The Jewel Link Strand Curtain is an openwork curtain made of separate vertical strands. Each strand is a chain of pointed oval links joined tip to tip, with a small bobble knot at every neck. Light comes through the long center openings and through the gaps between the double crochet posts, so the panel looks airy and slightly graphic, like beaded strands.
The colors are a deep magenta and a bright teal. The strands alternate magenta and teal across the rod, and every strand hangs from a magenta tab loop, so a magenta stripe runs along the top. The style is modern boho and works well on a sunny window or as a room divider.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel is about 47.75 in (121.3 cm) wide and hangs about 81.5 in (207.0 cm) from the top of the rod to the tip of the bottom drops.
Construction overview: you crochet each oval link in two rounds, joining each new link to the one above during Round 2. A continuous sc edging, worked down one side of the strand and up the other, finishes all the links at once and adds the knots and the bottom drop. Last, you work a tab on top of each strand and hang it.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished panel size: 47.75 in (121.3 cm) wide x 81.5 in (207.0 cm) hanging length
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 208 links (16 strands of 13 links) plus 16 tabs
- Layout: 16 strands side by side, 13 links per strand, strands not joined to each other
- Piece size (one link, before border): 5.5 in (14.0 cm) long x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
- Size before border (one strand): 77.5 in (196.9 cm) point to point
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each long side; link width after border is 2.75 in (7.0 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend with about 200 m (219 yd) per 100 g. Cotton holds the pointed shapes, hangs straight, and does not stretch much under its own weight. Avoid fuzzy yarns; they blur the ladder gaps.
- Color A, magenta: 850 g, about 1,700 m (1,859 yd) — 8 strands plus all 16 tabs
- Color B, teal: 800 g, about 1,600 m (1,750 yd) — 8 strands
Both quantities include a margin of about 15% for gauge differences and swatching.
Tools:
- 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- 4 locking stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Rust-proof pins and a large blocking surface
- Spray bottle
- Curtain rod up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- beg – beginning
Special stitch – bobble: [Yarn over, insert hook in indicated place, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops] 5 times, yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in rows of sc.
Before you commit, make one complete link and measure it. One link uses only a few grams and tells you everything.
- After Round 1: about 4 in (10.2 cm) long x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide, flattened.
- After Round 2: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) point to point x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide.
- Two links joined: 11.5 in (29.2 cm) from top point to bottom point after Round 2 (5.5 in + 0.5 in neck + 5.5 in).
- After border: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide.
If your link is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. A link that is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too long becomes a strand more than 3 in (7.6 cm) too long, so check this carefully.
Link Pattern
Every link starts with a long chain ring that becomes the center opening.
Foundation: Ch 30, sl st in first ch to form a long ring. Do not twist.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 36 sc into the ring (over the chain, not into the chains), sl st in first sc to join. (36 sc)
Flatten the ring so the stitches lie evenly on two long sides. Place a marker in sc 1 (top point) and sc 19 (bottom point). There are 17 sc between the markers on each side. The center opening measures about 3.25 in (8.3 cm) long when flat.
Round 2 (ladder round, first link of each strand): Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch 2), dc in same sc as join (top point made). [Ch 1, dc in next sc] 17 times. Ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in marked sc 19 (bottom point made). [Ch 1, dc in next sc] 17 times. Ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. Fasten off.
Count for Round 2: 2 + 17 + 2 + 17 = 38 dc, 36 ch-1 sps and 2 ch-2 point sps. Each dc stands alone with a gap beside it, which gives the ladder look around the center opening.
The ch-2 sps at each end make the pointed tips. The 1-to-1 rhythm along the sides keeps the edges flat.
Link sides defined: Each side of a link runs from one point sp to the other and holds 19 dc (17 side dc plus 1 dc from each point) and 18 ch-1 sps, for 37 places to work. You will use this number in the border.
Make All Pieces
Each strand is a single color and has 13 links. Links 2 to 13 are joined to the link above them during Round 2 (see Joining).
- Color A (magenta): 8 strands x 13 links = 104 links, plus 16 tabs
- Color B (teal): 8 strands x 13 links = 104 links
- Total: 208 links in 16 strands
Layout grid (front view, strand 1 at left; A = magenta, B = teal; each letter is one link):
Strand: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Link 1: A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
Link 2: A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
Link 3: A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
... (links 4 to 13 repeat the same order)
Tabs: A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Finish all 13 links of one strand before starting the next. Weave in the ring tails as you go; the Round 2 tails can be covered by the border.
Joining
Links join point to point while you work Round 2, so there is no sewing.
Round 2 (links 2 to 13): Work Round 1 as usual. For Round 2: ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1), with the right side of both links facing, sl st in the bottom ch-2 point sp of the link above, ch 1, dc in same sc as join (joined top point made). [Ch 1, dc in next sc] 17 times. Ch 1, (dc, ch 2, dc) in marked sc 19. [Ch 1, dc in next sc] 17 times. Ch 1, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off.
The joined point replaces the ch-2 with ch 1, sl st, ch 1, so the count is unchanged: 38 dc, 36 ch-1 sps, 1 ch-2 point sp and 1 joined point.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each join connects one point sp to one point sp. Nothing is added on the sides, so every link keeps exactly 37 places per side for the border.
