The Evergreen Fern Window Valance hangs across a window. A teal header band carries 15 beaded strands. Seven long strands each hold a teal teardrop with a cream fern appliqué, a flowered wreath, and a tassel. Eight short strands hold a tiny teal ring and a free-hanging cream fern leaf.
The colors are deep teal, warm cream, natural wood beads, and touches of gold. The style is calm and Nordic, so it works all winter, not just at Christmas. The tassels alternate teal and cream.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished valance measures 30.25 in (76.8 cm) wide × 16.5 in (41.9 cm) tall.
You crochet the small pieces flat, sew on the leaves and flowers, and link each strand with chain cords and wooden beads. The header band is worked last in rows. Each strand is then tied into an exact stitch along its lower edge.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30.25 in (76.8 cm) × 16.5 in (41.9 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 header band, 7 teardrops, 7 large leaves, 7 wreaths, 35 mini flowers, 8 small rings, 8 small leaves, 7 tassels
- Layout: 15 strands in one row, short and long alternating, with a short strand at both ends
- Piece size: Teardrop 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm); wreath 2 in (5.1 cm); small ring 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Size before border: Strands sit 2 in (5.1 cm) apart and span 28 in (71.1 cm)
- Border depth: Header band 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton with about 170 m per 100 g. Cotton keeps the leaflets crisp and hangs without stretching. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which blur the fern texture.
- Teal: 150 g (about 255 m) for the frames, wreaths, rings, cords, header, and 4 tassels
- Cream: 80 g (about 136 m) for the leaves, flowers, and 3 tassels
- Gold metallic embroidery thread: 5 m for the flower centers
- Wooden beads: 29 needed (buy 32), 16 mm with a 5 mm hole
These quantities include a margin of about 30% for swatching and tassel trimming.
Tools: 4.0 mm (G-6) hook; 1.75 mm steel hook or dental floss threader; yarn needle; scissors; stitch markers; 3.5 in (8.9 cm) cardboard for tassels; blocking mat, pins, and spray bottle; a rod 32–36 in (81.3–91.4 cm) long.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
ch – chain; sl st – slip stitch; sc – single crochet; hdc – half double crochet; dc – double crochet; rsc – reverse single crochet; MR – magic ring; sp – space; st(s) – stitch(es).
Reverse single crochet (rsc): Work from left to right. Insert the hook in the next st to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops. This makes the rope edge.
Bead pull-through (BP): Drop the loop from the hook. Push the steel hook or threader through a bead, catch the loop, and pull it through. Put the loop back on the 4.0 mm hook. The next chain locks the bead in place.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc × 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Chains: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one complete teardrop first. It’s your gauge swatch, and every strand length depends on it.
- Teardrop Rnd 3: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
- Teardrop Rnd 6: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) × 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Teardrop Rnd 7: 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
- Wreath: 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- Header Row 1: 30.25 in (76.8 cm) long
If the teardrop is wider than 3.25 in (8.3 cm), switch to a 3.5 mm hook. If it’s narrower than 2.75 in (7.0 cm), switch to a 4.5 mm hook. Use the same hook for every piece.
Teardrop Frame (make 7, teal)
The frame is worked in joined rounds around a short chain. The ch-2 tip builds the point, and 3 increases per round keep the bottom curve flat.
Ch 6.
Rnd 1: In 2nd ch from hook, work (sc, ch 2, sc) for the tip. Sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in last ch. Working in the free loops on the other side, sc in next 3 ch. Join with sl st to first sc. (11 sc: 2 tip, 3 per side, 3 bottom)
Rnds 2–6: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp. Sc in each st of the first side, work the bottom as shown in the table, sc in each st of the second side, and join to first sc.
Each round, the two old tip sc become part of the sides, so each side gains 1 st. The second side ends in the st that holds the previous join.
| Rnd | Each side | Bottom | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | sc 4 | 2 sc in each of 3 sts (6) | 16 sc |
| 3 | sc 5 | (sc 1, 2 sc in next) × 3 (9) | 21 sc |
| 4 | sc 6 | (sc 2, 2 sc in next) × 3 (12) | 26 sc |
| 5 | sc 7 | (sc 3, 2 sc in next) × 3 (15) | 31 sc |
| 6 | sc 8 | (sc 4, 2 sc in next) × 3 (18) | 36 sc |
Each total is 2 tip sc + both sides + bottom. For Rnd 6: 2 + 8 + 18 + 8 = 36.
