This curtain brings a quiet garden indoors. Cream ladder strands hang from a scalloped header, sage green vines trail between them, and white doves seem to drift across the window in a loose diagonal pattern.
The palette is just two colors: warm cream for the header, ladders, drops, and doves, and soft sage green for the leafy vines. The style is cottage lace. It’s airy enough to let the light through but still has enough detail to look good from across the room.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel measures 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide and 57.6 in (146.3 cm) long, from the top of the header to the tips of the drops. That length doesn’t include the tab loops.
You’ll make a header band with a scallop edge, 13 ladder strands, 12 vine strands, 13 teardrop drops, and 15 doves. Then you join the strands to the back of the header, sew on the doves, and finish with a border of tab loops along the top edge.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide × 57.6 in (146.3 cm) long, excluding tabs
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 header, 13 ladders, 12 vines, 13 drops, 15 doves (4 parts each)
- Layout: 13 ladders hang below the scallop valleys and 12 vines hang below the fan centers; the doves sit in 5 tiers of 3
- Header size: 32.2 in × 2.6 in (81.8 cm × 6.6 cm)
- Dove size: about 4.5 in wide × 4 in tall (11.4 cm × 10.2 cm)
- Size before border: 32.2 in × 57.6 in (81.8 cm × 146.3 cm)
- Border depth: the tab loops stand 1.8 in (4.6 cm) above the header
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight, about 110 m per 50 g. Cotton keeps the lace crisp and hangs straight. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because they make the long strands grow.
- Cream: 400 g (880 m / 962 yd), for the header, ladders, drops, and doves
- Sage green: 150 g (330 m / 361 yd), for the vines
These amounts include a margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking board
– Spray bottle
– Tape measure
– Small cream scraps for stuffing the drops
– Wooden curtain rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
Leaf (special stitch): Ch 7. Working back toward the stem, sl st in the 2nd ch from hook, then sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next 2 ch, and hdc in the last ch (6 sts). Sl st into the same stem chain where the leaf started. This makes a pointed leaf about 1.3 in (3.3 cm) long.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Dc gauge: 18 dc and 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Sc gauge: 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Ladder gauge: 4 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Vine gauge: 9 sl sts along the stem = 2 in (5.1 cm)
Make one test ladder of 8 rows before you start the curtain. It should measure 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Make one test dove too, and check it against the stage checkpoints below.
Checkpoints:
– Header after Row 4: 32.2 in × 1.6 in (81.8 cm × 4.1 cm)
– Header after Row 6: 2.6 in (6.6 cm) deep, with each scallop about 2.7 in (6.9 cm) wide
– Dove body after Rnd 2: about 2.6 in × 1 in (6.6 cm × 2.5 cm)
– Finished ladder: 54 in (137.2 cm)
– Finished vine: 50 in (127.0 cm)
If your pieces come out too big, go down a hook size. If they’re too small, go up a hook size. On the long strands, even a small row-height difference adds up over 108 rows. Measure the ladder every 20 rows.
Header Band
The header is worked from the top down. The foundation chain becomes the top edge, which carries the tabs later.
With cream, ch 147.
Row 1: Dc in the 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. The skipped 3 ch count as the first dc. (145 dc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. Dc in each st across, working the last dc into the top of the turning ch. (145 dc)
Check the size here: 32.2 in × 1.6 in (81.8 cm × 4.1 cm).
Row 5 (fan row): Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first dc. Skip 5 dc, then work (tr, ch 2) 6 times and 1 more tr, all in the next dc. Skip 5 dc and sc in the next dc. Repeat from * to * 11 more times. (12 fans of 7 tr and 6 ch-2 sps each, plus 13 sc)
Each repeat uses 12 sts. Check the math: 1 + (12 × 12) = 145.
Row 6 (scallop edge): Ch 1, turn. Sl st in the first sc. Sc in the next tr, then work (3 sc in the next ch-2 sp, sc in the next tr) 6 times. Sl st in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 11 more times. (12 scallops of 25 sc each, which is 300 sc, plus 13 sl sts)
Fasten off. The header should now be 2.6 in (6.6 cm) deep.
