This oval ring curtain is made from vertical strands of linked crochet rings that hang from a solid header band. Lavender and cream strands alternate across the width, light comes through every ring opening, and each strand ends in a full tassel in its own color.
The style is soft and cottage-like, with a bit of a boho feel. It hangs well in a kitchen window, a narrow doorway, or across a reading nook. Lavender and cream give gentle contrast, but any two colors with a light-dark difference will work.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 36 in (91.4 cm) wide and 38 in (96.5 cm) long from the top of the header band to the tassel tips. The rod tabs sit above that.
Construction is modular. You make 128 small oval rings and link each one to the ring above as you go, giving 16 strands of 8 rings. Next you work a single crochet header band with 9 tabs on top. Last, you link the strands to the band and add the tassels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36 in (91.4 cm) wide x 38 in (96.5 cm) long, not counting the tabs
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 128 rings, 1 header band with 9 tabs, 16 tassels
- Layout: 16 strands side by side, 8 rings per strand, colors alternating
- Piece size: each ring 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide; each link 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Size before border: the hanging section is 36 in (91.4 cm) long: 32 in (81.3 cm) of links and rings plus a 4 in (10.2 cm) tassel
- Border depth: header band 2 in (5.1 cm) deep
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton or cotton blend with clear stitch definition. Cotton keeps the rings crisp and hangs straight. Avoid stretchy acrylic, because long strands of it grow over time.
- Lavender: 280 g / 504 m (8 strands, 8 tassels, header band, and tabs)
- Cream: 200 g / 360 m (8 strands and 8 tassels)
These quantities assume a yarn of about 180 m per 100 g and include a margin of about 15 percent.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stiff card 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, for the tassels
- Scissors
- Rust-proof pins and blocking mats
- Measuring tape
- Curtain rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – Link: Ch 4, sl st into the stitch named in the pattern, then sl st into each of the 4 ch to work back to where you started. This gives a doubled cord about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Band gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Ring gauge: one finished ring, pressed flat into an oval, measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide. The center opening is about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Make one ring and measure it before you go on.
- Ring too big: use a 4.5 mm hook, or chain the foundation more firmly.
- Ring too small: use a 5.5 mm hook.
- Ring ruffles: the foundation chain is too tight. Chain more loosely, or chain with a hook one size larger.
Checkpoints:
- One ring: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall.
- Two linked rings: 7.25 in (18.4 cm) from top to bottom.
- One strand of 8 rings: 31.25 in (79.4 cm) from top to bottom.
- Header band after Row 9: 36 in (91.4 cm) x 2 in (5.1 cm).
Oval Ring
Make every ring the same way. Ring 1 is the top ring of a strand and has no link of its own. Each ring after that is linked to the ring above it when you finish it.
Foundation: Ch 22, sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Keep the chain relaxed.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc). Work 31 dc around the chain loop, not into the chains. Sl st into the top of the beginning ch-3. (32 dc)
The dc can slide around the loop. Space them evenly so each half of the ring has 16 dc.
Reference points: The beginning ch-3 is dc 1 and marks top-center. Dc 17 sits exactly opposite and marks bottom-center. There are 15 dc between them on each side. Pinch the ring flat so these two points form the narrow tips of the oval.
Ring 1 of a strand: After Rnd 1, fasten off and leave a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail.
Rings 2–8 of a strand: After Rnd 1, don’t fasten off. Work a Link: ch 4, sl st into dc 17 (bottom-center) of the ring above, then sl st back into each of the 4 ch. Fasten off.
The new ring now hangs tip to tip from the ring above, with a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) link between them.
Strand total: 8 rings and 7 links. Length = 8 x 3.25 in + 7 x 0.75 in = 26 in + 5.25 in = 31.25 in (79.4 cm).
Weave in the ends as you go, running them along the dc posts on the WS.
Make All Pieces
- Lavender: 8 strands = 64 rings, 8 tassels, 1 header band with 9 tabs
- Cream: 8 strands = 64 rings, 8 tassels
- Total: 128 rings, 16 tassels
Tassels: Wind yarn 30 times around the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) card. Slip a 10 in (25.4 cm) tie strand under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly. Cut the wraps at the bottom. Wrap a separate strand 6 times around the bundle 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top, knot it, and bury the ends inside the tassel. Trim to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Layout grid (RS facing, left to right):
Band: [========== header band, 144 sts ==========]
Strand: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Color: L C L C L C L C L C L C L C L C
Each strand: 8 rings + 1 tassel, all in the strand color
Joining
Each strand joins to the band with one Link, from the band’s lower edge to top-center of Ring 1. Make the band (see Border below) before you join any strands.