Rnd 7 (rope edge): Ch 1, do not turn. Rsc in the st holding the join, then rsc in each st around, ending in the second tip sc. Skip the ch-2 sp so the point stays sharp. Join and fasten off. (36 rsc)
Mark the bottom center, between the 9th and 10th bottom sts.
Large Fern Leaf (make 7, cream)
The leaf is worked around a chain spine. You go down one side and back up the other, making a leaflet at every second spine chain.
- Leaflet A: Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 2 ch, sl st in next ch. (4 sts)
- Leaflet B: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 3 ch, sl st in next ch. (5 sts)
- Leaflet C: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch. (6 sts)
Ch 11 for the spine. Number the chains 1 (bottom, first made) to 11 (top, at the hook).
Top: Leaflet A.
Side 1 (back bumps): Sl st in ch 10 and 9, A. Sl st in ch 8 and 7, B. Sl st in ch 6 and 5, C. Sl st in ch 4 and 3, C. Sl st in ch 2 and 1.
Stem: Ch 3, sl st in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook.
Side 2 (free top loops): Sl st in ch 2 and 3, C. Sl st in ch 4 and 5, C. Sl st in ch 6 and 7, B. Sl st in ch 8 and 9, A. Sl st in ch 10 and 11. Fasten off with a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. (9 leaflets)
Size: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide × 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long.
Appliqué: Center the leaf on the teardrop with the tip toward the point and the stem 0.5 in (1.3 cm) above the rope edge. Angle the leaflets upward. Whipstitch along the spine and tack down each leaflet tip.
Wreath (make 7, teal)
Ch 20, join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around. Join. (20 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) 5 times. Join and fasten off. (25 sc)
Size: 2 in (5.1 cm) across, with a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) opening.
Mini Flower (make 35, cream)
MR, (ch 2, hdc, ch 2, sl st) 5 times in ring. Pull closed and fasten off with a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. (5 petals)
Each flower is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across. Sew 5 flowers to each wreath, 5 sts apart (25 ÷ 5 = 5). Add a gold French knot to each center.
Small Ring (make 8, teal)
Ch 10, join to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 16 sc into the ring over the chain. Join and fasten off. (16 sc)
Size: 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Small Fern Leaf (make 8, cream)
Use leaflets A and B. Ch 9, and number the chains 1 (bottom) to 9 (top).
Top: Leaflet A.
Side 1 (back bumps): Sl st in ch 8 and 7, A. Sl st in ch 6 and 5, B. Sl st in ch 4 and 3, B. Sl st in ch 2 and 1.
Stem: Ch 3, sl st in 2nd and 3rd ch from hook.
Side 2 (free top loops): Sl st in ch 2 and 3, B. Sl st in ch 4 and 5, B. Sl st in ch 6 and 7, A. Sl st in ch 8 and 9. Fasten off. (7 leaflets)
Size: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) long.
Tassels (make 4 teal, 3 cream)
Wrap yarn 30 times around the 3.5 in (8.9 cm) card. Tie the top with a 10 in (25.4 cm) strand and keep the ends as a hanging loop. Cut the bottom. Wrap the neck 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top 6 times and tie. Trim to 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
Make All Pieces
- Teal: 7 teardrops, 7 wreaths, 8 small rings, 4 tassels, 1 header band
- Cream: 7 large leaves, 8 small leaves, 35 mini flowers, 3 tassels
- Beads: 29 (3 per long strand, 1 per short strand)
Layout, left to right (S = short, L = long; TL = teal tassel, CR = cream tassel):
STRAND: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
TYPE: S L S L S L S L S L S L S L S
TASSEL: - TL - CR - TL - CR - TL - CR - TL -
ROW 5: 5 13 21 29 37 45 53 61 69 77 85 93 101 109 117
Joining
Link each strand with teal chain cords and beads. Keep the chains loose and even, because tight chains shorten the strands and twist the beads.
