The Tidewater Twist Strand Curtain is a set of twelve chunky crochet strands. Each one is a chain of long, open eye shapes, pinched at short necks and finished with a full tassel. Hung on a wooden rod in front of a window, the strands look like macramé cord, but every part is worked with a hook in simple stitches.
The curtain alternates deep teal and natural cream for a calm coastal look. The rounds stack up as visible ridges: a sc base, a taller dc ridge, and a crisp sc edge. That gives each eye a rope-like outline, and the light shows through the openings.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished strand body measures 50.75 in (128.9 cm) long and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide at the widest point of each eye. A 7 in (17.8 cm) tassel hangs below the body, so each strand is 57.75 in (146.7 cm) long from the top of the body to the tip of the tassel.
Each strand is made in one piece. You chain a foundation with split sections that form the eye openings, then work three rounds around the whole strand. Shaping is added only on the arcs, so they bow outward while the necks stay narrow. Then you add a hanging loop and a tassel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished strand body: 50.75 in (128.9 cm) long x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide at each eye
- Neck width: 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- Tassel: 7 in (17.8 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Bulky (5) cotton cord
- Hook: 6 mm (J-10)
- Number of pieces: 12 separate strands (6 teal, 6 cream), plus 12 tassels
- Layout: 2 panels of 6 strands each. Colors alternate, and each strand hangs on its own from the rod.
- Piece size: 6 eyes per strand. Each eye is 6 in (15.2 cm) long, and each of the 7 necks is 2 in (5.1 cm) long.
- Size before border: 50 in (127.0 cm) x 3 in (7.6 cm) at each eye
- Border depth: 0.375 in (1.0 cm) on each edge
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth, firm bulky cotton or cotton-blend cord, about 110 m per 100 g. A tightly plied cord gives the macramé look and holds the curved arcs well. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarn, which blurs the ridges and makes long strands sag.
- Teal: 550 g (about 600 m), enough for 6 strands and 6 tassels
- Cream: 550 g (about 600 m), enough for 6 strands and 6 tassels
One strand with its tassel uses about 82 g (90 m). Quantities include a margin of about 10 percent for your gauge swatch and tension differences.
Tools:
- 6 mm (J-10) crochet hook
- Locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle with a large eye
- Sharp scissors
- Stiff card, 7.25 in (18.4 cm) long, for wrapping tassels
- Measuring tape
- Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle
- Curtain rod about 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter, at least 54 in (137.2 cm) long
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- inc – 2 sc in the same st
- rep – repeat
Special technique, the return pass: You work back along the foundation chain with sl sts in the neck sections. At each arc, you make a new chain of the same length and skip the matching foundation chains. This creates two parallel 18-ch strands, joined only at the necks, and the gap between them becomes the eye opening.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 12 sc and 13 sc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Your foundation chain should measure 3 ch per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one complete strand before you start the full set. Check it at each stage:
- Foundation pass: 150 ch = 50 in (127.0 cm), measured without stretching.
- After Round 1: Necks measure about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide. The arcs are still flat.
- After Round 2: Each eye measures 3 in (7.6 cm) wide and 6 in (15.2 cm) long. Necks measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide.
- After Round 3: Each eye measures 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide, necks measure 2.25 in (5.7 cm), and the body measures 50.75 in (128.9 cm) long.
If your strand is too big: Go down to a 5.5 mm (I-9) hook. A foundation that is too long makes the eyes long and flat instead of rounded.
If your strand is too small: Go up to a 6.5 mm (K-10.5) hook. A tight foundation stops the arcs from bowing open.
Make all 12 strands with the same hook and tension. Strands hang side by side, so differences in length are easy to see.
Strand Pattern
The top of the strand is the end where you finish the return pass.
Foundation Pass (Side A)
Ch 6 (top neck), *ch 18 (arc), ch 6 (neck); rep from * 5 more times, ch 1 (turning ch).
