The Rosehip Star Café Curtain is a light, lacy window panel built from twelve layered star-flower motifs. Each flower has a warm mustard center, eight pointed cream petals, and eight bold red petals that sit between them. Together they make a crisp 16-point star.
An open cream chain mesh frames every flower and links it to its neighbors. With light behind it, the mesh almost disappears, so the red stars look like they float in the window. It suits a farmhouse kitchen, a cottage window, or a sunny breakfast nook.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm) including the border, and it hangs from 9 clip rings.
Construction is straightforward. You work the first motif in rounds, then join each later motif to its neighbors on its final mesh round (join-as-you-go). Two rounds of single crochet finish the edge and give the clip rings a firm place to grip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 12 motifs
- Layout: 4 motifs across x 3 motifs down
- Motif size: 7 x 7 in (17.8 x 17.8 cm) square, after Round 8
- Size before border: 28 x 21 in (71.1 x 53.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on every side
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight. Cotton keeps the petal points sharp, holds its shape in sunlight, and washes well in a kitchen. Choose a red that won’t bleed. If you’re not sure, wash a swatch with a scrap of cream first.
Yarn (approx. 2.3 m per gram):
– Mustard gold (Color A): 25 g, about 58 m
– Deep red (Color B): 125 g, about 288 m
– Cream (Color C): 175 g, about 403 m
These quantities include a margin of roughly 10–15% for swatching and tension differences.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Scissors
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Spray bottle
– 9 clip curtain rings and a café rod about 30 in (76.2 cm) wide or longer
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Special stitch – Join loop (JL): On a joining side, replace a ch-5 with: ch 2, sl st into the matching ch-5 loop of the finished neighbor motif, ch 2. Replace a corner ch-3 with: ch 1, sl st into the neighbor’s corner ch-3 sp, ch 1.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete motif before you buy all your yarn or start joining. Gauge for the motifs is measured with checkpoints, not a swatch.
- After Round 2 (gold disc): 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- After Round 3 (cream petals): 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from tip to opposite tip
- After Round 6 (red star): 6 in (15.2 cm) from tip to opposite tip
- After Round 8 (mesh square): 7 x 7 in (17.8 x 17.8 cm), lightly stretched flat
If your motif is too big: go down to a 3.25 mm hook, or tighten your chains. Loose chains are the most common cause of an oversized mesh.
If your motif is too small: go up to a 3.75 mm hook. If only the mesh is small, keep the hook for Rounds 1–6 and switch up a size for Rounds 7–8.
A 0.25 in (0.6 cm) difference per motif becomes 1 in (2.5 cm) across four motifs, so match the 7 in (17.8 cm) checkpoint closely.
Motif Pattern
Round 1 (Color A)
Make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. Sl st to top of ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (16 dc)
Round 2 (Color A)
Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to top of ch-3. Fasten off. (32 dc)
Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) across.
Round 3 – Cream Petals (Color C)
Join Color C with sc in any st.
Sk next st, (hdc, dc, tr, ch 2, tr, dc, hdc) in next st, sk next st, sc in next st; repeat from * around, omitting the last sc on the final repeat. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
(8 petals: 8 sc + 48 petal sts = 56 sts, plus 8 ch-2 tips)
Each petal uses 4 stitches of Round 2: 8 x 4 = 32.
Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tip to tip.
Round 4 – Red Loops (Color B)
Fold the cream petals toward you. Join Color B with sc in any ch-2 petal tip.
Ch 6, sc in next ch-2 tip; repeat around, ending with ch 6, sl st to first sc.
(8 sc, 8 ch-6 loops)
Each loop arches behind the sc between two cream petals. That’s why the red petals land in the gaps.
Round 5 – Red Petal Base (Color B)
Sl st into the first ch-6 loop.
In each ch-6 loop work: (sc, hdc, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to the first sc.
(8 petals x 8 sts = 64 sts, plus 8 ch-3 tips)
Do not work into the Round 4 sc. The loop that stays open under each petal makes the small eyelet at its base.
Round 6 – Red Points (Color B)
Work each petal like this:
Sk the first sc, sc in hdc, hdc in next dc, dc in next dc, (dc, tr, ch 3, tr, dc) in ch-3 tip, dc in next dc, hdc in next dc, sc in hdc, sk last sc, sl st into the Round 4 sc below (the valley).
Repeat for all 8 petals. Fasten off.
(Per petal: 11 sts + 1 valley sl st = 12; total 96 sts, plus 8 ch-3 tips)
Checkpoint: 6 in (15.2 cm) tip to tip.
Round 7 – Mesh Square (Color C)
Choose any red tip as a corner. The tips then alternate: corner, side, corner, side.
Join Color C with sc in a corner tip ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in same sp.
Ch 5, tr in next valley sl st, ch 5, sc in next side-tip ch-3 sp, ch 5, tr in next valley sl st, ch 5, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next corner tip sp; repeat from * around, ending the last repeat after the final ch 5. Sl st to the first sc.
(12 sc + 8 tr = 20 sts; 16 ch-5 loops; 4 corner ch-3 sps; 4 ch-5 loops per side)
The tr reaches out from the deep valleys, and the corner chains pull the round into a square.
Round 8 – Outer Mesh (Color C)
Sl st into the corner ch-3 sp. Ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in same sp.
[Ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop] 4 times, ch 5, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next corner sp; repeat around, ending with ch 5, sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
(24 sc; 20 ch-5 loops; 4 corner ch-3 sps)
Per side: 5 ch-5 loops between 2 corner ch-3 sps.
