Sunlight through a window looks especially warm through this curtain. The Golden Teardrop Bobble Curtain has a lacy header band with a row of plump bobbles along its lower edge. Below the header hang twelve beaded cords, each with two teardrop motifs and a full tassel at the end.
The curtain uses one color, a soft mustard-gold cotton, so the texture does all the work. The style is boho with a vintage touch: chunky bobbles, open lace and a gentle zigzag of tassels.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 36¾ in (93.3 cm) wide. Long strands hang to 27¾ in (70.5 cm) and short strands to 24¾ in (62.9 cm), measured from the top of the header.
You crochet the header band in rows and add a border along its top and sides. Next you make 24 teardrop motifs and link everything with beaded chain cords. Finally, you tie a tassel to the end of each strand.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36¾ in (93.3 cm) wide; 27¾ in (70.5 cm) long at long strands, 24¾ in (62.9 cm) at short strands
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 header band, 24 teardrop motifs, 36 cord segments, 12 tassels
- Layout: 12 strands hang from the header, alternating Long (A) and Short (B)
- Motif size: 3½ in (8.9 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall
- Header size before border: 36¼ in (92.1 cm) × 3½ in (8.9 cm)
- Border depth: ¼ in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted-weight mercerized or combed cotton. Cotton keeps the bobbles round, the lace crisp and the tassels heavy enough to hang straight. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the stitch definition.
- Mustard gold: 500 g (about 775 m / 850 yd), based on 100 g = 155 m skeins
- Header band: about 85 g (132 m)
- 24 motifs: about 168 g (260 m), roughly 7 g each
- 36 cord segments: about 72 g (112 m)
- 12 tassels: about 72 g (112 m)
These quantities include a margin of about 100 g over the estimated 397 g. The extra covers your gauge swatch and any differences between dye lots.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Stiff card, 4½ in (11.4 cm) long, for the tassels
– Sharp scissors
– 13 metal clip curtain rings and a curtain rod
– Blocking mats, rustproof pins and a spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
- sk – skip
- sp / lp – space / loop
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitches
- Bobble (bob): *Yarn over, insert hook in the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops; rep from * 4 more times in the same stitch (6 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 6 loops.
- Beginning bobble (beg bob): Ch 2, then work a bobble with only 4 repeats (5 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops.
- Bead: Ch 4, then work a bobble in the 4th ch from the hook. This closes into a round bead on the cord.
- Cord unit: Ch 3, bead.
Gauge and Checkpoints
- Single crochet: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), or 4 sc per inch.
- Cord: 1 cord unit = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one motif before you start anything else. Measure it after each round, pressed flat with your fingers:
- After Rnd 1: about 1½ in × 2 in (3.8 × 5.1 cm)
- After Rnd 2: about 2½ in × 3½ in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
- After Rnd 4: 3½ in × 5 in (8.9 × 12.7 cm) after blocking
For the header, check the depth after Row 3 (1 in / 2.5 cm), Row 8 (3 in / 7.6 cm) and Row 9 (3½ in / 8.9 cm).
If your motif is wider than 3¾ in (9.5 cm), go down a hook size. If it’s narrower than 3¼ in (8.3 cm), go up a hook size. Small differences add up quickly over 24 motifs and 145 header stitches.
Header Band
The header is worked flat in rows. Row 1 is a WS row, so every odd-numbered row is a WS row. Bobbles puff away from you as you work them, so the bobbles in Row 9 pop out on the RS.
Foundation: Ch 146.
Row 1 (WS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (145 sc)
Row 2 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from * across. Turn. (73 dc, 72 ch-1 sps)*
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp across, ending with sc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn. (145 sc)
Checkpoint: the header should be about 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide and 1 in (2.5 cm) deep.
