These lace café curtains put a soft, glowing row of angels in a winter window. Each panel has three openwork angels along the lower edge. Every angel has a ring halo, fanned wings and a flared skirt with four scalloped fans. An airy diamond net above them lets the light through, and a solid band with four hanging loops finishes the top.
The sample is worked in one color, a pale butter-yellow mercerized cotton that looks warm against snow and string lights. It has the classic look of thread lace but uses a light-weight cotton, so it works up faster. All instructions use US crochet terms.
Each finished panel measures 17.8 in (45.2 cm) wide and 16 in (40.6 cm) tall from the hem scallops to the top of the band. The hanging loops add another 1.25 in (3.2 cm). The pattern makes a pair of matching panels.
You crochet six angels from the top down and join them as you go, three per panel. Two leveling rows straighten the top of each angel strip. The net and top band are then worked upward from those rows, and a side edging and hanging loops finish each panel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished panel size: 17.8 in (45.2 cm) wide x 16 in (40.6 cm) tall, plus 1.25 in (3.2 cm) loops
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Light (#3 / DK) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 6 angel motifs (3 per panel), forming 2 panels
- Layout: 1 row of 3 angels per panel
- Single angel size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide at the hem x 6 in (15.2 cm) tall, halo to hem
- Panel size before border: 17 in (43.2 cm) wide x 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.4 in (1.0 cm) on each side edge
Materials
Choose a smooth DK-weight mercerized cotton of about 125 m per 50 g. Cotton keeps its lace shape after blocking. Avoid fluffy or very stretchy yarns, because the net will sag.
- Pale butter yellow: 200 g (about 500 m / 547 yd) for both panels
This amount includes a margin of about 15%. One panel uses about 85 g (about 213 m).
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (at least 4)
- Measuring tape
- Rust-proof pins and blocking mats
- Clip curtain rings and a café rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet (yarn over twice)
- dtr: double treble crochet (yarn over 3 times)
- sp(s): space(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- tch: turning chain
- RS: right side
Special technique: join-as-you-go (JAYG) slip stitch. Take the hook out of the loop and insert it from the front into the stitch or loop named on the neighboring angel. Pick up the dropped loop and pull it through. JAYG sl sts are not counted in any stitch total.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc or 20 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm), and 10 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). For the diamond net, 4 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm), and each ch-5 loop spans 4 sts, or 0.8 in (2.0 cm).
Make and block one angel before starting the others. It is your gauge swatch.
Checkpoints:
- Head ring after Rnd 1: about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across
- Angel after Row 5: 25 tr, about 5 in (12.7 cm) wide
- Blocked angel: 6 in (15.2 cm) x 6 in (15.2 cm), with the wing tips about 0.8 in (2.0 cm) below the top of the halo
- After Row L2: 85 sc, 17 in (43.2 cm) wide, 6.4 in (16.3 cm) tall
- After the net: 14.4 in (36.6 cm) tall
- After the band: 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
If your work is too big, go down 0.25 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.25 mm. If Row L2 is off by more than 0.5 in (1.3 cm), change hooks for the net and band.
Angel Motif (make 6)
Head and Halo
Ch 10, then sl st in the first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 20 sc in the ring, sl st in the first sc. (20 sc) Mark the first sc as st 1. This is the bottom center (neck), and st 11 is the top of the head.
Halo: Sl st in the next 6 sts, so you are now in st 7. Ch 16, skip sts 8–14, sl st in st 15. Turn. Work 24 sc over the ch-16, then sl st in st 7. Fasten off. (24 sc in halo)
Body
Work the body in turned rows from the neck down.
Row 1 (RS): Join with sl st in st 20 of the head. Ch 6 (counts as tr and ch 2), tr in st 1, ch 2, tr in st 2. Turn. (3 tr, 2 ch-2 sps)
Row 2: Ch 6 (counts as tr and ch 2), tr at the base of the ch, ch 2, tr in the next tr, ch 2, then (tr, ch 2, tr) in the 4th ch of the tch. Turn. (5 tr, 4 ch-2 sps)
Row 3: Ch 6, tr at the base of the ch, (ch 2, tr in the next tr) 3 times, ch 2, then (tr, ch 2, tr) in the 4th ch of the tch. Turn. (7 tr, 6 ch-2 sps)
Row 4: Ch 6, tr at the base of the ch, (ch 2, tr in the next tr) 5 times, ch 2, then (tr, ch 2, tr) in the 4th ch of the tch. Turn. (9 tr, 8 ch-2 sps)
Row 5 (columns): Ch 4 (counts as tr), then 2 tr in the next ch-2 sp, tr in the next tr. Work from * to * 8 times in total, working the last tr in the 4th ch of the tch. Turn. (25 tr = 1 + 8 x 3)
Row 6 (fans): Ch 1, sc in the first tr, then skip 2 tr, work [(tr, ch 1) 4 times, tr] in the next tr, skip 2 tr, sc in the next tr. Work from * to * 4 times in total. Turn. (4 fans of 5 tr and 4 ch-1 sps, plus 5 sc)
Each repeat uses 6 sts, so 1 + (4 x 6) = 25 sts.
