These airy window ornaments come as a set of five. Four are identical diamonds and one is an elongated teardrop, or leaf, shape. Each piece has an open lattice center that lets daylight through, framed by a scalloped shell-stitch edge that reads as a soft ruffle against the glass.
Everything is worked in one sage green cotton. Each ornament hangs from its own sage green cord with 2 or 3 natural wood beads just above the apex, so you can hang them at staggered heights across a window.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished diamond measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) per side, which is about 3.9 in (9.9 cm) from point to point when hung on its corner. The teardrop measures about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide by 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long.
The diamond center is a small filet mesh square worked in rows and then hung on point. The teardrop center is worked in rounds around a foundation chain. Both shapes get a single crochet frame and a shell round. A crocheted cord, beads and a lark’s head knot finish each ornament.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size, diamond: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) per side; about 3.9 in (9.9 cm) point to point
- Finished size, teardrop: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) by 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Super Fine (#1) fingering-weight cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm (US B/1.5)
- Number of pieces: 5 separate ornaments (4 diamonds, 1 teardrop), plus 5 cords
- Layout: Each ornament hangs on its own. Nothing is joined.
- Diamond mesh before border: 2 in (5.1 cm) square
- Teardrop mesh before border: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) by 3.75 in (9.5 cm)
- Border depth: about 3/8 in (1.0 cm). The sc frame adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm) and the shell round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton in fingering weight. Cotton holds crisp scallops and takes starch well, which matters for pieces that hang flat in a window. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy fibers, because they blur the lattice.
Yarn (one color):
– Sage green: 35 g (about 120 m), which is less than one 50 g ball
Approximate use per ornament is 4 g (14 m) for the motif and 1 g (4 m) for the cord. The total above includes a margin for gauge swatching and differences in tension.
Tools:
– 2.5 mm (US B/1.5) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 11 natural wood beads, about 10–12 mm, with holes of at least 4 mm so they fit a doubled cord. You need 2 per diamond and 3 for the teardrop.
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking board
– Spray starch (optional but recommended)
– Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- beg – beginning
Special stitch:
– Shell: 5 dc in the same stitch.
– Corner shell / tip shell: 7 dc in the same stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one diamond completely before starting the others. Small ornaments show gauge errors right away.
Mesh gauge: 1 mesh cell (1 dc plus a ch-2 space) is about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) wide and 1 row is about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Frame gauge: about 8 sc per inch (2.5 cm).
Diamond checkpoints:
– After Row 5: 2 in (5.1 cm) square
– After Border Rnd 1: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) per side
– After Border Rnd 2: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) per side
Teardrop checkpoints:
– After Rnd 1: about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) long
– After Rnd 3: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) by 3.75 in (9.5 cm)
– After Rnd 4: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) by 4 in (10.2 cm)
– After Rnd 5: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) by 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
If your piece is too big, go down 0.25 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.25 mm. Keep the chain spaces relaxed. Tight chains make the lattice pucker instead of lying open.
Diamond Lattice Center (Make 4)
The diamond starts as a square of filet mesh with 5 open cells across and 5 rows high. It is hung on point, so the lattice lines run parallel to the edges.
Foundation: Ch 20.
Row 1: Dc in 8th ch from hook. The skipped 7 ch count as dc, ch-2 sp and 2 base ch. Then ch 2, sk 2 ch, dc in next ch 4 times. Turn.
(6 dc posts, 5 ch-2 sps)
Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc plus ch 2). Dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc 3 times. Ch 2, then dc in the top of the beg skipped chains. Turn.
(6 dc posts, 5 ch-2 sps)
Rows 3–5: Ch 5 (counts as dc plus ch 2). Dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next dc 3 times. Ch 2, then dc in 3rd ch of the turning ch-5. Turn after Rows 3 and 4. After Row 5, do not turn and do not fasten off.
(6 dc posts, 5 ch-2 sps per row)
Checkpoint: The mesh should be 2 in (5.1 cm) square, with 25 open cells.
Continue directly to the Border section.
Teardrop Lattice Center (Make 1)
The teardrop is worked in rounds around a foundation chain. Each round adds a pointed tip at both ends, which creates the elongated leaf shape.
Foundation: Ch 21.
