This valance brings a bright summer look to any window. Six lacy semicircular fans hang under a dense navy mesh header. Below them, flower-strung cords end in plump capped tassels. The color scheme is just two shades, deep navy and golden yellow, which gives the piece a crisp, slightly folk-art feel.
Each fan starts with a navy sunburst of double crochet spokes. Rings of chain arches and shells build outward from there. Pointed yellow shells interlock with navy shells near the edge, and a yellow picot trim finishes the arc. Thirteen drops hang below the fans, each with three small flowers and a tassel, and the tassels alternate navy and yellow.
The finished valance measures 41.3 in (104.9 cm) wide and 6.1 in (15.5 cm) deep without the drops. With the drops, the overall length is 16.1 in (40.9 cm). The pattern uses US crochet terms.
Construction is simple. You crochet six fans in turned rows from the center out, sew their corners together in a line, and then work the header band across their joined straight edges in one piece. Last, you make the flowers, cords, and tassels and attach them.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 41.3 in x 6.1 in (104.9 cm x 15.5 cm), plus drops; overall length 16.1 in (40.9 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (light #3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 6 fans, 39 flowers, 13 tassels with caps
- Layout: 6 fans in a single row
- Fan size: 6.9 in x 3.5 in (17.5 cm x 8.9 cm)
- Size before border (joined fans): 41.3 in x 3.5 in (104.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
- Border (header band) depth: 2.6 in (6.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized or matte DK cotton. Cotton holds the shell points crisply and blocks flat, and it won’t sag in a sunny window the way some acrylics do. The estimates below assume roughly 2.2 m per gram (about 110 m per 50 g).
- Navy: 200 g (approx. 440 m)
- Golden yellow: 100 g (approx. 220 m)
These quantities include a margin of about 15 to 20 percent for swatching and tassels.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch markers
– Rigid card 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, for wrapping tassels
– Blocking mats and rustproof pins
– Spray bottle
– 13 clip rings for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- tch: turning chain
- rep: repeat
Special stitches:
– V-shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same stitch.
– Shell: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same stitch.
– Picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 8 rows of dc = 4 in (10.2 cm). For the cords, 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Before you commit to the full project, make one complete fan. Check it at each stage:
- After Row 1: the straight edge measures about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
- After Row 4: about 4 in (10.2 cm) across and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.
- After Row 8: about 7 in (17.8 cm) across.
- After Row 9: the straight edge measures 6.9 in (17.5 cm), and the fan is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) deep.
If the fan comes out more than 1/4 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down a hook size. If it comes out too small, go up a hook size. If the arc ruffles, your shells are too loose. If it cups, check that you didn’t skip a chain loop.
Fan Motif (Make 6)
Each fan is worked in turned rows. Fasten off at each color change unless the pattern says otherwise.
Row 1 (Navy): Ch 4, then work 10 dc in the 4th ch from the hook. (11 dc, counting the skipped 3 ch as the first dc.) Turn.
Row 2 (Navy): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [dc in next dc, ch 1] 9 times, dc in top of tch. Turn.
(11 dc, 10 ch-1 sps)
Row 3 (Navy): Ch 1, sc in first dc, [ch 4, sc in next dc] 10 times, working the last sc in the 3rd ch of the tch. Turn.
(11 sc, 10 ch-4 loops)
Row 4 (Navy): Ch 3 (counts as dc), [5 dc in next ch-4 loop, dc in next sc] 10 times. Fasten off.
(61 dc)
This row forms the solid navy shell band.
Row 5 (Yellow): With the wrong side facing, join yellow in the first dc. Ch 1, sc in each dc across. Turn.
(61 sc)
Row 6 (Yellow): Ch 1, sc in first sc, [skip 2 sc, V-shell in next sc, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc] 10 times. Fasten off.
(10 V-shells, 11 sc)
Row 7 (Navy): With the wrong side facing, join navy in the first sc.
1. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 3 dc in the same sc. This is a half shell of 4 dc.
2. [Ch 1, sc in ch-2 sp of next V-shell, ch 1, shell in next sc] 9 times.
3. Ch 1, sc in ch-2 sp of last V-shell, ch 1, 4 dc in last sc. Fasten off.
(9 shells, 2 half shells, 10 sc, 20 ch-1 sps)
The navy shells now point upward between the yellow points.
Row 8 (Yellow picot edge): With the right side facing, join yellow in the first dc. Ch 1.
– Sc in each dc.
– Sc in each ch-1 sp.
– In each sc, work sc and then a picot.
– In each shell’s ch-2 sp, work (sc, picot, sc).
Do not fasten off.
(110 sc, 19 picots)
Row 9 (Straight edge, Yellow): Ch 1 and rotate to work along the straight edge, across the row ends. Work 15 sc per half in this sequence:
| Row-end | Sc |
|---|---|
| Row 8 | 1 |
| Row 7 | 2 |
| Row 6 | 2 |
| Row 5 | 1 |
| Row 4 | 2 |
| Row 3 | 2 |
| Row 2 | 2 |
| Row 1 | 3 |
Work 1 sc in the foundation base at the center, then repeat the sequence in reverse for the second half. Fasten off.
(31 sc: 15 + 1 + 15)
The middle (5th) navy shell tip sits exactly at the center of the arc. That is where the center drop will hang.
Flower (Make 39)
Make 20 yellow flowers with navy centers and 19 navy flowers with yellow centers.
Rnd 1 (Center color): Ch 2, 5 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, then sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
(5 sc)
Rnd 2 (Petal color): Join in any sc. In each sc, work (ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st). Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
(5 petals)
Each flower measures about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Tassel with Cap (Make 13)
Make 7 navy tassels and 6 yellow tassels.
Tassel:
1. Wrap yarn 30 times around the 4 in (10.2 cm) card.
2. Tie the loops tightly at the top and cut them at the bottom.
3. Wrap a neck 1/2 in (1.3 cm) below the top so it forms a ball-shaped head.
4. Trim the tassel to 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Cap (same color as the tassel): Ch 2.
– Rnd 1: 6 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (6 sc)
– Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc. (12 sc)
– Rnds 3–4: Sc in each sc. (12 sc)
Slip the cap over the tassel head and stitch it in place. The capped tassel measures 4 in (10.2 cm) overall.
Make All Pieces
| Piece | Navy | Yellow |
|---|---|---|
| Fans | 6 (two-color) | — |
| Flowers (by petal color) | 19 | 20 |
| Tassels | 7 | 6 |
Layout (fans from left to right; J = junction or end drop, C = center drop):
J [Fan1] J [Fan2] J [Fan3] J [Fan4] J [Fan5] J [Fan6] J
C C C C C C
That gives 7 junction or end drops and 6 center drops.
Joining
- Lay the six fans right side up with their straight edges in one line. The arcs should touch at the Row 8 corners.
- With yellow, whipstitch the last sc of Fan 1’s Row 9 to the first sc of Fan 2’s Row 9.
- Add 2 more stitches up the Row 8 and Row 7 ends so the corners lie flat.
- Repeat the join at every seam.
No stitches are added at the seams. Each fan keeps its own 31 sc, so the joined edge holds 6 x 31 = 186 sc.
Keep your tension relaxed. Seams pulled too tight pucker the header, and seams that are too loose leave gaps.
Checkpoint: The joined edge should measure 41.3 in (104.9 cm), because 186 sc ÷ 4.5 sc per in = 41.3 in.
Border: Navy Header Band
Border gauge: same as the main gauge, 18 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
The header is worked in rows along the top side only. The arcs keep their picot edge.
Row 1: With the right side facing, join navy in the first sc of Fan 1’s straight edge. Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn.
