A red crocheted star garland with multiple hanging stars arranged in rows against a cream-colored background.

Winter Window Poinsettia Curtain Crochet Pattern

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This curtain turns a plain window into a holiday display. A lacy header band runs across the top, and nine slender chain cords hang from it. Forty-one poinsettia flowers sit along the cords in a staggered pattern, so the light shows through between them.

Everything is worked in one warm poinsettia red. Each flower has a raised puff-stitch center and eight pointed petals. Every petal has a clear center line and a softly rimmed edge, which gives the flowers a slight swirl when they hang.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 36.75 in (93.3 cm) wide by 54.5 in (138.4 cm) long, including the header band.

Construction is simple and modular. You crochet the header band in rows and finish it with one round of edging. Then you work the cords directly off its lower edge, make the flowers separately, and sew them onto the cords at counted positions.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 36.75 in x 54.5 in (93.3 cm x 138.4 cm)
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
  • Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
  • Number of pieces: 1 header band, 9 cords, 41 flowers
  • Layout: 9 cords, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart; odd cords carry 5 flowers, even cords carry 4
  • Flower size: 6 in (15.2 cm) from petal tip to petal tip
  • Header band before border: 36.25 in x 2 in (92.1 cm x 5.1 cm)
  • Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every side
  • Header band after border: 36.75 in x 2.5 in (93.3 cm x 6.4 cm)
  • Cord length: 52 in (132.1 cm) below the band

Materials

Yarn: Use a smooth, mercerized or combed worsted-weight cotton. Cotton keeps the petal points crisp and doesn’t stretch much on long cords. Avoid fuzzy acrylic, because the cords will grow under the weight of the flowers.

  • Poinsettia Red: 500 g, about 950 m (1,040 yd)

That covers roughly 330 g for the flowers, 60 g for the cords, and 25 g for the header band. The quantity includes a margin of about 15–20% for gauge swatches and tails.

Tools:

  • 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Stitch markers (at least 10)
  • Measuring tape
  • Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
  • Spray bottle
  • Scissors
  • Tension rod or thin curtain rod

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • tr – treble crochet
  • blo – back loop only
  • sk – skip
  • sp – space
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • MR – magic ring
  • RS – right side

Special stitch – Puff: (Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop to about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm) 3 times. You now have 7 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 7 loops.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Header gauge: 16 dc and 8 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) square.

Cord gauge: 4 sl sts = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the cord, measured hanging and lightly stretched.

Make one test flower first. Use it to confirm your gauge before you commit to 41 of them.

Checkpoints:

  1. After flower Round 3: the center measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
  2. After flower Round 4: each petal measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) from the center edge to the tip, and the whole flower measures 6 in (15.2 cm) from tip to tip.
  3. Header after Row 5: 36.25 in x 2 in (92.1 cm x 5.1 cm).
  4. Header after border: 36.75 in x 2.5 in (93.3 cm x 6.4 cm).
  5. Each cord: 52 in (132.1 cm) of slip stitches.

If your pieces are too big, go down to a 4.0 mm hook. If they are too small, go up to a 5.0 mm hook. Over 41 flowers, a 0.25 in (0.6 cm) difference per flower changes the overall look, and the spacing between flowers depends on the 6 in (15.2 cm) flower size.

A red crocheted poinsettia flower with pointed petals and textured center displayed on white fabric.

Poinsettia Flower (make 41)

The center is a small knob ringed by eight puffs. The petals are then worked around the edge of the center.

Round 1: Make a MR. Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), then work 8 sc in the ring. Pull the ring tight so the sts bunch into a small knob, and join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 sc)

Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count). Work a puff in the first sc, then ch 1. Puff in the next sc, ch 1. Repeat from * 6 more times. Join with a sl st to the top of the first puff. (8 puffs, 8 ch-1 sps)

Round 3: Ch 1. Sc in the top of the next puff, 2 sc in the next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * 7 more times. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (24 sc)

Check: the center should measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across. Each petal uses 3 sc from this round, and 8 petals x 3 sc = 24 sc.

Round 4 (petals): Sl st in the first sc. Now work the following petal sequence 8 times.

