This valance is a calm, wintry piece for a window. A lavender lace band holds a row of open fans, each spreading upward from a small eyelet hole. Above the fans is a band of airy chain-loop mesh, and a solid strip along the top keeps the edge straight.
A cream edging runs along the bottom with one soft scallop under each fan. Each scallop has a small hanging point at its lowest spot. Nine charms hang from these points, alternating five lavender stars and four cream crescent moons. Each charm hangs on a cream chain with a gold bead.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished valance is 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide and 5½ in (14.0 cm) deep at the scallop centers. With the charms, it hangs about 12 in (30.5 cm) deep.
You’ll work the lavender band in 10 rows into a long foundation chain. Next, you’ll add the cream scallop edging along the foundation edge and finish the short ends. Then you’ll make the nine charms and attach them with beaded chains.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide × 5½ in (14.0 cm) deep at scallop centers
- Total drop with star charms: 12 in (30.5 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 valance band + 9 charms (5 stars, 4 moons)
- Layout: 9 fan repeats in one row, with one charm under each fan
- Piece size: 1 repeat = 4 in (10.2 cm) wide; star = 3½ in (8.9 cm); moon = 3 in (7.6 cm) tip to tip
- Size before border: 36¼ in × 4½ in (92.1 cm × 11.4 cm)
- Border depth: 1 in (2.5 cm) at scallop centers, ¾ in (1.9 cm) at the ends
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed cotton in worsted weight. Cotton holds the lace shape well, keeps the stars crisp, and stays put in a sunny window. Avoid fuzzy blends, because they blur the mesh.
- Lavender: 100 g, about 150 m (164 yd), for the band and 5 stars
- Cream: 50 g, about 75 m (82 yd), for the edging, 4 moons, and all hangers
These amounts include a margin of about 30%.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 9 gold beads, 8–10 mm, with holes of at least 3 mm
– 10 curtain clip rings
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Measuring tape
– Rust-proof pins, a blocking mat, and a spray bottle
– Optional: light fabric stiffener for the charms
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- dtr – double treble crochet
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- lp(s) – loop(s)
- MR – magic ring
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – V-st: (dc, ch 3, dc) in the same stitch. The ch-3 space becomes the eyelet at the base of each fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc.
Test one piece first. Chain 34 and work Rows 1–10 over 33 stitches, which is 2 repeats + 1. Then make one star.
Checkpoints on the swatch:
– Row 1: 33 sc = 8¼ in (21.0 cm)
– After Row 4: about 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
– After Row 8: 33 sc, about 3¾ in (9.5 cm) tall
– After Row 10: about 4½ in (11.4 cm) tall
– Star after Round 2: 1½ in (3.8 cm) across
If your swatch is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. A difference of ¼ in (0.6 cm) over 8¼ in (21.0 cm) becomes about 1 in (2.5 cm) across the full valance. Fix gauge before you start the long chain.
Valance Band (Lavender)
The repeat is 16 stitches + 1. Mark every 16th stitch on Row 1, because the markers make the lace rows much easier to place.
Foundation: Ch 146.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (145 sc)
Sc 1, 17, 33, and so on through 145 are the 10 boundary stitches. Sc 9, 25, 41, and so on are the 9 center stitches.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Ch 7, sk 7 sc, V-st in next sc (center), ch 7, sk 7 sc, sc in next sc (boundary). Repeat from * 8 more times. Turn.
(10 sc, 9 V-sts, 18 ch-7 sps)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Ch 4, sk ch-7 sp, 9 dc in ch-3 sp of V-st, ch 4, sk ch-7 sp, sc in next sc. Repeat from * across. Turn.
(9 fans of 9 dc, 10 sc)
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Ch 3, (dc in next dc, ch 1) 8 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, sc in next sc. Repeat from * across. Turn.
(Each fan: 9 dc and 8 ch-1 sps)
The fans are now open spokes radiating from the eyelet.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first sc. Ch 2, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3) 7 times, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, sc in next sc. Repeat from * across. Turn.
(Each fan: 8 sc and 7 ch-3 lps)
Row 6: Ch 4 (counts as tr). Ch 3, sk first ch-3 lp of fan, sc in 2nd lp, (ch 3, sc in next lp) 4 times, ch 3, sk last lp of fan, tr in next sc. Repeat from * across. Turn.
This row puts sc in loops 2–6 of each fan, with the tall tr between fans.
