This curtain is built from soft cream lace squares, each topped with a sky-blue six-petal flower. Four small cream leaves sit at the diagonals of every flower. A narrow open mesh frames each square, so light glows through the whole panel like frost on a window.
The palette is just two colors: cream for the squares, leaves, border and tabs, and light blue for the flowers. The style is airy cottage lace with a wintry feel, and it still looks right after the holidays.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 54 in wide x 47.5 in tall (137.2 cm x 120.7 cm) before the tabs. It is about 49.5 in (125.7 cm) tall to the top of the tab loops.
You make 56 cream squares with built-in leaves and crochet 56 flowers, sewing one flower to each square. Then you join the squares in a grid of 8 across and 7 down, add a 3-round border, and finish with 9 hanging tabs along the top.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 54 in x 47.5 in (137.2 cm x 120.7 cm), plus tab loops about 2 in (5.1 cm) above the top edge
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9)
- Number of pieces: 56 squares + 56 flower appliqués + 9 tabs worked onto the border
- Layout: 8 squares across x 7 squares down
- Square size: 6.5 in (16.5 cm), 25 sts per side
- Size before border: 52 in x 45.5 in (132.1 cm x 115.6 cm)
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) on all sides
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight cotton, either mercerized or matte. Cotton shows lace clearly and blocks flat, which matters for a piece that hangs. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the mesh.
- Cream: about 1,000 g (about 2,000 m) for the squares, leaves, joining, border and tabs
- Light blue: about 300 g (about 600 m) for the flowers
These amounts include a margin of roughly 15% to cover gauge differences and a test square.
Tools:
– 5.5 mm (I-9) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins and blocking mats, or towels on a clean carpet
– Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- tr = treble crochet
- sk = skip
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- RS = right side
Special stitch – Leaf: (Yo twice, insert hook in the indicated st, pull up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] twice) 4 times in the same st. Yo and pull through all 5 loops on the hook, then ch 1 to lock. This ch-1 is the top of the Leaf.
Beginning Leaf: Ch 4, then work the bracketed part of the Leaf 3 times in the same st. Yo and pull through all 4 loops, then ch 1 to lock.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete square and one flower before anything else. Block the test square lightly and measure it lying flat.
Checkpoints:
– After Round 2: circle 3.25 in (8.3 cm) across
– After Round 4: 5 in (12.7 cm) side to side
– After Round 5: 6 in (15.2 cm) side to side
– After Round 6: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) side to side, with 25 sts per side
– Flower: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across, petal tip to petal tip
Square too big? Use a 5 mm (H-8) hook. Too small? Use a 6 mm (J-10) hook. Change the hook, not the stitch counts, because the joining and border math depend on exactly 25 sts per side.
Being off by just 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per square adds up to 2 in (5.1 cm) across 8 squares.
Square (Make 56, Cream)
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 15 dc in the ring, then sl st to the top of the ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (16 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st to the top of the ch-3. Fasten off. (32 dc)
Round 3 (leaves and arches): Join cream with a sl st in any dc. Work a Beginning Leaf in the same st. Ch 3, sk 1, sc in next st, [ch 3, sk 1, sc in next st] 2 times, ch 3, sk 1, Leaf in next st; repeat from * 2 more times. Then ch 3, sk 1, sc in next st, [ch 3, sk 1, sc in next st] 2 times, ch 3, sk the last st, and sl st to the top of the Beginning Leaf. (4 Leaves, 12 sc, 16 ch-3 sps)*
Each section uses 8 sts of Round 2: 1 Leaf st, 3 sc sts and 4 skipped sts. Four sections x 8 sts = 32. The Leaves point out at the four diagonals as oval cream leaves.
Round 4 (squaring): Sl st into the ch-1 at the top of the Leaf. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-1. [3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next sc] 3 times, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the ch-1 top of the next Leaf; repeat from * 2 more times. Then [3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next sc] 3 times, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp, and sl st to the top of the ch-3. (19 dc per side, 76 dc total, 4 corner ch-2 sps)*
Each side has 2 corner dc + (4 x 3 dc) + 3 dc worked into the sc + 2 corner dc = 19.
