This curtain panel pairs an airy deep-teal mesh with rows of butter-gold ginkgo fans. Light passes through the open loops, and the solid gold fans stand out against it like leaves on a window.
The design uses two colors: deep teal for the mesh and edging, and soft gold for the fans. Each fan has 15 radiating treble stitches, a small scalloped top edge and a firm slip-stitch stem. The fans sit in five staggered columns, so the pattern reads clearly from across the room.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 35.5 in (90.2 cm) wide by 75.75 in (192.4 cm) long. Make two panels for a pair.
Here is how it’s built. You crochet the mesh panel flat in rows, make 35 small gold fans separately, sew them onto the mesh using a placement grid, then add a 3-round border that also gives the hooks a firm edge to grip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one panel): 35.5 in x 75.75 in (90.2 cm x 192.4 cm)
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light #3) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 mesh panel + 35 fan appliqués per panel (2 panels for a pair, not joined)
- Layout: 5 fan columns, 7 fans per column, half-drop stagger
- Fan size: 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide, 4 in (10.2 cm) tall including the stem
- Size before border: 34 in x 74.25 in (86.4 cm x 188.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on every side
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or combed DK cotton. Cotton holds its shape when hanging and doesn’t fuzz in sunlight. Avoid stretchy acrylic, because a long mesh panel will grow in length under its own weight.
Yardage assumes about 115 m per 50 g:
- Color A, deep teal (mesh + border): 250 g / 575 m per panel; 500 g / 1150 m for a pair
- Color B, butter gold (fans): 60 g / 138 m per panel; 120 g / 276 m for a pair
These quantities include a safety margin of roughly 10–15%.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Locking stitch markers (at least 40)
– Measuring tape
– Rustproof pins and a large blocking surface (or a clean floor with towels)
– 9 curtain hooks or clip rings per panel
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet (yo twice, insert, pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2] 3 times)
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch): working from left to right, insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, pull up a loop, yo, pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Mesh gauge: 4 ch-5 loops = 4 in (10.2 cm) wide; 4 rows = 3 in (7.6 cm) tall, measured after a light steam.
Border gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Test first. Before you start a 34 in panel, make one swatch and one fan.
- Swatch: Ch 22. Work Row 1 below (you’ll get 5 loops), then repeat Rows 2–3 until you have 9 rows. It should measure about 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and 6.75 in (17.1 cm) tall.
- Test fan: It should measure 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across the top and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) from ring to edge.
Checkpoints:
– After Row 1 of the panel: 34 in (86.4 cm) wide, slightly stretched.
– After Row 20: 15 in (38.1 cm) long.
– After Row 50: 37.5 in (95.3 cm) long.
– After Row 99: 74.25 in (188.6 cm) long.
If your mesh is too big, go down to a 4 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 5 mm hook. Check your loop width, not your stitch count: 34 loops must come out to 34 in (86.4 cm). Fans can be up to 0.25 in (0.6 cm) off without changing the layout.
Part 1: The Mesh Panel
With Color A, ch 138.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 5, sk 3 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * 33 more times. Turn. (34 ch-5 loops, 35 sc)*
Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), sc in first ch-5 loop, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop; repeat from * across, ending with sc in the last loop, ch 2, dc in the last sc. Turn. (33 ch-5 loops + 2 ch-2 half loops, 34 sc)*
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first dc, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop; repeat from * 32 more times, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. (34 ch-5 loops, 35 sc)*
Rows 4–99: Repeat Rows 2–3 another 48 times. Row 99 is a Row 3-type row, so the top edge has full loops. Fasten off. (Final row: 34 ch-5 loops, 35 sc)
Odd rows always have 35 sc, at positions 0 through 34 in (0 through 86.4 cm) across the panel. This is what makes the fan placement grid exact.
Part 2: Ginkgo Fan (make 35 per panel)
With Color B, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in ring. Turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, 2 dc in each of the next 4 sts. Turn. (10 dc) Checkpoint: the fan is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from ring to edge.
