The Ginkgo Cascade Curtain is a light, airy strand curtain made of open fan motifs. The fans hang one below another like falling ginkgo leaves. Sunlight comes through the long treble spokes, and the scalloped tops give each strand a soft, rhythmic outline.
The sample uses two colors, sage green and cornflower blue, in alternating strands. Small single crochet rings sit between the fans, and each strand ends in a tassel. The style is botanical and a little vintage, and it works well in a doorway, a window, or as a room divider.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures about 33 in (83.8 cm) wide and 43.25 in (109.9 cm) long, including the hanging loops and tassels.
You make 48 fan motifs, each worked flat from a small center disc. You then join them into six strands with in-line chain cords and rings. Last, you add a hanging loop at the top of each strand and a tassel at the bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 33 in (83.8 cm) wide × 43.25 in (109.9 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 48 fan motifs (24 green, 24 blue), plus 6 tassels
- Layout: 6 strands × 8 fans, with colors alternating G-B-G-B-G-B
- Piece size: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide × 3 in (7.6 cm) tall per fan
- Size before border: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide × 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall (after Fan Row 2)
- Border depth: about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) at the lobe peaks and 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the sides
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight. Cotton holds the open spokes crisply and blocks well. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the chain spaces.
- Color A, Sage Green: 120 g, about 290 m (three 50 g balls of about 120 m each)
- Color B, Cornflower Blue: 120 g, about 290 m (three 50 g balls of about 120 m each)
Each color covers 3 strands, including fans, cords, rings, hanging loops, and the tassel.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers
– A 4 in (10.2 cm) piece of cardboard for the tassels
– Blocking mat, rustproof pins, and a spray bottle
– Curtain rod or tension rod
The yarn quantities include a margin of about 20–25% for gauge differences and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
Special stitch, Lobe: Work across 17 sts as follows: sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 9 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts. This gives 17 sts with a rounded peak in the middle.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Base gauge: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc with a 3.5 mm hook.
Make one complete fan before starting the rest. Measure it at each stage:
- Disc (Rnd 1): 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Fan Row 2: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide × 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall, measured from the bottom of the disc to the tops of the spokes
- After Fan Row 4: 5 in (12.7 cm) wide × 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- Connector ring: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across
- Chain-3 cord: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long
If your fan is too large, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 3.75 mm hook. Treble height affects size the most. If only the height is off, check whether you are pulling your trebles short.
Fan Motif (make 48)
Disc
Rnd 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, then sl st in the top of the beginning ch-3. Pull the ring tight. (12 dc)
Number the stitches: the beginning ch-3 is st 1, and the remaining sts are 2 through 12, going around. The fan is worked over sts 1–7. Sts 8–12 form the bottom of the disc, and st 10 is the bottom center. Place a marker in st 10 now, because you will need it during joining.
Fan Body
The fan is now worked in rows. Do not turn before Row 1.
Row 1: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), tr in the same st (st 1). Then [ch 1, tr in next st, ch 1, tr in the same st] 6 times, covering sts 2–7. (14 tr, 13 ch-1 sps)
Working 2 spokes into each of 7 sts makes the fan span a little more than a half circle. That is what makes the outer sides droop.
Row 2: Turn. Ch 6 (counts as tr and ch 2), tr in next tr. Then [ch 2, tr in next tr] 11 times. Ch 2, then tr in the 4th ch of the beginning ch-5. (14 tr, 13 ch-2 sps)
The spokes stay 1-to-1. Only the spaces widen, from ch 1 to ch 2, so the fan opens out.
Checkpoint: The fan should measure 4 in (10.2 cm) wide × 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall.
Make All Pieces
- Color A (green): 24 fans
- Color B (blue): 24 fans
The connector rings and cords are worked in-line during joining, 8 per strand (48 in total). Tassels are made at the end, 3 per color.
Layout grid (6 strands across, 8 fans down):
Fan 1: G B G B G B
Fan 2: G B G B G B
Fan 3: G B G B G B
Fan 4: G B G B G B
Fan 5: G B G B G B
Fan 6: G B G B G B
Fan 7: G B G B G B
Fan 8: G B G B G B
Tassels at the bottom match each strand's color
Finish the border (below) on every fan and block all fans before joining.
Border: Scalloped Fan Edge
This design has no outer border around the curtain. Each strand hangs free, so the scalloped edge band on each fan is the border. It is worked directly after Fan Row 2.
Border gauge: 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the edge. That gives about 10.6 in (26.9 cm) of edge length over 53 sts.
Row 3 (sc band): Turn. Ch 1, sc in the first tr. Then [3 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next tr] 13 times, working the last sc in the 4th ch of the beginning ch-6.
