The Golden Starfall Window Curtain is a light, sparkling valance made of lacy stars hanging from a narrow crocheted header. Large open-work stars and small pointed stars hang on fine chain strands dotted with little puff “beads.” The whole piece catches the light from the window and moves gently.
Everything is worked in one color, a warm gold sport weight yarn with a metallic sheen. The style is minimal and festive. It suits a winter or holiday window but is neutral enough to leave up all season. The pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
The finished curtain measures 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide and 29 in (73.7 cm) long at its longest strand, including the header.
The construction is simple and modular. First you crochet a 5-row header band and give it a 2-round border. Then you make 6 large stars and 28 small stars separately. Finally you chain 11 strands down from the header’s bottom edge, attaching stars and working puff beads as you go.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide x 29 in (73.7 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport (#2), metallic blend
- Hook: 3.0 mm
- Number of pieces: 1 header, 6 large stars, 28 small stars and 11 strands (strands are worked in place)
- Layout: 11 strands spaced about 2.9 in (7.4 cm) apart, in 4 strand types
- Piece size: large star 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip; small star 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tip to tip
- Header size before border: 30 in (76.2 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge of the header
Materials
Choose a smooth sport weight yarn with a metallic strand twisted in. A plied, slightly firm yarn gives crisp star points and chains that keep their shape. Avoid fuzzy or loosely spun metallics, which hide the lace.
- Gold: 60 g, about 180 m
These quantities include a margin of roughly 50% for gauge swatches, joins and tails.
Tools:
- 3.0 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Locking stitch markers (at least 11)
- Tape measure
- Blocking mat, rust-proof pins and a spray bottle
- Slim curtain rod or tension rod, up to 3/8 in (1.0 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
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Special stitch – Puff Bead (BD): Ch 3. [Yo, insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, yo, pull up a loop] 4 times (9 loops on hook). Yo and pull through all 9 loops, then ch 1 to lock. One BD adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to a strand.
Chain shorthand: C12 = ch 12, which is 2 in (5.1 cm). C18 = ch 18, which is 3 in (7.6 cm). C24 = ch 24, which is 4 in (10.2 cm).
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one large star and one small star first, and block them before you start the header. The stars are the most visible parts of the curtain and show your tension right away.
- Sc gauge (header): 22 sc and 24 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Chain gauge (strands): 6 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm), measured relaxed
- Large star after Rnd 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across
- Large star after Rnd 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- Large star after Rnd 3: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip
- Large star after Rnd 4: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip
- Small star: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tip to tip
- Header after Row 1: 30 in (76.2 cm) wide
- Header after Row 5: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep
If your stars come out too big, switch to a 2.75 mm hook. If they come out too small, switch to a 3.25 mm hook. Check the chain gauge separately. If 12 chains measure more than 2 in (5.1 cm), your strands will grow too long. Tighten your chain tension, or use a hook one size smaller for the strands only.
Large Star (Make 6)
Each large star has a small center hole, 10 radiating spokes, an inner ring of arches and a solid outline with 5 sharp points.
Rnd 1: MR, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [dc, ch 1] 9 times in ring, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small hole. (10 dc, 10 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 2: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp] 9 times, ch 3, sl st to first sc. (10 sc, 10 ch-3 sps)
The sc in this round alternate between “tip” sc and “valley” sc. The first sc is a tip.
Rnd 3: Ch 4 (counts as tr), ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5, [tr in next sc, ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5] 4 times, sl st to top of beg ch-4. (5 tr, 5 sc, 10 ch-5 sps)
Each tr is a long spoke pointing to a star tip. Each sc is a short spoke at a valley.
Rnd 4: Ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same st as join. [6 sc in next ch-5 sp, skip next sc, 6 sc in next ch-5 sp, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next tr] 4 times, 6 sc in next ch-5 sp, skip next sc, 6 sc in last ch-5 sp, sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (70 sc, 5 ch-3 tip sps)
Check: each point has 2 sc at the tip plus 12 sc along its two edges. That is 14 sc per point x 5 points = 70 sc. The skipped Rnd 3 sc stays visible at each valley. You’ll use the bottom valley to continue a strand.
Weave the ends neatly along the outline so they don’t show through the lace.
Small Star (Make 28)
Rnd 1: MR, ch 1, 10 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Pull the ring closed, leaving a tiny hole. (10 sc)
Rnd 2: [Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, skip next sc, sl st in next sc] 5 times. The last sl st lands in the joining st. Fasten off. (5 points of 3 sts each, 5 valley sl sts)
The tip of each point is the skipped chain at the top. The valley sl sts sit between the points.
Header Band
Foundation: Ch 166.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (165 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (165 dc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (165 sc)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (165 dc)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Do not fasten off; go straight on to the border. (165 sc)
Checkpoint: 165 sc ÷ 5.5 sc per inch = 30 in (76.2 cm). The depth is 3 sc rows (0.5 in) plus 2 dc rows (0.75 in), which equals 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
To hang the curtain later, weave the rod over and under every 2 dc in Row 2 or Row 4.
Make All Pieces
- Gold large stars: 6
- Gold small stars: 28
- Gold header: 1
- Puff Beads: 37, worked into the strands
Strand recipes, from top to bottom (S = small star, L = large star):
- Type A: C18, BD, C18, L, C18, BD, C18, BD, C18, L (end). Length: 23.25 in (59.1 cm).
- Type C: C24, BD, C24, BD, C18, L, C24, BD, C24, L (end). Length: 27.25 in (69.2 cm).
- Type B4: [C12, BD, C12, S] 4 times; the last S is the end star. Length: 23.5 in (59.7 cm).