(186 sc = 6 fans x 31)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip next sc, [V-st in next sc, skip next 2 sc] 61 times, then dc in last sc. In this row only, a V-st is (dc, ch 1, dc). Turn.
(61 V-sts + 2 edge dc)
The math works because 1 tch + 1 skipped st + 61 x 3 sts + 1 last st = 186.
Rows 3–5: Ch 3 (counts as dc), work (dc, ch 1, dc) in the ch-1 sp of each V-st, then dc in top of tch. Turn.
(61 V-sts + 2 edge dc in each row)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sc in next dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc] 61 times, then 2 sc in top of tch. Turn.
(186 sc)
This row restores the count, because 1 + 183 + 2 = 186.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Fasten off.
(186 sc)
Checkpoint: The header is 2.6 in (6.6 cm) deep. That is 3 sc rows at about 0.2 in each plus 4 dc rows at 0.5 in each, which comes to 0.6 + 2.0 = 2.6 in. The valance body now measures 41.3 in x 6.1 in (104.9 cm x 15.5 cm).
Drops
Each cord is a chain with a slip-stitch spine worked back along it. To do that, sl st in the back bump of each ch, working back toward the start.
Center drops (6): With navy, join in the center shell-tip picot of a fan. Ch 30, then work back along the chain to make the spine. The cord is 6 in (15.2 cm) long. Sew flowers centered over ch 5, 13, and 21 in the order navy, yellow, navy. Sew a yellow tassel to the end of the cord.
Junction and end drops (7): With navy, join through both corner sc where two fans meet, or at the outer corner of Fan 1 or Fan 6. Ch 48, then work back along the chain to make the spine. The cord is 9.6 in (24.4 cm) long. Sew flowers over ch 23, 31, and 39 in the order yellow, navy, yellow. Sew a navy tassel to the end of the cord.
A junction cord starts 3.5 in (8.9 cm) higher than a center cord, so its extra 18 ch line the tassels up within 0.1 in (0.3 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends, keeping each one inside its own color.
- Mist the valance until it is evenly damp. Don’t soak it.
- Pin the header straight at 41.3 in (104.9 cm) wide.
- Pin each fan arc to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) deep. Put one pin in every shell tip and every valley picot.
- Open each picot with a pin.
- Let the drops hang off the edge of the mat so they dry straight. Smooth the tassels with damp fingers.
- Dry completely, then unpin.
- Clip on 13 rings evenly spaced along the top, one above each drop.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each fan has 31 sc on its straight edge and 19 picots on its arc.
- All 9 navy shells point upward between the yellow V-shells.
- The header holds 186 sc in Rows 1, 6, and 7.
- The valance measures 41.3 in (104.9 cm) wide, and each fan is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) deep.
- The flower colors alternate on every cord.
- All 13 tassels hang level with each other.
- No yarn tails are visible from the front.
Troubleshooting
- The arc ruffles: Your Row 4 or Row 7 shells are too loose. Redo the row with a smaller hook.
- The fan cups: You may have skipped a ch-4 loop in Row 4. Count 10 groups of 5 dc.
- The header comes out too short: You have fewer than 186 sc in Row 1. Recount each fan’s Row 9.
- The mesh slants: Make sure each row ends with a dc in the top of the tch.
- The tassels hang unevenly: Recount the cord chains, then block the cords while they hang.
- The flowers flop over: Tack each flower at two petals, not just at its center.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel, and dry flat, re-pinning if needed. Keep the valance away from direct heat so the cotton doesn’t fade unevenly.
Final Notes
The measurements build on one another:
– A fan with a 31-sc straight edge measures 6.9 in (17.5 cm).
– Six joined fans give 186 sc and 41.3 in (104.9 cm).
– The header adds 2.6 in (6.6 cm), for a body depth of 6.1 in (15.5 cm).
– Cords of 30 and 48 ch level the tassels at an overall length of 16.1 in (40.9 cm).
Check your gauge on the first fan and the rest will follow.
Happy crocheting!