  1. Chain: Ch 11.
  2. Side A: Sk the first ch from the hook; it becomes the tip. Working back toward the center, work into the next 10 ch: sc, hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc. (10 sts)
  3. Anchor: Sl st in the next sc of Round 3.
  4. Side B: Rotate the work. Working up the free loops of the same 10 ch, from the base to the tip: sc, hdc, 2 dc, 2 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc. (10 sts)
  5. Tip: Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the skipped tip ch.
  6. Rim: Sl st in the blo of each of the 10 Side A sts, working back toward the base. (10 sl sts)
  7. Close: Sl st in the next sc of Round 3.
  8. Move over: Sl st in the next sc of Round 3 to start the next petal. Skip this step after the 8th petal.

After the 8th petal, join with a sl st to the first sl st of the round and fasten off. Leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.

Count per petal: 10 sts on Side A, 10 sts on Side B, the tip group (sc, ch 2, sc), and 10 rim sl sts. Each petal uses 3 Round 3 sts, so 8 petals x 3 = 24, which matches the Round 3 count.

The base chain sits between Side A and Side B and forms the raised center line of each petal. The blo slip stitches form the rimmed edge.

Header Band

The band is worked in rows. Its stitch count is chosen so that both the mesh pattern and the cord spacing come out even.

Foundation: Ch 146.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (145 sc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in each st across. Turn. (145 dc)

Row 3 (mesh): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Sk 2 sts, dc in the next st. Ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in the next st. Repeat from * across, working the last dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (49 dc + 48 ch-2 sps = 145 sts)

Row 4 (conversion): Ch 3 (counts as dc). 2 dc in the next ch-2 sp, dc in the next dc. Repeat from * across, working the last dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-5. Turn. (49 dc worked into dc + 96 dc worked into spaces = 145 dc)

Row 5: Ch 1. Sc in each st across. Do not fasten off. (145 sc)

Check: the band measures 36.25 in x 2 in (92.1 cm x 5.1 cm). At 4 sts per inch, 145 sts = 36.25 in.

Make All Pieces

  • Header band: 1, all Poinsettia Red
  • Cords: 9, all Poinsettia Red (worked in the Joining section)
  • Flowers: 41, all Poinsettia Red (5 flowers x 5 odd cords + 4 flowers x 4 even cords)

Layout grid (each row is a flower position; the measurement is the distance from the band to the flower center):

ROW A (4 in / 10.2 cm):    S1 -- S3 -- S5 -- S7 -- S9
ROW B (9 in / 22.9 cm):    -- S2 -- S4 -- S6 -- S8 --
ROW C (14 in / 35.6 cm):   S1 -- S3 -- S5 -- S7 -- S9
ROW D (19 in / 48.3 cm):   -- S2 -- S4 -- S6 -- S8 --
ROW E (24 in / 61.0 cm):   S1 -- S3 -- S5 -- S7 -- S9
ROW F (29 in / 73.7 cm):   -- S2 -- S4 -- S6 -- S8 --
ROW G (34 in / 86.4 cm):   S1 -- S3 -- S5 -- S7 -- S9
ROW H (39 in / 99.1 cm):   -- S2 -- S4 -- S6 -- S8 --
ROW I (44 in / 111.8 cm):  S1 -- S3 -- S5 -- S7 -- S9

Flowers on the same cord are 10 in (25.4 cm) apart. Neighboring cords are offset by 5 in (12.7 cm) vertically and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) horizontally, which keeps the 6 in (15.2 cm) flowers from overlapping.

Border

Work the border before the cords so the cords can hang from it.

Border gauge: 1 sc round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every side.

Border Round: Continue from Row 5 with RS facing and work into the band as follows.

  • Top edge: 3 sc in the last Row 5 st you worked (corner), then work along Row 5 toward its first st: 1 sc in each of the 143 sts between the corners, then 3 sc in the next st (corner).
  • Short side: 2 sc in each of the 3 dc row ends (Rows 4, 3, and 2). (6 sc)
  • Bottom edge: Work along the free loops of the foundation chain: 3 sc in the first loop (corner), 1 sc in each of the next 143 loops, 3 sc in the last loop (corner).
  • Second short side: 2 sc in each of the 3 dc row ends. (6 sc)

Join with a sl st to the first sc and fasten off.

Count: 4 corners x 3 sc = 12, plus 2 long sides x 143 sc = 286, plus 2 short sides x 6 sc = 12. Total: 310 sc.

Why the math works:

  • The sc rows (Rows 1 and 5) are covered by the corner groups, so they are not counted again on the short sides.
  • 145 = 1 + (3 x 48), so the mesh row starts and ends on a dc and stays symmetrical.
  • The cords sit every 18 sts, which is exactly 6 mesh boxes. That puts Cord 1 on the bottom-left corner and Cord 9 on the bottom-right corner (1 + 18 x 8 = 145).