(10 tr, 45 sc, 54 ch-3 sps)
Row 7 (mesh): Ch 1, sc in first tr. (Ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) 6 times, ch 3, sc in next tr. Work the last sc into the top of the turning ch-4. Turn.
(64 sc, 63 ch-3 lps, 7 lps per repeat)
These loops form the diamond mesh above the fans.
Row 8 (leveling): Ch 1, sc in first sc. 2 sc in each of next 3 lps, 3 sc in next lp, 2 sc in each of next 3 lps, sc in next sc (above tr). Repeat from * across. Skip the sc between loops. Turn.
(Per repeat: 6 + 3 + 6 + 1 = 16 sc. Total 1 + 9 × 16 = 145 sc)
Row 9: Ch 2 (does not count), hdc in each st across. Turn. (145 hdc)
Row 10: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Fasten off. (145 sc)
Checkpoint: The band measures 36¼ in × 4½ in (92.1 cm × 11.4 cm), and Row 10 has the same 145 stitches as Row 1.
Charms
Star (lavender) – make 5
Round 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 14 dc in ring. Pull the ring tight and sl st to the top of ch-3. (15 dc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (30 sc)
Checkpoint: 1½ in (3.8 cm) across.
Round 3 (points): Sc in next sc, ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in next ch, dtr in next ch, sk next 4 sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Sl st to first sc.
(5 points; each repeat uses 6 sts, so 5 × 6 = 30)
Round 4 (outline): Ch 1. At each valley, sc in each of the 2 sc. Work 5 sc up one side of the point, one in each free ch loop. Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip ch. Work 5 sc down the other side, one around each stitch post. Repeat around and sl st to first sc. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
(Per point: 2 + 5 + 2 + 5 = 14 sc and 1 ch-2 tip. Total 70 sc, 5 ch-2 tips)
Star size: 3½ in (8.9 cm) from tip to tip.
Moon (cream) – make 4
Row 1: Ch 16. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, 2 dc in each of next 3 ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last 2 ch.
(15 ch worked; 18 sts)
Edging: Do not turn. Ch 1 and work back along the outer curve: sc in first 6 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) 3 times, sc in last 6 sts. This gives 18 sts worked 1-per-st + 3 extra = 21 sc.
Then work 1 sl st in each of the 15 free loops of the foundation chain to make the inner curve. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off. (21 sc + 15 sl st)
The firm sl sts on the inner edge pull the moon into a crescent. Moon size: 3 in (7.6 cm) tip to tip.
Make All Pieces
- Lavender: 1 valance band, 5 stars
- Cream: 4 moons, the edging, and 9 hangers
Layout grid, charms from left to right (one per scallop):
SCALLOP: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
CHARM: STAR MOON STAR MOON STAR MOON STAR MOON STAR
Border (Cream Scallop Edging)
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the band.
Hold the band with Row 10 at the top and the foundation chain at the bottom, RS facing.
Border Row 1: Join cream in the first free loop of the foundation chain at the right corner. Ch 1, then sc in the same loop and in each free loop across. Turn. (145 sc on the bottom edge)
Border Row 2 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in first sc. Each scallop covers 16 sts, numbered 2–17 below:
| Stitch | Work |
|---|---|
| 2 | Skip |
| 3 | Hdc |
| 4–5 | Dc in each |
| 6–8 | 2 dc in each |
| 9 (center) | 3 dc |
| 10–12 | 2 dc in each |
| 13–14 | Dc in each |
| 15 | Hdc |
| 16 | Skip |
| 17 | Sc (boundary) |
Repeat across, 9 scallops in all. Turn.
(Per scallop: 2 hdc + 19 dc = 21 sts. Total 10 sc + 9 × 21 = 199 sts)
Border Row 3 (trim): Ch 1, sc in first sc. Sc in next 10 sts, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next st (the middle dc of the 3-dc group), sc in next 10 sts, sc in next sc. Repeat from * across. Fasten off.
(199 sts worked 1-per-st + 9 extra sc = 208 sc, plus 9 ch-2 hanging points)
Short ends: With RS facing, join cream at one corner of the cream edging and work up the row ends to the top corner. Work 1 sc in each of the 3 cream row ends. Then work these sc into the lavender row ends:
| Lavender row | Sc |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 |
| 8 | 1 |
| 9 | 2 |
| 10 | 1 |
Fasten off. Repeat on the other end.