Rnd 1: Work 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook for Tip A. Sc in each of next 18 ch. Work 3 sc in last ch for Tip B. Rotate and work along the underside of the chain: sc in each of next 18 ch. Join with sl st to first sc.
(42 sc. The tip centers are the middle sc of each 3-sc group. Each long side has 20 sc between tip centers: 1 + 18 + 1.)
Rnd 2: Sl st into next sc, which is the Tip A center. Ch 6 (counts as dc plus ch 3) and dc in same st. Work ch 2, sk 2, dc in next 6 times, then ch 2, sk 2. At Tip B center, work (dc, ch 3, dc). Work ch 2, sk 2, dc in next 6 times, ch 2, sk 2, and join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-6.
(16 dc, 14 ch-2 sps, 2 tip ch-3 sps. On each side, the 20 sts break down as 2 skipped + 6 × (dc + 2 skipped), so the side dc land on sts 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18.)
Rnd 3: Sl st into the tip ch-3 sp. Ch 6 (counts as dc plus ch 3) and dc in same sp. Ch 2, dc in next dc. Work ch 2, dc in next dc 7 times, which brings you to the first dc of Tip B. Ch 2, then work (dc, ch 3, dc) in Tip B ch-3 sp. Ch 2, dc in next dc, then ch 2, dc in next dc 7 times. Ch 2 and join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-6.
(20 dc, 18 ch-2 sps, 2 tip ch-3 sps)
Checkpoint: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) by 3.75 in (9.5 cm). Do not fasten off. Continue to the Border section.
Hanging Cord (Make 5)
Cord: Ch 100. Sl st in the back bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, for 99 sl sts. Fasten off and leave short tails.
The cord should be about 12 in (30.5 cm) long. Weave in the tails, or knot them together at the hanging end.
Make All Pieces
All five ornaments use sage green.
- Diamonds: 4, sage green, 2 beads each
- Teardrop: 1, sage green, 3 beads
- Cords: 5, sage green
Hanging layout (left to right, with suggested drop below the window frame):
POSITION: 1 2 3 4 5
SHAPE: DIAMOND DIAMOND DIAMOND TEARDROP DIAMOND
DROP: HIGH LOW MID MID-LOW MID
BEADS: 2 2 2 3 2
The ornaments are not joined. Each one hangs from its own cord, so you can adjust the heights by shortening or lengthening the tie at the top.
Border
Each ornament gets its own two-round border: an sc frame, then a shell round. The frame is worked at about 8 sc per inch (2.5 cm). This matches the mesh, because each mesh cell is about 3 sts wide.
Diamond Border
Rnd 1 (sc frame, conversion round): Ch 1 and work 3 sc in the last dc made, which is the corner. Work down the side with 3 sc around each row-end post, except 2 sc around the Row 3 post, for 14 sc. Then work 1 more sc into the edge of the Row 1 post to make 15. Correction for clarity: work 3 sc around the posts of Rows 5, 4, 2 and 1, and 2 sc around the Row 3 post. That gives 14 sc along the side, and the corner groups supply the rest.
Work 3 sc in the base of the corner. Along the foundation, work 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, except 3 sc in the middle (3rd) sp, and 1 sc in the base of each inner dc. Work 3 sc in the next corner. Work up the second side the same as the first. Work 3 sc in the corner at the top of the turning ch. Across the top, work 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, except 3 sc in the middle sp, and 1 sc in each inner dc. Join with sl st to first sc.
Counts per side, between corner centers:
– Top and bottom: 1 (corner group) + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 (corner group) = 17
– Sides: 1 (corner group) + 3 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 1 (corner group) = 16. Add 1 sc in the middle of the Row 3 post so the side also totals 17. In practice, this means the Row 3 post gets 3 sc like the others, and the side has 15 sc along the posts.
Final Rnd 1 rule, use this: Every side has 3 sc around each of its 5 row-end posts (15 sc). With 1 sc from each corner group, the side has 17 sc between corner centers.
(Total: 4 corner sts + 4 × 17 = 72 sc)
Rnd 2 (shells): Sl st into the next sc, which is a corner center. Ch 3 (counts as dc) and work 6 dc in the same st to make a corner shell. Then work each side as follows:
Sk 2, sc in next, [sk 1, shell in next, sk 1, sc in next] 3 times, sk 2, corner shell in corner st. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting the last corner shell. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Why the math works: Each side uses 2 + 1 + (3 × 4) + 2 = 17 sts. The sc sit on sts 3, 7, 11 and 15, and the shells sit on sts 5, 9 and 13, so each side is symmetrical.
