This curtain is made from twelve separate crochet strands that hang side by side from a curtain rod. Each strand is a chain of open teardrop “eyes” joined by short, pinched waists, and each one ends in a full yarn tassel. With light coming through the window, the openings throw small oval shadows and the whole panel looks like it was knotted in macramé.
The palette is warm terracotta rust alternating with natural cream. Cotton yarn gives clear stitch definition and a corded outer edge, and the boho look suits a window, doorway, or reading nook.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished strand measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide at its widest point. The crocheted body is 54.75 in (139.1 cm) long, and the total hanging length with loop and tassel is about 63.25 in (160.7 cm). Twelve strands spaced 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart cover 41.25 in (104.8 cm) of rod.
Each strand is worked in the round around one long foundation chain. The foundation forms the left half of every eye. Round 1 adds the matching right-hand chain arcs. Round 2 builds the double crochet walls, and a reverse single crochet border gives the corded edge. To finish, you add a hanging loop at the top and a tassel at the bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished strand size: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide x 54.75 in (139.1 cm) long (body only)
- Total hanging length: about 63.25 in (160.7 cm) including loop and tassel
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 12 separate strands (6 rust, 6 cream) plus 12 tassels
- Layout: 12 strands in one row, alternating colors, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) center to center
- Piece size: 12 eyes per strand. Each eye is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) long and each waist is 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Size before border: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each long edge
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend of about 180 m per 100 g (197 yds per 100 g). Cotton holds the eye shape and hangs straight, which acrylic does not do as well. A single-ply or loosely twisted cotton also gives fuller tassels.
- Color A, Terracotta Rust: 350 g (630 m / 689 yds)
- Color B, Natural Cream: 350 g (630 m / 689 yds)
One strand with its tassel uses roughly 47 g (85 m). The amounts above include a margin of about 20% for gauge differences and tassel trimming.
Tools
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers (at least 4)
- Stiff card cut 7 in (17.8 cm) tall for the tassels
- Sharp scissors
- Blocking mats, rust-proof pins, and a spray bottle
- Curtain rod at least 44 in (111.8 cm) long, up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet
Special stitch – reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work from left to right (right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and draw through both loops. This makes a twisted, corded edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 14 ch = 4 in (10.2 cm). 14 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 1 row of dc is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
Test piece first. Make a two-eye sample before you start the full strands. Ch 42 and work it exactly like the main pattern, using 2 repeats where the pattern says 12. Your stitch counts will be:
- Round 1: 9 sc and 2 arcs
- Round 2: 41 sts per side
- Border: 84 rev sc
The finished sample should measure 9.75 in (24.8 cm) long and 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide. Keep it as a reference for color and tension.
Checkpoints for each strand
- Foundation: 16 ch measures about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) with no stretching.
- After Round 1: each eye opening is about 3 in (7.6 cm) long when laid flat.
- After Round 2: the strand is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) at its widest. The opening is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across and each dc wall is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep.
- After the border: the strand is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide. Each eye-plus-waist unit is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long.
If your sample is too big, go down to a 4.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 5.5 mm hook. Don’t change the chain counts, because the eye shape depends on the 16-chain arcs being equal on both sides.
Strand Pattern (Make 12)
Each strand has 12 eyes and 13 waists (top, 11 between eyes, bottom). Every waist is 3 chains long and every eye arc is 16 chains long.
Foundation Chain
Ch 232.
That is 3 (top waist) + 12 x 16 (left arcs) + 12 x 3 (waists below each eye) + 1 turning ch: 3 + 192 + 36 + 1 = 232.
Optional: put a marker in every 19th ch from the start, so each marker sits at the end of an eye-plus-waist repeat. This makes counting much easier.
Round 1 (Right Arcs)
You’re now working back up the chain from the bottom. This round makes the bottom waist and the right-hand chain arcs.
Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 2 ch (bottom waist made, 3 sc).
*Ch 16, sk next 16 ch, sc in next 3 ch; repeat from * 11 more times.
The last 3 sc land in the top waist. Count: 39 sc (13 waists x 3) and 12 ch-16 arcs.
Each skipped stretch of 16 foundation chains now pairs with a new 16-chain arc, and the gap between them is an eye. Since both sides are 16 chains, the opening is symmetrical.
Round 2 (Eye Walls)
This round goes all the way around the strand: down the left side (into the free loops of the foundation) and back up the right side (into the arcs). The sl sts at the waists keep them narrow, and the dc in the middle of each arc gives the teardrop its width.
Ch 1 (top tip, does not count). Turn the strand so the foundation chain is on top and work down the left side:
- Top waist: sl st in free loop of next 3 ch (3 sts).
- *Left eye wall: working into the 16 skipped foundation ch, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 12 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch (16 sts).
- Waist: sl st in free loop of next 3 ch (3 sts).
- Repeat from * 11 more times. The last waist is the bottom waist.
Left side count: 3 + 12 x (16 + 3) = 231 sts.
Ch 1 (bottom tip, does not count). Rotate and work up the right side:
- Bottom waist: sl st in each of next 3 sc from Round 1 (3 sts).
- *Right eye wall: working into each ch of the next ch-16 arc, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 12 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch (16 sts).
- Waist: sl st in each of next 3 sc (3 sts).
- Repeat from * 11 more times. The last waist is the top waist.
Right side count: 231 sts. Sl st into the top-tip ch-1 to join.
Round 2 total: 462 sts plus 2 tip ch-1s.
The strand should now be 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide. Lay it flat and look down the eyes: the openings should match in size and the waists should be pinched evenly.
Make All Pieces
Make 12 strands in total:
- Color A (rust): 6 strands, 6 tassels
- Color B (cream): 6 strands, 6 tassels
Finish each strand completely before you hang it: Round 2, the border, the hanging loop, and then the tassel. Label each finished strand with a marker so the colors stay in order.
