This lace café curtain is made in one deep cobalt blue. Large seashell fans with radiating ribs sit on an airy chain-loop net. A solid band with a scalloped crest runs across the top. Chain swags and ring-link drops hang from the bottom, and three of the drops end in small fans with teardrop tips.
The look is calm and coastal. With one strong color against window light, the lace structure shows clearly. All instructions use US crochet terms.
The finished panel is 24.75 in wide × 22 in tall (62.9 × 55.9 cm). The fringe adds 4 in (10.2 cm), so the total length is 26 in (66.0 cm).
You work the curtain as one piece, bottom-up in rows. It has a foundation row, a net base, three tiers of three fans separated by net rows, and a solid top band. You then add the fringe to the foundation edge and finish with a side edging and top scallops.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 24.75 × 22 in (62.9 × 55.9 cm), plus 4 in (10.2 cm) fringe; total length 26 in (66.0 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 (the fringe and border are worked directly onto the panel)
- Layout: one panel; 3 fans across × 3 fan tiers
- Size before border (excluding fringe): 24.25 × 21.25 in (61.6 × 54.0 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on top
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized DK cotton. It gives crisp stitches, holds the fan ribs open and stretches very little on a rod. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the lace.
- Cobalt blue: 250 g / 600 m (656 yd), for example 5 balls of 50 g / 120 m (131 yd)
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Blocking mat and rustproof pins
- Spray bottle
- 7 curtain clip rings and a curtain or tension rod
These quantities include a margin of about 15% for the swatch and for differences in tension.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- tch – turning chain
- lp – ch-5 loop
Special stitches
- Fan base: (dc, ch 2) 4 times, then dc, all in the same st. This makes 5 dc and 4 ch-2 sps.
- Scallop: (hdc, dc, hdc) in the same sp.
- Ring link (RL): ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook. This makes one small closed ring. Several RLs in a row make a beaded-looking chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
- 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Net: 4 lps = 4 in (10.2 cm) wide; 8 net rows = 5 in (12.7 cm) tall
- One fan tier (5 rows) = 3.125 in (7.9 cm) tall. Each finished fan is about 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at the top.
Test first. Ch 34. For Row 1, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across (33 sc). For Row 2, ch 1, sc in first sc, then (ch 5, sk 3, sc in next sc) 8 times (8 lps). Then alternate Rows B and C (below) until you have 8 net rows. Use 7 full lps for Row B and 8 lps for Row C. Pin the swatch lightly. The sc row should measure 8.25 in (21.0 cm) wide and the 8 net rows should measure 5 in (12.7 cm) tall.
If the swatch is too big, use a hook 0.5 mm smaller. If it is too small, use a hook 0.5 mm larger. Measure the lace pinned flat but not stretched.
Checkpoints (pinned flat):
- After Row 1: 24.25 in (61.6 cm) wide
- After Row 6: 3.375 in (8.6 cm) tall
- After Row 11: 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- After Row 15: 9 in (22.9 cm)
- After Row 20: 12.125 in (30.8 cm)
- After Row 24: 14.625 in (37.1 cm)
- After Row 29: 17.75 in (45.1 cm)
- After Row 33: 20.25 in (51.4 cm)
- After Row 36: 21.25 in (54.0 cm)
Pattern
The lace is reversible, so you don’t need to track the right side and wrong side. Turn at the end of every row.
Net Row Definitions
Row B (offset): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 23 times, ch 2, dc in last sc. (23 full lps + 2 half lps)
Row C (full): Ch 1, sc in dc, (ch 5, sc in next full lp) 23 times, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of tch. (24 lps, 25 sc)
Part 1: Bottom Edge and Net Base
Foundation: Ch 98.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (97 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, (ch 5, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc) 24 times. (24 lps, 25 sc) Every 8 lps make one 32-st repeat, 8 in (20.3 cm) wide.
Rows 3–6: Work Row B, Row C, Row B, Row C.
In each full row, number the sc’s sc0 to sc24, starting from the edge where you begin. The fans start in sc4, sc12 and sc20, which are the centers of the three repeats.
