This valance curtain brings a winter window to life. A deep teal lace band with pointed pineapple-leaf scallops runs along the top. Below it hang teal strands with small wreaths and cream bows, alternating with cream strands of little stars.
There are only two colors, deep teal and cream, so the piece looks festive without being loud. The cream crab-stitch edging outlines every scallop and ties the valance to the cream stars and bows below. The pattern uses US crochet terms throughout.
The finished valance is 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide and 7.25 in (18.4 cm) deep. The longest strands reach 31.75 in (80.6 cm) below the top edge.
You work the valance flat from the top down: a solid and mesh band first, then 12 lace panels shaped one at a time, then a cream border. The wreaths, bows, stars and beads are made as you go, and you crochet them into the strands as you chain each strand down from the border.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide × 7.25 in (18.4 cm) deep valance; strands 21.5–24.5 in (54.6–62.2 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (weight 3) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 valance, 36 wreaths, 36 bows, 44 stars, 93 beads (made inside the strands), 23 strands
- Layout: 12 scallop panels; 12 teal wreath strands at the points, 11 cream star strands at the valleys
- Panel size: 3 in (7.6 cm) wide × 4 in (10.2 cm) tall
- Size before border: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) × 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight. Cotton holds the lace points crisply and doesn’t stretch as it hangs. The amounts below assume 50 g balls of about 110 m (120 yd).
- Teal: 200 g, about 440 m (481 yd)
- Cream: 150 g, about 330 m (361 yd)
These quantities include a margin of about 25% for swatching and differences in tension.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Blocking mats and rustproof pins
– Spray bottle
– 12–14 curtain clip rings for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc3tog – single crochet 3 together
- rsc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- sp – space
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch: Bead. Ch 3, then work 4 dc in the 3rd ch from the hook. Drop the loop from the hook, insert the hook front to back into the top of the first dc, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through, then ch 1 to lock. This makes a round bobble about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across, right in the chain.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 dc × 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in dc rows. In chain, 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Before starting the valance, make a test set: one swatch, one wreath, one star and one bead.
- Swatch: Ch 20, dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each ch across (18 dc). Work 7 more dc rows. The center 16 dc should measure 4 in (10.2 cm).
- Wreath: 2 in (5.1 cm) across, with a center hole about 1 in (2.5 cm).
- Star: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) from point to point.
- Bead: 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Valance checkpoints:
– After Row 3: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep
– After Row 13: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep at the panel points
– After the border: 7.25 in (18.4 cm) deep
If your swatch is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it’s too small, go up 0.5 mm. Adjust the hook, not the stitch counts. The scallop math depends on exact counts.
Valance Band
With teal, ch 147.
Row 1 (WS): Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (145 dc; the skipped ch-3 counts as 1 dc.)
Row 2 (RS, mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip the next dc, dc in the next dc. Ch 1, skip the next dc, dc in the next dc. Repeat from * across, ending with a dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (73 dc, 72 ch-1 sps)
Row 3 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Dc in the next ch-1 sp, dc in the next dc. Repeat from * across. Turn. (1 + 72 × 2 = 145 dc)
Checkpoint: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) × 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Row 4 (RS, set-up): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Ch 2, skip 2 dc, dc in the next dc, ch 2, skip 2 dc, (dc, ch 3, dc) in the next dc, ch 2, skip 2 dc, dc in the next dc, ch 2, skip 2 dc, sc in the next dc. Repeat from * 12 times total. Turn.
(13 sc, 48 dc, 48 ch-2 sps, 12 ch-3 sps)
Each repeat uses 12 stitches, and the last sc of one repeat is shared with the next: 12 × 12 + 1 = 145.
Row 5 (WS): Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Ch 3, skip the ch-2 sp, sc in the next dc. Ch 3, skip the next ch-2 sp and dc, 7 dc in the ch-3 sp. Ch 3, skip the next dc and ch-2 sp, sc in the next dc. Ch 3, skip the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * 12 times total. Fasten off.
(37 sc, 84 dc in 12 groups of 7, 48 ch-3 sps)
Each repeat now has 4 ch-3 spaces. The 2 outer spaces stay empty for the border, and the 2 inner spaces on either side of the 7-dc group are where the panel starts.
Pineapple-Leaf Panels (make 12)
Work each panel separately with RS facing, starting at the right-hand panel.