Checkpoint: 7 x 7 in (17.8 x 17.8 cm).
Make All Pieces
Make 12 motifs. Work Rounds 1–8 in full for Motif 1 only. For Motifs 2–12, work Rounds 1–7 and join them as you work Round 8 (see Joining).
Per motif (approx.): Color A 2 g, Color B 9 g, Color C 10 g (petals plus mesh).
For all 12: Color A 24 g, Color B 108 g, Color C 120 g. The remaining Color C is for the border.
Layout (4 across x 3 down):
Row 1: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] <- top edge (rod)
Row 2: [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ]
Row 3: [ 9 ] [10 ] [11 ] [12 ] <- bottom edge
Work in number order. Each new motif joins to the motif on its left, the one above, or both.
Joining
Method: join-as-you-go on Round 8.
Work Round 8 as usual until you reach a corner that touches a finished motif. On each joining side, work:
(sc, ch 1, sl st in neighbor’s corner sp, ch 1, sc) in corner sp, ch 2, sl st in neighbor’s matching ch-5 loop, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 loop of current motif; repeat 4 times, ch 2, sl st in neighbor’s last ch-5 loop, ch 2, then join the next corner the same way.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: each side has 5 ch-5 loops and 2 corners, the same on every motif. Loop 1 joins to loop 1, loop 5 to loop 5, and corner to corner. No stitches are added or removed. The ch 2 + sl st + ch 2 replaces one ch-5 loop, so each joined loop keeps its length and the crossings form small knots in the net.
Four-way corners: when a corner meets three finished motifs, sl st into the existing join point instead of a fourth corner sp. This keeps all four corners on one tidy knot.
Tension: keep the ch-2s the same size as your regular chains. If they’re tight, the curtain puckers along the seams. If they’re loose, the flowers sag.
Size checkpoint: lay the joined panel flat. It should measure 28 x 21 in (71.1 x 53.3 cm).
Border
Border gauge: about 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) and 4 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Starting count per motif side: 6 sc in each of the 5 ch-5 loops (30 sc), plus 1 sc in each corner sp (2 sc) = 32 sc. These 32 already include both corner stitches.
Border Round 1 (Color C)
Join with sc in the top-right outer corner sp of Motif 4. Work along each edge:
– 6 sc in each ch-5 loop.
– 1 sc in each motif corner sp at a seam (one in each motif’s corner sp, on either side of the join).
– At the 4 outer curtain corners: (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner sp. The first sc ends one side and the second sc starts the next.
Sl st to the first sc.
Counts:
– Top and bottom: 4 motifs x 32 = 128 sc each
– Left and right sides: 3 motifs x 32 = 96 sc each
– Plus 4 corner ch-2 sps
Border Round 2 (Color C)
Ch 1. Sc in each sc, and (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Counts:
– Top and bottom: 128 + 2 = 130 sc each
– Sides: 96 + 2 = 98 sc each
Why the math works: each 7 in (17.8 cm) motif side holds 32 sc, which is 18.3 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm). That matches the border gauge, so the edge lies flat without flaring or cinching. Seams add nothing because each motif brings its own corner sc. The top therefore holds 128 sc over 28 in (71.1 cm). Two rounds add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) per side, for a finished size of 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends, tucking red tails into red stitches and cream tails into the mesh chains.
- Soak the curtain in cool water for 10 minutes, then press out the water in a towel. Don’t wring it.
- Pin the outer edge to 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm) with straight sides and square corners.
- Pin every motif corner join so the grid lines stay straight. Check that each motif measures 7 in (17.8 cm).
- Pin out each red petal tip and each cream petal tip to sharpen the star points.
- Mist the mesh lightly and let it dry completely, usually 24 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] 12 motifs, laid out 4 across and 3 down
- [ ] Each motif has 8 cream petals and 8 red petals, and the red points sit between the cream points
- [ ] Every Round 8 side has 5 ch-5 loops and 2 corners
- [ ] All join loops are smooth, with no twisted chains
- [ ] Top and bottom border: 130 sc each; sides: 98 sc each
- [ ] Finished size is 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm)
- [ ] All ends are secure and invisible from both sides
Troubleshooting
Red petals land behind the cream petals: in Round 4, you anchored to the sc between cream petals. Anchor to the ch-2 tips instead.
Motif cups or ruffles: for cupping, loosen the ch-6 loops in Round 4. For ruffling, tighten them or use ch 5.
Mesh square has rounded corners: make sure every corner gets (sc, ch 3, sc) and the valleys get tr, not dc.
Curtain is narrower than 28 in (71.1 cm): your join chains are probably tight. Re-block with firmer pinning, or loosen the ch-2s on future joins.
Border waves: check that each loop has exactly 6 sc. Seven sc in a loop adds bulk quickly.
Clip rings slip: clip through both border rounds, not just Round 2.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press flat to dry, and re-pin the star points while damp. Keep the curtain out of harsh, full-day sun if you want the red to stay rich.
Final Notes
The whole curtain follows one measurement chain: a 2 in (5.1 cm) gold center, a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) cream flower, a 6 in (15.2 cm) red star, and a 7 in (17.8 cm) mesh square. Twelve squares make a 28 x 21 in (71.1 x 53.3 cm) panel, and the border brings it to 29 x 22 in (73.7 x 55.9 cm).
To hang it, clip one ring at each top corner, one at each of the 3 seams, and one at the center of each of the 4 top motifs. That’s 9 rings, spaced 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart. Check each checkpoint as you go, and the stars will line up across your window.
Happy crocheting!