Part 2: Fan Tier (5 Rows)
Always start a tier on a full row.
Tier Row 1: Ch 1, sc in first sc. (Ch 5, sc in next lp) 3 times, ch 3, sk next lp, Fan base in next sc, ch 3, sk next lp, sc in next lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 2 times; rep from * 2 more times, then ch 5, sc in last sc.
Count: 3 fans (5 dc, 4 ch-2 sps each), 16 lps, 6 ch-3 sps.* There are 3 lps at each edge and 5 lps between fans.
Tier Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 2 times, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. Fan: dc in first dc, ch 1, dc in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in next dc; rep from * 3 more times. Between fans: ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 4 times, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. End: after the third fan, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 2 times, ch 2, dc in last sc.
Count: 3 fans (9 dc, 8 ch-1 sps each), 12 lps (2 + 4 + 4 + 2), 6 ch-3 sps, 2 edge half lps.*
Tier Row 3: Ch 1, sc in dc, ch 5, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. Fan: dc in first dc, (ch 2, sk ch-1 sp, dc in next dc) 8 times. Between fans: ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 3 times, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. End: ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of tch.
Count: 3 fans (9 dc, 8 ch-2 sps each), 10 lps (2 + 3 + 3 + 2), 6 ch-3 sps.
Tier Row 4: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first lp, ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. Fan: sc in first dc, (Scallop in next ch-2 sp, sc in next dc) 8 times. Between fans: ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, (ch 5, sc in next lp) 2 times, ch 3, sk ch-3 sp. End: ch 3, sk ch-3 sp, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 2, dc in last sc.
Count: 3 fans (8 scallops, 9 sc each), 6 lps (1 + 2 + 2 + 1), 6 ch-3 sps, 2 edge half lps.
Tier Row 5 (closing full row): Ch 1, sc in dc, ch 5, sk ch-2 sp, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in ch-3 sp. Over each fan: ch 5, sc in dc of 2nd scallop, ch 5, sc in 5th (center) sc, ch 5, sc in dc of 7th scallop, ch 5, sc in ch-3 sp. Over each middle section: ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in center sc, ch 5, sc in next lp, ch 5, sc in ch-3 sp. End: after the ch-3 sp beside the third fan, ch 5, sc in last lp, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of tch.
Count: 24 lps (2 + 12 for the fans + 8 for the middle sections + 2), 25 sc. This restores the full net.
Part 3: Body Sequence
- Rows 7–11: Fan tier 1 (Tier Rows 1–5)
- Rows 12–15: Row B, Row C, Row B, Row C
- Rows 16–20: Fan tier 2
- Rows 21–24: Row B, Row C, Row B, Row C
- Rows 25–29: Fan tier 3
- Rows 30–33: Row B, Row C, Row B, Row C
Every tier starts in sc4, sc12 and sc20, so the fans stack in 3 straight columns.
Part 4: Top Band
Row 34 (conversion): Ch 1, sc in first sc, (3 sc in next lp, sc in next sc) 24 times. (25 sc worked in sc + 72 sc worked in lps = 97 sc)
Row 35: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. (97 dc)
Row 36: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (97 sc) Fasten off.
Part 5: Fringe
Work the fringe into the 97 free loops of the foundation chain, on the underside of Row 1.
Swag row: Join yarn in the first free loop. Ch 1, sc in same loop, (ch 9, sk 7 loops, sc in next loop) 12 times. (12 swags, 13 anchor sc) Fasten off. Number the anchors A0 to A12. A2, A6 and A10 sit directly below the 3 fan columns.
Plain drops (make 8, at A1, A3, A4, A5, A7, A8, A9 and A11): Join yarn in the anchor sc, ch 1, sc in same st, then work 4 RL. Fasten off and weave the tail into the last ring. Each plain drop is 3 in (7.6 cm) long.