Round 5 (mesh): Sl st in the next dc and into the corner ch-2 sp. Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2), dc in the same sp. Ch 1, sk 1, [dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1] 9 times, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times. Then ch 1, sk 1, [dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1] 9 times, and sl st to the 3rd ch of the ch-5. (Per side: 11 dc including both corner dc, and 10 ch-1 sps; 44 dc total)*
The 19 dc on each side are worked as skip 1, then 9 x (dc, skip 1). That is 1 + 18 = 19, so the mesh sits evenly on every side.
Round 6 (edge): Sl st into the corner ch-2 sp. Ch 1, 3 sc in the same sp. [Sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp] 10 times, sc in next dc, 3 sc in corner sp; repeat from * 2 more times. Then [sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp] 10 times, sc in next dc, and sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (96 sc)*
Each side has 21 sc along the edge, 1 sc on either side next to the corners, and the 2 corner center sc, for 25 sts per side including both corner sts. Check: 4 x 25 = 100, minus 4 shared corners = 96.
Flower Appliqué (Make 56, Light Blue)
Round 1: Ch 5, sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in the ring, sl st to the first sc. (12 sc) The chain ring keeps a small open center in each flower.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 4, sk 1. Sc in next st, ch 4, sk 1; repeat from * 4 more times, then sl st to the first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-4 loops)*
Round 3 (petals): In each ch-4 loop work (sc, hdc, 2 dc, tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc). Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 16 in (40.6 cm) tail for sewing. (6 petals of 9 sts each, 54 sts)
Attach: Center the flower over Rounds 1–2 of a square, RS up. Turn it so one petal points straight up, which leaves the Leaves visible between the petals at the diagonals. Using the tail, sew around the chain ring, then add one short stitch at the base of each petal. Leave the petal tips free so they lift slightly.
Make All Pieces
- Cream squares: 56
- Blue flowers: 56, one sewn to each square
Every position is the same (C/B = cream square with blue flower):
ROW 1: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 2: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 3: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 4: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 5: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 6: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
ROW 7: C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B C/B
Turn every flower the same way so the petals line up across the curtain.
Joining
Method: Flat slip-stitch join through the back loops, in cream.
Lay two squares side by side, RS up, with the edges touching. Start at the corner center sc of both squares. Insert the hook through the back loop of a st on the first square, then through the back loop of the matching st on the second square, and sl st loosely. Work stitch to stitch, matching 25 sts to 25 sts from corner center to corner center.
Order: First join the squares into 7 horizontal strips of 8. Then join the strips along the long seams, working straight across each one and matching 8 x 25 = 200 sts per seam. Where four squares meet, work through the four corner center sts.
Tension: Keep your slip stitches as loose as the squares’ own sc. A tight seam pulls in and makes the curtain pucker when it hangs. If your seams pull, go up one hook size for joining only.
Size checkpoint: The joined panel should measure 52 in x 45.5 in (132.1 cm x 115.6 cm). The flat join adds almost no width, so the panel is simply 8 x 6.5 in by 7 x 6.5 in.
Border
Border gauge: 25 sc = 6.5 in (16.5 cm), the same as the square edge. The border works exactly one st into each edge st, so it lies flat without stretching or rippling.
Starting counts: Top and bottom: 8 squares x 25 sts = 200 sts. Left and right: 7 squares x 25 sts = 175 sts. These counts include each square’s corner sts along that edge, and no extra sts are added at the seams.
Round 1 (sc): With RS facing, join cream in the top right corner st of the curtain. Ch 1 and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner st. Sc in each st along the side, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each of the other 3 outer corner sts. Sl st to the first sc. (200 sc top and bottom, 175 sc each side, 4 corner ch-2 sps; 750 sc total)
Each outer corner st gives one sc to each of its two sides, so the total is 2 x 200 + 2 x 175 = 750.