Layout (left to right on the rod, viewed from the room):
| A | B | A | B | A | B | A | B | A | B | A | B |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Spacing is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) center to center. From the center of strand 1 to the center of strand 12 is 11 x 3.5 in = 38.5 in (97.8 cm). Add half a strand width at each end (2.75 in / 7.0 cm in total) to get the full 41.25 in (104.8 cm) coverage.
Joining (Hanging Loops and Rod)
The strands are not stitched to each other. They are joined to the curtain rod with crocheted hanging loops, so each one can move freely.
Hanging loop: Once the border is done, join the strand’s color with a sl st into the top-tip rev sc. Ch 18, then sl st into the same top-tip st to close the loop. Work 24 sc into the ch-18 loop and sl st into the top tip. Fasten off and weave in the end through the top waist.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: The 18-chain loop goes around a rod up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across with a little ease. Packing 24 sc over 18 ch makes the loop firm enough that it won’t stretch under the weight of the strand and tassel. Since the loop starts and ends in the same top-tip st, it sits right on the center line and the strand hangs straight.
Tension advice: Keep the 24 sc firm but don’t force them. If the loop curls, you have too many sc, so drop to 22. If you can see gaps, go up to 26.
Size checkpoint: On the rod, the loop adds about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the top waist. Slide all 12 strands on, set the 3.5 in (8.9 cm) spacing, and measure the total width: it should be 41.25 in (104.8 cm).
Border (Worked on Each Strand)
Border gauge: 1 rev sc into each st of Round 2. The border is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) deep on each long edge, so the strand grows from 2.25 in (5.7 cm) to 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide.
Border round: Don’t turn. Ch 1. Working rev sc from left to right:
- 1 rev sc in the top-tip ch-1 (1 st).
- Then 1 rev sc in each of the 231 sts down one side. Each eye gives 16 rev sc and each waist gives 3 rev sc.
- 1 rev sc in the bottom-tip ch-1 (1 st).
- Then 1 rev sc in each of the 231 sts up the other side.
Join with a sl st to the first rev sc. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Counts: 231 per side (3 + 12 x 19), plus 2 tip stitches = 464 rev sc. The per-side counts don’t include the tips. Each tip stitch appears only once.
Why the math works: Round 2 has exactly 231 sts per side, and the border works them 1 to 1, so nothing is added or lost along the sides. The outer edge of each eye is curved and slightly longer than its 16-chain base. Rev sc pulls in a little, though, so it draws the curve into a clean teardrop point at each waist with no ruffling. The two tip stitches cover the ch-1 turns so the ends of the strand aren’t left with bare chains.
Tassels (Make 12)
Wrap matching yarn 30 times around the 7 in (17.8 cm) card. Slide a 12 in (30.5 cm) tie strand under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly. Cut the wraps at the bottom.
To make the rounded head, wrap a separate strand tightly 8 times around the bundle 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top. Knot it and bury the ends inside the tassel. The skirt hangs about 6 in (15.2 cm) below the head.
Thread the tie ends through the bottom-tip rev sc, knot them firmly, and hide them in the tassel head. Trim the skirt evenly.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends before blocking. Run each tail through 2 in (5.1 cm) of sl sts at a waist.
- Spray each strand evenly until it’s damp, but not dripping.
- Pin the strand flat on mats, stretching it gently to 54.75 in (139.1 cm) long.
- Pin the center of each eye so it’s 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide and the opening is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
- Pin each waist on the center line so all 13 line up.
- Let it dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Steam the tassels lightly and comb the strands straight. Retrim if needed.
- Hang the strands and let them settle for a day, so the weight of the tassels evens out the eyes.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every strand has 12 eyes and 13 waists.
- Round 2 has 231 sts on each side, and the border has 464 rev sc.
- Each strand is 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide and 54.75 in (139.1 cm) long.
- The eye openings are about 1.25 in x 3 in (3.2 cm x 7.6 cm).
- All waists are pinched evenly, and no foundation chain shows through.
- Hanging loops are firm and centered.
- Tassels are 7 in (17.8 cm) long with tight heads.
- The colors alternate A, B, A, B across all 12 strands.
- Spacing is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) and total coverage is 41.25 in (104.8 cm).
Troubleshooting
Eyes twist or lean to one side. One arc is a different length from the other. Count the arc chains in Round 1 again: there should be exactly 16.
Waists look bulky. You may have worked sc there instead of sl st in Round 2. Rework those waists with sl sts.
The strand is shorter than 54.75 in (139.1 cm). Your chains are tight. Make the foundation with a hook one size larger.
The border ruffles. You’ve added stitches. Work exactly 1 rev sc per st.
The border pulls the eyes into a curve. Your rev sc tension is too tight, so loosen it slightly or switch to a hook 0.5 mm larger.
The tassel head slips off. Wrap it tighter and knot it twice. Put a dab of fabric glue inside the head if needed.
The strands hang crooked. The hanging loop is off-center. Redo it, starting and ending in the exact top-tip st.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water gently, and dry flat. Then comb the tassels and rehang the strands. Don’t tumble dry, because the tassels will tangle.
Final Notes
This design depends on one chain of measurements. The gauge is 14 ch = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each 16-chain arc gives an eye 3.75 in (9.5 cm) long, and each 3-chain waist adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Twelve units plus the top waist make a body 54.75 in (139.1 cm) long. The walls bring the width to 2.25 in (5.7 cm), and the border takes it to 2.75 in (7.0 cm). Twelve strands spaced 3.5 in (8.9 cm) apart cover 41.25 in (104.8 cm) of rod. If your gauge sample matches, every other number will follow.
Happy crocheting!