Here’s a window curtain that lets light through. Thirteen vertical strands hang from a wooden rod. Each strand alternates lacy oak leaves with small round mandala medallions, linked by gold pearl beads, and ends in a long, full tassel.
Every crocheted part uses one color, a deep forest green cotton thread. The champagne-gold pearls are the only accent. The look is botanical and a little vintage, so the curtain suits a sunny window, a doorway, or a reading nook.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures about 38 in (96.5 cm) wide and 55.75 in (141.6 cm) long, measured from the top of the rod to the tips of the tassels.
You crochet two motif types separately: a 4-round medallion and a 3-round leaf that you work all the way around a foundation chain. You block the motifs, link them into strands with short beaded chains, add a crocheted tab at the top of each strand, and tie a tassel to the bottom.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 38 in (96.5 cm) wide x 55.75 in (141.6 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread (fingering/lace weight)
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1), plus a 0.6 mm steel hook for the beads
- Number of pieces: 91 round medallions, 78 leaves, 13 tabs, 13 tassels
- Layout: 13 strands; each has 7 medallions and 6 leaves, alternating, with a medallion at each end
- Piece size: medallion 2 in (5.1 cm) across; leaf 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long x 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
- Size before border: each linked strand is 47 in (119.4 cm) long
- Border depth: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) of tab at the top, plus 7 in (17.8 cm) of bead and tassel at the bottom
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized cotton thread. It shows the lace clearly, holds its shape on blocking, and doesn’t stretch much while hanging. Steer clear of acrylic and splitty blends, because long strands of those grow over time.
- Forest green, size 3 cotton thread: about 1,260 g / 3,450 m (3,773 yd), for example 26 balls of 50 g / 137 m each. Approximate use: medallions 1,140 m, leaves 1,210 m, tassels 525 m, tabs 150 m, connectors 70 m.
- Gold pearl beads: 180 beads, 10 mm, with holes of at least 1.5 mm (you need 169)
The thread and bead quantities include a margin of about 12% to cover gauge differences and a test swatch. Buy all the thread from one dye lot.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- 0.6 mm steel hook for placing beads
- Tapestry needle
- Sharp scissors
- A stiff card cut to 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- Blocking mat, rustproof pins, and spray starch
- A curtain rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter and at least 40 in (101.6 cm) long
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- sk – skip
- rnd – round
- beg – beginning
Special stitch – Place Bead (PB): Take the working hook out of the loop. Put the 0.6 mm steel hook through a bead, catch the loop, and pull it through the bead. Put the working hook back in the loop, then ch 1 to lock the bead in place.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: one finished medallion measures 2 in (5.1 cm) across after blocking. For the tabs, 8 sc and 9 sc rows make 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one medallion and one leaf before anything else, and block both. Because the curtain repeats these two pieces 169 times, a small error in one piece becomes a large one over the whole curtain.
Medallion checkpoints:
- After Rnd 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- After Rnd 2: 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- After Rnd 3: 1.6 in (4.1 cm)
- After Rnd 4: 2 in (5.1 cm)
Leaf checkpoints:
- After Rnd 1: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) long
- After Rnd 2: 3 in (7.6 cm) long x 1 in (2.5 cm) wide
- After Rnd 3: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long x 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
Too big: go down to a 2.0 mm hook. Too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook. A difference of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per motif adds up to 3.25 in (8.3 cm) over the 13 motifs in a strand.
Round Medallion (make 91)
Ch 4 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring, or start with a magic ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [dc in next dc, ch 2] 15 times, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps) These are the spokes.
Rnd 3: Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 4, [sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 4] 15 times, sl st to first sc. (16 sc, 16 ch-4 loops) This round makes the open ring of holes.
Rnd 4: Sl st into first ch-4 loop, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in same loop and in each loop around, sl st to first sc. (16 scallops, 80 sts)
Fasten off and weave in the ends. Number the scallops 1 to 16. The dc of Scallop 1 is the top point, and the dc of Scallop 9, directly opposite, is the bottom point.
