The Sunlit Meadow Leaf Curtain is a light, airy hanging made of small crocheted leaves strung on chain cords, with a natural wooden bead above each leaf. Hang it in a window, a doorway or a reading corner and it sways with the slightest breeze.
The colors are soft and seasonal: cream and butter yellow near the top, light celery green in the middle, and sage green at the bottom. Each leaf is a pointed almond shape with a raised center vein and a slanted, ribbed texture. A neat single crochet outline finishes the edge.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. One leaf measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide. The finished curtain has 7 strands with 5 leaves each. It is about 17.25 in (43.8 cm) wide and hangs about 32.6 in (82.8 cm) below the tie point.
First you crochet 35 leaves, each worked in three rounds around a foundation chain. Then you crochet 7 chain cords, threading beads on as you go and slip stitching each leaf into place. There is no sewing at all.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 17.25 in (43.8 cm) wide × 32.6 in (82.8 cm) drop, plus an 8 in (20.3 cm) tie at the top of each strand
- Skill level: Easy+
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 35 leaves + 7 chain cords
- Layout: 7 strands × 5 leaves, strands spaced 2.5 in (6.4 cm) apart center to center
- Leaf size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- Leaf size before border: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) × 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Border depth: one sc round, about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) on each edge
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton DK. Cotton keeps the leaf points crisp and doesn’t stretch under the weight of the beads. A yarn with about 120 m per 50 g works well.
- Sage green: 45 g / 108 m (11 leaves)
- Light celery green: 40 g / 96 m (9 leaves)
- Butter yellow: 50 g / 120 m (8 leaves + all 7 cords)
- Cream: 30 g / 72 m (7 leaves)
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- 35 natural wooden beads, 16 mm (about 5/8 in), with holes of at least 4 mm
- Large-eye blunt tapestry needle or a dental-floss threader for threading beads
- Scissors and a tape measure
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
- A rod, branch or curtain rail for hanging (not crocheted)
All quantities include a margin of about 15% for gauge swatches and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- BLO – back loop only
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special technique – working around a chain: after you work along one side of the foundation chain, rotate the piece and work into the unused bottom loops of the same chains. The chain stays in the middle and becomes the leaf’s center vein.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete leaf first and check it at each stage. Gauge keeps all 35 leaves the same size, so the strands hang evenly.
- Foundation: 16 ch = 2.75 in (7.0 cm), measured relaxed
- After Round 1: 3 in (7.6 cm) long × 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide
- After Round 2: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long × 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
- After Round 3: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long × 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide, not counting the hanging loop
- Cord chain: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm)
If your leaf is too big, change to a 3.25 mm (D-3) hook. If it is too small, change to a 3.75 mm (F-5) hook. Check the cord chain on its own: a tight chain shortens every strand. If only the cord gauge is off, change hooks for the cords only.
Leaf Pattern
Every leaf is worked the same way. Make 35 leaves, using the colors listed in the next section.
Foundation: Ch 18.
Round 1 (side A): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 8 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch. (16 sts on side A; 1 ch remains.)
Round 1 (bottom tip): (Sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch.
Round 1 (side B): Rotate the piece and work into the unused bottom loops of the foundation chain: sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 8 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch (the same ch that holds the first sc of side A). Ch 2 for the top tip, then sl st to the first sc.
Round 1 total: 16 + 2 + 16 = 34 sts + 2 ch-2 sps.
The tr stitches in the middle of each side form the widest part of the leaf. The shorter stitches at each end taper it into the almond shape.
Round 2 (growth round, BLO): Ch 1. Working in BLO only: sc in first 3 sts, hdc in next 10 sts, sc in next 3 sts (16 sts on side A). Sc in next sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in bottom ch-2 sp, sc in next sc (4 sts at the bottom tip). Sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 10 sts, sc in next 3 sts (16 sts on side B). (Sc, ch 2, sc) in top ch-2 sp (2 sts). Sl st to first sc.
Round 2 total: 16 + 4 + 16 + 2 = 38 sts + 2 ch-2 sps.
The unworked front loops of Round 1 form a fine ridge on each side of the vein. Together with the slant of the tr stitches, this gives the leaf its ribbed look. Measure the leaf against the Round 2 checkpoint now.
Don’t fasten off. Go straight on to Round 3, the outline border, which is written out in the Border section below. Finish Round 3 on every leaf before joining.
Make All Pieces
Make all 35 leaves (Rounds 1–3) in these colors:
- Sage green (S): 11 leaves
- Light celery green (L): 9 leaves
- Butter yellow (Y): 8 leaves
- Cream (C): 7 leaves
Layout grid (columns = strands 1–7 from left to right; rows = leaf positions, with 1 at the top and 5 at the bottom):
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 C Y C Y C Y C
2 Y L Y C Y L Y
3 L C L Y L C L
4 S L S L S L S
5 S S S S S S S
Totals: C = 4 + 1 + 2 = 7, Y = 3 + 4 + 1 = 8, L = 2 + 4 + 3 = 9, S = 4 + 7 = 11, for 35 leaves. Lay the blocked leaves out in this grid before you start joining.
