The Blush Leaf Arch Curtain is a two-color lace panel made of neat columns of small cream leaves. A blush-pink chain arch frames each leaf. The arches peak over every leaf tip and dip between the leaves, so the pink lines form soft scallops across the panel while the leaves stack in straight vertical columns.
The colors are deliberately quiet: a warm peach-pink for the mesh and a soft cream for the leaves. When the curtain hangs in a window, light comes through the open arches and the leaves look like a gentle repeating texture rather than a busy print.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. Each finished panel measures 44.2 in (112.3 cm) wide by 81.0 in (205.7 cm) long after blocking. The photo shows a pair, so you will make two identical panels.
The construction is easy to follow once you have finished the first tier. Each panel is one continuous piece worked flat in rows:
- A pink single crochet row carries the cream yarn inside it and grows a cream leaf every 12 stitches.
- A pink arch row then places double treble stitches between the leaves and catches each leaf tip.
Repeat these two rows, finish with a plain top row, and add a two-round single crochet border.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one panel): 44.2 in x 81.0 in (112.3 cm x 205.7 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (#3), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 2 identical panels, not joined
- Layout: 2 panels hung side by side on one rod
- Piece size before border: 43.4 in x 80.2 in (110.2 cm x 203.7 cm)
- Border depth: 0.4 in (1.0 cm) on every edge
- Pattern repeat: 12 stitches = 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide; 1 tier (2 rows) = 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall
Materials
Choose a smooth cotton DK (mercerized or matte) or a cotton-acrylic blend, at about 230 m per 100 g. Cotton keeps the leaf points crisp and hangs straight. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which blur the leaf spines.
Yarn (for 2 panels):
- Blush pink (Color A, mesh, arches, border): 840 g / 1,932 m (420 g / 966 m per panel)
- Cream (Color B, leaves): 1,040 g / 2,392 m (520 g / 1,196 m per panel)
All quantities include a margin of roughly 15 percent for swatches, differences in tension, and tails.
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook, plus 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm hooks in case you need to adjust gauge
- Tapestry needle
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tape measure
- Rust-proof pins and blocking mats, or towels on a clean floor
- Spray bottle
- 20 curtain clip rings (10 per panel)
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- dtr – double treble crochet (yo 3 times, insert hook, yo and pull up a loop, [yo and draw through 2 loops] 4 times)
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- yo – yarn over
Special stitch – Leaf (worked in cream from a pink base sc):
- With pink, sc in the base st and drop pink. Pull up a loop of cream through the front loop of that sc. The cream is already there because you have been carrying it inside the row.
- Ch 8. Skip the first 2 ch from the hook; these form the tip.
- Side one, working down the top loops of the next 6 ch: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc. Sl st in the base sc.
- Rotate. Side two, working up the free bottom loops of the same 6 ch: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc. Sl st around the ch-2 tip to close it.
- Return: from the back of the leaf, sl st through the back bump of each of the 6 spine ch (6 sl st), then sl st in the base sc. Drop cream and pick up pink.
Each Leaf has 12 shaping sts (6 per side), a center spine and a ch-2 tip. It measures about 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall and 1.0 in (2.5 cm) wide. The return slip stitches firm up the spine and bring the cream back to the base without leaving a strand loose across the back (a float).
Gauge and Checkpoints
Main gauge: 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) and 5 sc rows = 1 in (2.5 cm). One tier (one Leaf Row plus one Arch Row) = 1.6 in (4.1 cm). The 6-ch leaf spine and the dtr are the same height, about 1.4 in (3.6 cm), which keeps each tier level.
Test swatch (make this first): Ch 26. Work Rows 1–6 below with 2 leaves per Leaf Row (25 sts, 2 repeats), then work the Top Row. This gives you 25 sts, 3 tiers and 6 leaves. Wet block the swatch lightly.
