This curtain is made of open teardrop links hung in long vertical strands. Each teardrop has a small open center and a raised outline. The links stack one under another and meet at narrow joins, so each strand looks like a soft twisted chain. Every strand ends in a full, wrapped tassel.
There are two colors: a dusty plum and a warm cream. The strands alternate plum and cream across a gold curtain rod, which gives the panel a boho, romantic look. Light comes through every teardrop opening and through the gaps between strands.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel has 12 strands. It is about 41 in (104.1 cm) wide and 48.5 in (123.2 cm) long, measured from the top of the rod loop to the tassel tips. Each link measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall.
The construction is simple and repetitive. You crochet each teardrop link in 3 rounds around a short chain ring. Links 2 to 12 are joined to the link above during their last round. Then you add a crocheted hanging loop at the top and a wrapped tassel at the bottom. The strands are not joined to each other. Each one hangs from the rod on its own loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished panel size: about 41 in (104.1 cm) wide x 48.5 in (123.2 cm) long
- 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: 12 strands. Each strand has 12 links, 1 hanging loop and 1 tassel (144 links and 12 tassels in total).
- Layout: 12 strands in one row, alternating plum and cream, with a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap between strands
- Piece size (one link): 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall
- Strand size before finishing: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 42 in (106.7 cm) long (12 links)
- Finishing depth: the hanging loop adds 1.5 in (3.8 cm) at the top, and the tassel adds 5 in (12.7 cm) at the bottom
Materials
Choose a smooth, tightly plied worsted cotton. Cotton holds the teardrop shape, shows the stitches clearly and hangs straight without stretching much. Avoid fuzzy or very soft acrylic: the links will curl and the strands will get longer over time.
- Color A, Plum: about 300 g / 450 m (492 yd) for 6 strands
- Color B, Cream: about 300 g / 450 m (492 yd) for 6 strands
One strand uses about 65 m (71 yd):
– about 4.5 m (4.9 yd) per link
– 9.5 m for the tassel
– 1.5 m for the hanging loop
The quantities above include a margin of about 15% for gauge differences and tassel trimming.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Sharp scissors
- Stiff card, 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall, for tassels
- Stitch markers
- Ruler or tape measure
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle with water
- Curtain rod, up to 0.9 in (2.3 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- [ ] x5 – repeat the steps in brackets 5 times
Special technique – Point join (PJ): Ch 1 and remove the hook. Insert the hook from front to back into the join point of the link above, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. Ch 1. This replaces the ch-3 point loop and connects two links at a single narrow point.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 14 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Work the swatches flat with a 5.0 mm hook.
Make one complete link before starting the full project. Measure it lying flat, not stretched.
- After Round 1: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide x 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
- After Round 2: about 2 in (5.1 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall
- After Round 3: about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall, including the point loop
- After 3 joined links: about 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long
- After 6 joined links: about 21 in (53.3 cm) long
If your link is too big: go down one hook size to 4.5 mm (7). Also check that you are not pulling up tall loops on the dc stitches.
If your link is too small: go up to 5.5 mm (I-9). If the teardrop cups instead of lying flat, also go up a hook size.
A 0.25 in (0.6 cm) difference per link adds up to 3 in (7.6 cm) over a 12-link strand, so fix your gauge now.
Teardrop Link
Each link is worked in joined rounds without turning. The ring join sits at the top point. The sc and hdc stitches stay at the narrow top. The dc stitches and all the increases sit in the rounded bottom. That is what creates the teardrop shape.
Foundation: Ch 18, then sl st in the first ch to form a ring. Be careful not to twist the chain.
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Work into each ch of the ring as follows: sc in the first 2 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, dc in the next 10 ch, hdc in the next 2 ch, sc in the last 2 ch. Sl st in the first sc. (18 sts: 4 sc, 4 hdc, 10 dc)
The opening should now look like a small teardrop: narrow at the join and round across the dc section.
Round 2 (growth round): Ch 1. Sc in the first 2 sts, hdc in the next 2 sts, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next st] x5, hdc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, ch 2. Sl st in the first sc. (23 sts: 4 sc, 4 hdc, 15 dc, plus 1 ch-2 point sp)
The 10 dc from Round 1 become 15 dc. The ch-2 sits right above the ring join and starts the pointed tip.
Round 3 (growth round): Ch 1. Sc in the first 2 sts, hdc in the next 2 sts, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts] x5, hdc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts. In the ch-2 point sp, work (2 sc, ch 3, 2 sc). Sl st in the first sc. Fasten off (Link 1 only). (32 sts: 8 sc, 4 hdc, 20 dc, plus 1 ch-3 point loop)
The 15 dc become 20 dc. The 28 sts worked into Round 2’s stitches plus the 4 sc in the point sp give 32 sts.
Join point (bottom center): In Round 3, the 20 dc are stitches 5 to 24, counting from the first sc after the point. The bottom center is the space between the 10th and 11th dc, which is between stitches 14 and 15. Place a marker there on every finished link. The next link attaches here, and on the last link the tassel hangs here.
Make All Pieces
Links 2 to 12 (joined as you go): Work the Foundation, Round 1 and Round 2 exactly as for Link 1.
Round 3 with join: Ch 1. Sc in the first 2 sts, hdc in the next 2 sts, [2 dc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts] x5, hdc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts. In the ch-2 point sp, work 2 sc. Then work a PJ into the marked join point of the link above, and work 2 more sc in the same point sp. Sl st in the first sc. Fasten off. (32 sts, joined at the point)
Before you work the PJ, hold the new link point-up under the link above, with the right side of both links facing you. This keeps every teardrop facing the same way down the strand.