Fan drops (make 3, at A2, A6 and A10): Join yarn in the anchor sc, ch 1, sc in same st, then work 3 RL. Ch 12, then sl st in the 6th ch from the hook to make the teardrop tip. This leaves 6 stem ch above the tip.
- Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in the ch holding the sl st. (7 dc) Turn.
- Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), (dc in next dc, ch 1) 5 times, dc in top of tch. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps) Turn.
- Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first dc, (Scallop in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc) 6 times. When you work the 4th (center) sc, work it around the stem chain too, so the fan stays centered. (6 scallops, 7 sc) Fasten off.
Each fan drop is 4 in (10.2 cm) long, so the fringe is 4 in (10.2 cm) deep.
Border
The border has the same gauge as the body: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). It goes along both sides and the top. The bottom edge is left open for the fringe.
Border Row 1: Join yarn at the bottom corner of the first side and ch 1. Work along the row ends:
- Work 1 sc in Row 1.
- From Row 2 to Row 33, work around the end st of each row, alternating 2 sc and 3 sc.
- Work 1 sc in Row 34, 2 sc in Row 35 and 1 sc in Row 36. (85 sc)
Ch 1 for the corner. Sc in each st of Row 36. (97 sc) Ch 1 for the corner. Work down the second side in reverse order. (85 sc) Fasten off. The corner ch-1s are not part of any side count.
Border Row 2 (top only): Join yarn in the first top sc. Ch 1, sc in same st, (sk 3 sc, 7 dc in next sc, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc) 12 times. (12 scallops, 13 sc) Fasten off.
Why the math works: Each side has 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 5 sc for the 4 solid rows and 80 sc for the 32 lace rows (5 sc per 2 rows). That makes 85 sc = 21.25 in (54.0 cm), which is the height of the body. Along the top, 97 = (12 × 8) + 1, so exactly 12 scallops fit, with 4 scallops above each 32-st fan repeat. Clip the rings to sc 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 of Border Row 2.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along solid stitches, not along open chains.
- Soak the curtain in cool water for 15 minutes, then roll it in a towel to press out the water.
- Lay it on the mat and pin the body to 24.75 × 22 in (62.9 × 55.9 cm).
- Pin each top scallop. Then pin the dc tip of each fan scallop so the ribs spread evenly.
- Shape each swag into a smooth curve and pin it.
- Lay each drop out straight and pin the mini fans open.
- Let it dry completely before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 97 sc in Rows 1, 34 and 36; 24 lps in every full row
- 3 fans per tier, stacked in 3 straight columns
- 8 scallops on every fan and 6 on every mini fan
- 85 sc on each side and 12 top scallops
- 12 swags, 8 plain drops and 3 fan drops
- Body 24.75 × 22 in (62.9 × 55.9 cm); total length 26 in (66.0 cm)
- No loose ends visible in the lace
Troubleshooting
- Fans cup: The ch-2 sps in Tier Row 3 are too tight. Chain more loosely, or use a hook 0.5 mm larger for that row only.
- Fans ruffle: The scallops are too loose. Work Tier Row 4 more firmly.
- Wrong loop count: Count the lps after every full row. The most common mistake is missing the last lp before the tch.
- Wavy side edges: Check the 2 sc / 3 sc rhythm on the sides in Border Row 1.
- Fan columns drift: Make sure each tier starts on a full row, in sc4, sc12 and sc20.
- Twisted drops: Pin them straight during blocking.
- Curtain stretches on the rod: Cotton relaxes over time. Block it again and let it dry flat.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and press out the water without wringing. Pin it flat to dry, then hang it again.
Final Notes
Each measurement builds on the one before. At 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), 97 sts give 24.25 in (61.6 cm), divided into 24 lps in 3 repeats of 8 in (20.3 cm). The 32 lace rows add 20 in (50.8 cm), and the bottom sc row plus the top band bring the body to 21.25 in (54.0 cm). The border adds 85 sc per side and scallops across the 97 top sts, giving 24.75 × 22 in (62.9 × 55.9 cm). The 4 in (10.2 cm) fringe brings the total length to 26 in (66.0 cm).
Happy crocheting!