Joining
Each cord is crocheted as one continuous chain, and the leaves are joined as you go. Each leaf is caught at its top loop and at its bottom tip. A chain runs down the back of each leaf, so the cord carries the weight and the leaf hangs flat.
Before each strand: work from the ball of butter yellow, or cut a length of about 4.5 m. Thread 5 beads onto the yarn and slide them well down, out of the way.
Cord, one strand:
- Ch 40 for the top tie, 8 in (20.3 cm).
- Slide one bead up against the hook and ch 1 to lock it in place.
- Hold the position 1 leaf with the right side facing you. Insert the hook through its top ch-4 loop and sl st.
- Ch 17, 3.4 in (8.6 cm), and lay this chain flat along the back of the leaf.
- Sl st through the bottom ch-2 tip of the same leaf.
- Ch 15, 3 in (7.6 cm), for the gap before the next bead.
- Repeat Steps 2–6 for positions 2, 3 and 4. For position 5, work Steps 2–5 only, then fasten off and weave the end up into the back chain.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: every leaf gets exactly one sl st at the top and one at the bottom. The 17-ch back chain matches the leaf length from loop to tip. If the leaf puckers, the back chain is too short, so add 1 ch. If the chain shows below the tip, take 1 ch out.
Tension: keep the chains relaxed and even. A tight chain makes short strands, and a loose one stretches over time.
Size checkpoint: each strand should measure about 40.6 in (103.1 cm) from the end of the tie to the bottom leaf tip, with a drop of about 32.6 in (82.8 cm) below the tie. That drop is 5 leaves × 3.5 in, plus 5 beads at about 0.63 in, plus 4 gaps × 3 in. Lay all 7 strands side by side and match them to within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Border: Leaf Outline Round
On this design, the border is the outline round worked on every leaf. It covers the uneven BLO edge, sharpens both points and adds the hanging loop.
Border gauge: one sc round adds about 0.125 in (0.3 cm) to each edge. That makes the leaf 0.25 in (0.6 cm) longer and 0.25 in (0.6 cm) wider.
How Round 2 divides into sides: the two ch-2 sps split the leaf into two sides. Side A runs from the top ch-2 sp to the bottom ch-2 sp: 1 sc from the top tip + 16 + 2 sc from the bottom tip = 19 sts. Side B is the same: 2 + 16 + 1 = 19 sts. 19 + 19 = 38, which matches Round 2.
Round 3 (trim round, both loops): Ch 1. Sc in each of the next 18 sts. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in bottom ch-2 sp. Sc in each of the next 18 sts. Sc in next st. (Sc, ch 4, sc) in top ch-2 sp. Sc in last st. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Round 3 total: 38 sts worked 1 per existing st + 4 sc added at the two tips = 42 sts, plus a ch-2 point and a ch-4 hanging loop.
Per side: 19 sts + 1 sc at each tip = 21 sts per side, and 21 × 2 = 42.
Why the math works: the long edges get exactly 1 sc per st, so they stay flat with no ruffling or cupping. All the shaping happens at the two tips, where the extra sc and chain spaces turn each end into a crisp point.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all leaf tails before blocking, running them along the back of the edge.
- Soak the leaves in cool water for 10 minutes, then press the water out in a towel. Don’t wring them.
- Pin each leaf to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Put one pin in each point and one at the widest part of each side.
- Run a finger down the center vein so it sits straight.
- Let the leaves dry completely, then unpin them and join them as described above.
- After joining, hang the curtain and lightly mist any strand that twists. Let it dry hanging so the beads pull it straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 35 leaves: 11 S, 9 L, 8 Y, 7 C
- Each leaf has 42 sts in Round 3, with 21 per side
- Each leaf measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
- Center veins are straight and both points are sharp
- There is one bead directly above every leaf
- Back chains lie flat with no puckering
- All 7 strands are within 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of each other in length
- All ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
- Leaf curls into a tube: the tr stitches are too tight. Go up one hook size for Round 1 only, or use more pins when blocking.
- Leaf edge ripples: extra stitches crept into the sides in Round 3. Count 21 per side.
- Points are rounded: work the ch-2 and ch-4 tips into the spaces themselves, not into the stitches next to them.
- Beads won’t slide: use a floss threader, or switch to beads with 5 mm holes.
- Strand twists: a leaf was caught with the wrong side facing. Make sure each leaf is right side facing before you sl st.
- Strands are uneven: recount the 15-ch gaps, and adjust the 40-ch tie to even them out.
Care
Dust the curtain gently or shake it out. If it needs washing, hand wash it in cool water without soaking the wooden beads for long, then reshape it and dry it flat.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain from start to finish. The 16-ch foundation is 2.75 in (7.0 cm). The leaf grows to 3 in (7.6 cm) with 34 sts in Round 1, 3.25 in (8.3 cm) with 38 sts in Round 2, and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) with 42 sts in Round 3. Five leaves, five beads and four 3 in (7.6 cm) gaps give each strand a 32.6 in (82.8 cm) drop. Seven strands spaced 2.5 in (6.4 cm) apart make a curtain 17.25 in (43.8 cm) wide. Check each stage and the finished curtain will hang evenly.
Happy crocheting!