Check: the band now measures 36.75 in x 2.5 in (93.3 cm x 6.4 cm).

Joining

Mark the cord positions. On the bottom edge, place markers in the border sc directly below foundation sts 1, 19, 37, 55, 73, 91, 109, 127, and 145. For Cords 1 and 9, use the center sc of the corner group.

Work each cord. With RS facing:

  1. Join yarn with a sl st in a marked sc.
  2. Ch 209.
  3. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch back up to the band. (208 sl sts)
  4. Sl st in the same marked sc and fasten off.

Working into the back bumps gives a firm, textured cord that resists stretching. Check: 208 sl sts / 4 per inch = 52 in (132.1 cm).

Attach the flowers. Count sl sts from the band down to each flower center, and mark the positions with markers.

  • Odd cords (S1, S3, S5, S7, S9): sts 16, 56, 96, 136, and 176
  • Even cords (S2, S4, S6, S8): sts 36, 76, 116, and 156

Lay the curtain flat. Place each flower RS up with its center over the marked st, and point one petal straight up and one straight down. Sew the back of Round 1 to the cord with the flower’s tail. Then tack the backs of the top and bottom petals to the cord, about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the center, so the flower can’t spin.

Tension advice: Sew firmly, but don’t pull the cord into puckers. After sewing, the cord should still lie straight when you lift it.

Size checkpoint: Hold the curtain up by the band. The bottom of the last odd-cord flower should sit about 47 in (119.4 cm) below the band, leaving a 5 in (12.7 cm) cord tail. The overall length is 54.5 in (138.4 cm).

Final Blocking

  1. Wet-block each flower before attaching it: dampen it, lay it flat, and pin it to a 6 in (15.2 cm) circle with one pin in each of the 8 petal tips.
  2. Pin the center knob slightly raised and leave it to dry completely.
  3. Pin the header band to 36.75 in x 2.5 in (93.3 cm x 6.4 cm), with straight edges and open mesh spaces.
  4. Spray the band lightly and let it dry.
  5. After assembly, hang the curtain and lightly mist the cords so they straighten under their own weight.
  6. Do not steam-press the flowers, because it flattens the puff center.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • [ ] All 41 flowers measure 6 in (15.2 cm) across, with 8 petals each
  • [ ] Every flower center has 8 puffs and Round 3 has 24 sc
  • [ ] The band has 145 sts per row and a 310-st border
  • [ ] There are 9 cords, each 208 sl sts and 52 in (132.1 cm) long
  • [ ] Cords are 4.5 in (11.4 cm) apart, with Cords 1 and 9 on the corners
  • [ ] Odd cords carry 5 flowers and even cords carry 4
  • [ ] Flowers are positioned petal-up and tacked so they can’t spin
  • [ ] All tails are woven in on the WS

Troubleshooting

Petals curl forward. Your tension on the chain is too tight. Chain more loosely or use a hook one size larger for the 11 ch only.

Petals are uneven lengths. Count all 10 sts on each side, and check that you skipped the tip ch.

The center cups. Pull the MR tighter in Round 1, or block the center flat with a pin through the knob.

The mesh row doesn’t come out even. Recount Row 2. It must have exactly 145 sts.

Cords grow when hung. Switch to cotton, or tighten the slip stitches. The sl sts should also go into the back bumps, not the top loops.

Flowers overlap. Your flowers are bigger than 6 in (15.2 cm). Go down a hook size, or move the even-cord flowers 1 in (2.5 cm) lower.

Care

Hand-wash in cool water with mild soap, then gently press out the water in a towel. Dry flat with each flower pinned to shape, and avoid tumble-drying, because it tangles the cords.

Red crocheted poinsettia flowers hanging from strings in a window with Christmas decorations and garland.

Final Notes

Here is the measurement chain:

  • Each flower center is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across, and each petal adds 2.25 in (5.7 cm), for a 6 in (15.2 cm) flower.
  • The band is 145 sts, or 36.25 in (92.1 cm), and grows to 36.75 in x 2.5 in (93.3 cm x 6.4 cm) after the border.
  • Nine cords hang every 18 sts, or 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and each is 52 in (132.1 cm) long.
  • Flowers sit every 10 in (25.4 cm) along a cord, staggered by 5 in (12.7 cm) between neighboring cords.

If each stage matches its checkpoint, the finished curtain will measure 36.75 in x 54.5 in (93.3 cm x 138.4 cm).

Happy crocheting!

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