(53 sc = 14 sc over the spokes + 39 sc in the spaces)
Row 4 (lobes): Turn. Ch 1, then work:
– Lobe over sts 1–17
– sl st in st 18
– Lobe over sts 19–35
– sl st in st 36
– Lobe over sts 37–53
(53 sts = 3 lobes × 17 sts + 2 sl st dips)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: Row 2 has 14 spokes and 13 spaces. One sc per spoke plus 3 sc per space gives 14 + 39 = 53. Row 4 is worked 1-to-1 into those 53 sts, and 53 splits into exactly three 17-st lobes with a slip stitch dip between each pair. The center lobe covers sts 19–35, so its middle dc is st 27. This is the top center of the fan, where the cord from the fan above attaches.
Checkpoint: The fan should measure 5 in (12.7 cm) wide × 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Joining
The fans are linked top to bottom with a chain cord that has a ring partway along it. Each connector runs from st 10 of the upper fan’s disc to st 27 of the lower fan’s Row 4.
Connector (between fans, 7 per strand):
1. Join yarn with a sl st in st 10 of the upper fan’s disc.
2. Ch 3 to make the cord.
3. Make the ring: ch 4, sl st in the 4th ch from the hook. Ch 1, work 10 sc into the ring, then sl st in the first sc. (10 sc)
4. Sl st in the next 5 sc to travel to the opposite side of the ring.
5. Ch 3 to make the cord.
6. Sl st in st 27 of the next fan, working from front to back.
7. Fasten off and weave the ends into the cord.
Tension: Keep the cord chains the same size as your fan chains. Tight cords will pucker the disc, and loose ones will let the fans twist. Every cord should be 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long when it hangs.
Size checkpoint: After joining fans 1 and 2, measure from the top of Fan 1 to the top of Fan 2. It should be 4.75 in (12.1 cm): 3 in (7.6 cm) of fan plus a 1.75 in (4.4 cm) gap made of cord, ring, and cord.
A full stack of 8 fans should measure 8 × 3 in + 7 × 1.75 in = 36.25 in (92.1 cm).
Hanging Loops and Tassel Ends
Hanging loop (1 per strand): Join yarn with a sl st in st 27 of Fan 1. Ch 15, then sl st in the same st 27. Fasten off. The loop is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of chain folded in half, so it hangs about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) above the fan.
Bottom connector (1 per strand): Below Fan 8, work steps 1–5 of the connector, so you have a cord, a ring, and a cord. Fasten off and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Together these add 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
Tassel (1 per strand):
1. Wrap matching yarn 30 times around the 4 in (10.2 cm) cardboard.
2. Thread the cord’s tail under all the strands at the top and tie it tightly.
3. Cut the strands at the bottom.
4. Wrap a separate yarn piece 6 times around the tassel 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top. Knot it and bury the ends inside the tassel.
5. Trim the tassel to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Full strand length: 1.25 + 36.25 + 1.75 + 4 = 43.25 in (109.9 cm).
Final Blocking
- Pin each fan face up on the mat at 5 in (12.7 cm) × 3 in (7.6 cm). Do this before joining.
- Pin the disc first, then each spoke, fanning them out evenly.
- Pin the three lobe peaks and let the two outer lobes droop slightly below the line of the disc.
- Spray until damp but not soaked, and let dry completely.
- After joining, hang each strand and lightly mist the cords and tassels.
- Smooth each tassel straight with damp fingers and let it hang until dry.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] All 48 fans are 5 in (12.7 cm) × 3 in (7.6 cm), within 0.25 in
- [ ] Every fan has 14 spokes, 53 border sts, and 3 lobes
- [ ] Every cord attaches at disc st 10 and fan st 27
- [ ] Each strand is 43.25 in (109.9 cm) long
- [ ] Colors alternate G-B-G-B-G-B
- [ ] Tassels are all the same length
- [ ] All ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
Fan cups instead of lying flat: The Row 2 chains are too tight. Loosen them or work ch 3 instead.
Fan ruffles: Your trebles are too tall or the chains too loose. Go down a hook size.
Lobes are uneven: Recount Row 3. It must be exactly 53 sc.
Strand hangs crooked: The cord was joined off center. Recheck that the cord meets st 27 and st 10.
Strands differ in length: One crocheter’s cords vary. Measure every 4.75 in (12.1 cm) repeat and redo any cord that is off.
Fans flip over: Block again, and make sure each cord’s sl st goes through from front to back.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and re-block flat. Dust it now and then with a gentle shake or a cool hairdryer.
Final Notes
Everything depends on the 1 in (2.5 cm) disc. That leads to a 4 in (10.2 cm) fan after Row 2 and a 5 in (12.7 cm) × 3 in (7.6 cm) fan after the border. Each fan plus its 1.75 in (4.4 cm) connector gives a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) repeat. Eight fans make a 36.25 in (92.1 cm) stack. Adding the 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loop, 1.75 in (4.4 cm) bottom connector, and 4 in (10.2 cm) tassel gives a 43.25 in (109.9 cm) strand. Hang the six strands 5.5 in (14.0 cm) apart, center to center, for a 33 in (83.8 cm) curtain. For a wider window, add strands, and for a longer one, add fans, 4.75 in (12.1 cm) per fan.
Happy crocheting!