This valance turns a plain window into a winter scene. A cream lace header with fan scallops runs along the curtain rod. Below it hang eleven beaded strands. Six of them carry little angels with gold-trimmed skirts and lacy wings, and five carry stacked snowflakes.
The palette is soft and warm: cream cotton thread, gold metallic accents, and gold and clear beads that catch the light. It looks vintage and heirloom-like, and it suits both a classic Christmas window and a quiet all-winter setup.
The finished valance measures 36 in (91.4 cm) wide. The drop from the top of the header to the lowest bead is 18.25 in (46.4 cm), plus 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rod loops above. The pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
Construction is simple to follow. You crochet the header lengthwise in rows. Next you make 6 angels and 21 snowflakes and stiffen them. Then you chain beaded cords from the scallop valleys to link everything. A top border adds the rod loops and finishes the short ends.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36 in (91.4 cm) wide × 18.25 in (46.4 cm) drop, plus 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rod loops
- Skill level: Intermediate (thread lace, 3-D motifs, beaded chain)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Size 10 crochet cotton thread (lace weight)
- Hook: 1.75 mm (US steel 6)
- Number of pieces: 1 header, 6 angels (head, skirt and wings each), 21 snowflakes, plus beaded cord segments
- Layout: 11 strands hanging from 11 scallop valleys, alternating angel and snowflake strands
- Piece sizes: header 36 × 2.5 in (91.4 × 6.4 cm); angel 3 in (7.6 cm) tall; snowflake 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
- Header size before border: 36 × 2.25 in (91.4 × 5.7 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm), plus 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rod loops
Materials
Use a mercerized size 10 cotton. It holds crisp picots and takes starch well. Pick an ecru or ivory shade, not bright white, for the warm look shown. Choose a metallic size 10 thread that is soft enough to crochet without fraying.
- Cream size 10 cotton: 100 g (about 520 m)
- Gold metallic size 10 thread: 20 g (about 100 m)
- 6 mm gold round beads: 65
- 8 mm gold round beads: 20
- 6 mm clear faceted beads: 20
- 8 mm clear faceted beads: 15
- 16 mm wooden beads: 6, for the angel heads
Tools:
– 1.75 mm hook
– Big-eye beading needle or dental floss threader
– Tapestry needle
– Liquid fabric stiffener or heavy starch
– Six small paper cones, 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall
– Blocking board and rustproof pins
– Scissors
– Locking stitch markers
All quantities include a margin of about 15% for swatching and tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- MR – magic ring
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec – sc2tog
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – picot (p): ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
Special stitch – 9-dc fan: work (dc, ch 1) 8 times, then dc, all in the same space. That gives 9 dc and 8 ch-1 spaces.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Header gauge: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
- Chain gauge for the cords: 10 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Test one piece first:
1. Ch 26.
2. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (25 sc).
3. Work Rows 2–7 below as written. This gives one full scallop.
4. The first 24 sc must measure 3 in (7.6 cm).
Checkpoints:
– After header Row 3: depth 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
– After Row 5: depth 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
– After Row 7: depth 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Each scallop is 3 in (7.6 cm) wide.
– Angel: 3 in (7.6 cm) tall, hem 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
– Snowflake after blocking: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) point to point.
If your swatch is off:
– Too big: change to a 1.5 mm hook.
– Too small: change to a 2.0 mm hook.
A swatch that is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) off per scallop adds up to 3 in (7.6 cm) across 12 scallops. Fix gauge before you start the header.
Header
Foundation (Row 1): With cream, ch 290. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (289 sc)
The math: 289 = 12 repeats × 24 sts + 1. Each 24-st repeat makes one 3 in (7.6 cm) scallop.
Row 2 (eyelets):
1. Ch 3 (counts as dc).
2. Ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st. Repeat from * across.
3. Turn.
(145 dc and 144 ch-1 sps = 289 sts)
Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp across. Turn. (289 sc)
Row 4 (arches):
1. Ch 1, sc in first sc.
2. Ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc. Ch 9, sk 15 sc, sc in next sc. Ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 12 times total.
3. Turn.
(37 sc, 24 ch-3 sps, 12 ch-9 arches)
Each ch-9 arch spans 15 skipped stitches. This forms the half-circle opening under each fan.
Row 5 (fans):
1. Ch 1, sc in first sc.
2. 2 sc in ch-3 sp, sk next sc, 9-dc fan in ch-9 arch, sk next sc, 2 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 12 times total.
3. Turn.
(61 sc and 108 dc = 169 sts, plus 96 ch-1 sps)
Row 6 (spokes):
1. Ch 1, sc in first sc.
2. Sk 2 sc, tr in first dc of fan. (Ch 2, tr in next dc) 8 times. Sk 2 sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 12 times total.
3. Turn.
(13 sc, 108 tr, 96 ch-2 sps)
The tr worked into each dc makes the fan spokes stand out. The ch-2 gaps let the fan open into a full half-circle.