Checkpoints:
- Swatch: 5.0 in x 5.0 in (12.7 cm x 12.7 cm), within 0.2 in (0.5 cm)
- After Row 1 of the panel: 43.4 in (110.2 cm) wide
- After Row 20 (10 tiers): 16.0 in (40.6 cm) tall
- After Row 50 (25 tiers): 40.0 in (101.6 cm) tall
- After the Top Row: 80.2 in (203.7 cm) tall
Always measure the panel flat on a table, not while it hangs from your lap.
If your swatch is too big, switch to a 3.5 mm hook. If it is too small, switch to a 4.5 mm hook.
If only the height is off, check the leaves. A leaf taller than the dtr makes the arches bunch, and a leaf shorter than the dtr makes them sag. Make the 8 leaf chains tighter or looser until the leaf tip sits level with the top of the dtr.
Panel Pattern
Make 1 panel now; the second one follows the same instructions.
Foundation: With pink, ch 218.
Row 1 (RS, Leaf Row): Lay the cream yarn along the top of the chain and crochet over it. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 5 ch (6 sc). *Sc in next ch and make a Leaf, sc in next 11 ch; repeat from * 16 more times. Sc in next ch and make a Leaf, sc in last 6 ch. Cut cream, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. (217 sc, 18 leaves)
The leaves sit on sts 7, 19, 31 and so on (every 12th st), with 6 sts outside the first and last leaf. The row is symmetrical, so it reads the same from either edge.
Row 2 (WS, Arch Row): Pink only. Turn. Ch 5 (counts as first dtr). *Ch 5, sc in ch-2 tip of next Leaf, ch 5, dtr in the 12th st from the last dtr; repeat from * 17 more times, working the last dtr in the last st. (19 dtr counting the turning ch, 18 sc, 36 ch-5 sps)
The dtr stitches land on sts 1, 13, 25 and so on, exactly halfway between the leaves. Each pair of ch-5 sps forms one arch that peaks at a leaf tip.
Row 3 (RS, Leaf Row): Turn. Rejoin cream at the start of the row and carry it along the top of the arches. With pink, ch 1, sc in first dtr. *5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc and make a Leaf, 5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next dtr; repeat from * 17 more times, working the last sc in the top of the turning ch-5. Cut cream, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. (217 sc, 18 leaves)
Each repeat is 5 + 1 + 5 + 1 = 12 sts, so 18 repeats plus the first sc gives 217 again. The new leaf grows from the arch peak, directly above the leaf below, which keeps the columns straight.
Row 4 (WS, Arch Row): Work as Row 2. (19 dtr, 18 sc, 36 ch-5 sps)
Rows 5–100: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 another 48 times. You now have 50 tiers: 50 Leaf Rows with 900 leaves in total, and 50 Arch Rows.
Row 101 (RS, Top Row): Pink only. Turn. Ch 1, sc in first dtr. *5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next sc, 5 sc in next ch-5 sp, sc in next dtr; repeat from * 17 more times. (217 sc) Do not fasten off; continue to the border.
The panel now measures 43.4 in x 80.2 in (110.2 cm x 203.7 cm).
Ends: Weave each cream tail into the pink edge for 2 in (5.1 cm), then back on itself.
Make Both Panels
Make 2 identical panels. Each panel uses 420 g / 966 m of pink and 520 g / 1,196 m of cream, with 900 leaves per panel and 1,800 leaves for the pair.
Layout on the rod:
[ Panel 1 ][ Panel 2 ]
44.2 in 44.2 in
The panels are not joined. Each hangs from its own 10 clip rings, placed above every other dtr column (every 24 sts, 4.8 in / 12.2 cm apart). That way you can draw them apart in the middle.
Border
Border gauge: 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm); 2 rounds = 0.4 in (1.0 cm) deep.
Before the border, each edge has these counts, including its 2 corner sts:
- Top edge: 217 sts of Row 101
- Bottom edge: 217 free loops of the foundation chain
- Each side: 401 positions
Side math: The 2 corner sts are the ends of Row 1 and Row 101. Between them are 49 sc row ends (odd Rows 3–99) and 50 dtr row ends. Work 1 sc in each sc row end and 7 sc around each dtr post: 49 + (50 x 7) = 399 sts. Add the 2 corners for 401. That equals 80.2 in x 5 sc per in, so the sides lie flat.
