The Ebony Plume Swan Napkin Holder is a table piece in crisp white and black. Two lacy peacock fans stand on an oval base, a white swan curves up in front, and pearls, small flowers and black leaves finish the design.
The look is graphic and elegant. White cotton carries the lace, and black outlines every edge and every teardrop “eye” in the fan feathers. Pearl swags and pearl-centered flowers add a soft vintage shine.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder measures about 8 in (20.3 cm) long, 4.75 in (12.1 cm) deep and 4 in (10.2 cm) tall at the fans, with the swan’s crown reaching about 4.75 in (12.1 cm).
You’ll crochet an oval base in rounds and two semicircular fans in rows, then add the black borders. Next come a stuffed swan and the small flowers and leaves. Stiffen the fans, sew them upright onto the base, and finish with pearls.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 8 x 4.75 in (20.3 x 12.1 cm) footprint, about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (3) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.0 mm
- Number of pieces: 15 crocheted pieces: 1 base, 2 fans, 1 swan, 1 beak, 4 flowers and 6 leaves
- Layout: the two fans stand face to face on the base; the swan, flowers and leaves sit in front
- Base size: 7.25 x 4 in (18.4 x 10.2 cm) before the border, 8 x 4.75 in (20.3 x 12.1 cm) after
- Fan size: 6.75 x 3.5 in (17.1 x 8.9 cm) before the border, 7.25 x 3.75 in (18.4 x 9.5 cm) after
- Border depth: base about 3/8 in (1.0 cm); fans about 1/4 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized cotton. It gives clear stitch definition and takes stiffener well. Avoid acrylic, which won’t hold the fans upright.
- White: 60 g (about 138 m)
- Black: 25 g (about 58 m)
Both quantities include a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch and for weaving in ends.
Tools and notions:
– 3.0 mm crochet hook
– Tapestry needle and a sewing needle with white thread
– 4 stitch markers
– A small amount of polyester fiberfill
– Fabric stiffener or heavy starch
– 7 pearl beads, 6 mm (front fan eyes)
– 4 pearl beads, 8 mm (flower centers)
– 5 pearl-head pins, trimmed to 3/4 in (1.9 cm), and a little clear craft glue (swan crown)
– About 18 in (45.7 cm) of pre-strung 4 mm pearls (swags)
– Pins, a blocking mat and plastic wrap
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sts in the same st
- dec – sc2tog
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitches
– V-loop: (dc, ch 6, dc) in the same st.
– Reverse sc (crab stitch): working left to right, insert the hook into the next st to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 22 sc and 24 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm). In dc, 22 sts and 11 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Make one fan first and check it before starting anything else.
- Fan after Row 7: about 5.2 in (13.2 cm) across the straight edge and 2.6 in (6.6 cm) tall.
- Fan after Row 10: 6.75 x 3.5 in (17.1 x 8.9 cm).
- Base after Rnd 4: 4.5 x 1.25 in (11.4 x 3.2 cm).
- Base after Rnd 9: 7.25 x 4 in (18.4 x 10.2 cm).
If a piece comes out more than 1/4 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down to a 2.75 mm hook. If it comes out too small, go up to 3.25 mm. Because the fans are sewn to Rnd 4 of the base stitch for stitch, the fans and base must use the same hook.
Oval Base (White)
Join each round with a sl st to the first st. On sc rounds, the ch 1 at the start doesn’t count as a st. On dc rounds, the ch 3 at the start counts as the first dc.
Each round starts at End B and runs: End B, Side, End A, Side.
Rnd 1: Ch 21. Work 3 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 18 ch, 3 sc in the last ch. Working along the opposite side of the chain, sc in the next 18 ch. Join. (42 sts: 3 + 18 + 3 + 18)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. [2 sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc 18] twice. Join. (48 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1. [(sc 1, inc) 3 times, sc 18] twice. Join. (54 sts; each end has 9)
Rnd 4: Ch 1. [(sc 2, inc) 3 times, sc 18] twice. Join. (60 sts; each end has 12)
Place markers at the 1st, 31st and 61st… Instead, mark the first st of each End: Rnd 4 divides into End B (12), Side (18), End A (12) and Side (18). Mark the middle of each End, between its 6th and 7th sts. These two markers split Rnd 4 into two halves of 30 sts, one for each fan.
Rnd 5: Ch 3. [2 dc in the next st, (dc 1, inc) 5 times, dc 18, (dc 1, inc) 6 times, dc 18]. Join. (72 sts; each end has 18)
Rnd 6 (lace): Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1). Skip the next st, (dc, ch 1) in the next st, then [(dc, ch 1) in the next st, skip 1, (dc, ch 1) in the next st] 5 times. Work (dc in the next st, ch 1, skip 1) 9 times along the side. Repeat [(dc, ch 1) in the next st, skip 1, (dc, ch 1) in the next st] 6 times across End A, then (dc, ch 1, skip 1) 9 times along the second side. Join to the 3rd ch.