Row 7 (scallop edge):
1. Ch 1, sc in first sc.
2. Ch 3, sc in first tr. (Ch 3, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sc in next tr) 8 times. Ch 3, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 12 times total.
3. Fasten off.
(217 sc and 216 ch-3 loops, 18 loops per scallop)
The single sc between two fans is a valley sc. There are 13 valley sc: 2 at the ends and 11 between the fans. Mark the 11 interior valleys. Each one gets a strand.
Pin the header out to 36 × 2.25 in (91.4 × 5.7 cm) before you add the border.
Angels (Make 6)
Head (cream):
– Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
– Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
– Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
– Rnds 4–6: Sc in each st around. (18)
– Rnd 7: (Sc, dec) 6 times. (12) Insert a 16 mm wooden bead.
– Rnd 8: Dec 6 times. (6) Fasten off and cinch closed.
The head measures about 0.75 in (1.9 cm). The MR center is the crown.
Skirt (cream, then gold):
Ch 10, sl st to form a ring. Begin each dc round with ch 3 (counts as dc) and join each round with sl st to the top of the beginning ch.
- Rnd 1: Work 20 dc in the ring. (20)
- Rnd 2: (Dc, 2 dc in next st) 10 times. (30)
- Rnd 3: Dc in each st around. (30)
- Rnd 4: (Dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st) 10 times. (40)
- Rnd 5: Dc in each st around. (40)
- Rnd 6 (openwork): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). (Dc in next st, ch 1) around. Join. (40 dc, 40 ch-1 sps)
- Rnd 7: Sl st into first sp. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). (Dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2) around. Join. (40 dc, 40 ch-2 sps) Fasten off cream.
- Rnd 8 (gold): Join gold. Work (sc, ch 3, sc) in each ch-2 sp around. Join and fasten off. (80 sc, 40 picot loops)
Rounds 1–5 make the solid bell. Rounds 6–7 make the lacy lower band, and Round 8 makes the gold hem.
Wings (cream with gold edge, one piece):
Ch 5, sl st to form a ring.
- Rnd 1: Ch 1, 12 sc in ring. Join. (12)
- Rnd 2 (first wing): Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr in same sc. (Ch 2, 2 tr in next sc) 4 times. Sl st in next sc. This uses sc 1–5 and sl sts in sc 6.
- Rnd 2 (second wing): Repeat the first wing over sc 7–11, then sl st in sc 12. (each wing: 10 tr, 4 ch-2 sps) Fasten off cream.
- Rnd 3 (gold): Join gold at sc 6. Around each wing, sc in each tr and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-2 sp. Sl st at the centers. (per wing: 18 sc, 4 ch-2 picots)
The wing span is about 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Assemble the angel:
1. Starch the skirt over a paper cone and let it dry.
2. Sew the skirt’s starting ring to the bottom of the head.
3. Sew the wing center to the back of the neck.
The finished angel is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Snowflakes (Make 21)
With cream:
- Rnd 1: Ch 6, sl st to form a ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in ring. Join. (12)
- Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Sk next sc. Dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next sc. Repeat from * 5 times. Join to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (6 dc, 6 ch-2 sps)
- Rnd 3 (points): Sl st into first sp. In each ch-2 sp work: sc, ch 3, p, ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook (tip loop), p, ch 3, sc. Join and fasten off. (6 points, 6 tip loops, 12 side picots)
Block each snowflake flat to 2.25 in (5.7 cm) point to point. Starch it and let it dry. Opposite tip loops are where the cords attach.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Color | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Cream | 1 |
| Angel heads | Cream | 6 |
| Angel skirts | Cream + gold hem | 6 |
| Angel wings | Cream + gold edge | 6 |
| Snowflakes | Cream | 21 (6 for angel strands + 15 for snowflake strands) |
Strand layout (A = angel strand, S = snowflake strand), from left to right across the 11 interior valleys:
VALLEY: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
STRAND: A S A S A S A S A S A
That gives 6 angel strands and 5 snowflake strands.
Joining (Beaded Cords)
Method:
– Each cord segment is its own chain. Thread its beads onto cream with the beading needle in reverse order, so the lowest bead goes on first.
– To place a bead, slide it up to the hook and work the next ch around it. The ch locks the bead in place.
– At each end of a segment, sl st into the anchor stitch: a valley sc, an angel’s crown or neck, or a snowflake tip loop. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Keep the chains snug and even at 10 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm). Loose chains stretch under the weight of the angels. Tight chains make the strands kink.
Angel strand (12 in / 30.5 cm):
1. Top segment: Join at the valley sc. Ch 30, 6 mm gold, ch 3, 6 mm clear, ch 3, 8 mm gold, ch 1. Sl st to the angel’s crown.
