This café curtain lets soft light into a kitchen window. Columns of open fans run up the fabric. Each fan narrows to a small point before the next one opens, so from across the room the lace looks like rows of gentle “V” shapes.
The colors are warm and simple. Cream cotton makes up most of the curtain. Mustard gold is used for evenly spaced stripes, a scalloped hem and a solid header for the clip rings. The style is cottage farmhouse: light, washable and easy to hang.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide by 22.5 in (57.2 cm) tall, including the border.
You work it flat, from the bottom up, as one single piece. Start with a foundation chain and a row of single crochet. Then repeat a 2-row fan pattern, changing colors for the stripes. A mustard header, a scalloped hem and side edging finish the curtain.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide x 22.5 in (57.2 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 4 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: One flat rectangle, worked in rows from the bottom up
- Piece size before border: 30 in (76.2 cm) wide x 21 in (53.3 cm) tall
- Stitch count: 121 stitches per row (15 fan repeats)
- Border depth: bottom scallops 0.75 in (1.9 cm), top header 0.75 in (1.9 cm), side edging 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per side
Materials
Choose a smooth DK-weight cotton, either mercerized or combed. Cotton keeps its shape in a sunny window, washes well and shows the fan texture clearly. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, which blur the lace and can make the curtain sag.
- Color A, Cream: 250 g, about 550 m
- Color B, Mustard: 200 g, about 440 m
These amounts include a margin of about 15 percent to cover your gauge swatch, differences in tension and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (4 or 5)
- Measuring tape
- Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle
- 16 curtain clip rings and a café rod for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sk – skip
- rep – repeat
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – Fan: Work 7 dc into the same stitch.
Turning chain: In fan rows and arc rows, the ch 3 at the start of the row counts as the first dc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Every measurement in this curtain is built from the gauge, so check it before you start.
Gauge: One 8-stitch fan repeat = 2 in (5.1 cm) wide. One arc row plus one fan row = 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall. A fan row is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall, an arc row about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) and a single crochet row about 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Make a test piece first. Chain 34 and work Rows 1–8 of the pattern below, which gives 4 fan repeats (33 stitches). Block the swatch lightly, then measure it. It should be 8 in (20.3 cm) wide and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall.
If your swatch is too big, go down half a size to a 3.75 mm hook. If it is too small, go up to a 4.5 mm hook. Check the width first, because the height usually follows.
Measurement checkpoints (pressed lightly flat, not stretched):
- After Row 2: 30 in (76.2 cm) wide, 1 in (2.5 cm) tall
- After Row 14: 8.5 in (21.6 cm) tall
- After Row 26: 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
- After Row 32: 19.75 in (50.2 cm) tall
- After Row 34: 21 in (53.3 cm) tall, still 30 in (76.2 cm) wide
Main Pattern: Curtain Body
The fan pattern is worked over a multiple of 8 stitches, plus 1. Count every chain, sc and dc, and each row should have 121 stitches.
Color changes: Each stripe is an even number of rows, so every color change happens at the same side edge. Change color on the last yarn over of the last stitch of the row. Carry the color you are not using loosely up that side. The side edging will cover it later.
Foundation: With Color A (Cream), ch 122.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (121 sc)
Row 2 (fan row): Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk 3 sts, fan (7 dc) in next st, sk 3 sts, dc in next st; rep from * across, turn. (15 fans + 16 dc posts = 121 sts)*
The single dc between two fans is called the “post.” From here on, the fans and posts stack straight up the curtain in columns.
Arc row (every odd row from Row 3 on): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc in next dc (the 4th dc, at the center of the fan), ch 3, sk 3 dc, dc in next dc post; rep from * across, working the last dc in the top of the turning ch, turn. (16 dc + 15 sc + 30 ch-3 sps of 3 ch each = 121 sts)*
Each pair of ch-3 arcs draws the top of a fan into a point. That point forms the narrow “V” base for the next fan.
Fan row (every even row from Row 4 on): Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk ch-3 sp, fan (7 dc) in next sc, sk ch-3 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * across, working the last dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch, turn. (15 fans + 16 dc = 121 sts)*
Each new fan sits directly above the fan below it, which keeps the columns lined up.
Stripe Sequence
Work this 6-row stripe repeat 5 times, over Rows 3–32. Each repeat measures 3.75 in (9.5 cm).
- Rows 1–2 of the repeat (Color B, Mustard): 1 arc row, 1 fan row
- Rows 3–6 of the repeat (Color A, Cream): arc row, fan row, arc row, fan row
This puts the mustard stripes on Rows 3–4, 9–10, 15–16, 21–22 and 27–28. Measure after Row 32: the curtain should be 19.75 in (50.2 cm) tall.
Rows 33–34 (Color B, Mustard): Work 1 arc row, then 1 fan row. (121 sts)
This last mustard stripe sits right below the header. You now have 34 rows: 1 sc row, 17 fan rows and 16 arc rows. The body measures 30 in (76.2 cm) by 21 in (53.3 cm). Do not fasten off Color B.
Border
The border has three parts, all in Color B (Mustard): a top header, a scalloped bottom edge and side edging.