- Type B3: [C12, BD, C12, S] 3 times; the last S is the end star. Length: 17.75 in (45.1 cm).
These lengths use the following star measurements:
- A large star in the middle of a strand adds 3 in (7.6 cm), from top tip to bottom valley.
- A large star at the end of a strand adds 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
- A small star in the middle of a strand adds 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
- A small star at the end of a strand adds 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Layout grid (left to right):
STRAND: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
TYPE: B3 B4 A B3 B4 C B4 B3 A B4 B3
LARGE: 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0
SMALL: 3 4 0 3 4 0 4 3 0 4 3
BEADS: 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 3
Totals: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 large stars; (4 x 3) + (4 x 4) = 28 small stars; 6 + 3 + 16 + 12 = 37 beads.
Joining
All strands hang from the bottom edge of the bordered header. Lay the header right side up with the foundation edge toward you.
Strand positions: Place a marker in the bottom-edge stitch above foundation chain number 3. Then mark every 16th stitch after it: 3, 19, 35, 51, 67, 83, 99, 115, 131, 147 and 163. That gives 11 markers, 16 sts (about 2.9 in / 7.4 cm) apart. Strand 6 sits at stitch 83, the exact center of 165, so the layout is symmetrical.
Starting a strand: Join yarn with a sl st in the marked stitch and work the strand’s recipe downward.
Attaching a star in the middle of a strand:
- Sl st into the star’s top tip. On a large star, that is the ch-3 tip sp. On a small star, it is the tip chain.
- Fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
- Join yarn with a sl st in the bottom valley of the same star. On a large star, that is the skipped Rnd 3 sc. On a small star, it is the sl st between the two lower points.
- Continue the recipe.
Attaching an end star: Sl st into the top tip as above, then fasten off and weave in the end.
Tension: Chain evenly and slightly firmly. Loose chains stretch under the weight of the large stars. Count every chain rather than measuring a strand while it hangs.
Size checkpoint: Pin the header flat and let the strands hang. Strand 6 should reach 27.25 in (69.2 cm) below the header. Types A and B4 should reach about 23.25–23.5 in (59.1–59.7 cm), and Type B3 should reach 17.75 in (45.1 cm).
Border
Work the border around the header right after Row 5, before you attach any strands. The border gauge matches the header: 22 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Rnd 1:
- Ch 1, 3 sc in first st (corner), sc in next 163 sts, 3 sc in last st (corner).
- Rotate to work along the row ends. Work 1 sc in each sc row end and 2 sc in each dc row end (7 sc).
- Along the foundation chain: 3 sc in first ch (corner), sc in next 163 ch, 3 sc in last ch (corner).
- Work 7 sc along the remaining row ends, then sl st to first sc. (352 sc)
Counts per side, from corner center to corner center (inclusive):
- Top and bottom: 167 sc each (1 corner + 1 extra + 163 + 1 extra + 1 corner)
- Short sides: 11 sc each (1 corner + 1 extra + 7 + 1 extra + 1 corner)
Check: (2 x 167) + (2 x 11) – 4 shared corners = 352.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around, sl st to first st. Fasten off. (352 rev sc)
Why the math works: Each long side gets 1 sc per header stitch, so the 30 in (76.2 cm) width stays flat. Each short side fits 7 sc into 1.25 in (3.2 cm), which is 5.6 sts per inch and close to the 5.5 sc gauge. Rev sc is also worked 1 per stitch, so the count doesn’t change. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every edge, for a header of 30.5 in (77.5 cm) x 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Final Blocking
- Mist each star until damp, not soaked.
- Pin each large star to 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip, with one pin in each ch-3 tip and one at each valley.
- Pin each small star to 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
- Pin the header flat to 30.5 in (77.5 cm) x 1.75 in (4.4 cm), keeping the edges straight.
- Let everything dry completely.
- After attaching the strands, hang the curtain and lightly mist the strands so their own weight straightens them.
- Don’t use a hot iron or direct steam on metallic yarn.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The header is 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide and 1.75 in (4.4 cm) deep.
- There are 11 strands, at stitches 3 through 163, 16 sts apart.
- Strand 6 is centered at stitch 83.
- The 6 large stars measure 4 in (10.2 cm); the 28 small stars measure 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
- All stars hang tip up, with the strand continuing from the bottom valley.
- There are 37 Puff Beads, each locked with ch 1.
- Mirrored strands (1/11, 2/10, 3/9, 4/8 and 5/7) match in length.
- All tails are woven into solid stitches.
Troubleshooting
- Star points curl: Rnd 4 is too tight. Rework Rnd 4 with a hook one size larger, then block.
- Star looks round instead of pointed: Check that you skipped the valley sc in Rnd 4 and worked (sc, ch 3, sc) at each tip.
- Header ruffles: You’ve added stitches. Recount to 165 per row.
- Header pulls in at the ends: There are too few sc along the row ends. Work 2 sc in each dc row end.
- Strands are too long: Your chains are loose. Rework them with firmer tension.
- Beads look flat: Pull up each loop to the same height before closing the puff.
- Stars twist on the strand: Join exactly at the center of the tip and of the bottom valley.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press the water out in a towel and dry flat. Store loosely folded, with tissue between the strands to prevent tangling.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check. A 4 in (10.2 cm) large star and a 1.75 in (4.4 cm) small star confirm your tension. A 165-stitch header at 5.5 sc per inch is 30 in (76.2 cm) wide. The 2-round border brings it to 30.5 in (77.5 cm) x 1.75 in (4.4 cm). Eleven strands, 16 stitches apart, hang 17.75–27.25 in (45.1–69.2 cm), for a finished curtain 29 in (73.7 cm) long.
Hang it in a bright window and let the stars do the rest.
Happy crocheting!