Oak Leaf (make 78)
The leaf is worked in rounds around a chain. That chain becomes the solid center vein.
Ch 23.
Rnd 1 (vein): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 20 ch, 3 sc in last ch (this is the tip). Working along the opposite side of the foundation chain, sc in each of next 20 ch, 2 sc in the same ch as the first sc (this is the base), sl st to first sc. (46 sc: 21 + 3 + 20 + 2)
Number the sts 1 to 46. St 1 is the first sc, and St 23 is the center tip st.
Rnd 2 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1] 10 times, sk next st, (dc, ch 3, dc) in St 23, ch 1, [sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1] 11 times, sk last st, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (24 dc, 23 ch-1 sps, 1 ch-3 tip sp)
Each side now has 11 ch-1 sps (Sp 1 next to the base, Sp 11 next to the tip), and there is one more sp at the base.
Rnd 3 (lobed edge): Ch 1. On the first side, working from base to tip:
- Sc in Sp 1, sc in Sp 2
- 7 dc in Sp 3
- Sc in Sp 4
- 9 tr in Sp 5
- Sc in Sp 6
- 9 tr in Sp 7
- Sc in Sp 8
- 7 dc in Sp 9
- Sc in Sp 10, sc in Sp 11
Work 9 dc in the ch-3 tip sp. On the second side, repeat the sequence in reverse, from Sp 11 back to Sp 1. Work 3 sc in the base sp, then sl st to the first sc.
(Each side: 7 sc + 32 lobe sts = 39. Total: 39 + 39 + 9 tip + 3 base = 90 sts)
That gives each side four rounded lobes, smaller toward the base and tip and larger in the middle, plus a rounded lobe at the tip, which is the typical oak-leaf outline. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
The top point is the center sc of the 3 base sc. The bottom point is the 5th dc of the 9-dc tip lobe.
Block every motif before assembly. Pin each medallion to a 2 in (5.1 cm) circle. Pin each leaf to a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 2 in (5.1 cm) outline, opening up each lobe. Mist with spray starch and let everything dry completely.
Make All Pieces
Everything is in forest green:
- Medallions: 91 (7 per strand)
- Leaves: 78 (6 per strand)
- Tabs: 13 (worked during finishing)
- Tassels: 13
Layout grid (T = tab, R = medallion, L = leaf, o = bead, Y = tassel). Each strand reads from top to bottom:
T
R o L o R o L o R o L o R o L o R o L o R o L o R
o
Y
Hang 13 identical strands side by side:
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13
Joining
Method: Each strand is joined with 12 beaded chain connectors.
Connector: Join the thread with a sl st at the bottom point of the upper motif. Ch 3, PB, ch 3, then sl st into the top point of the next motif. Fasten off, leaving 4 in (10.2 cm) tails. Weave each tail back into its own motif.
Stitch-to-stitch logic:
- From a medallion to a leaf: connect the dc of Scallop 9 on the medallion to the center base sc of the leaf.
- From a leaf to a medallion: connect the 5th tip dc of the leaf to the dc of Scallop 1 on the medallion.
Joining at these exact points keeps the strand hanging straight, with no twist.
Each connector, bead included, is 1 in (2.5 cm) long. Keep the chains firm but not tight. A loose chain lets the bead slip around, while a tight chain kinks the strand. All 13 strands should have identical connectors.
Size checkpoint: lay each strand flat. It should measure 7 x 2 in + 6 x 3.5 in + 12 x 1 in = 47 in (119.4 cm). Line up all 13 strands side by side. They should be within 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of one another.
Border: Top Tabs and Bottom Tassels
The “border” on this curtain is the finish at the top and bottom of each strand.