Row 7 (scallop edge): Ch 1, sc in the first sc, then (sc in the next tr, sc in the next ch-1 sp) 4 times, sc in the next tr, sc in the next sc. Work from * to * 4 times in total. Fasten off. (41 sc = 1 + 4 x 10)
On angels 2 and 3, Row 7 includes the hem join (see Joining).
Wings (make 2 per angel)
W-Row 1: Join with sl st around the end post of Row 1 on one side of the body. Ch 7 (counts as dtr and ch 2), (dtr, ch 2) 4 times around the same post, then dtr around the same post. Turn. (6 dtr, 5 ch-2 sps)
W-Row 2: Ch 6 (counts as tr and ch 2), tr in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2, then tr in the next dtr, ch 2, tr in the next ch-2 sp, ch 2. Work from * to * 4 times in total, then tr in the 5th ch of the tch. Turn. (11 tr, 10 ch-2 sps)
W-Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first tr, then (ch 4, sc in the next tr) 10 times, working the last sc in the 4th ch of the tch. Fasten off. (10 ch-4 loops, 11 sc)
Number the loops starting from the head end. Loop 2 is on the top edge of the wing, and loop 4 is the outer wing tip. Repeat the wing on the other side.
Make All Pieces
Make 6 angels in pale butter yellow, 3 per panel. Make angel 1 of each panel on its own. Join angels 2 and 3 to their neighbors while working Row 7 and W-Row 3.
Layout for each panel (RS facing, halos up):
[ Angel 1 ] [ Angel 2 ] [ Angel 3 ]
Joining
Neighboring angels are joined at the hem and at the wing tips.
Hem join: On Row 7 of angel 2, when you reach the fan nearest angel 1, sc in the center (3rd) tr of that fan. Then JAYG sl st into the matching center sc of the nearest fan on angel 1. Finish the row as written. The count stays 41 sc.
Wing join: On W-Row 3 of the wing nearest angel 1, change loop 4 to: ch 4, JAYG sl st into loop 4 of angel 1’s wing, ch 4. This ch-8 bridge closes the gap between the wing tips. Mark the JAYG sl st as the bridge point.
Join angel 3 to angel 2 the same way.
Tension: Work JAYG sl sts loosely from the front, and pull the dropped loop snug but not tight.
Size checkpoint: Measured flat, the hems are about 18 in (45.7 cm) across, a little wider than the 17 in (43.2 cm) body. This gives the scalloped flare.
Leveling Rows, Net and Top Band
Leveling Rows
Row L1 (RS): Join with sl st in loop 4 of angel 1’s outer wing. Ch 5 (counts as dtr), then work ch 5, tr in loop 2 of the same wing, ch 5, sc in the 12th sc of the halo, ch 5, tr in loop 2 of the next wing, ch 5, dtr in the bridge point. Work from * to * 3 times in total. On the last repeat, work the dtr in loop 4 of angel 3’s outer wing. Turn. (13 sts, 12 ch-5 sps)
The tall dtr sts lift the low wing tips up to the level of the halos.
Row L2: Ch 1, sc in the first dtr, then (6 sc in the next ch-5 sp, sc in the next st) 12 times, working the last sc in the top of the ch-5. Turn. (85 sc)
Each angel contributes 4 x 6 = 24 sc in the spaces plus 4 sc in sts, for 28 sc. Three angels give 84 sc, plus the first sc, for 85. No extra stitches are added at the joins.
