This curtain is made of vertical strands that hang from a rod. Each strand carries a column of lacy fan motifs, and short chain cords with puff-stitch beads link the fans together. Every strand ends in a full tassel. Light passes through the open arches, so the curtain divides a doorway without blocking it.
The whole piece is one color: a soft cornflower blue in DK cotton. Each fan has three layers. At the center is a dense core of radiating double crochet. Above it is a row of small chain arches, and around the outside is a row of thick single-crochet scallops. Cotton gives the lace crisp definition and helps the strands hang straight.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 40 in (101.6 cm) wide and 77 in (195.6 cm) long, measured from the top of the rod to the tassel ends. Each fan is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall.
You make 136 fans as separate pieces. Next you crochet one cord per strand, working from the top down and slip-stitching each fan into place as you go. A chain “spine” runs behind each fan from its top center to its base ring. This way the cord carries the weight instead of the lace. Tassels go on last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 40 in (101.6 cm) wide × 77 in (195.6 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy/Intermediate (simple stitches, many repeats)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light, #3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 136 fans, 8 cords, 8 tassels
- Layout: 8 strands × 17 fans, strands spaced 5 in (12.7 cm) apart, center to center
- Piece size: one fan = 4.5 in (11.4 cm) × 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Size before border: 40 in (101.6 cm) × 72 in (182.9 cm), with hanging loops and cords but no tassels
- Border depth: hanging loops 2 in (5.1 cm) at the top, tassels 5 in (12.7 cm) at the bottom
Materials
Yarn advice: Choose a smooth DK cotton or cotton blend with about 120 m (131 yd) per 50 g ball. Mercerized cotton has a slight sheen and sharp stitch definition. Avoid stretchy acrylic, because long strands made from it lengthen over time.
- Cornflower Blue: 650 g / 1,560 m (13 balls of 50 g / 120 m)
- Fans: about 8 m (3.3 g) each, 1,088 m in total
- Cords: about 14 m per strand, 112 m in total
- Tassels: about 7.2 m each, 58 m in total
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and scissors
- Tape measure
- Stiff card, 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall, for the tassels
- Locking stitch markers
- Blocking mats, rustproof pins and a spray bottle
- Curtain rod, at least 40 in (101.6 cm) long and no more than 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter
The quantities include a margin of about 20% for gauge differences, the test fan and tails.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- yo – yarn over
Special stitch: Puff Bead. Ch 3. Then work the following 4 times into the 3rd ch from the hook: yo, insert hook, yo, and pull up a loop to 0.5 in (1.3 cm). You now have 9 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through all 9 loops, then ch 1 to lock the stitch. The result is an oval bead about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 dc and 9 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Chain gauge: 9 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm).
The chain gauge matters as much as the dc gauge, because the cords set the curtain’s length.
Test one fan first. Make and block one fan, then measure its widest point:
- After Row 1: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- After Row 2: 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
- After Row 3: 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
- After Row 5: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
If your fan is too big, go down to a 3.75 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 4.5 mm hook. A difference of up to 0.25 in (0.6 cm) is fine. Anything larger changes how the strands sit next to each other.
Test the chain as well. Chain 9 loosely and measure it. It should be 2 in (5.1 cm). If your chains come out tight, use a hook one size larger for the cords only.
Fan Motif (make 136)
You work each fan flat in rows, starting from a small base ring. Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail at the start and at the end.
Base ring: Ch 5, sl st in the first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 12 dc in the ring, turn. (13 dc)
Push the stitches together into a half-circle along the top of the ring. Leave the lower part of the ring open. The cord joins into this opening later.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in each of the next 11 sts, 2 dc in the top of the turning ch, turn. (25 dc)
The count is 1 (turning ch) + 22 + 2 = 25 dc. This dense layer is the fan’s radiating core.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first dc, ch 5, sk 3 dc, sc in the next dc; repeat from * 5 more times, turn. (7 sc, 6 ch-5 arches)
Check: 1 + (6 × 4) = 25 sts used. The final sc lands in the last dc.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first sc, ch 7, sc in the next sc; repeat from * 5 more times, turn. (7 sc, 6 ch-7 arches)
The ch-7 arches sit above and outside the ch-5 arches, which gives the two layers of open loops. Place a marker in the 4th sc. It is the exact center of the fan, with 3 arches on each side.
Row 5: Ch 1, 9 sc in each ch-7 arch across, sl st in the last sc of Row 4. Fasten off. (54 sc = 6 scallops × 9 sc)
Don’t work into the Row 4 sc between the scallops. They stay exposed, and the marked center sc becomes the cord’s top join point.
Weave in the ending tail. Keep the starting tail for now, because you can use it to snug the base ring.
Make All Pieces
- Fans: 136 in Cornflower Blue (8 strands × 17)
- Cords: 8, worked during joining
- Tassels: 8 in Cornflower Blue
Work the fans in batches of 17, one strand at a time. Block each batch before joining so that every fan on a strand matches.
Layout grid (front view, strands A–H from left to right):
TOP: LOOP LOOP LOOP LOOP LOOP LOOP LOOP LOOP
ROW 1: BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE
ROW 2: BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE
... (rows 3–16 identical)
ROW 17: BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE
BOTTOM: TSSL TSSL TSSL TSSL TSSL TSSL TSSL TSSL
The fans line up across the doorway in level horizontal rows.
