Coral Tide Seashell Curtain Crochet Pattern

The Coral Tide curtain brings a beach-house feel to any window. A cream lace header with soft scallops holds eight hanging strands. On each strand, fan-shaped seashells alternate with little cream flowers, and a coral tassel finishes the bottom.

The palette is warm and coastal: deep coral, salmon, and soft peach shells, with cream for the header, flowers, and chain links. Each strand is offset from its neighbors, so shells and flowers zigzag across the window and the light comes through between them.

This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide and about 31.25 in (79.4 cm) long from the top of the tabs to the tassel tips.

Construction is modular. First you make the shells, flowers, and tassels. Then you link them into strands with short cream chains. Next you crochet the header band, add its scalloped lower edge and top tabs, and attach each strand to the center of a scallop.

Finished Size and Construction

• Finished size: 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide x about 31.25 in (79.4 cm) long
• Skill level: Easy intermediate
• Terminology: US
• Yarn weight: DK / light (#3) cotton
• Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
• Number of pieces: 1 header, 24 shells, 28 flowers, 8 tassels
• Layout: 8 strands spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, alternating Strand A and Strand B
• Piece size: shell 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide x 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall; flower 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
• Header before border: 32.2 in x 3 in (81.8 cm x 7.6 cm)
• Border (scallop) depth: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) at scallop centers
• Strand drop: about 25 in (63.5 cm) including tassels

Materials

Pick a smooth mercerized cotton or a cotton blend in DK weight. Cotton holds the shell spokes crisp and won’t stretch much as it hangs. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the lace.

• Cream: 160 g (400 m), for the header, flowers, and links
• Deep coral: 60 g (150 m), for the top shells and all tassels
• Salmon: 40 g (100 m), for the middle shells
• Peach: 40 g (100 m), for the bottom shells

Tools: 4.0 mm (G-6) hook, tapestry needle, scissors, a 3 in (7.6 cm) piece of cardboard for the tassels, rustproof pins, a blocking mat, a spray bottle, and stitch markers.

These quantities include a margin of about 20 percent for gauge differences and tassel trimming.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• sk: skip
• sp(s): space(s)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• rep: repeat
• tch: turning chain

Magic ring: Wrap the yarn around two fingers, insert the hook, pull up a loop, and work the stitches into the ring. Pull the tail to close it.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 20 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). In the header mesh, 4 rows = 2.5 in (6.4 cm). A chain of 5 = about 1 in (2.5 cm).

Before you start the full set, make one shell and one flower and measure them.

Shell checkpoints (measured across the widest point):
– Row 1: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
– Row 2: 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
– Row 3: 3.75 in (9.5 cm)
– Row 4: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall

Flower checkpoints: Round 1 is 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Round 2 is 1.75 in (4.4 cm).

If your pieces come out too big, go down to a 3.5 mm hook. If they are too small, go up to a 4.5 mm hook. Do not adjust by skipping or adding stitches, because the counts set the shape.

Shell Motif (make 24)

Make 8 shells in deep coral, 8 in salmon, and 8 in peach. The shell is worked flat in turned rows from a magic ring.

Row 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 8 dc in the ring. Pull the ring partly closed so the stitches fan into a half circle. Turn. (9 dc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, 2 dc in each of the next 3 dc, dc in the next dc (the center), 2 dc in each of the next 3 dc, 2 dc in the top of the beginning ch-3. Turn. (17 dc)

The single dc in the center keeps the count odd. That way one spoke always runs straight down the middle.

Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in the next dc, ch 2, dc in the next dc; rep from * across, ending in the top of the tch. Turn. (17 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)*

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first dc, ch 5, sk the next dc, sc in the next dc; rep from * 7 more times. (9 sc, 8 ch-5 loops)*

The 5th sc sits on the 9th dc, which is the center spoke. This is the bottom center point of the shell. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Flower (make 28)

Use cream.

Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 10 sc in the ring. Leave a small center hole and sl st to the first sc to join. (10 sc)

Round 2: (Hdc, 3 dc, hdc) in the next sc, sl st in the next sc; rep from * 4 more times. (5 petals, 30 sts)*

Fasten off and weave in the ends. Hold the flower so one petal points straight up. The center dc of that petal is the top point. The sl st between the two lowest petals is the bottom point.

Tassel (make 8)

Use deep coral. Wrap the yarn 25 times around the 3 in (7.6 cm) card. Slide a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand under the top and tie it tightly, leaving its tails long for attaching. Cut the loops at the bottom. Wrap another strand 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top 5 times, knot it, and bury the ends inside the tassel. Trim the tassel to 3 in (7.6 cm).

Make All Pieces

Piece	Color	Quantity
Shell (top)	Deep coral	8
Shell (middle)	Salmon	8
Shell (bottom)	Peach	8
Flower	Cream	28
Tassel	Deep coral	8

Layout grid (F = flower, S1/S2/S3 = top, middle, and bottom shell, | = long link, T = tassel):

Strand:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8
Type:     A   B   A   B   A   B   A   B
Level 1:  F   F   F   F   F   F   F   F
Level 2:  S1  |   S1  |   S1  |   S1  |
Level 3:  F   S1  F   S1  F   S1  F   S1
Level 4:  S2  F   S2  F   S2  F   S2  F
Level 5:  F   S2  F   S2  F   S2  F   S2
Level 6:  S3  F   S3  F   S3  F   S3  F
Level 7:  F   S3  F   S3  F   S3  F   S3
Level 8:  T   T   T   T   T   T   T   T

Strand A uses 4 flowers and 3 shells, so 4 strands need 16 flowers. Strand B uses 3 flowers and 3 shells, so 4 strands need 12 flowers. That makes 28 flowers in all.

Joining

The motifs are joined with separate cream chain links. For each link, join cream with a sl st at the bottom point of the upper motif. Ch 5, then sl st into the top point of the next motif and fasten off. Leave 6 in (15.2 cm) tails and weave them back through the link chain itself.

Attachment points:
– Shell top: sl st through the center of the magic ring.
– Shell bottom: the 5th sc of Row 4.
– Flower top: the center dc of the top petal.
– Flower bottom: the sl st between the two lowest petals.

Strand A: F, ch-5 link, S1, ch-5 link, F, ch-5 link, S2, ch-5 link, F, ch-5 link, S3, ch-5 link, F. Tie a tassel to the bottom point of the last flower.

Strand B: F, ch-21 link (about 4.2 in, 10.7 cm), S1, ch-5 link, F, ch-5 link, S2, ch-5 link, F, ch-5 link, S3. Tie a tassel to the bottom point of S3.

The long ch-21 link drops each Strand B shell to the height of the flowers on Strand A. That offset makes the zigzag pattern.

Tension: Keep the links loose and even. If the links are tight, the motifs will tilt and the strands will come out short.

Checkpoint: With the strand hanging and before adding the tassel, measure from the top of its first flower. Strand A should measure about 20.5 in (52.1 cm) to the bottom of its last flower. Strand B should measure about 21 in (53.3 cm) to the bottom of S3. The top ch-5 link is added when you attach the strand to the header.

Border: Header Band, Scallops, and Tabs

Gauge reminder: 20 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each scallop repeat uses 20 foundation sts, so every scallop is 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.

Header Band

With cream, ch 162.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (161 sc) Checkpoint: 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide.

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk the next sc, dc in the next sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc, dc in the next sc; rep from * across. Turn. (81 dc, 80 ch-1 sps = 161 sts)*

Rows 3–5: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the next dc, ch 1, dc in the next dc; rep from * across, ending in the 3rd ch of the tch. Turn. (81 dc, 80 ch-1 sps)*

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp across. (81 + 80 = 161 sc) Fasten off.

Checkpoint: the band measures 32.2 in x 3 in (81.8 cm x 7.6 cm).