Round 2 (dc): Sl st into the corner sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then (ch 2, dc) in the same sp. Dc in each st along each side, and work (dc, ch 2, dc) in each corner sp. Sl st to the top of the ch-3. (202 dc top and bottom, 177 dc each side)
Round 3 (sc): Sl st into the corner sp. Ch 1, then work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner sp and sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (204 sc top and bottom, 179 sc each side)
Why the math works: Each round puts one st into every st, plus one new st at each end of every side from the corner spaces. That adds exactly 2 sts per side per round: 200, 202, 204 on the top and bottom, and 175, 177, 179 on the sides. The sc + dc + sc border is about 0.25 + 0.5 + 0.25 = 1 in (2.5 cm) deep, which makes the curtain 54 in (137.2 cm) wide and 47.5 in (120.7 cm) tall.
Hanging Tabs (Top Edge, Make 9)
The top edge has 204 sc. Make 9 tabs of 12 sts with 8 gaps of 12 sts between them: (9 x 12) + (8 x 12) = 108 + 96 = 204.
Start at the first sc after the top left corner sp. Mark the 1st st, then mark the first st of every following 24-st repeat (12 tab sts + 12 gap sts).
Each tab: Join cream in a marked st. Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st and the next 11 sts, turn. (12 sc) Rows 2–16: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (12 sc) Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Each tab is about 3.1 in (7.9 cm) wide and 4 in (10.2 cm) long. Fold it to the back and sew the last row to Border Round 1, making a loop about 2 in (5.1 cm) high. The loops fit a rod up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) thick.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends, especially where the seams cross.
- Soak the curtain in cool water for 15 minutes, then press out the water in a towel. Do not wring it.
- Lay it flat, RS up, on mats or towels.
- Pin the outer corners to 54 in x 47.5 in (137.2 cm x 120.7 cm).
- Pin along each edge every 3 in (7.6 cm), keeping the border straight.
- Pin along the seam lines so each square stays 6.5 in (16.5 cm) square.
- Lift the flower petals slightly with your fingers and smooth the Leaves flat.
- Leave everything pinned until fully dry, usually 24–48 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 56 squares, each 6.5 in (16.5 cm) with 25 sts per side
- 4 Leaves per square, all pointing to the diagonals
- 56 flowers, all turned the same way and sewn securely
- 8 x 7 layout with straight, flat seams
- Joined panel measures 52 in x 45.5 in (132.1 cm x 115.6 cm)
- Border Round 3 has 204 sc on the top and bottom and 179 sc on each side
- Finished size is 54 in x 47.5 in (137.2 cm x 120.7 cm)
- 9 evenly spaced tabs, each sewn down firmly
- All ends woven in and invisible from the front
Troubleshooting
Square ruffles at Round 4: Your dc are probably loose. Use a smaller hook for Rounds 4–6.
Square cups at Round 3: Loosen the ch-3 arches, and check that you skipped only 1 st each time.
Leaves look flat: Pull each tr loop up to full height before closing the cluster, and always lock it with the ch-1.
Flower too big for the center: Use a hook 0.5 mm smaller for the flowers.
Seams pull in: Redo the join with a larger hook and looser slip stitches.
Border waves: Recount the stitches. Each square edge should give exactly 25 sts, with nothing extra at the seams.
Curtain hangs crooked: Block it again with the seams pinned on a straight grid, and check the tab spacing.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild detergent and dry flat, pinning back to size if needed. Don’t hang the curtain while it is wet, because heavy wet cotton stretches.
Final Notes
The whole curtain depends on one number: 25 sts per square side at 6.5 in (16.5 cm). That gives a joined panel of 8 x 6.5 = 52 in (132.1 cm) by 7 x 6.5 = 45.5 in (115.6 cm). The border starts at 200 and 175 sts, grows 2 sts per side each round, and adds 1 in (2.5 cm) all around, for 54 in x 47.5 in (137.2 cm x 120.7 cm). Nine tabs fit exactly into the 204-st top edge.
Measure your first square carefully and keep your tension steady.
Happy crocheting!