Per strand: 12 links, 1 hanging loop and 1 tassel, all in one color.
Per color:
- Plum: 6 strands = 72 links, 6 loops, 6 tassels
- Cream: 6 strands = 72 links, 6 loops, 6 tassels
Layout grid (front view, left to right across the rod):
Rod: ==============================================
P C P C P C P C P C P C
| | | | | | | | | | | |
12 links in every strand, points up
| | | | | | | | | | | |
T T T T T T T T T T T T
P = plum strand, C = cream strand, T = matching tassel
Joining
The links are joined with the point join described above. Each pair of links is held by a single stitch-to-stitch connection. The point of the lower link meets the bottom center of the link above, between stitches 14 and 15 of its Round 3. No stitches are skipped or added on the upper link, so it keeps its full 32-stitch outline.
Tension advice: Make both ch 1s of the PJ the same size as your normal chains. If they are tight, the links pucker and twist sideways. If they are loose, the strand stretches and gaps open between links. The joined point should be about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long.
Weave in the ends on the back of each link as you go. Run them along the hdc and sc stitches, not through the open center.
The strands are not joined to each other. Each strand hangs on its own from the rod, with a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap between strands. The width is 12 strands x 2.5 in (6.4 cm) plus 11 gaps x 1 in (2.5 cm) = 41 in (104.1 cm).
Size checkpoint: Lay each finished 12-link strand flat. It should measure 42 in (106.7 cm) long, plus or minus 1 in (2.5 cm). Strands that will hang next to each other should match within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Border
The strands hang free, so there is no side border. The finishing “border” of each strand is the hanging loop at the top edge and the tassel at the bottom edge. Work the loop at the same gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Hanging loop (top edge):
Row 1: With the strand color, join the yarn with a sl st in the ch-3 point loop of Link 1. Ch 12, then sl st in the same ch-3 point loop. (1 ch-12 loop)
Row 2: Turn. Work 16 sc over the ch-12 loop, covering it completely. Sl st in the ch-3 point loop. Fasten off. (16 sc: 8 sc on the front and 8 sc on the back once the loop is folded over the rod)
Why the math works: At 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm), the 16 sc make an outer edge of 4 in (10.2 cm). The inner opening is about 3 in (7.6 cm) around. A 0.9 in (2.3 cm) rod is about 2.83 in (7.2 cm) around, so the loop slides easily along the rod but won’t fall off. Folded over the rod, the loop stands 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above Link 1.
Tassel (bottom edge):
- Cut a 10 in (25.4 cm) tie strand and a 24 in (61.0 cm) wrap strand. Set them aside.
- Wrap the yarn around the 5.5 in (14.0 cm) card 30 times.
- Slide the tie strand under the wraps at the top of the card and knot it tightly. Leave both ends long.
- Cut through all the wraps along the bottom of the card. You now have 30 pieces of 11 in (27.9 cm), folded in half to make 60 ends.
- Wrap the 24 in (61.0 cm) strand around the bundle 8 times, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top. Knot it, then use the needle to pull the ends down into the tassel.
- Trim the tassel so it hangs 5 in (12.7 cm) from the top fold.
- Thread the tie ends through the marked join point of Link 12, between stitches 14 and 15. Knot securely and hide the ends inside the tassel head.
Final Blocking
- Lay each strand flat on a blocking mat, right side up, points up.
- Mist lightly with water until damp, not soaked.
- Shape each teardrop with your fingers: round the bottom, pinch the top point and open the center.
- Pin each link at the point and at the bottom center so it measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
- Check the full strand: 42 in (106.7 cm) of links, plus the loop and tassel.
- Comb the tassel strands straight with your fingers and mist them.
- Let everything dry completely before unpinning.
- Hang the strands in alternating plum and cream order, with 1 in (2.5 cm) gaps.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every link has 32 sts in Round 3: 8 sc, 4 hdc and 20 dc.
- All teardrops point up and face the same way.
- Every join is a single point join, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) long.
- Each strand has 12 links and measures 42 in (106.7 cm) before finishing.
- Each hanging loop has 16 sc and fits the rod.
- Each tassel is 5 in (12.7 cm) long with a neat 0.75 in (1.9 cm) head.
- All ends are woven in on the back.
- The panel measures about 41 in (104.1 cm) wide x 48.5 in (123.2 cm) long.
Troubleshooting
The teardrop is round, not pointed. The dc section has moved toward the top. Recount Round 1: the 2 sc on each side must sit right next to the ring join.
The link cups or ruffles. Cupping means too few stitches or a tight hook, so go up a hook size. Ruffling means extra increases, so recount the [2 dc, dc 2] repeats in Round 3.
The strand twists into a spiral. Some links were joined with the wrong side facing. Undo the PJ and rejoin with the right sides facing you.
One strand is longer than the others. Block it again, pinning each link to 3.5 in (8.9 cm). If it is still 1 in (2.5 cm) or more too long, remake the loose links.
The tassel looks thin. Add 5 more wraps per tassel. Check that you have enough yarn first.
The loop is too tight for the rod. Rework Row 1 with ch 14 and Row 2 with 18 sc.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel and dry flat. Reshape the teardrops and comb the tassels while they are damp.
Final Notes
The whole curtain depends on one chain of measurements. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a link of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) x 3.5 in (8.9 cm). Twelve links make a 42 in (106.7 cm) strand. The 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop and the 5 in (12.7 cm) tassel bring each strand to 48.5 in (123.2 cm). Twelve strands with 1 in (2.5 cm) gaps make a panel 41 in (104.1 cm) wide.
Check the first link and the first strand, and the rest will match. Happy crocheting!