Diamond Net
Net Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the first sc, then (ch 5, skip 3 sc, sc in the next sc) 21 times. Turn. (21 ch-5 loops, 22 sc)
Net Row 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2), sc in the first loop, (ch 5, sc in the next loop) 20 times, ch 2, dc in the last sc. Turn. (20 loops, 2 half loops, 21 sc)
Net Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first dc, (ch 5, sc in the next loop) 20 times, ch 5, sc in the 3rd ch of the tch. Turn. (21 loops, 22 sc)
Repeat Net Rows 2–3 six more times, then work Net Row 2 once more, for 16 net rows in total. The net adds 8 in (20.3 cm).
Top Band
Row T1 (conversion row): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the ch-2 sp, dc in the next sc, then (3 dc in the next loop, dc in the next sc) 20 times. Dc in the last ch-2 sp, then dc in the 3rd ch of the tch. Turn. (85 dc)
Count: 21 dc worked one into each sc + 4 dc worked one into each edge element + 60 dc added in the 20 loops = 85.
Rows T2–T4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (85 dc) Fasten off after Row T4.
Checkpoint: The band adds 1.6 in (4.1 cm), and the panel is now 16 in (40.6 cm) x 17 in (43.2 cm).
Border
The border is a two-row sc edging along each side edge, from the wing tip up to the top of the band. Below the wing tips, the angels are left unedged so the scallops stay free.
Border gauge: 5 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Edging Row 1 (RS): Join at the outer wing tip (loop 4) and sc along the row ends as follows:
- 5 sc along the Row L1 dtr
- 1 sc in Row L2
- 2 sc in each sc-ended net row (Rows 1, 3…15; 8 rows)
- 3 sc around each dc-ended net row (Rows 2, 4…16; 8 rows)
- 2 sc around each band row (4 rows)
Turn. (54 sc = 5 + 1 + 16 + 24 + 8)
Edging Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Fasten off. (54 sc)
Repeat on the other side, joining at the outer wing tip of angel 3.
Why the math works: The wing tips sit 5.2 in (13.2 cm) above the hem, so the edged side is 16 − 5.2 = 10.8 in (27.4 cm) long. At 5 sc per inch, 10.8 x 5 = 54 sc, so the edge lies flat without ruffling or pulling in. The two rows add 0.4 in (1.0 cm) per side, so the width is 17 + 0.8 = 17.8 in (45.2 cm).
Hanging Loops (make 4 per panel)
Count the stitches across Row T4. The loops go on sts 1–7, 27–33, 53–59 and 79–85, with 19 sts between groups (4 x 7 + 3 x 19 = 85).
For each loop, join with sl st in the 2nd st of the group, ch 14, skip the next 3 sts, then sl st in the next (6th) st. Turn. Work 20 sc over the ch-14, then sl st in the 2nd st. Fasten off. Each loop stands 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Weave in the ends along solid stitches, not through the net.
- Soak the panel in cool water for 10 minutes, then press it in a towel. Do not wring.
- Pin the band straight at 17.8 in (45.2 cm).
- Pin the sides straight and square at 16 in (40.6 cm).
- Pin the net into even diamonds.
- Round each halo, fan out each wing and pin every scallop point.
- Let the panel dry completely before unpinning. Block the second panel to match.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 6 angels, each with 41 sc in Row 7 and 10 loops per wing
- Each pair of neighbors joined at one hem point and one wing bridge
- Row L2 has 85 sc, and Rows T1–T4 have 85 dc each
- 16 net rows: 21 loops on odd rows, and 20 loops plus 2 half loops on even rows
- 54 sc in each edging row
- 4 hanging loops per panel
- Both panels measure 17.8 in (45.2 cm) x 16 in (40.6 cm)
Troubleshooting
Skirt cups or ruffles: Check that Rows 2–4 increase only at the edges.
Wings curl: The W-Row 1 dtr sts are tight. Loosen your yarn overs or block firmly.
Leveling row waves: Keep exactly 6 sc in each ch-5 sp so the count stays 85.
Net slants: Check the half loops at the ends of even rows.
Side edges wave: Recount the edging. It should be 54 sc per row.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll the panel in a towel and dry it flat. Re-block lightly if the net loses its shape.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is:
- Each angel blocks to 6 in (15.2 cm).
- Three angels plus the leveling rows give 85 sc: 17 in (43.2 cm) wide and 6.4 in (16.3 cm) tall.
- The net adds 8 in (20.3 cm), and the band adds 1.6 in (4.1 cm), for 16 in (40.6 cm) in total.
- The edging brings the width to 17.8 in (45.2 cm).
Check each stage and your two panels will match.
Happy crocheting!