Rows 4–8 form the lace triangles. The solid triangles of sc get narrower with each row, while the chain loops between them get longer. There are 12 repeats of 12 stitches, plus one edge stitch. A single “separator” sc sits between each pair of triangles.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 2, sk 1, sc in next 9 sc, ch 2, sk 1, sc in next sc (separator); rep from * 11 more times. Turn. (121 sc: 13 separators + 108 triangle sc; 24 ch-2 sps)*
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 3, sk ch-2 sp and next sc, sc in next 7 sc, ch 3, sk next sc and ch-2 sp, sc in separator; rep from * across. Turn. (97 sc; 24 ch-3 lps)*
Row 6: Work as Row 5, but with ch 4 loops and 5 sc in each triangle. (73 sc; 24 ch-4 lps)
Row 7: Work as Row 5, but with ch 5 loops and 3 sc in each triangle. (49 sc; 24 ch-5 lps)
Row 8: Work as Row 5, but with ch 6 loops and 1 sc (the point) in each triangle. (25 sc: 13 separators + 12 points; 24 ch-6 lps)
Row 9 (WS, bobble edge): Ch 1, sc in first sc, 4 sc in next ch-6 lp, bob in point sc, 4 sc in next ch-6 lp, bob in separator; rep from * across, but in the final separator work sc instead of bob. Fasten off. (121 sts: 23 bobbles + 98 sc)*
Mark the 12 point bobbles. Each one is where a strand will hang.
Teardrop Motif (make 24)
Bobbles puff toward the back of the work, so use the back as the RS.
Foundation: Ch 18, sl st in first ch to form a ring. This ring becomes the open teardrop in the center.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 24 sc in ring, sl st in first sc. Mark the first sc as the top. (24 sc)
Rnd 2 (bobble ring): Beg bob in first sc, ch 1, sc in next sc, ch 1, bob in next sc, ch 1, sc in next sc, ch 1; rep from * 10 more times. Sl st in top of beg bob. (12 bobbles, 12 sc, 24 ch-1 sps)*
Bobble 1 sits at the top and bobble 7 at the bottom, with 5 bobbles down each side.
Rnd 3 (taper): Ch 1, (sc, ch 3, sc) in bobble 1, ch 3, sc in bobble 2, [ch 5, sc in next bobble] 4 times, ch 5, (sc, ch 3, sc) in bobble 7, [ch 5, sc in next bobble] 5 times, ch 3, sl st in first sc. (14 sc; 2 ch-3 tip sps; 10 ch-5 lps + 2 ch-3 lps = 12 lps)
The two short ch-3 loops on either side of the top pull the motif into its point.
Rnd 4 (outer edge): Sl st in top tip sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 4, sc) in top tip sp, 4 sc in next ch-3 lp, 6 sc in each of next 5 ch-5 lps, (sc, ch 2, sc) in bottom tip sp, 6 sc in each of next 5 ch-5 lps, 4 sc in last ch-3 lp, sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (72 sc: 8 in ch-3 lps + 60 in ch-5 lps + 4 at tips; 1 ch-4 top tip, 1 ch-2 bottom tip)
Make All Pieces
- Header band: 1
- Teardrop motifs: 24
- Cord segments: 36 (S1-A × 6, S1-B × 6, S2 × 12, S3 × 12)
- Tassels: 12
Every piece is mustard gold. Strand layout across the header points, left to right:
Point: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Strand: A B A B A B A B A B A B
Joining: Beaded Cords
The cords join all the pieces, and you crochet each one in place.
S1-A (Long strand, top): With RS of header facing, join yarn with sl st in top of a point bobble. Work 4 cord units, ch 3, sl st in ch-4 top tip of a motif. Fasten off. (4½ in / 11.4 cm)
S1-B (Short strand, top): Work as S1-A, but with only 1 cord unit. (1½ in / 3.8 cm)
S2 (between motifs): Join yarn with sl st in ch-2 bottom tip of the first motif. Work 3 cord units, ch 3, sl st in ch-4 top tip of the second motif. Fasten off. (3½ in / 8.9 cm)
S3 (tassel cord): Join yarn in ch-2 bottom tip of the second motif. Work 2 cord units. Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. The last bead becomes the tassel cap. (2 in / 5.1 cm)
Each cord connects one stitch or tip to exactly one other, so the strands stay centered and hang straight. Chain at an even, relaxed tension. Tight chains make the cords twist, and loose chains make the beads droop.