Ladder Strand (Make 13)
With cream, ch 7.
Row 1: Tr in the 7th ch from hook. The skipped 6 ch count as a tr plus ch 2. (2 tr and 1 ch-2 sp)
Rows 2–108: Ch 6 (counts as tr + ch 2), turn. Tr in the 4th ch of the turning ch. (2 tr and 1 ch-2 sp)
Each row makes one tall open box between 2 rails. Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The ladder should measure 54 in (137.2 cm).
Teardrop Drop (Make 13)
With cream, work in a continuous spiral.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
Rnd 2: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (9)
Rnd 3: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) 3 times. (12)
Rnd 4: Sc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 5: Sc2tog 6 times. (6)
Stuff the drop firmly with cream scraps.
Rnd 6: Sc2tog 3 times. (3)
Fasten off and leave a tail. The magic ring is the pointed tip. The drop is about 1 in (2.5 cm) long. Sew the closed end centered under the last row of one ladder.
Vine Strand (Make 12)
With sage green, ch 226.
Tip cluster: Work a Leaf 3 times, each one starting from and ending in the last ch made.
Stem: Sl st in the back bump of each of the next 9 ch, then work a Leaf. Repeat from * to * 23 more times, for 24 stem leaves. Sl st in the last 9 ch. (225 sl sts, 27 leaves)
Before each stem leaf, flip the vine over so the leaves fall on alternating sides. The vine is 50 in (127.0 cm) long, and the leaves are 2 in (5.1 cm) apart. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Dove (Make 15)
All 4 parts of the dove are in cream.
Body: Ch 11.
Rnd 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in the next 8 ch, then 3 sc in the last ch. Working along the free loops on the other side, sc in the next 8 ch, then 2 sc in the last ch. Sl st to the first sc to join. (22 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 8 sts, 2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc in the next 8 sts, then 2 sc in each of the last 2 sts. Sl st to join. (28 sc)
Sts 1–2 and 25–28 make the tail end. Sts 17–24 run along the back.
Head: Sl st in the next 13 sts. Then work as follows:
- Sc in st 14, hdc in st 15, and 3 dc in st 16.
- For the beak, ch 3 and sl st in the 3rd ch from hook.
- Work 3 dc in st 17, hdc in st 18, sc in st 19, and sl st in st 20.
This gives 10 head sts plus the beak. Fasten off.
Wing (make 2 per dove): Ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (5 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. 2 sc in each st. (10 sc)
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. Dc in the first st, 2 dc in each of the next 8 sts, then 3 dc in the last st. (21 dc)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. Dc in each st across. (21 dc)
Row 5 (feathers): Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first st. Skip 1 st, 7 tr in the next st, skip 1 st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (5 feathers: 35 tr and 6 sc)
Tail: Ch 4.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in the next 2 ch. (3 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. Dc in the first st, 2 dc in the next st, then 3 dc in the last st. (7 dc)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first st. 5 dc in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. (3 scallops: 15 dc and 4 sc)
Assembly:
1. Sew the foundation of the back wing along body sts 22–26.
2. Sew the front wing over it along sts 20–24, so the back wing peeks out behind and toward the tail.
3. Fan both wings upward.
4. Sew the base of the tail over sts 26–28, angled downward.
Make All Pieces
Cream: 1 header, 13 ladders, 13 drops, and 15 doves (15 bodies, 30 wings, 15 tails)
Sage green: 12 vines
Number the ladders L1–L13 from left to right. That leaves 12 gaps between them, G1–G12. Each dove covers one gap. The tiers are 10 in (25.4 cm) apart.
Tier Depth below header Dove gaps
1 6 in (15.2 cm) G2 G6 G10
2 16 in (40.6 cm) G4 G8 G12
3 26 in (66.0 cm) G2 G6 G10
4 36 in (91.4 cm) G4 G8 G12
5 46 in (116.8 cm) G2 G6 G10
On the ladders, these depths fall at Rows 12, 32, 52, 72, and 92.