Row 6 (RS): Join teal in the 2nd ch-3 sp of the panel (the one just before the 7-dc group). Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same sp, ch 2. Dc in the first dc of the group, ch 1, dc in the next dc; repeat from * 5 more times. Ch 2, 2 dc in the next ch-3 sp. Turn.
(11 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)
Row 7 (WS): Sl st in the next dc and in the ch-2 sp, ch 3, dc in the same sp, ch 2. Sc in the first ch-1 sp, ch 3, sc in the next ch-1 sp; repeat from * 4 more times. Ch 2, 2 dc in the last ch-2 sp. Turn.
(6 sc, 5 ch-3 loops, 4 dc)
Rows 8–11: Sl st in the next dc and in the ch-2 sp, ch 3, dc in the same sp, ch 2. Sc in the first loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop; repeat from * across. Ch 2, 2 dc in the last ch-2 sp. Turn. Each row has one fewer loop:
- Row 8: 5 sc, 4 loops
- Row 9: 4 sc, 3 loops
- Row 10: 3 sc, 2 loops
- Row 11: 2 sc, 1 loop
Row 12 (RS): Sl st in the next dc and in the ch-2 sp, ch 3, dc in the same sp, ch 2, sc in the ch-3 loop, ch 2, 2 dc in the last ch-2 sp. Turn. (1 sc, 4 dc)
Row 13 (WS, point): Sl st in the next dc and in the ch-2 sp, ch 3, dc in the same sp, 2 dc in the next ch-2 sp. Fasten off. (4 dc)
The paired dc along each edge form the leaf outline, and the shrinking loops form the vein texture. Each panel tapers to a 4-dc point.
Checkpoint: each panel is 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, and the valance is 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep at the points.
Make All Pieces
Wreaths (teal, make 36): Ch 12, sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
– Rnd 1: Ch 1, 20 sc in the ring, sl st to the first sc. (20 sc)
– Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the next 4 sc, 2 sc in the next sc; repeat from * 4 times total, sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (24 sc)
Bows (cream, make 36): Ch 31. Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (30 sl st) Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Tie the cord into a bow about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide, then sew it over the Rnd 2 sc you’ll mark as the wreath’s top.
Stars (cream, make 44):
– Rnd 1: In a magic ring, ch 1, 10 sc, sl st to the first sc. (10 sc)
– Rnd 2: Ch 4, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, skip the next sc, sl st in the next sc; repeat from * 5 times total. The last sl st lands in the joining sc. Fasten off. (5 points)
Quantities per color:
– Teal: 36 wreaths, 60 beads, 12 strands
– Cream: 36 bows, 44 stars, 33 beads, 11 strands, border
Strand layout (from right to left across the valance):
POSITION: P1 V1 P2 V2 P3 V3 P4 V4 P5 V5 P6 V6 P7 V7 P8 V8 P9 V9 P10 V10 P11 V11 P12
STRAND: W S W S W S W S W S W S W S W S W S W S W S W
P = panel point, V = valley, W = teal wreath strand, S = cream star strand. That gives 12 W + 11 S = 23 strands.
Joining
The strands are chained directly from the finished border, so complete the border before joining. For each strand, the motifs are joined into the chain as you go.
Teal wreath strand (12): Join teal with a sl st in the ch-2 tip sp of a panel point. Work this sequence:
ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Wreath, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Wreath, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Wreath, ch 10, Bead. Fasten off.
To join a wreath: Sl st into its top sc (under the bow). Sl st through the outer loops of the next 12 sc around the edge. This brings you to the bottom sc, directly opposite the top (24 ÷ 2 = 12). Continue chaining from there. Because the sl sts follow the outer edge, the center hole stays open.
Strand length: 8 chain segments × 2 in (5.1 cm) + 5 beads × 0.5 in (1.3 cm) + 3 wreaths × 2 in (5.1 cm) = 24.5 in (62.2 cm).
Cream star strand (11): Join cream with a sl st in the center rsc of a valley. Work this sequence:
ch 10, Star, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Star, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Star, ch 10, Bead, ch 10, Star. Fasten off.
To join a star: Sl st into the tip of the top point. Ch 5 behind the star, then sl st into the sl st between the two lower points. Continue chaining.