Count for Rnd 6: 42 dc + 42 ch-1 sps = 84 sts. Each end has 24 and each side 18.
Rnd 7: Ch 1. Sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp, adding increases on the ends: [(sc 7, inc) 3 times, sc 18] twice. Join. (90 sts; each end has 27)
Rnd 8: Ch 3. [(dc 3, inc) 6 times, dc 3, dc 18] twice, counting the ch 3 as the first dc. Join. (102 sts; each end has 33)
Rnd 9: Ch 1. [(sc 10, inc) 3 times, sc 18] twice. Join. (108 sts; each end has 36) Fasten off.
Peacock Fan (Make 2, White with Black Eyes)
Work in rows and turn at the end of each row. The ch 3 at the start of a row counts as a dc.
Row 1 (RS): In a MR, ch 3 and work 5 dc. Pull the ring tight. (6 sts)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in the same st, then 2 dc in each st across. (12 sts)
Row 3: Ch 3, inc, then (dc 1, inc) 5 times. (18 sts)
Row 4: (dc 2, inc) 6 times. (24 sts)
Row 5: (dc 3, inc) 6 times. (30 sts)
Row 6: (dc 4, inc) 6 times. (36 sts)
Row 7: (dc 4, inc) 7 times, dc in the last st. (43 sts) This round uses 7 increases so the next row divides into 7 even feathers.
Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, sc in the first st. Ch 2, skip 2 sts, V-loop in the next st, ch 2, skip 2 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 6 more times.
Count for Row 8: 8 sc, 7 V-loops and 14 ch-2 sps, using all 43 sts. Don’t fasten off. Slip the white loop onto a marker.
Row 9 (black eyes, RS facing): Join black in a ch-6 loop and work 10 sc into the loop. Fasten off. Repeat for all 7 loops.
Each black arch sits on top of the white V legs, which together outline a teardrop opening.
Row 10 (RS): Put the white loop back on the hook and turn. Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Then work this sequence for each feather:
1. Sc in the ch-2 sp.
2. Work the petal into the 10 black sc of that eye: sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, 2 dc in each of the next 4, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1. (14 sts)
3. Sc in the next ch-2 sp, then sc in the next sc.
Repeat the sequence 7 times in total. (120 sts: 1 + 7 x 17) Fasten off.
Swan (White)
Work in continuous rounds.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a MR. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc 6 times. (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
Rnds 4–7: Sc 18.
Rnd 8: (sc 1, dec) 6 times. (12) Stuff the head.
Rnds 9–12: Sc 12.
Rnds 13–18: Sc 6, hdc 6. (12) The taller hdc half becomes the outer curve at the back of the neck.
Rnds 19–20: Sc 12.
Rnd 21: (sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
Rnd 22: (sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
Rnds 23–24: Sc 24.
Rnd 25: Working in back loops only, (sc 2, dec) 6 times. (18) This makes a flat bottom about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
Rnd 26: (sc 1, dec) 6 times. (12) Stuff the swan firmly.
Rnd 27: Dec 6 times. (6) Close the opening.
The finished swan stands about 4 in (10.2 cm) tall.
Beak (black): 4 sc in a MR. Round 2: (sc 1, inc) twice. (6) Round 3: sc 6. Fasten off. The beak is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long.
Flowers and Leaves
Flower (white, make 4): Rnd 1: in a MR, ch 1 and work 10 sc. Join. Rnd 2: (hdc, 2 dc, hdc) in the next st, sl st in the next st. Repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals, 25 sts) Each flower is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Leaf (black, make 6):
1. Ch 9.
2. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1.
3. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last ch for the tip.
4. Working along the opposite side of the chain: sc 1, hdc 1, dc 3, hdc 1, sc 1.
5. Sl st to the first sc.
Each leaf has 16 sts plus the ch-2 tip and is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long. The foundation chain forms the center vein.
Make All Pieces
- White: 1 base (Rnds 1–9), 2 fans (Rows 1–10), 1 swan, 4 flowers
- Black: base border, fan eyes and borders, 1 beak, 6 leaves
Top-view layout:
BACK FAN (back 30 sts of Rnd 4)
End B ( - - - - napkin slot, 1.25 in - - - - ) End A
FRONT FAN (front 30 sts of Rnd 4)
[SWAN] [FLOWERS + LEAVES]
front edge of base (Rnds 5-9 + border)
Border
The border gauge matches the main gauge: 22 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Base Border (Black)
B1: Join black at the start of End B. Ch 1. [(sc 17, inc) twice, sc 18] twice. Join.