(Total: 16 sc + 12 side shells + 4 corner shells = 16 sc and 88 dc, for 104 sts)
Teardrop Border
Rnd 4 (sc frame, conversion round): Sl st into the tip ch-3 sp. Ch 1 and work 1 sc in the sp, which is the tip st. Along the side, work 1 sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, except 3 sc in the middle (5th) sp. At Tip B, work 1 sc in the ch-3 sp. Work the second side the same way. Join with sl st to first sc.
Count per side, between tip sts: 10 dc + (8 sps × 2) + 3 = 29. The 10 dc are the 8 side dc plus the 2 tip dc.
(Total: 2 tip sts + 2 × 29 = 60 sc)
Rnd 5 (shells): Sl st into the tip sc. Ch 3 (counts as dc) and work 6 dc in the same st to make a tip shell. Then work sk 2, sc in next, [sk 1, shell in next, sk 1, sc in next] 6 times, sk 2, tip shell in the tip st. Repeat once, omitting the last tip shell. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off.
Why the math works: Each side uses 2 + 1 + (6 × 4) + 2 = 29 sts.
(Total: 14 sc + 12 side shells + 2 tip shells = 14 sc and 74 dc, for 88 sts)
Final Blocking
- Wet each ornament in cool water and press it gently in a towel.
- Pin each diamond to a 2.75 in (7.0 cm) square. Check that both diagonals measure 3.9 in (9.9 cm).
- Pin the teardrop to 2.25 in (5.7 cm) by 4.5 in (11.4 cm), with the tips centered on one line.
- Pin each scallop at its peak. Open every mesh cell with a pin if needed.
- Spray lightly with starch and let the pieces dry fully.
- Attach the cords. Fold a cord in half and push the fold through the center of the apex corner shell, between its 3rd and 4th dc. Pass the cord ends through the loop and tighten to make a lark’s head knot.
- Thread the beads onto the doubled cord: 2 for each diamond and 3 for the teardrop. Slide them down to the apex and tie an overhand knot just above the top bead.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each diamond mesh has 5 rows of 5 open cells.
- Diamond Rnd 1 has 72 sc, and Rnd 2 has 12 side shells and 4 corner shells.
- Teardrop Rnd 4 has 60 sc, and Rnd 5 has 12 side shells and 2 tip shells.
- Each diamond is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) per side. The teardrop is 2.25 in by 4.5 in (5.7 cm by 11.4 cm).
- The cords are about 12 in (30.5 cm) long, and the beads sit snugly above the apex.
- All ends are woven in and invisible against the light.
Troubleshooting
- Mesh is puckered: Your chains are too tight. Loosen your chain tension, or work the chains with a hook 0.25 mm larger.
- Frame ruffles: You have too many sc. Recount to 15 sc along each side’s posts on the diamond, or 29 sc between tips on the teardrop.
- Frame cups: Your sc are too tight. Relax your tension, or block the piece firmly.
- Scallops are uneven: Check that you skipped exactly 2 sts at each corner and 1 st between each shell and sc.
- Teardrop is crooked: The tip stitches have shifted. Place a marker in each tip st on every round.
- Beads won’t fit: Choose beads with holes of at least 4 mm, or thread the beads onto the cord before folding it.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel, and dry the ornaments flat while pinned to size. Re-starch after washing if you want crisp edges.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. For the diamond: the mesh is 2 in (5.1 cm), the frame brings it to 2.25 in (5.7 cm), and the shells bring it to 2.75 in (7.0 cm), or 3.9 in (9.9 cm) point to point. For the teardrop: 1.5 in by 3.75 in (3.8 cm by 9.5 cm), then 1.75 in by 4 in (4.4 cm by 10.2 cm), then 2.25 in by 4.5 in (5.7 cm by 11.4 cm).
Match your gauge on the first diamond, count each border side, and block firmly. All five ornaments will then hang crisp and bright in your window.
Optional: for a wider window, make extra diamonds and hang them at alternating heights.
Happy crocheting!