Tension: Keep the ch 1 on both sides of the sl st the same size as your other chains. Tight joins pull the necks short. Loose joins let the links twist.
Size checkpoint: A finished 13-link strand measures 77.5 in (196.9 cm) from top point to bottom point before the border: 13 links x 5.5 in (14.0 cm) = 71.5 in (181.6 cm), plus 12 necks x 0.5 in (1.3 cm) = 6 in (15.2 cm).
Border
The border is one continuous round of sc that goes down one side of the strand and up the other. It gives every link a solid outer edge, adds a bobble on each side of every neck to form the knot, and makes the bottom drop.
Border gauge: 37 sc along one link side measures about 7.4 in (18.8 cm) along the curve, which matches the outer edge of Round 2.
Border round: With the strand color, join with sl st in the top ch-2 point sp of link 1. Ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp.
Side 1 (going down): *Work 37 sc along the side of the current link: 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 sp, ending in the last point dc. Bobble in the joined point, inserting the hook through both point sps at once. Rep from * for links 1 to 12. Work 37 sc along the side of link 13.
Side 1 count: 13 links x 37 sc = 481 sc, plus 12 bobbles.
Bottom drop: In the bottom ch-2 point sp of link 13: sc, ch 7, sl st in 6th ch from hook (small ring made, 1 ch stem), 10 sc in ring, sl st in first sc of ring, sl st in stem ch, sc in same point sp.
Side 2 (going up): *Work 37 sc along the side of the current link, starting with link 13. Bobble in the joined point from this side. Rep from * for links 13 to 2. Work 37 sc along the side of link 1. Sl st in first sc to join. Fasten off.
Side 2 count: 481 sc, plus 12 bobbles.
Round total: 481 + 481 sc on the sides, 2 sc at the top point, 2 sc at the bottom point and 10 sc in the drop ring = 976 sc, plus 24 bobbles and the top ch-2 sp.
Why the math works: Each side of each link has 37 places to work, so 1 sc per place keeps the edge flat. Along one side of the strand, the count is simply 13 x 37 = 481. The bobbles go into the joints, not into side stitches, so they never change the 37. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each long side, taking the width from 2.25 in (5.7 cm) to 2.75 in (7.0 cm). It adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at the top point, and the drop adds 1.25 in (3.2 cm) at the bottom. Strand length: 77.5 + 0.25 + 1.25 = 79 in (200.7 cm).
Tab (all strands, Color A): Join A with sl st in the top ch-2 sp of the border.
- Row 1: Ch 1, 5 sc in the ch-2 sp. (5 sc)
- Rows 2 to 28: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across. (5 sc)
The tab measures about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide x 5 in (12.7 cm) long. Fold it to the back of the strand and whipstitch Row 28 to the back of Row 1. This forms a loop that adds 2.5 in (6.4 cm) above the strand. Hanging length: 79 + 2.5 = 81.5 in (207.0 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all remaining ends along the border sc so they don’t show in the openings.
- Lay one strand flat on the blocking surface, right side up.
- Pin both points of every link first, keeping the strand straight.
- Shape each link to 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide and open the center slot evenly.
- Pin the bottom drop round and the tab flat.
- Mist with water until damp but not soaked.
- Let dry completely, about 12 to 24 hours.
- Repeat for each strand. Check that all strands are within 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of 79 in (200.7 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each link has 38 dc and 36 ch-1 sps in Round 2.
- Each link side has 37 border sc.
- Every neck has 2 bobbles, one on each side.
- Each strand has 13 links and a bottom drop.
- Each tab has 28 rows and 5 sc per row.
- Strands alternate magenta and teal, starting with magenta at the left.
- All strands are 79 in (200.7 cm) long, plus the tab.
- No twisted links or loose joins.
- All ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
- Round 1 ruffles: Push the sc together along the ring, or start with ch 32 instead of ch 30.
- Round 2 cups: Your dc are too short; loosen your yarn overs or go up a hook size.
- Points look round: Make sure you work the ch 2 at each point, not ch 1.
- Border wavy: You likely worked 2 sc in some sps. Recount to 37 per side.
- Strand twists when hung: One link was joined with the wrong side facing. Undo that Round 2 and rejoin.
- Strands differ in length: Block again and pin to 79 in (200.7 cm), or adjust the tab rows.
- Tab too tight on the rod: Add 2 to 4 rows to each tab.
Care
Hand wash cold or machine wash gentle in a laundry bag, then lay flat to dry and reshape. Do not hang the strands wet; the weight can stretch them.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain to keep in mind: one link is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) long and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide after Round 2. Thirteen links with 0.5 in (1.3 cm) necks make a 77.5 in (196.9 cm) strand. The border brings each link to 2.75 in (7.0 cm) wide, and the top edge and bottom drop bring the strand to 79 in (200.7 cm). The tab adds 2.5 in (6.4 cm) for an 81.5 in (207.0 cm) hanging length. Sixteen strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, center to center, give a 47.75 in (121.3 cm) wide panel.
If your window is a different size, add or remove links in steps of 6 in (15.2 cm), or add or remove strands in steps of 3 in (7.6 cm). Make one link, check it, and the rest follows.
Happy crocheting!