Scallop Edge

Rotate the band and work into the free loops of the foundation chain. There are 161 sts.

Edge Row A: Join cream in the first st. Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 5, sk 4 sts, sc in the next st; rep from * across. Turn. (33 sc, 32 ch-5 loops)*

Edge Row B: Ch 1, sc in the next loop, 6 dc in the next loop, dc in the next sc, 6 dc in the next loop, sc in the next loop; rep from * 7 more times. (15 sts per scallop x 8 scallops = 120 sts)* Fasten off.

The center dc of each scallop is the hanging point for one strand. Mark all 8 of them.

Why the math works: 161 = (8 x 20) + 1. Edge Row A places a sc every 5 sts, which gives 33 sc and 32 loops, or exactly 4 loops per scallop. In Edge Row B, each set of 4 loops becomes 1 + 6 + 1 + 6 + 1 = 15 sts, with the single center dc sitting over the middle sc of Row A. Because the scallop centers are 20 foundation sts apart, the strands hang exactly 4 in (10.2 cm) apart. The first and last centers sit 2 in (5.1 cm) in from each side.

Tabs (make 8)

The tabs are centered over the scallops on Row 6. Count 20 sts per scallop, so the tabs go over sts 8–14, 28–34, 48–54, and so on, up to sts 148–154.

Row 1: Join cream in the first tab st. Ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 6 sts. Turn. (7 sc)

Rows 2–20: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (7 sc)

Each tab is 4 in (10.2 cm) long and 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide. Fold it to the back and whipstitch the last row to the back of Row 5. That leaves a 2 in (5.1 cm) loop for the rod.

Attach the Strands

At each marked center dc, join cream, ch 5, and sl st into the top point of the strand’s first flower. Hang the strands in order 1 through 8, alternating Strand A and Strand B.

Final Blocking

1. Before assembly, mist the shells and pin each one to 4.5 in x 2.5 in (11.4 cm x 6.4 cm), opening every ch-5 loop.
2. Pin the flowers to 1.75 in (4.4 cm), shaping each petal.
3. Pin the header to 32.2 in x 3 in (81.8 cm x 7.6 cm). Pin each scallop into a smooth curve, 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep.
4. Mist everything and let it dry completely.
5. After assembly, hang the curtain and lightly mist the strands so they settle straight.
6. Steam the tassels and trim them again to 3 in (7.6 cm).

Final Quality-Control Checklist

• The header is 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) tall before the scallops.
• There are 8 scallops, each 15 sts, with centers 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
• There are 8 tabs, each centered over a scallop.
• Every shell has 9 sc and 8 loops on its edge and hangs point up.
• Strands alternate A and B, and the shells and flowers zigzag.
• All tassels are 3 in (7.6 cm) long.
• All ends are woven in securely.

Troubleshooting

• Shell cups or ruffles: Your Row 3 chains are too tight or too loose. Work the ch-2 sps evenly.
• Shell hangs crooked: You joined the bottom link off center. Use the 5th sc of Row 4.
• Header narrower than 32.2 in (81.8 cm): Your foundation chain is tight. Chain with a hook one size larger.
• Scallops look flat: Make sure you worked 6 dc in each of loops 2 and 3, not in loops 1 and 4.
• Strands twist: Block them while hanging, and check that the links aren’t twisted when you sl st.
• Tassels splay: Tighten the neck wrap and steam them.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap. Roll the curtain in a towel and dry it flat, reshaping the shells. Rehang it once it is dry.

Final Notes

The measurement chain is simple. Each shell is 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide and each flower is 1.75 in (4.4 cm), joined by ch-5 links of about 1 in (2.5 cm). Eight strands hang 4 in (10.2 cm) apart from a 161-st header that is 32.2 in (81.8 cm) wide. That gives a finished curtain about 31.25 in (79.4 cm) long. If you check your gauge at each stage, the strands will line up with the scallops.

Happy crocheting!