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as tr), 2 tr in the next dc, tr in next dc, 2 tr in next dc; repeat from * 3 more times. Turn. (15 tr)* Checkpoint: about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide.
Row 4 (scalloped edge): Ch 1, sc in the first tr, ch 3, sk 1 tr, sc in next tr; repeat from * 6 more times, placing the last sc in the top of the turning ch. (8 sc, 7 ch-3 scallops)* Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail for sewing.
Stem: With RS facing, join Color B at the bottom center of the ring. Ch 9, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the next 7 ch, then sl st into the ring. (8 sl st) Fasten off and weave in this tail. The stem measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
The finished fan is a 15-stitch wedge with radiating ribs, a small scalloped top and a stiff stem pointing down.
Make All Fans and Placement Grid
- One panel: 35 fans in Color B, 1 mesh panel in Color A
- A pair: 70 fans, 2 mesh panels
Block all the fans in one batch before sewing (pin them flat, mist, and let dry) so they’re all the same size.
Columns are measured across the panel from either side edge. Because the layout is symmetric, either edge works. Each column’s centerline sits on a specific sc of the odd rows:
- C1 at 5 in (12.7 cm) = 6th sc
- C2 at 11 in (27.9 cm) = 12th sc
- C3 at 17 in (43.2 cm) = 18th sc
- C4 at 23 in (58.4 cm) = 24th sc
- C5 at 29 in (73.7 cm) = 30th sc
Rows in the grid below are the row whose sc holds the tip of the stem. F means place a fan; a dot means leave that spot empty.
Stem-tip row | C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
87 | . F . F .
81 | F . F . F
75 | . F . F .
69 | F . F . F
63 | . F . F .
57 | F . F . F
51 | . F . F .
45 | F . F . F
39 | . F . F .
33 | F . F . F
27 | . F . F .
21 | F . F . F
15 | . F . F .
9 | F . F . F
Columns C1, C3 and C5 each get 7 fans (rows 9–81). Columns C2 and C4 each get 7 fans (rows 15–87). That’s 35 in total.
Fans in the same column sit 12 rows (9 in / 22.9 cm) apart. Neighboring columns are offset by 6 rows (4.5 in / 11.4 cm).
Attaching the Fans
Lay the panel flat, RS up. Place a locking marker on every stem-tip sc from the grid before you sew anything. Count the markers: there should be 35.
For each fan:
- Sew the stem tip securely to the marked sc with 3 small stitches.
- Line the stem up straight along the column, then tack the ring to the mesh about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the tip.
- Spread the fan so its top edge is 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide and centered on the column line.
- Tack each of the 8 Row-4 sc points to the mesh behind it.
- Weave the tail through the back of the fan and trim.
Tension: Catch only one strand of the mesh, and don’t pull tight. The mesh must not pucker. A fan that’s too tight shows up as a dimple in the curtain when it hangs.
Size check: After sewing, the panel should still measure 34 in x 74.25 in (86.4 cm x 188.6 cm). The lowest fan tip (row 9) sits 6.75 in (17.1 cm) above the bottom edge. The top of the highest fan (tip at row 87, 65.25 in / 165.7 cm) reaches about 69.25 in (175.9 cm), which leaves a plain band of 5 in (12.7 cm) at the top for the hooks.
Border
The border is worked in Color A in rounds around the whole panel. Border gauge: 4 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Corner groups: Each corner gets 3 sc in one stitch. The middle sc is the corner center. Each side count below includes its 2 corner centers and both flanking sc of the corner groups at its ends.
Round 1: With RS facing, join Color A in the last sc of Row 99 (top corner).
- Top edge: 3 sc in the corner sc. Then work 3 sc in the next ch-5 loop, sc in the next sc across, finishing with 3 sc in the 34th loop and a corner group of 3 sc in the last sc.
- Between the corners: 34 x 3 + 33 = 135 sts.
- Side count: 135 + 2 flanking + 2 centers = 139 sc.
- Side edges: Work 3 sc evenly into each row end of Rows 98 down to 2.
