The Bluebell Flutter Curtain is a light, airy window hanging. A cream lace valance runs across the top, and nine slender cords hang below it, each carrying soft blue lace butterflies and tiny cream flowers. Sunlight comes through the gaps, and the motifs move a little whenever a breeze reaches them.
The palette is just two colors: light blue for the butterflies and cream for the valance, cords, and flowers. It suits cottage, farmhouse, and nursery rooms, and works well in spring and summer.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 36 in (91.4 cm) wide and 46.5 in (118.1 cm) long, measured from the top edge of the valance to the bottom of the cords.
To make it, you work a flat mesh valance in rows, add a fan scallop border along its lower edge, and then make 9 slip-stitch cords, 45 butterflies, and 45 flowers. You sew the motifs onto the cords at set points, then sew the cords to the back of the valance so that each one hangs from the center of a scallop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36 in (91.4 cm) wide x 46.5 in (118.1 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport weight (#2 Fine) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 2.75 mm (US C/2)
- Number of pieces: 100 (1 valance, 9 cords, 45 butterflies, 45 flowers)
- Layout: 9 cords spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, with 10 motifs on each cord
- Piece sizes: butterfly 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall; flower 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across; cord 42 in (106.7 cm) long
- Valance size before border: 36 in (91.4 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
- Border depth: 1.5 in (3.8 cm), so the full valance is 6 in (15.2 cm) deep
Materials
Pick a smooth, mercerized cotton or cotton blend. It keeps the lace crisp, shows stitch detail clearly, and won’t fuzz in sunlight. Avoid fluffy or very stretchy yarns, because the cords will lengthen under the weight of the motifs.
- Cream: 150 g, about 465 m (509 yd), for the valance, cords, and flowers
- Light blue: 150 g, about 465 m (509 yd), for the butterflies
These quantities assume a sport cotton with about 155 m per 50 g. They include a margin of roughly 25% for gauge swatches, sewing tails, and differences between dye lots.
Tools:
– 2.75 mm (US C/2) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Locking stitch markers (at least 20)
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mats and rust-proof pins
– Spray bottle
– Curtain rod with 9 clip rings or S-hooks
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)
- rep – repeat
- V-st – (dc, ch 3, dc) in the same stitch
- picot – ch 3, sl st in the top of the stitch just made
- back bump – the horizontal bar on the back of a chain
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 24 sts and 10 mesh rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in the valance mesh pattern. Cord gauge is 5 sl sts = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one of each motif before anything else, because they are the quickest way to check your tension.
- Checkpoint 1, butterfly: after Round 3 it should measure 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide and 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
- Checkpoint 2, flower: after Round 2 it should measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
- Checkpoint 3, valance: after Row 2 it should measure 36 in (91.4 cm) wide.
- Checkpoint 4, valance: after Row 12 it should measure 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep.
- Checkpoint 5, cord: a finished cord should measure 42 in (106.7 cm) when hanging.
If a piece is too big, go down to a 2.5 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 3.0 mm hook. Getting the valance width right matters most, because the cord spacing depends on it.
Butterfly (make 45, light blue)
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, then work 10 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed and sl st to the first sc. (10 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st. [Ch 9, sc in next sc] 3 times for the upper right wing. [Ch 6, sc in next sc] 4 times for the lower wings. [Ch 9, sc in next sc] 2 times. Ch 9, then sl st to the first sc to finish the upper left wing. (10 sc, 6 ch-9 loops, 4 ch-6 loops)
Round 3: Sl st into the first ch-9 loop. Work each ch-9 loop as follows: (sc, hdc, 5 dc, ch 3, 5 dc, hdc, sc). Work each ch-6 loop as follows: (sc, hdc, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, hdc, sc). Move straight from one loop to the next. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off. (6 large lobes of 14 sts = 84 sts, plus 4 small lobes of 10 sts = 40 sts; 124 sts and 10 ch-sps in total)
Each upper wing now has three rounded lobes and each lower wing has two. The chain loops from Round 2 leave open windows inside a solid scalloped edge.
Body: Ch 12, then hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. (10 hdc; the first ch-2 does not count) The body is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long.
Lay the body vertically over the center ring with its ridged side facing up. It should cover the gap between the two upper wings at the top and the two lower wings at the bottom. Whipstitch it in place along both long edges. Keep the tail for attaching the butterfly to its cord.
Flower (make 45, cream)
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, then work 10 sc into the ring. Pull the ring snug but leave a small eye in the center. Sl st to the first sc. (10 sc)
Round 2: (sc, hdc, dc) in next sc, (dc, hdc, sc) in next sc rep 5 times. Sl st to the first sc. (5 petals of 6 sts = 30 sts)
Fasten off and leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail for sewing.
Cord (make 9, cream)
Ch 211. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in the back bump of each ch across. (210 sl sts) Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail at the top end.
The slip stitches turn the chain into a firm, round cord that stretches less. The cord should measure 42 in (106.7 cm).
Valance (cream)
Row 1: Ch 218. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (217 sc)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), skip next sc, dc in next sc. Ch 1, skip next sc, dc in next sc across, ending in the last sc. Turn. (109 dc, 108 ch-1 sps = 217 sts)
Rows 3–11: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), dc in next dc. Ch 1, dc in next dc across, ending in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. (109 dc, 108 ch-1 sps = 217 sts)
Row 12: Ch 1, sc in first dc. Sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next dc across, ending in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. (1 + 108 x 2 = 217 sc)
The valance now measures 36 in (91.4 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm). Don’t fasten off.
Joining the Cords to the Valance
Each cord hangs from the center of a scallop. With the right side of the valance facing you, count along Row 12 from the right-hand edge and mark sc numbers 13, 37, 61, 85, 109, 133, 157, 181, and 205. Each marker is 24 sts (4 in / 10.2 cm) from the next one. The first and last markers are 12 sts (2 in / 5.1 cm) from the side edges.
