colors alternate down each strand and between neighboring strands
- Even strands hang half a leaf lower than odd strands
- Each leaf has 41 sc, a tip loop, a stem loop, and a center vein
- The band is 160 sts x 9 rows and 40 in (101.6 cm) wide
- 7 evenly spaced tabs, securely sewn
- Every strand ends in one green ball and one cream ball
- All ends are woven in and hidden on both sides
Troubleshooting
Leaves curl or cup: Round 3 is too tight. Go up one hook size for that round only, or block firmly.
Leaf points are rounded: Make sure the tip uses (sc, ch 2, sc) in a single st in Round 2 and in the ch-2 sp in Round 3.
Eyelets close up: Check that you skip a st after each ch 1 instead of working into it.
Strands twist: Make every link from the same face of the leaves, and steam-block the links straight.
Band ripples: Your attachment chains may be too short, or your band gauge may be loose. Recheck for 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Strands differ in length: Measure every strand against the 46.25 in (117.5 cm) checkpoint before attaching it.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel, and dry flat before rehanging. Do not tumble dry, because the strands can tangle.
Final Notes
The whole curtain rests on one chain of measurements. A 4.25 in (10.8 cm) leaf plus a 1 in (2.5 cm) link gives a 5.25 in (13.3 cm) repeat. Nine leaves and eight links make 46.25 in (117.5 cm) per strand. Each strand gets a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) section of 10 band sts, which gives 160 sts and 40 in (101.6 cm) across. Check one leaf, then one strand, then the band, and your curtain will hang straight and even in the window.
Happy crocheting!