Attachment points: The band’s lower edge has 144 foundation loops. Split them into 16 sections of 9 sts, one per strand. Each strand hangs from the center (5th) st of its section, so the attachment points are foundation sts 5, 14, 23, 32, 41, 50, 59, 68, 77, 86, 95, 104, 113, 122, 131, and 140.
To join each strand: Hold the band with the RS facing and use the strand’s color.
- Join with a sl st into the attachment st.
- Ch 4, then sl st into dc 1 (top-center) of Ring 1.
- Sl st back into each of the 4 ch.
- Sl st into the attachment st again and fasten off.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Strand centers are 9 sts apart, or 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Each ring is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide, so neighboring rings have a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) gap and never overlap.
Tension: Work these links at the same tension as the links between rings. A tight link pulls its strand higher than the ones beside it.
Tassels: Thread each tie strand through dc 17 of the strand’s Ring 8. Knot it securely and bury the ends inside the tassel head.
Size checkpoint: Hang the curtain. Each strand should measure 32 in (81.3 cm) from the band edge to the bottom of Ring 8: one 0.75 in (1.9 cm) link plus the 31.25 in (79.4 cm) strand. The bottoms of all 16 Ring 8s should line up within 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Border: Header Band and Tabs
The header band is the top border. Work it in lavender.
Border gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Starting count: 16 strands x 9 sts per strand section = 144 sts. No extra stitches go between sections.
Foundation: Ch 145.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (144 sc)
Rows 2–9: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each st across, turn. (144 sc per row)
After Row 9, the top and bottom edges have 144 sts each and each side edge has 9 row-ends. The band measures 36 in (91.4 cm) x 2 in (5.1 cm). Fasten off.
Tabs: Make 9 tabs, each 8 sts wide, with 9 sts between neighboring tabs. Work them along the top edge (Row 9) at sts 1–8, 18–25, 35–42, 52–59, 69–76, 86–93, 103–110, 120–127, and 137–144.
Tab Row 1: With the RS facing, join lavender in the first st of the tab position. Ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 7 sts, turn. (8 sc)
Tab Rows 2–18: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (8 sc per row)
Each tab measures 2 in (5.1 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm). Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Fold the tab to the WS and whipstitch its last row along Row 5 of the band, directly behind its own 8 sts.
Why the math works:
- Tabs: 9 tabs x 8 sts = 72 sts, and 8 gaps x 9 sts = 72 sts, for 144 sts in all. The outer tabs line up exactly with the band ends.
- Strands: 144 sts / 16 strands = 9 sts per strand.
- Width: 144 sts / 4 sts per in = 36 in (91.4 cm).
- Depth: 9 rows / 4.5 rows per in = 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Length: 2 in band + 0.75 in link + 31.25 in strand + 4 in tassel = 38 in (96.5 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lay the curtain RS up on blocking mats.
- Pin the band straight to 36 in (91.4 cm) x 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Pin the strands straight down, with their centers 2.25 in (5.7 cm) apart.
- Shape each ring to 3.25 in (8.3 cm) x 1.75 in (4.4 cm), with top-center and bottom-center in a vertical line.
- Mist until damp, or steam lightly from above without touching the yarn.
- Let it dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Unpin, smooth the tassels with damp fingers, and trim them to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] 16 strands, alternating L and C, with L on the far left
- [ ] 8 rings per strand, 32 dc per ring
- [ ] Every link joins dc 17 of one ring to dc 1 of the ring below
- [ ] Band is 144 sts x 9 rows, 36 in x 2 in (91.4 cm x 5.1 cm)
- [ ] 9 tabs of 8 sts x 18 rows, in the right positions
- [ ] Strands attached at foundation sts 5, 14, 23 … 140
- [ ] Bottoms of all Ring 8s level within 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
- [ ] Tassels 4 in (10.2 cm), matching their strand colors
- [ ] All ends woven in
Troubleshooting
- Rings hang at an angle: A link is attached off-center. Move it so it joins exactly at dc 1 or dc 17.
- Strands are different lengths: Recount the rings, then redo any link that is tighter than the others.
- Ring is lumpy or cupped: The dc are bunched up. Slide them around the loop until each half has 16.
- Band is under 36 in (91.4 cm): Rework it with a 5.5 mm hook. Keep 144 sts so the attachment points don’t change.
- Band curls: Block it flat. If it still rolls, add one more row of 144 sc. This makes the band about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) deeper.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, roll it in a towel to remove water, and dry it flat with the rings pinned back into shape. Don’t hang it while wet.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. A ring of 32 dc measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm). Eight rings and seven 0.75 in (1.9 cm) links make a 31.25 in (79.4 cm) strand. Sixteen strands at 9 sts each set the band at 144 sts, or 36 in (91.4 cm). The band, the top link, the strand, and the tassel together make the 38 in (96.5 cm) length. If your test ring comes out at the right size, the rest of the curtain will too.
Happy crocheting!