You’ll work the border first and sew the cords on afterward, so leave these markers in place.
Placing the Motifs
Hold a cord with its tail at the top and count sl sts down from there. Mark sl sts 18, 38, 58, 78, 98, 118, 138, 158, 178, and 198. Sl st 18 is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) below the top, and each later marker is 20 sts (4 in / 10.2 cm) further down. Sl st 198 is 39.6 in (100.6 cm) down, which leaves 2.4 in (6.1 cm) below the last motif.
- Cords 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9: butterfly, flower, butterfly, and so on, starting with a butterfly at sl st 18. (5 butterflies, 5 flowers each)
- Cords 2, 4, 6, and 8: flower, butterfly, flower, and so on, starting with a flower at sl st 18. (5 flowers, 5 butterflies each)
- Totals: 25 + 20 = 45 butterflies and 25 + 20 = 45 flowers.
Cord: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Row 1: B F B F B F B F B
Row 2: F B F B F B F B F
Row 3: B F B F B F B F B
...continue alternating to Row 10
Row 10: F B F B F B F B F
Center each flower’s eye over its marked sl st and sew it to the cord with 3 to 4 stitches through the center ring. Center each butterfly body over its marked sl st and sew along the full body length, passing through the cord, so that the body and cord form one vertical line. Keep the stitches firm but don’t pull the cord into puckers. Lay the finished cord flat and check that it still measures 42 in (106.7 cm).
Border (Fan Scallops)
Border gauge: each scallop repeat uses 24 sts and measures 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep.
Border Row 1: Continuing from Row 12, ch 1 and sc in first sc. [Ch 5, skip 5 sc, sc in next sc], ch 5, skip 5 sc, V-st in next sc, [ch 5, skip 5 sc, sc in next sc] 2 times rep 9 times. Turn. (28 sc, 9 V-sts, 36 ch-5 loops)
Each V-st sits in one of your marked sts: 13, 37, 61, and so on.
Border Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Ch 4, sc in next ch-5 loop, ch 4, sc in next ch-5 loop, ch 2, 11 dc in ch-3 sp of V-st, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 loop, ch 4, sc in next ch-5 loop, ch 4, sc in next sc between repeats rep 9 times. Turn. (46 sc, 9 fans of 11 dc = 99 dc, 36 ch-4 loops, 18 ch-2 sps)
Border Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc. 3 sc in next ch-4 loop, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next ch-4 loop, sc in next sc, skip ch-2, [dc in next dc, picot] 10 times, dc in last dc of fan, skip ch-2, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next ch-4 loop, sc in next sc, 3 sc in next ch-4 loop, sc in next sc rep 9 times. Fasten off. (1 + 17 x 9 = 154 sc, 99 dc, 90 picots)
Why the math works: Row 12 has 217 sts, which is 1 + 9 x 24. Each repeat in Border Row 1 takes up 4 skips of 5 plus 4 worked sts, which is 24 sts. Nine repeats at 4 in (10.2 cm) each add up to 36 in (91.4 cm). Every fan sits directly below a marked center st, so each cord will hang from the middle of its scallop.
Attach the cords: Turn the valance to the wrong side. Fold the top 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of each cord against the back of Row 12, directly behind its marked st, and whipstitch it through Rows 11 and 12. The cords hang behind the scallops, so the first motif (3.5 in / 8.9 cm down) clears the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) border. Weave in all ends.
Final Blocking
- Wet the valance thoroughly and roll it in a towel to press out the excess water.
- Pin it flat to 36 in (91.4 cm) x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) along the mesh body, keeping the edges straight.
- Pin each fan into a rounded scallop 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep, with a pin in each picot.
- Mist the butterflies and pin each lobe into a round shape so the windows open up. Block them to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 2.75 in (7.0 cm).
- Mist the flowers and pin each petal out to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
- Hang the cords straight while they’re damp so they dry evenly, with no weight added beyond the motifs.
- Let everything dry completely before you hang the curtain.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The valance measures 36 in (91.4 cm) wide and 6 in (15.2 cm) deep including the border.
- There are 9 scallops of equal size, each about 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.
- There are 9 cords, each 42 in (106.7 cm) long, centered behind their scallops.
- Each cord has 10 motifs spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
- Neighboring cords alternate, so every butterfly has a flower beside it.
- All butterfly bodies are sewn straight along the cord line.
- The total length is 46.5 in (118.1 cm).
- All ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
- The valance is wider than 36 in (91.4 cm): remake it with a smaller hook. Don’t remove stitches, because the 24-st repeat depends on 217 sts.
- The fans ruffle: your dc tension in Border Row 2 is loose. Rework that row with a smaller hook.
- The butterfly wings curl: the Round 2 chains are tight. Loosen them, or chain with a hook one size larger.
- The cords stretch over time: mercerized cotton relaxes a little at first. Re-block the cords and shorten any long tail end.
- The motifs twist on the cord: add a second line of stitches on the back of the butterfly body.
- The flower center closed up: loosen the magic ring slightly before you join Round 1.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent, roll in a towel, and lay flat to dry. Re-block the scallops and wings if needed, and keep the curtain away from harsh direct sun for long periods to prevent fading.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. Each butterfly is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide and each flower is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across. Each cord is 210 sl sts long (42 in / 106.7 cm), with a motif every 4 in (10.2 cm). The valance is 217 sts wide (36 in / 91.4 cm) and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) deep, and the border adds nine 24-st scallops 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep. If you check gauge at each stage, the cords and scallops will line up and the curtain will hang straight at 36 in (91.4 cm) x 46.5 in (118.1 cm).
Happy crocheting!