Count for B1: 112 sts. Each end has 38 and each side 18.
B2: Sc in the next st, skip 1, 5 hdc in the next st, skip 1. Repeat from * around. (28 scallops) Join and fasten off.
The scallops run continuously around the oval, so they don’t need to line up with the sides.
Why the math works: On a sc round, each end needs 3 increases to stay flat, and a dc round needs 6. B1 adds only 2 increases per end because the 5-hdc shells flare outward. That keeps the scalloped edge flat. The total of 112 divides by 4 exactly, giving 28 even scallops.
Fan Border (Black, Both Fans)
B1: With the RS facing, join black in the first st of Row 10.
1. Work 3 sc in that st (corner), sc in the next 118 sts, and 3 sc in the last st (corner).
2. Working across the straight edge, work 2 sc in each dc row end down Rows 7 to 1, then up Rows 1 to 7. (28 sts)
3. Join.
Count for B1: 152 sts (3 + 118 + 3 + 28).
B2: Work reverse sc across the curved edge only: the 3 sts of the first corner, the 118 curved sts and the 3 sts of the last corner. (124 sts) Fasten off.
The straight edge stays as smooth sc so it’s easy to sew down.
Why the math works: The two corners and the curve together use all 120 sts of Row 10. The fan’s sewing edge is its 28 straight-edge sc plus the last sc of each corner, which makes 30 sts. Each fan is sewn to one 30-st half of the base’s Rnd 4, so the stitches pair up exactly 1:1.
Joining
Stiffen and dry the fans before you join anything (see Final Blocking).
Hold the front fan upright along the front half of Rnd 4, with its RS facing out. Match the fan’s sewing sts to the base, starting at the End B marker:
– 6 fan sts to the last 6 sts of End B
– 18 fan sts to the 18 side sts
– 6 fan sts to the first 6 sts of End A, finishing at the End A marker
Whipstitch one fan st to one Rnd 4 st, going through both loops of the fan st and under the Rnd 4 st. Sew the back fan the same way along the other half of Rnd 4. Then tack the two fans’ corners together at each marker for 1/2 in (1.3 cm).
Keep your tension snug but not tight, so the base doesn’t pucker. Checkpoint: the slot should be about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide at the base and open to about 3 in (7.6 cm) at the top.
Sew the beak to the front of the head, between Rnds 4 and 6.
1. Embroider a closed eye in black on each side of the head: a curved backstitch line with three short lashes.
2. Glue the 5 pearl-head pins into the top of the head to make the crown.
3. Sew the swan’s flat bottom to the base in front of the front fan at End B, covering Rnds 6–9.
4. Sew the flowers and leaves in a cluster at the swan’s foot.
5. Add an 8 mm pearl to the center of each flower and a 6 mm pearl inside each black arch on the front fan.
6. Drape three pearl swags across the front fan, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 in (11.4, 14.0 and 16.5 cm) long, and tack the ends behind the petals.
Final Blocking
- Wet the fans in fabric stiffener and squeeze out the excess.
- Pin each fan flat over plastic wrap, shaping it to 7.25 x 3.75 in (18.4 x 9.5 cm).
- Pin each petal point, and open each teardrop with a pin.
- Pin the base to 8 x 4.75 in (20.3 x 12.1 cm). It only needs a light spray of starch.
- Let everything dry completely, which takes about 24 hours.
- Unpin the pieces, then assemble the holder.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The base measures 8 x 4.75 in (20.3 x 12.1 cm) and lies flat.
- Each fan has 7 even feathers and measures 7.25 x 3.75 in (18.4 x 9.5 cm).
- The black arches are fully covered with 10 sc each.
- Both fans stand straight, with their corners meeting at the oval ends.
- All pearls are sewn on securely and no thread shows.
- All yarn ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
- Fan ruffles: check your gauge on Rows 5–7 and go down a hook size.
- Fan cups: your tension is too tight; go up a hook size.
- Base edge waves: skip one increase per end in B1.
- Fans lean or flop: apply a second coat of stiffener.
- Swan tilts: add more stuffing to the bottom before closing, then re-sew it with the bottom flat against the base.
- Teardrops close up: work fewer sc in the ch-6 loop, or loosen your chains.
Care
Spot clean only, and don’t soak, since water will soften the stiffener. If the fans soften over time, re-starch them.
Final Notes
The measurement chain works like this. A gauge of 22 sc to 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 30-st half of Rnd 4. That half matches each fan’s 30-st sewing edge, which gives a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) slot. Around it, the base finishes at 8 x 4.75 in (20.3 x 12.1 cm). If you check each piece at its checkpoints, the holder will stand straight and hold napkins well.
Happy crocheting!