This curtain is built from long vertical strands. Each strand is a chain of open teardrop links joined by short, firm waists, and each one ends in a full tassel with a rounded head. The strands hang side by side from a rod, so light passes through every link.
The palette alternates warm terracotta rust with soft dusty sky blue, one color per strand. Every link has an inner ring of double crochet around a lacy open center and a neat single crochet outline. The look is boho and airy, like macramé but quicker to make.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished strand measures 78 in (198.1 cm) from the top of the hanging tab to the tip of the tassel. At the widest point of a link, it is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across. The sample curtain has two panels of 4 strands each.
Each strand is worked in one continuous piece. You chain down the strand and work the right half of every link as you go. At the bottom, you turn around the last link and work the left halves and the waists on the way back up. One outline round finishes the edge, and then you add the tassel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished strand: 78 in (198.1 cm) long, 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 8 strands (4 rust, 4 blue), each with 1 tassel
- Layout: 2 panels of 4 strands, colors alternating rust, blue, rust, blue
- Piece size: each link is 4 in (10.2 cm) long × 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide; each waist is 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Link size before border: 4 in (10.2 cm) × 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) along each long side of a link
Materials
Use a smooth, firm worsted cotton or cotton blend. Cotton keeps the teardrops crisp and stops the long strands from stretching under the weight of the tassels. Avoid very soft or loosely plied yarn.
- Color A, terracotta rust: 200 g / 380 m (416 yd), about 2 skeins of 100 g / 190 m
- Color B, dusty sky blue: 200 g / 380 m (416 yd), about 2 skeins of 100 g / 190 m
Each strand, tassel included, uses about 82 m (90 yd), or about 43 g. Four strands per color come to about 328 m (359 yd), or about 173 g. The quantities above include a margin of roughly 15% for swatching and trimming.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- 8 wooden beads, 20 mm (0.8 in), for the round tassel heads (optional)
- Cardboard about 7 in (17.8 cm) wide
- Tapestry needle and scissors
- Locking stitch markers
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface
- Curtain rod up to 1.375 in (3.5 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special terms:
- Link loop: ch 26, then sl st in the first of those 26 ch to close a ring. The sl st is the link’s top tip. Counting around the ring from the join, the chains are ch 1 (top tip) to ch 26. Ch 14 sits directly opposite the join and is the bottom tip.
- Waist: 6 ch between two links. You chain it on the way down and work 6 sc into it on the way back up.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 16 ch = 4 in (10.2 cm) at your normal tension.
Make a 3-link test strand before you start the full curtain. It checks every measurement you need.
Checkpoints:
- Link loop: a closed 26-ch ring, laid flat, measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) from tip to tip.
- Link after both dc halves: 4 in (10.2 cm) × 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
- Waist: 1 in (2.5 cm) long after its 6 sc are worked.
- Link after border: 4 in (10.2 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- Strand before tassel: 72 in (182.9 cm).
If your links are too big: go down to a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook. If they are too small: go up to a 5.5 mm (I-9) hook. Change the hook, not the chain counts, because every count below depends on the 26-ch loop.
Strand Pattern
Work one strand at a time. Don’t fasten off between the down pass and the up pass.
Hanging Tab and Top Stem
Make a slip knot and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
Tab: Ch 20, sl st in the first ch to form a ring. (20 ch)
Top stem: Ch 6. (6 ch)
Down Pass: Right Halves
Link 1:
- Ch 26, sl st in the first ch of the 26 to form the link loop. This sl st is the top tip.
- Ch 2 (does not count as a st). Dc in each of the next 13 ch, which are ch 2 to ch 14. (13 dc)
The 13th dc lands in the bottom tip. The right half of the link is now done: 12 side dc plus 1 tip dc.
Links 2–14:
- Waist: Ch 6.
- Link loop: Ch 26, sl st in the first ch of the 26.
- Ch 2 (does not count). Dc in each of the next 13 ch. (13 dc)
Rep steps 1–3 until you have 14 link loops. You now have 14 links with 13 dc each on the right side, and 13 waists of 6 ch between them.
Turning Around the Last Link
Don’t chain a waist after Link 14. Keep working around the same loop: dc in each of the remaining 12 ch (ch 15 to ch 26), then sl st in the top tip. (12 dc)
Link 14 total: 13 + 12 = 25 dc around an open center, plus 1 top-tip sl st.
Up Pass: Waists and Left Halves
Work steps 1–3 for each of Links 13 to 1, in that order:
- Waist: Sc in the back bump of each of the 6 waist ch. (6 sc)
- Left half: You are now at the bottom tip of the link above. Dc in each of its ch 15 to ch 26. (12 dc)
- Sl st in the top tip of that link.
Each link now has: 25 dc (12 right side + 1 bottom tip + 12 left side) and 1 top-tip sl st.
Top stem: Sc in each of the 6 stem ch. (6 sc)
Tab: Sc in each of the 20 tab ch around, then sl st in the first sc. (20 sc) Fasten off.
Strand totals: 14 × 25 = 350 dc. Waist sc: 13 waists plus the stem, 14 × 6 = 84 sc. Tab: 20 sc.
Checkpoint: every link measures 4 in (10.2 cm) × 1.75 in (4.4 cm), and every waist measures 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Color A (rust): 4 strands, 4 tassels
- Color B (blue): 4 strands, 4 tassels
- Total: 8 strands, 112 links (14 per strand), 8 tassels
Layout (viewed from the room):
Panel 1: [A] [B] [A] [B]
Panel 2: [A] [B] [A] [B]
Hang the strands 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, center to center. That leaves gaps of 0.75 in (1.9 cm) and makes each panel 11.25 in (28.6 cm) wide.