Size checkpoint: Without its tassel, a Long strand measures 20 in (50.8 cm) below the header. A Short strand measures 17 in (43.2 cm).
Tassels (make 12)
- Wrap yarn 30 times around the 4½ in (11.4 cm) card.
- Thread a 10 in (25.4 cm) tie under the wraps at the top edge of the card and knot it tightly.
- Cut through the wraps along the bottom edge.
- Wrap a separate strand 6 times around the tassel, ½ in (1.3 cm) below the top, to form the neck. Knot it and bury the ends inside.
- Use the S3 tail and the top tie to tie the tassel snugly under the cap bead. Hide the ends inside the tassel.
- Trim the tassel to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Border
The border runs along the top and both sides of the header. Leave the bobble edge unbordered.
Border gauge: Same as the header, 4 sc per inch (2.5 cm).
Border Row 1: With RS facing, join yarn at the lower right corner of the header. Work 14 sc evenly up the side row-ends, 3 sc in first foundation ch (corner), 1 sc in each of next 143 foundation chs, 3 sc in last foundation ch (corner), then 14 sc evenly down the left side. Do not turn. (177 sc = 173 worked one per stitch or row-end + 4 extra at corners)
Per side: the top has 149 sc including both corner groups (145 + 4). Each side has 14 sc, not counting the corners.
Border Row 2: Ch 1, rev sc in each sc back across. Fasten off. (177 rev sc)
Why the math works: The top has 145 foundation chains, and at 4 sc per inch that is 36¼ in (92.1 cm). This matches the header body exactly, so the top edge won’t ruffle or pull in. Each side is 3½ in (8.9 cm) deep, and at 4 sc per inch that is exactly 14 sc. The extra corner stitches let the border turn each corner flat. The border adds ¼ in (0.6 cm) on each side, which brings the width to 36¾ in (93.3 cm) and the header depth to 3¾ in (9.5 cm).
Attach the 13 clip rings along the top border. Place one at each end and space the rest every 3 in (7.6 cm), or every 12 stitches.
Final Blocking
- Lay the curtain RS up on the blocking mats.
- Pin the header to 36¾ in × 3¾ in (93.3 × 9.5 cm), keeping the top edge straight.
- Pin out each triangle point and point bobble so the zigzag is even.
- Pin each motif to 3½ in × 5 in (8.9 × 12.7 cm). Pull the top tip into a point, round out the bottom and shape the center opening into a teardrop.
- Straighten each cord so its strand hangs in a straight vertical line.
- Mist the curtain until it’s damp but not soaked, and let it dry completely.
- Steam the tassels lightly, then comb them and trim again if needed.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Header is 145 sts wide, with 12 point bobbles and 11 separator bobbles
- Every motif has 12 bobbles, 72 edge sc and a pointed top
- Strands alternate A, B across the whole curtain
- Long strands measure 27¾ in (70.5 cm) and short strands 24¾ in (62.9 cm), including the header
- All tassels are 4 in (10.2 cm) long with even necks
- All ends are woven in
- Clip rings are 3 in (7.6 cm) apart
Troubleshooting
- Motif is round, not teardrop-shaped: Check that the two loops next to the top in Rnd 3 are ch 3, not ch 5. Pin the tip firmly when blocking.
- Bobbles look flat: Pull the closing yarn-over firmly, and make sure the puffed side of the motif faces out.
- Header ruffles: A triangle probably has extra stitches. Count each row against the totals given.
- Cords twist: The chains are too tight. Remake the cord with a looser tension.
- Tassels look thin: Add 5 more wraps and trim again.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, then roll the curtain in a towel to remove excess water. Reblock it flat to dry, and don’t wring it or put it in the dryer.
Final Notes
The measurement chain starts at 4 sc per inch, which gives a 145-stitch header 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide. The border brings the width to 36¾ in (93.3 cm). Below the header, the 1 in (2.5 cm) cord units and 5 in (12.7 cm) motifs add up to strands of 27¾ in (70.5 cm) and 24¾ in (62.9 cm). Check your first motif and the first header rows, and everything else will line up.
Happy crocheting!