(3 + 18 = 21 sc per short side)
Why the math works:
– The band is 9 × 16 + 1 = 145 stitches, so Border Row 1 has exactly 145 sc with no extra stitches.
– Each scallop turns 15 stitches into 21, which makes the curve bulge evenly under its fan.
– The single 3-dc group sits right under each fan’s eyelet. That puts the ch-2 hanging point at the lowest spot of each scallop.
– 21 sc at 4 sc per in equals 5¼ in (13.3 cm). That matches the band height of 4½ in plus the ¾ in end border (11.4 cm + 1.9 cm = 13.3 cm).
Joining the Charms
Method: Each hanger is a cream chain that starts at the charm and ends with a sl st into one ch-2 hanging point.
- Thread 1 bead onto the cream yarn before you begin.
- Star: Join cream with a sl st in one ch-2 tip. Ch 8, slide the bead up against the hook, then ch 4. The hanger is 12 ch, about 3 in (7.6 cm), not counting the bead.
- Moon: Join cream with a sl st in the top tip. Ch 6, slide the bead up, then ch 4. The hanger is 10 ch, about 2½ in (6.4 cm).
- Sl st into the ch-2 point of the matching scallop from the layout grid. Fasten off and weave the tail back down the chain.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: 9 scallops have 9 ch-2 points, and each point takes exactly 1 charm. Points 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 get stars; points 2, 4, 6, and 8 get moons.
Tension advice: Chain at an even, medium tension. Tight chains twist the charms, and loose chains stretch over time. All five star hangers should be the same length, and all four moon hangers should match.
Size checkpoint: Lay the valance flat. The star tips should sit 12 in (30.5 cm) below the top edge, and the moon tips 11 in (27.9 cm).
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends on the WS. Leave the hanger tails until after blocking.
- Spray the band and charms until they are evenly damp but not dripping.
- Pin the top edge straight on the mat to 36¼ in (92.1 cm).
- Pin each scallop point down, so the band measures 4½ in (11.4 cm) and the scallops 1 in (2.5 cm).
- Open each fan with pins so the spokes spread evenly from the eyelet.
- Pin each star point and both moon tips. Brush on stiffener if you like.
- Let everything dry completely, about 24 hours.
- Unpin the pieces and add 10 clip rings to Row 10 at the boundary stitches: 1, 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113, 129, and 145.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rows 1, 8, 9, and 10 each have 145 stitches.
- There are 9 fans, each with 9 spokes and a clear eyelet.
- Row 7 has 63 mesh loops.
- Border Row 2 has 199 stitches, and Border Row 3 has 208 sc and 9 ch-2 points.
- Each short side has 21 sc.
- There are 5 stars of 70 sc each and 4 moons of 21 sc + 15 sl st each.
- The charms alternate from left to right: star, moon, star, moon, star, moon, star, moon, star.
- Each hanger has 1 bead, and the hangers match their stated lengths.
- The valance is 36¼ in × 5½ in (92.1 cm × 14.0 cm).
Troubleshooting
- The band curves upward: The foundation chain was too tight. Rework it with a hook one size larger.
- Row 8 count is off: Check that you skipped the sc between loops, and that the 3-sc loop is the 4th loop of each repeat.
- Fans lean to one side: A V-st is off-center. Count 8 stitches from each boundary marker.
- Scallops ruffle: Your dc are loose. Swap the 2 dc at stitches 6 and 12 for single dc. Note that this changes the totals to 17 sts per scallop, 163 sts in Border Row 2, and 172 sc in Border Row 3.
- Moons stay flat: Tighten the sl sts along the inner curve.
- Star points curl: Block them with stiffener, or do the Round 4 sc more loosely.
- The bead won’t fit: Choose beads with a hole of at least 3 mm.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Press out the water in a towel, then pin the valance flat to dry. Reshape the charms while they are still damp.
Final Notes
Each measurement depends on the one before it. A gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 145-stitch band 36¼ in (92.1 cm) wide. Nine 4 in (10.2 cm) repeats each make one fan, and the band is 4½ in (11.4 cm) tall. The cream edging adds 1 in (2.5 cm) at the scallops, for a valance 5½ in (14.0 cm) deep. Nine ch-2 points hold five stars and four moons on beaded chains, for a total drop of about 12 in (30.5 cm). Check each stage before moving on, and the valance will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!