Joining: Building Each Strand
You work each cord from the top down. The cord links the fans and also supports them.
Hanging loop: Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Ch 20, then sl st in the first ch to form a loop. The loop is about 4.4 in (11.2 cm) around and hangs about 2 in (5.1 cm) below the top of the rod.
Connector: Ch 3, Puff Bead, ch 3. (About 2 in / 5.1 cm)
Top join: Hold Fan 1 with the right side facing you and the scallops pointing up. Insert the hook from front to back into the marked center sc of Row 4, then sl st.
Spine: Ch 9. Lay the chain flat down the back of the fan, directly behind the center dc of Row 2. Insert the hook from back to front through the open lower part of the base ring, then sl st. The spine should measure 2 in (5.1 cm) and lie flat. If the fan bunches, add 1 ch. If the spine sags, remove 1 ch.
Repeat the connector, top join and spine for Fans 2–17.
Tail cord: After the Fan 17 spine, ch 3, Puff Bead, ch 6. Fasten off and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each fan touches the cord at exactly two points: the center sc of Row 4 and the base ring. One repeat (a 2 in connector plus a 2 in spine) adds 4 in (10.2 cm) of drop. Over 17 fans that gives 68 in (172.7 cm).
Tension advice: Work the chains on all 8 cords with the same relaxed tension. A tight cord makes its strand hang higher, which breaks up the rows. Lay each new strand beside the first one. Fan 17 on every strand should line up within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Size checkpoint: Each strand is 72 in (182.9 cm) long, made up of the 2 in loop, 68 in of repeats and the 2 in tail cord. Measure the strand while it hangs.
Border: Hanging Loops and Tassels
This curtain has no stitched border. The top edge is the row of hanging loops and the bottom edge is the tassel fringe. The Row 5 scallops already finish each fan.
Border gauge: 9 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm), and each strand gets one tassel.
Top edge (8 loops): Each loop is 20 ch, which makes 160 ch across the top edge. Slide the loops onto the rod in order, A to H. Space them 5 in (12.7 cm) apart, center to center.
Bottom edge (8 tassels):
- Wrap yarn 24 times around the 5.5 in (14.0 cm) card. Cut along one edge to get 24 lengths of 11 in (27.9 cm).
- Thread the cord tail through the middle of the bundle. Fold the bundle in half and tie it tightly to the last ch-6.
- Wrap the tassel head 8 times with an 18 in (45.7 cm) length of yarn, 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the fold. Knot the ends and bury them inside the tassel.
- Trim the tassel to 5 in (12.7 cm).
In total you need 8 × 24 = 192 tassel lengths.
Why the math works: The 8 strands have 7 gaps of 5 in between their centers, so the centers span 35 in. Add half a fan (2.25 in) at each side and you get 35 + 4.5 = 39.5 in (100.3 cm). On a 40 in (101.6 cm) rod, that leaves 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of light between neighboring fans. For the length, the 72 in (182.9 cm) strand plus the 5 in (12.7 cm) tassel gives 77 in (195.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Mist each batch of 17 fans until damp, not soaked.
- Pin each fan to 4.5 in × 2.5 in (11.4 cm × 6.4 cm). Space the 6 scallops evenly and open each ch-5 arch.
- Let the fans dry completely, about 4 to 6 hours.
- After joining, hang the finished curtain on the rod.
- Lightly mist the cords and tassels, then finger-comb the tassels straight.
- Let the curtain hang for 24 hours so the cotton can settle.
- Re-trim the tassels to an even 5 in (12.7 cm) if needed.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every fan has 13 dc, 25 dc, 6 ch-5 arches, 6 ch-7 arches and 54 sc.
- Every fan measures 4.5 in × 2.5 in (11.4 cm × 6.4 cm).
- Every strand has 17 fans and 18 Puff Beads.
- All top joins are in the center Row 4 sc, so the fans hang level.
- The spines lie flat and don’t show from the front.
- All 8 strands measure 72 in (182.9 cm) before the tassels.
- The tassels are 5 in (12.7 cm), firmly wrapped and evenly trimmed.
- All tails are woven in.
Troubleshooting
The fan cups or curls. Row 2 is too tight. Use a hook one size larger for Rows 1–2.
The fan ruffles. The arches are too long. Work ch-6 arches in Row 4 and 8 sc per scallop in Row 5, for 48 sc.
The fan tilts sideways. The top join is off-center. Recount the Row 4 sc and join in the 4th of 7.
One strand hangs low. Its chains are looser than the others. Remove 1 ch from each spine on that strand.
The base ring gapes. Pull the starting tail snug, then weave it in.
The beads look flat. Pull each puff loop up to the full 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then rehang the curtain or lay it flat to dry. Don’t tumble dry, because heat shrinks cotton unevenly and tangles the tassels.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before. One fan blocks to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) × 2.5 in (6.4 cm). Each 2 in (5.1 cm) connector plus 2 in (5.1 cm) spine adds 4 in (10.2 cm), so 17 fans give 68 in (172.7 cm). The loop and the tail cord bring each strand to 72 in (182.9 cm), and the 5 in (12.7 cm) tassels finish it at 77 in (195.6 cm). Eight strands spaced 5 in (12.7 cm) apart fill 40 in (101.6 cm) of rod.
If your first fan and your 9-ch test match the gauge, every other number will follow.
Happy crocheting!