Border gauge: Across the top and bottom, 121 sts = 30 in (76.2 cm), which is about 4 sts per inch. Work the side edges at the same rate, 4 sc per inch (2.54 cm).
Top Header (3 rows)
Header Row 1: Ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch across, turn. (121 sc)
Header Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn. (121 sc)
Fasten off. The header measures 0.75 in (1.9 cm). It gives the clip rings a firm edge that won’t stretch into the lace.
Bottom Scallop Edge (1 row)
Turn the curtain upside down and join Color B in the first unused foundation loop at the corner. You will work into the 121 unused loops along the base of Row 1.
Scallop Row: Ch 1, sc in first loop, sk 3 loops, 7 dc in next loop, sk 3 loops, sc in next loop; rep from * across. Fasten off. (15 scallops: 16 sc + 105 dc = 121 sts)*
Each scallop falls directly below a fan column, so the hem carries on the pattern. The scallops are 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep.
Side Edging (1 row per side)
Join Color B at a bottom corner, in the top of the end sc of the scallop row. Work up the row ends to the top of the header, placing sc as follows:
- Row 1 (sc row): 1 sc
- Each of the 17 fan rows: 3 sc (51 sc)
- Each of the 16 arc rows: 2 sc (32 sc)
- Each of the 3 header rows: 1 sc (3 sc)
Total per side: 1 + 51 + 32 + 3 = 87 sc. Fasten off, then repeat on the other side. As you go, work over the carried strand of yarn to hide it.
Why the math works: The side edge runs from the base of Row 1 to the top of the header. That is 21 in (53.3 cm) of body plus 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of header, for 21.75 in (55.2 cm) in total. At 4 sc per inch, that comes to 87 sc. Each row end gets stitches in proportion to its height: 3 sc for a 0.75 in fan row, 2 sc for a 0.5 in arc row and 1 sc for a 0.25 in sc row. This keeps the edge flat instead of ruffling or pulling in.
Across the width, 121 = (15 x 8) + 1. The body rows, the header and the scallop row each have exactly 121 sts, so the top and bottom both stay 30 in (76.2 cm) wide. The side edging adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side, for a finished width of 30.5 in (77.5 cm). The finished height is 0.75 in + 21 in + 0.75 in = 22.5 in (57.2 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the side edging or through the solid dc fans. Never weave across the open arcs.
- Soak the curtain for 15 minutes in cool water with a little wool wash or mild soap.
- Roll it in a towel to press out the water gently. Do not wring it.
- Lay it flat on blocking mats, right side up.
- Pin the header in a straight line, 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide.
- Pin the side edges straight down to a total height of 22.5 in (57.2 cm).
- Pin the tip of each of the 15 bottom scallops so they all curve evenly.
- Use your fingers to open each fan and straighten the columns of posts.
- Leave it until it is completely dry, usually about 24 hours, before you unpin it.
- Clip one ring to the header above each of the 16 dc post columns, so the rings sit 2 in (5.1 cm) apart. This spreads the weight evenly so the lace hangs straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every row has 121 sts, and every fan row has 15 fans.
- The fans stack in straight columns from the hem to the header.
- There are 6 mustard stripes, all evenly spaced.
- The bottom edge has 15 scallops, each lined up under a fan column.
- Each side has 87 sc and lies flat.
- The header is 121 sc wide and does not flare.
- The curtain measures 30.5 in (77.5 cm) x 22.5 in (57.2 cm).
- All ends are woven in securely and can’t be seen.
Troubleshooting
The fan columns drift sideways. You probably missed the sc at the center of a fan, or skipped the wrong number of dc. Count 3 dc, sc in the 4th dc, then skip 3 dc again.
The fans look crowded or cupped. Your dc are too tight. Go up a hook size or loosen your yarn overs.
The curtain gets wider toward the top. Check that every row ends with 121 sts. An extra dc often sneaks in at the turning chain.
The side edges ruffle. Cut back to 2 sc per fan row and 1 sc per arc row.
The side edges pull in. Add 1 extra sc on every other fan row end.
The scallops are flat or lopsided. Make sure you skip exactly 3 loops on each side of the 7 dc.
The carried yarn shows. Keep the carried strand loose and catch it under the side edging stitches.
Care
Hand wash, or machine wash in a laundry bag on a gentle cool cycle. Reshape the curtain and lay it flat to dry, pinning the scallops again if needed.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this curtain follows from one chain of numbers. One 8-stitch fan repeat equals 2 in (5.1 cm), so 15 repeats plus 1 stitch (121 sts) give a width of 30 in (76.2 cm). One arc row plus one fan row equals 1.25 in (3.2 cm). Each 6-row stripe repeat equals 3.75 in (9.5 cm), and the 34-row body reaches 21 in (53.3 cm). The 0.75 in (1.9 cm) header and the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) scalloped hem bring the height to 22.5 in (57.2 cm). The side edging of 87 sc per side adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side, for a width of 30.5 in (77.5 cm).
Check your swatch and count to 121 on every row, and your fans will line up from the hem to the header.
Happy crocheting!