- Between the corners: 97 rows x 3 = 291 sts.
- Side count: 291 + 4 = 295 sc.
- Bottom edge: Work into the free loops of the foundation ch. Corner group of 3 sc in ch 1, sc in each of the next 135 ch, corner group of 3 sc in ch 137.
- Side count: 139 sc.
- Work the second side edge the same as the first, then sl st to the first sc.
- Round 1 total: 135 + 291 + 135 + 291 + (4 corners x 3) = 864 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working 3 sc in each corner center. Sl st to join.
– Count: 864 sts worked 1 per st + 8 extra corner sts = 872 sts.
– Top and bottom: 141 sc each. Sides: 297 sc each.
Round 3: Ch 1, rev sc in each st around. Sl st to join and fasten off. (872 rev sc)
Why the math works: The mesh is 4 loops per 4 in (10.2 cm), so 3 sc per loop plus 1 sc per sc gives 4 sc per inch, which matches the border gauge. Each row is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall, so 3 sc per row end also gives 4 sc per inch.
That means the border lies flat without flaring or pulling. It adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on every side, for a finished panel of 35.5 in x 75.75 in (90.2 cm x 192.4 cm).
Hanging: Clip 9 hooks through Rounds 1–2 of the top edge: one at each corner and 7 evenly spaced between them. Space them about 17 to 18 sts apart, roughly 4.4 in (11.2 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lay out towels on a surface larger than 36 in x 76 in (91.4 cm x 193 cm).
- Place the panel RS down so the fans keep their raised texture.
- Pin the four corners to 35.5 in x 75.75 in (90.2 cm x 192.4 cm).
- Pin along each edge every 4 in (10.2 cm), keeping the loops open and the edges straight.
- Mist evenly with water until damp, or hover a steam iron over it. Never press the iron down onto the cotton.
- Gently pull each mesh loop into an even arch, and check that every fan sits square on its column line.
- Let it dry completely, at least 24 hours, before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Mesh body measures 34 in x 74.25 in (86.4 cm x 188.6 cm) before the border
- [ ] 99 rows; odd rows have 35 sc and 34 loops
- [ ] 35 fans, each with 15 tr, 7 scallops and an 8-sl-st stem
- [ ] All stems point down and line up in 5 straight columns
- [ ] Border counts: 864 / 872 / 872 sts
- [ ] Finished panel is 35.5 in x 75.75 in (90.2 cm x 192.4 cm)
- [ ] All tails woven in, none visible from the room side
- [ ] For a pair: both panels within 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of each other in length
Troubleshooting
- Panel narrower than 34 in (86.4 cm): Your chains are tight. Go up a hook size, or loosen your ch-5 loops only.
- Panel keeps getting longer as you work: Cotton relaxes over time. Measure the work while it’s lying flat, not hanging.
- Fans cup or curl: Row 3 is too tight. Block the fans flat, or redo Row 3 with a 5 mm hook.
- Fans ruffle: You’ve added extra tr. Recount Row 3: it should have exactly 15.
- Border waves: You’ve worked too many sc per row end. Stick to 3.
- Border pulls in: You’ve skipped row ends. Check that each side has 295 sc in Round 1.
- Mesh puckers behind a fan: Unpick the tacks and resew them more loosely, catching only one strand.
Care
Hand wash cold or machine wash on a delicate cycle inside a mesh laundry bag. Then lay the panel flat and reshape it to the blocked size to dry. Don’t hang it while it’s wet.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple:
- The mesh gauge (4 loops = 4 in / 10.2 cm; 4 rows = 3 in / 7.6 cm) gives a body of 34 in x 74.25 in (86.4 cm x 188.6 cm).
- 35 fans of 3.75 in (9.5 cm) fill 5 columns spaced 6 in (15.2 cm) apart.
- A 0.75 in (1.9 cm) border brings each panel to 35.5 in x 75.75 in (90.2 cm x 192.4 cm).
Check each link in that chain as you go, and the second panel will match the first.
Happy crocheting!