Joining: Hanging the Strands
The strands aren’t stitched to one another. Each one hangs from the rod by its own tab, so you can space them evenly and take any single strand down to wash it.
- Slide the tabs onto the rod in layout order.
- Keep the top stems untwisted so all the link openings face the room.
- Space the tabs 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, center to center.
Stitch logic: each tab has 20 sc on a 20-ch ring, about 5 in (12.7 cm) around. That fits a rod up to 1.375 in (3.5 cm) across and leaves room to slide. Each tab hangs 2 in (5.1 cm).
Tension: if a tab came out tight and drags on the rod, rework its sc round with a hook one size larger.
Size checkpoint: compare the strands in pairs before you add the tassels. A difference of more than 0.5 in (1.3 cm) usually means a waist was chained too loosely.
Border: Outline Round
The border is one continuous round per strand. It runs down the right side of every link and back up the left side.
Border gauge: work 1 sc in each dc. This adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of width per side and no length.
Join yarn of the strand’s color with a sl st in the top tip of Link 1.
Right side, Links 1–13: Sc in each of the 12 right-side dc (12 sc). Sl st in the bottom-tip dc. Sl st in each of the 6 waist sts along the right edge (6 sl st). Sl st in the top tip of the next link.
Link 14: Sc in each of the 12 right-side dc (12 sc). Work 3 sc in the bottom-tip dc (3 sc). Sc in each of the 12 left-side dc (12 sc). Sl st in the top tip.
Left side, Links 13–1: Sl st in each of the 6 waist sts along the left edge (6 sl st). Sl st in the free side of the bottom-tip dc of the link above. Sc in each of the 12 left-side dc (12 sc). Sl st in the top tip.
At Link 1, join to the first sl st of the border and fasten off.
Border counts per strand:
- Right side: 14 × 12 = 168 sc
- Left side: 14 × 12 = 168 sc
- Bottom tip: 3 sc
- Total: 168 + 168 + 3 = 339 sc
- Waist sl st: 13 waists × 2 edges × 6 = 156 sl st
Why the math works: each link side has exactly 12 side dc, so 1 sc per dc lies flat without ruffling or cupping. The tips get sl sts only, which keeps the teardrops pointed and the links at 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Only the free bottom tip of Link 14 gets 3 sc. They turn the point and give the tassel a firm anchor.
Tassel (Make 1 per Strand)
- Wind the yarn 40 times around the cardboard. Cut along one edge to get 40 strands, each 14 in (35.6 cm) long.
- Tie the bundle tightly at its center with a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand.
- Set the bead under the tie and fold the strands down over it, spreading them evenly to cover the bead.
- Wrap a 24 in (61.0 cm) strand 8 times below the bead to form the neck. Knot it and bury the ends in the skirt.
- Thread the tie ends through the 3 bottom-tip sc of Link 14 and knot them securely.
- Trim the tassel to 6 in (15.2 cm), measured from the top of the head.
Strand length: 2 in (5.1 cm) tab + 1 in (2.5 cm) stem + 14 × 4 in (10.2 cm) links + 13 × 1 in (2.5 cm) waists + 6 in (15.2 cm) tassel = 78 in (198.1 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all tails along the waists.
- Soak the strand in cool water for 10 minutes. Press out the water in a towel without wringing.
- Lay the strand flat.
- Pin each link at both tips and at the widest point of each side, to 4 in (10.2 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- Check that each waist measures 1 in (2.5 cm) and runs straight down the center.
- Comb the tassel straight and wrap it in paper towel while it dries.
- Let the strand dry completely, then unpin it.
- Re-trim the tassel to 6 in (15.2 cm) if needed.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] 14 links per strand, 25 dc each
- [ ] 13 waists plus the stem, 6 sc each
- [ ] 339 border sc and 156 waist sl st per strand
- [ ] Every link is 4 in (10.2 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- [ ] Every strand is 72 in (182.9 cm) before the tassel and 78 in (198.1 cm) with it
- [ ] No twists, and all link openings face the same way
- [ ] Tassels are 6 in (15.2 cm), with round heads and tight necks
- [ ] Both panels follow the A, B, A, B layout
- [ ] All tails are hidden
Troubleshooting
Links twist: the chain was twisted before you joined the loop. Lay it flat before every sl st join.
Teardrop looks round: a tip got sc instead of a sl st. Use sl sts at every tip except the bottom of Link 14.
Left half is short: the left side needs exactly 12 dc, worked in ch 15 to ch 26.
Border ruffles: a side has more than 12 sc. Work 1 sc per dc.
Border pulls the link narrow: go up half a hook size for the border only.
Strands differ in length: a waist was chained loosely. Undo it and rework it to 1 in (2.5 cm).
Tassel head is lumpy: spread the strands evenly around the bead before you wrap the neck.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel and lay flat to dry. Reshape the links and comb the tassels before you hang the curtain again.
Final Notes
The whole curtain follows one measurement chain. A 26-ch loop makes a 3.25 in (8.3 cm) ring. Twenty-five dc turn that ring into a 4 in (10.2 cm) × 1.75 in (4.4 cm) link, and the 12-sc border on each side widens it to 2.25 in (5.7 cm). The 14 links, 13 waists of 1 in (2.5 cm), a 1 in (2.5 cm) stem and a 2 in (5.1 cm) tab add up to 72 in (182.9 cm). The 6 in (15.2 cm) tassel brings each strand to 78 in (198.1 cm). If your test strand matches these numbers, the curtain will hang evenly.
Happy crocheting!