Strand length: about 21.5 in (54.6 cm). The star strands start about 4 in (10.2 cm) higher than the wreath strands, so their ends stagger nicely.
Tension: Keep the chains firm and even. Count every chain, because loose or miscounted chains make the strands uneven. Let each finished strand hang free for a moment before you weave in its ends.
Size checkpoint: With the valance hanging, the wreath strand tips should sit 31.75 in (80.6 cm) below the top edge.
Border
Border gauge: 2 sc per dc row-end; about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of depth per border row.
With RS facing, join cream at the right-hand end of Row 5.
Row 1 (sc):
– Right end: 1 sc in the end sc and 3 sc in the outer ch-3 sp. (4 sc)
– Each panel: 2 sc in each of the 8 row-ends down the right side (16 sc). At the point, sc in the next 2 dc, ch 2, sc in the next 2 dc (4 sc). Then 2 sc in each of the 8 row-ends up the left side (16 sc). (36 sc + 1 ch-2 tip)
– Each valley: 3 sc in the outer ch-3 sp, sc in the shared sc, 3 sc in the next panel’s outer ch-3 sp. (7 sc)
– Left end: 3 sc in the outer ch-3 sp and 1 sc in the end sc. (4 sc)
Total: 12 × 36 + 11 × 7 + 2 × 4 = 517 sc. Turn.
Row 2 (sc): Ch 1. Sc in each sc, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each tip sp. Over each valley’s 7 sc, work: sc in the first 2, sc3tog, sc in the last 2 (5 sc).
– Per panel: 38 sc
– Per valley: 5 sc
– Each end: 4 sc
Total: 456 + 55 + 8 = 519 sc. Do not turn.
Row 3 (crab stitch): Ch 1 and work rsc in each sc from left to right, with (rsc, ch 2, rsc) in each tip sp.
– Per panel: 40 rsc
– Per valley: 5 rsc
– Each end: 4 rsc
Total: 480 + 55 + 8 = 543 rsc. Fasten off.
Why the math works: Each panel side has 8 row-ends (Rows 6–13), so 2 sc each gives 16 per side. The 4-dc point adds 4 more, so 16 + 4 + 16 = 36. The tips gain 2 stitches per row so the points stay sharp, and the sc3tog keeps each valley tight. The stitches added at the tips and the stitches lost at the valleys don’t stretch the band. The width stays 36.25 in (92.1 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends except the strands’ hanging tails.
- Lightly mist the valance until it is evenly damp.
- Pin it to 36.25 in (92.1 cm) × 7.25 in (18.4 cm). Put one pin at every panel point and one at every valley.
- Open the loops of each pineapple-leaf panel with your fingers.
- Lay the wreaths and stars flat, mist them, and pat them into shape: 2 in (5.1 cm) wreaths and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) stars.
- Let everything dry completely before unpinning.
- Hang the curtain and let the strands settle for 24 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rows 1 and 3 have 145 dc; Row 2 has 73 dc and 72 ch-1 spaces.
- There are 12 panels, each ending in a 4-dc point.
- The border rows have 517, 519 and 543 stitches.
- There are 23 strands: 12 teal wreath strands and 11 cream star strands, alternating.
- Every wreath has its bow sewn on at the top.
- All beads are firm and locked with a ch 1.
- The valance measures 36.25 in (92.1 cm) × 7.25 in (18.4 cm).
Troubleshooting
- Panels lean sideways: You’re probably skipping the sl st into the edge dc. Always sl st into the dc first, then into the ch-2 sp.
- Valleys pull up: Work the 3 sc firmly into the outer ch-3 spaces, and don’t skip the sc3tog.
- Wreaths cup: Check that Rnd 2 has exactly 24 sc, and block them flat.
- Strands twist: Hang a light weight on the end of each strand, mist it, and let it dry.
- Beads collapse: Pull the dropped loop through snugly before you work the locking ch 1.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, roll in a towel to press out the water, and dry flat. Re-pin the points if needed.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is:
– Gauge: 16 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– 145 dc = 36.25 in (92.1 cm)
– 12 panels × 3 in (7.6 cm)
– 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep before the border
– 7.25 in (18.4 cm) deep after the border
– Wreath strands reaching 31.75 in (80.6 cm) below the top edge
Check each stage before moving on, and the finished curtain will hang evenly at every point.
Happy crocheting!