Round 1: Continuing with pink, work 3 sc in the last st of the Top Row (corner). Work down the first side: 399 sc as described above. Work 3 sc in the first st of Row 1 (corner). Working in the foundation free loops, sc in next 215 loops, then 3 sc in last loop (corner). Work up the second side: 399 sc. Work 3 sc in first st of Row 101 (corner), then sc in next 215 sts. Join with sl st to first sc.
Count: 1,232 sts worked 1 per base position + 8 extra corner sts = 1,240 sc. Per side, counting the center sc of each corner: top and bottom 217, sides 401.
Round 2: Ch 1. Sc in each sc around, working 3 sc in the center sc of each corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off.
Count: 1,240 sts worked 1 per existing st + 8 extra corner sts = 1,248 sc. Per side, counting corner centers: top and bottom 219, sides 403.
Why the math works: Each round adds 1 st at both ends of every side, so 217 becomes 219 and 401 becomes 403 by Round 2. The outer edge spans 221 sts across, and 221 / 5 = 44.2 in (112.3 cm). It spans 405 sts down, and 405 / 5 = 81.0 in (205.7 cm). Width and length each grow by 0.8 in (2.0 cm), which is exactly two borders of 0.4 in (1.0 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes. Do not wring it.
- Roll it in towels and press to remove extra water.
- Lay it flat and pin the four corners to 44.2 in x 81.0 in (112.3 cm x 205.7 cm).
- Pin along the border every 4 in (10.2 cm), keeping the edges straight.
- Pin each leaf tip in the top and bottom tiers so the arches open evenly. Smooth the middle leaves with your fingers, nudging each tip to a point.
- Mist again if needed and let the panel dry completely, usually 24–48 hours.
- Block the second panel to the same measurements.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every Leaf Row has 217 sc and 18 leaves.
- Every Arch Row has 19 dtr, 18 sc and 36 ch-5 sps.
- The leaves form 18 straight columns that don’t drift sideways.
- Each leaf has 6 sts per side, a visible spine and a closed ch-2 tip.
- Every arch sc sits in a leaf tip, not beside it.
- No cream floats show on the back.
- Border Round 2 has 1,248 sc with 3 sc in each corner.
- Both panels block to 44.2 in x 81.0 in (112.3 cm x 205.7 cm).
Troubleshooting
Columns drift sideways: The dtr stitches are not 12 sts apart. Check that each Leaf Row has 5 sc in every ch-5 sp.
Arches bunch or pucker: The leaves are taller than the dtr. Work the 8 leaf chains more tightly.
Arches sag below the leaf tips: The leaves are shorter than the dtr. Loosen the leaf chain or work the dtr loops more snugly.
Cream shows through the pink sc: Keep the carried yarn flat on top of the row and work the sc snugly around it.
Sides ripple: There are too many border sc. Recount to 7 per dtr post and 1 per sc row end.
Sides pull in: There are too few border sc; recheck the 401 count.
Panel grows after hanging: Lace stretches under its own weight. Block it flat and never hang it wet.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, or machine wash on a gentle cycle inside a large mesh bag. Dry flat, re-pin the corners, and don’t hang the panels while they are wet.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this curtain follows from the gauge:
- Width: 5 sc per inch gives a 12-stitch repeat of 2.4 in (6.1 cm). Eighteen repeats plus 1 stitch is 217 sts, or 43.4 in (110.2 cm).
- Length: Each tier adds 1.6 in (4.1 cm), so 50 tiers plus the Top Row reach 80.2 in (203.7 cm).
- Border: Two rounds add 0.4 in (1.0 cm) to every edge, for a finished panel of 44.2 in x 81.0 in (112.3 cm x 205.7 cm).
Check your swatch and count every Leaf Row, and the second panel will match the first.
Happy crocheting!