Border gauge: 8 sc and 9 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Top tab (on each strand’s first medallion):
- Row 1: Join thread in the first sc of Scallop 1. Sc in each of the 5 sts of the scallop. (5 sc)
- Rows 2–36: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sc per row)
- Edging: Ch 1, then work 36 sl st down one long side (1 per row end) and 36 sl st up the other side. (36 sl st per long side)
Fold the tab toward the back of the strand and sew Row 36 to the back of Row 1. This makes a closed loop that the rod slides through.
Why the math works: Row 1 works exactly 1 sc into each of the scallop’s 5 existing sts, with nothing added. That makes the tab a steady 0.625 in (1.6 cm) wide without gathering the medallion. The edging puts 1 sl st on each row end, so the sides stay flat. The 36 rows make a strip 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Folded, that is a loop roomy enough for a 1 in (2.5 cm) rod, which has a circumference of about 3.14 in (8.0 cm). The tab hangs the top medallion 1.75 in (4.4 cm) below the top of the rod.
Tassel (make 13):
- Wrap the thread 120 times around the 6.5 in (16.5 cm) card.
- Slide a 12 in (30.5 cm) tie thread under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly.
- Cut through all the loops at the bottom.
- With another 12 in (30.5 cm) strand, wrap 10 times around the neck, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top. Knot, and bury the ends inside the tassel.
- Trim the tassel to 6 in (15.2 cm).
Bottom connector: Join the thread at Scallop 9 of the last medallion. Ch 3, PB, ch 3. Pull the tassel’s top tie through the last ch and knot it securely. The bead and connector add 1 in (2.5 cm), and the tassel adds 6 in (15.2 cm).
Total length: 1.75 + 47 + 1 + 6 = 55.75 in (141.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Hang the strands on the rod, spacing them 3 in (7.6 cm) apart on center. That gives 36 in (91.4 cm) from the first strand to the last, and 38 in (96.5 cm) overall once you add the 2 in (5.1 cm) motif width.
- Lightly mist each strand with water.
- Straighten any twisted connectors so all the leaves face forward.
- Comb the damp tassels straight with your fingers.
- Let everything dry while hanging. The weight of the tassels pulls the strands straight.
- Re-trim any uneven tassel ends to 6 in (15.2 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 91 medallions with 80 sts each, and 78 leaves with 90 sts each
- Every medallion is 2 in (5.1 cm) across; every leaf is 3.5 x 2 in (8.9 x 5.1 cm)
- 12 connectors per strand, each 1 in (2.5 cm) with one bead
- Every strand is 47 in (119.4 cm) before the tab and tassel
- Every tab is 5 sc wide and 36 rows long, and sewn closed
- All tassels are 6 in (15.2 cm) and hang level
- No visible tails and no twisted strands
Troubleshooting
- The medallion cups: Rnd 3 chains are too short. Use ch 5 instead of ch 4, or block it harder.
- The medallion ruffles: Use a smaller hook for Rnd 4.
- The leaf curls lengthwise: The foundation chain was too tight. Chain with a hook one size larger.
- The lobes look flat: Pin each fan out on its own while blocking, and use more starch.
- The beads don’t fit: Use a finer steel hook, or beads with larger holes.
- The strands are different lengths: Redo connectors until each strand measures 47 in (119.4 cm).
- The strand twists: Check that the joins are on exactly opposite points (Scallops 1 and 9).
Care
Spot clean, or hand wash one strand at a time in cool water. Lay it flat to dry and re-starch the leaves as needed. Don’t machine wash it, because the strands tangle.
Final Notes
Everything in this curtain follows from a simple chain of measurements:
- A 2 in (5.1 cm) medallion and a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) leaf, with 1 in (2.5 cm) connectors, make a strand of 47 in (119.4 cm).
- Adding the 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tab and the 7 in (17.8 cm) bead-and-tassel drop brings each strand to 55.75 in (141.6 cm).
- Thirteen strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart give a curtain 38 in (96.5 cm) wide.
Check your gauge on the first motif, and the rest will measure out on its own.
Happy crocheting!