Count: 150 ch plus 1 turning ch = 151 ch. That makes 7 necks of 6 ch and 6 arcs of 18 ch.
Return Pass (Side B)
Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next 5 ch (6 sl sts, bottom neck). *Ch 18, skip next 18 ch, sl st in next 6 ch; rep from * 5 more times. Do not turn. You are now at the top end of the strand.
Count: 42 sl sts (7 necks x 6) and 6 new arc chains of 18 ch each.
The two arc chains in each eye are now separate, with the opening between them. Lay the strand flat and check that no arc is twisted.
Round 1 (Sc Base)
Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Work 2 sc around the top end of the neck.
Work down Side B: *sc in each of 6 neck sl sts, sc in each of 18 arc ch; rep from * 5 more times, then sc in each of the 6 sl sts of the bottom neck.
Work 2 sc around the bottom end.
Work up Side A in the unused loops of the foundation chain: *sc in each of 6 free neck loops, sc in each of 18 skipped arc ch; rep from * 5 more times, then sc in each of 6 free loops of the top neck. Sl st in first sc to join.
Count: 150 sc per side + 2 sc at each end = 304 sts.
Round 2 (Dc Shaping Round)
This round adds shaping only on the arcs. That makes the outer edge of each arc longer than its inner edge, so the arcs curve outward and the eyes open.
Ch 1. Work 2 sc in each of the 2 top-end sts (4 sts). Work down Side B:
- Each neck: sc in each of 6 sts (6 sts).
- Each arc: sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st] 4 times, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts (22 sts).
Work 2 sc in each of the 2 bottom-end sts (4 sts). Work up Side A in the same order, then sl st in first sc to join.
Count per side: 7 necks x 6 + 6 arcs x 22 = 42 + 132 = 174 sts.
Round total: 304 sts worked 1-per-st + 48 extra on the arcs (12 arcs x 4) + 4 extra at the ends (2 ends x 2) = 356 sts.
Check: 174 + 4 + 174 + 4 = 356.
The dc ridge sits higher on the arcs than the sc on the necks. This creates the pinched, twisted look where the eyes meet.
Make All Pieces
Make 12 strands in total:
- Teal: 6 strands, each with a teal tassel
- Cream: 6 strands, each with a cream tassel
Finish each strand completely before you hang it: border, hanging loop, tassel, and blocking.
Layout grid (as seen from inside the room, left to right):
Panel 1: T C T C T C
(window gap)
Panel 2: T C T C T C
T = teal, C = cream. Each panel has 3 teal and 3 cream strands.
Joining (Hanging the Strands)
The strands are not sewn or crocheted to each other. Each one hangs from the rod by its own crocheted loop, so joining is all about even spacing.
Method: Take the rod down. Slide each strand’s hanging loop onto the rod in the grid order.
Loop-to-rod logic: Each 12-ch loop, covered with 18 sc, is 4 in (10.2 cm) around. That fits over a 1 in (2.5 cm) rod, which is about 3.1 in (7.9 cm) around, with room to slide. Every loop is attached at the same point on the strand, so all the tassels line up at the bottom.
Spacing: Leave 0.5 in (1.3 cm) between strands, measured from eye edge to eye edge.
Tension advice: Don’t crowd the strands. If the eyes overlap, the strands twist and catch on each other. Keep each loop sitting straight, with the strand facing forward.
Size checkpoint: Each panel measures 6 x 3.75 in + 5 x 0.5 in = 22.5 + 2.5 = 25 in (63.5 cm) wide at the eyes.
Border
The border is Round 3, a sc edging worked all the way around the strand, followed by the hanging loop. Work it on every strand before hanging.
Border gauge: 12 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). One sc row adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) to each edge.
Round 3 (Sc Edging)
Ch 1. At the top end: sc in next st, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st (6 sts). Work down Side B:
- Each neck: sc in each of 6 sts (6 sts).