Joining
Work with the WS of the header facing you. Each strand is whipstitched to the back of Row 4, so the scallops hang in front of the strand tops.
Ladders: The sc stitches from Row 5 sit on Row 4 sts 1, 13, 25 and so on up to 145 (st 1 + 12k). Center each ladder on one of these points. Sew its 2 rails to the Row 4 sts on either side. At the edges, use sts 1–2 for L1 and sts 144–145 for L13. The ladders end up 12 sts, or 2.7 in (6.9 cm), apart.
Vines: The fan centers sit on Row 4 sts 7, 19 and so on up to 139 (st 7 + 12k), which gives 12 positions. Sew the top of each vine behind the fan center at one of these points.
Doves: Lay the panel flat. Pin each dove across its 2 ladders at its tier. Tack the body and the wing bases to the rails with small stitches of matching cream. The vines should run behind the doves without being attached.
Sew loosely and keep your stitches the same length, so the header doesn’t pucker. Once everything is joined, check that the header still measures 32.2 in (81.8 cm).
Border: Top Edge and Tabs
The border uses the sc gauge: 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Row 1: With RS facing, join cream at the top right corner. Ch 1, then sc in the free loop of each foundation ch across. (145 sc)
Tabs: Make 11 tabs, each worked over 5 sts. Leave 9 sts between tabs. The first tab starts at st 1, and each tab after that starts 14 sts later, so Tab 11 covers sts 141–145.
- Tab Row 1: Join cream and sc in the next 5 sts. (5 sc)
- Tab Rows 2–18: Ch 1, turn. Sc across. (5 sc)
Each tab is 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide and 3.6 in (9.1 cm) long. Fold each tab to the back and sew its last row to the back of header Row 2. Each folded loop stands 1.8 in (4.6 cm) high.
Why the math works: The tabs use 11 × 5 = 55 sts and the gaps use 10 × 9 = 90 sts. That adds up to 145, which matches the 145 dc of the header exactly. No stitches are added or skipped, so the top edge stays the same width as the body of the header.
Final Blocking
- Pin the header flat to 32.2 in × 2.6 in (81.8 cm × 6.6 cm). Open out each scallop and pin it.
- Mist the doves and press the wing and tail feathers open with your fingers. Let them dry flat.
- Hang the curtain on the rod and mist all the strands lightly.
- Pull each ladder gently straight, and check that it hangs 54 in (137.2 cm) below the header.
- Leave the curtain hanging until it is completely dry. Then straighten the vine leaves by hand.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Header is 145 sts wide with 12 even scallops
- 13 ladders of 108 rows each, all the same length
- 13 drops sewn on firmly and centered
- 12 vines with 27 leaves each
- 15 doves, each with a head, beak, 2 wings, and a tail
- Dove tiers match the layout grid
- 11 tabs evenly spaced and securely sewn
- All ends woven in
Troubleshooting
- Ladders grow while they hang: Use a tighter tension on the turning chains, or block the curtain hanging before you sew on the drops.
- Header ruffles: Your scallop sc are too loose. Redo Row 6 with a smaller hook.
- Leaves curl: Steam them lightly and pin them flat.
- Wings flop: Tack the base of each feather to the body in 2 places.
- Tabs are too tight on the rod: Add 2 rows to each tab.
Care
Hand wash cold with mild soap. Roll the curtain in a towel to remove water, then dry it flat or rehang it damp so it dries straight.
Final Notes
Here’s how the measurements fit together. A gauge of 18 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 145-st header that is 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide. Twelve scallops at 2.7 in (6.9 cm) each fit across it, and the 11 tabs use exactly those same 145 sts. Below the header, 13 ladders of 54 in (137.2 cm) and 12 vines of 50 in (127.0 cm) hang 2.7 in (6.9 cm) apart. With the 2.6 in (6.6 cm) header and the 1 in (2.5 cm) drops, the curtain comes to 57.6 in (146.3 cm) long.
Happy crocheting!