2. Lower segment: Join at the neck seam inside the skirt. Ch 24 so the cord comes out at the hem. Then 6 mm gold, ch 3, 6 mm clear, ch 3, 6 mm gold, ch 4. Sl st to a snowflake’s top tip.
3. Drop: Join at the snowflake’s bottom tip. Ch 4, 6 mm gold, ch 2, 8 mm clear, ch 1. Fasten off.
Snowflake strand (15.75 in / 40.0 cm):
1. Top segment: Join at the valley sc. Ch 22, 6 mm gold, ch 3, 6 mm clear, ch 3, 6 mm gold, ch 2. Sl st to the first snowflake’s top tip.
2. Gap segments (make 2): Join at the bottom tip of the snowflake above. Ch 6, 6 mm gold, ch 3, 8 mm gold, ch 3, 6 mm gold, ch 6. Sl st to the top tip of the next snowflake.
3. Drop: Same as the angel strand.
Length math:
– Snowflake strand: 3 + 2.25 + 2.5 + 2.25 + 2.5 + 2.25 + 1 = 15.75 in (40.0 cm).
– Angel strand: 4 + 3 + 2 + 2.25 + 0.75 = 12 in (30.5 cm).
Size checkpoint: Hang the header and measure. Snowflake strands should reach 18.25 in (46.4 cm) below the top of the header after the border is added. Angel strands should stop 3.75 in (9.5 cm) higher.
Border
Border gauge matches the header: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Border Row 1: With the header held upside down, join cream in the first foundation ch. Sc in each ch across. Turn. (289 sc)
Border Row 2 (rod loops):
1. Ch 1, sc in first sc, then ch 15 and sl st in the same sc to make a loop.
2. Sc in each of next 24 sc, ch 15, sl st in the last sc worked. Repeat from * 12 times total.
(289 sc, 13 rod loops)
Short sides: Without fastening off, ch 1 and work 7 sc evenly down the short edge, down to the first fan. Work 1 sc per sc-row end (Border Rows 1–2 and header Rows 1, 3 and 4) and 2 sc in the Row 2 dc end. That gives 5 + 2 = 7 sc. Join cream at the other top corner and work the second side to match. (7 sc per short side)
Why the math works: The loops sit on stitches 1, 25, 49 … 289, which is every 24th stitch. The valley sc in Row 7 also fall on every 24th stitch, so each of the 11 strands hangs directly below a rod loop (loops 2–12). The weight pulls straight down and the scallops stay even. The two end loops hold the corners. Each ch-15 loop is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long and fits a rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Final Blocking
- Lightly dampen the header with starch solution.
- Pin the header to 36 × 2.5 in (91.4 × 6.4 cm). Put a pin in each scallop’s center loop and in each valley.
- Shape each fan into an even half-circle. Open the arch beneath it.
- Let it dry completely. Unpin it.
- Check that the angels are dry and firm. Re-starch any soft skirt over its cone.
- Hang the valance on the rod. Let the strands settle for a few hours before you judge them.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Header is 36 in (91.4 cm) wide with 12 even 3 in (7.6 cm) scallops
- [ ] 13 rod loops, each one above a valley
- [ ] 11 strands in the A-S-A-S pattern
- [ ] Angels are 3 in (7.6 cm) tall, upright, with gold hems and wing edges
- [ ] Snowflakes are flat, 2.25 in (5.7 cm), with points even
- [ ] All beads are locked by chains and no thread shows through the bead holes
- [ ] Snowflake strands reach 18.25 in (46.4 cm), angel strands 14.5 in (36.8 cm), both measured from the top of the header
- [ ] All ends are woven in and trimmed
Troubleshooting
- Header too wide: Your foundation chain is loose. Use a smaller hook for the chain only, or re-swatch.
- Fans cup or ruffle: The ch-9 arch is too short or too long for your tension. Change it to ch 8 or ch 10 and keep the 9-dc fan.
- Skirt flares too much: Repeat Rnd 3 once more before the increase round. Check that the hem is still 40 sts.
- Angels tilt: Re-center the lower segment’s join inside the neck so the cord hangs straight through the skirt.
- Strands twist: Steam them lightly while hanging and let them dry.
- Metallic thread frays: Use shorter lengths, about 24 in (61.0 cm), and seal the cut ends with a dab of stiffener.
Care
Dust gently, or hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Re-starch the angels and snowflakes and block everything flat to dry. Store the valance flat between tissue so the angels keep their shape.
Final Notes
Everything follows one measurement chain:
– 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
– 24 sts make one 3 in (7.6 cm) scallop.
– 12 scallops plus 1 st give 289 sts and a 36 in (91.4 cm) header.
– 7 rows bring the header to 2.25 in (5.7 cm), and the border brings it to 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
– 13 rod loops line up over 11 strands, which drop 15.75 in (40.0 cm) for the snowflake strands and 12 in (30.5 cm) for the angel strands.
If your swatch meets gauge, every other number follows.
Happy crocheting!