Long strand (make 7):
- Top cord: Join teal in the teardrop’s ch-2 tip sp. Ch 2, BP, ch 8. Fasten off with an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail.
- Teardrop to wreath: Join at the bottom-center marker. Ch 2, BP, ch 2, sl st in any wreath st. Fasten off.
- Wreath to tassel: Join in the wreath st 12 sts from the top join. Ch 2, BP, ch 2, sl st through the tassel loop. Fasten off.
Short strand (make 8):
- Top cord: Join teal in any ring st, ch 3. Fasten off with an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail.
- Ring to leaf: Join in the st 8 sts away. Ch 22, BP, ch 2, sl st in the leaf’s stem tip so the leaf hangs tip down. Fasten off.
How the lengths add up: A long strand is top cord 2.6 in (6.6 cm) + teardrop 4.25 in (10.8 cm) + cord 1.4 in (3.6 cm) + wreath 2 in (5.1 cm) + cord 1.4 in (3.6 cm) + tassel 3.25 in (8.3 cm) = 14.9 in (37.8 cm). It relaxes to 15 in (38.1 cm) when hung. A short strand is 0.6 in (1.5 cm) + 1 in (2.5 cm) + 5.4 in (13.7 cm) + 2.5 in (6.4 cm) = 9.5 in (24.1 cm).
Size checkpoint: Lay all the strands side by side. The long strands should match within 0.25 in (0.6 cm), and so should the short strands. Re-chain any cord that’s off.
Border: Header Band
The header band is this piece’s border. It holds the rod and all 15 strands.
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).
With teal, ch 122.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (121 sc) Check: 30.25 in (76.8 cm).
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. (121 sc)
Row 3 (rod mesh): Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, (ch 3, sk 3, dc in next st) 30 times. (31 dc + 30 ch-3 sps = 121 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in first dc, (3 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in next dc) 30 times. (121 sc = 1 + 30 × 4)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. (121 sc) Fasten off. The band is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep.
Attaching: Thread each strand’s tail through its Row 5 stitch from the grid. Knot it on the back and weave it in. Weave the rod over and under through the 30 mesh spaces.
Why the math works: The mesh needs 4 × 30 + 1 = 121 sts. Strands sit every 8 sts, or 2 in (5.1 cm): 4 margin sts + 15 strand sts + (14 gaps × 7 sts) + 4 margin sts = 121. Long strands are 16 sts (4 in / 10.2 cm) apart, so the 3 in (7.6 cm) teardrops keep a 1 in (2.5 cm) gap between them. Strand 8 sits on st 61, the exact center.
Final Blocking
- Before assembly, wet the teardrops and wreaths. Pin each teardrop to 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm) with a sharp tip.
- Pin the leaflets at about 45 degrees and let them dry.
- After assembly, pin the header to 30.25 in (76.8 cm) × 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and mist it.
- Hang the valance, mist the strands, and let them dry hanging straight.
- Steam the tassels and trim them level.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The header is 30.25 in (76.8 cm) with 121 sts in Row 5.
- The strands sit on sts 5 to 117, 8 sts apart.
- Long strands are 15 in (38.1 cm) and short strands are 9.5 in (24.1 cm).
- Tassels alternate teal and cream, with teal at both ends.
- Teardrop tips are crisp and the rope edges are unbroken.
- Leaves are centered and tacked down.
- Each wreath has 5 flowers with gold centers.
- All 29 beads are locked by chains.
Troubleshooting
- Teardrop cups: Go up a hook size or loosen your tension on the bottom curve.
- Teardrop ruffles: Work only 3 bottom increases per round.
- Rounded tip: Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip sp every round.
- Bead won’t pass: Use a floss threader or beads with a 5 mm hole.
- Uneven strands: Count chains rather than measuring, and re-chain.
- Header sags: Use a rod that fills the full width.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Dry flat, then re-hang and smooth the strands.
Final Notes
Gauge sets a 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4.25 in (10.8 cm) teardrop. Cords and beads turn it into 15 in (38.1 cm) long strands and 9.5 in (24.1 cm) short strands. The 121-stitch header spaces 15 strands 2 in (5.1 cm) apart, for a 30.25 in (76.8 cm) × 16.5 in (41.9 cm) valance.
Happy crocheting!