- Each arc: sc in next 5 sts, inc, sc in next 4 sts, inc, sc in next 4 sts, inc, sc in next 6 sts (25 sts).
At the bottom end: sc in next st, 2 sc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st (6 sts). Work up Side A in the same order, then sl st in first sc to join.
Count per side: 7 necks x 6 + 6 arcs x 25 = 42 + 150 = 192 sts.
Each end: 6 sts.
Round total: 356 sts worked 1-per-st + 36 extra on the arcs (12 arcs x 3) + 4 extra at the ends (2 ends x 2) = 396 sts.
Check: 192 + 6 + 192 + 6 = 396.
Hanging Loop
You are at the first top-end st. Ch 12, skip next 4 sts, sl st in the last top-end st. Work 18 sc into the ch-12 loop, then sl st in the first top-end st. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the Math Works
Each arc’s outer edge grows from 18 sts to 22 sts to 25 sts, while the inner edge stays at the 18-ch foundation. The longer outer edge forces each arc to bow outward, and the two arcs of each eye bow away from each other.
The necks stay at 6 sts on every round, so they stay straight and act as pinch points. Both sides use the same counts, so the strand hangs straight with no spiral. Each end gets only 2 extra sts per round, which rounds the tips without making them ruffle.
Tassels
Wrap yarn 50 times around the 7.25 in (18.4 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.
Use the tie ends to tie the tassel through the center bottom-end sts of the strand.
Wrap a separate strand tightly 8 times around the tassel, 1.25 in (3.2 cm) below the top, to form a rounded head. Knot it and bury the ends inside the tassel. Trim the tassel to 7 in (17.8 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lay each strand flat on blocking mats, right side up.
- Mist it evenly until damp, not soaked.
- Ease each eye open to 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide and 6 in (15.2 cm) long, with the opening centered.
- Pin each neck straight at 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide and 2 in (5.1 cm) long.
- Check that the body measures 50.75 in (128.9 cm) and that all six eyes match.
- Comb the tassel straight with your fingers and mist it lightly.
- Let it dry completely before unpinning.
- Hang the dry strands. Their own weight will settle the arcs over a day or two.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each strand has 6 eyes and 7 necks.
- Final count is 396 sts, with 192 sts per side.
- Each eye is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide and 6 in (15.2 cm) long.
- Necks are 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide.
- The body is 50.75 in (128.9 cm) long.
- Tassels are 7 in (17.8 cm) long, with heads 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep.
- Hanging loops are all the same size and sit at the center top.
- There are 6 teal and 6 cream strands, hung in alternating order.
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
Eyes stay closed or flat: The foundation is too tight, or you skipped increases. Recount: each arc should have 22 sts after Round 2.
Arcs ruffle: Your dc are too loose. Go down a hook size for Round 2 only.
Strand spirals when hung: One side has a different count. Check for 174 sts per side after Round 2 and 192 sts per side after Round 3.
Arc twisted inside an eye: An arc chain twisted during the return pass. Untwist it before Round 1. After that, the only fix is to rip back.
Strands differ in length: Measure each foundation against your first strand before you start Round 1.
Tassel head loosens: Wrap it tighter and knot it twice.
Care
Spot clean, or hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Roll each strand in a towel to remove water, then dry it flat and re-pin the eyes if needed.
Final Notes
Everything in this pattern depends on one chain of measurements. A 150-ch foundation at 3 ch per inch gives a 50 in (127.0 cm) body. Round 2 shapes each eye to 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. The Round 3 border adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) to each edge, giving 3.75 in (9.5 cm) eyes and a 50.75 in (128.9 cm) body. The 7 in (17.8 cm) tassel brings each strand to 57.75 in (146.7 cm).
Twelve matching strands, spaced 0.5 in (1.3 cm) apart, make two 25 in (63.5 cm) panels. Check your first strand carefully, and the other eleven will follow the same pattern.
Happy crocheting!