This curtain panel combines soft lavender lace with rows of plump cream fans. Each fan is five puff stitches sitting in a lavender cup. Lavender chain arches and V-stitch points surround the fans, and each row of shells is offset from the row below, so the panel reads as a light scale or seashell lattice when it hangs.
The style is cottage-romantic but simple. It uses two colors and one 3-row stitch repeat, with a quiet sc border on all four sides. The open mesh lets daylight through, while the cream puffs add texture and a little privacy.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 41 in wide x 79.5 in long (104.1 cm x 201.9 cm) after blocking. The photo shows a matching pair, so make two identical panels for a window.
You work the panel in one piece, bottom to top. Two setup rows make a mesh base. After that, each 3-row “tier” adds a cream shell row (joined fresh and fastened off), a lavender arch row and a lavender loop row. Tiers alternate between full shells and offset shells. A 3-round border finishes the panel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 41 x 79.5 in (104.1 x 201.9 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 panel (make 2 for a pair)
- Layout: 20 shell repeats wide x 52 tiers tall
- Piece size before border: 40 x 78.5 in (101.6 x 199.4 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on each side
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or soft cotton worsted. Cotton drapes well, holds the puff shape and stands up to sunlight and washing better than most acrylics. Choose a yarn of about 170 m per 100 g.
Per panel:
– Lavender (A): 900 g, approx. 1,530 m
– Cream (B): 550 g, approx. 935 m
Double these amounts for a pair. The quantities include a margin of about 10% for gauge swatches and differences between dye lots. Buy all of each color from one dye lot.
Tools:
– 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers (at least 10)
– Tape measure
– Scissors
– Blocking mats or a clean carpet with a sheet, plus rust-proof pins
– 8–10 curtain clip rings for hanging
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- yo – yarn over
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- rev sc – reverse single crochet (crab stitch)
Special stitches:
– Puff: (yo, insert hook in stitch, yo, pull up a loop to about 1/2 in / 1.3 cm) 3 times, so you have 7 loops on the hook. Yo and draw through all 7 loops.
– Shell: 5 puffs in the same stitch.
– Half shell: 3 puffs in the same stitch.
– V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch.
Anchor: In this pattern, an anchor is any sc in a loop row (Rows 2, 5 and 8). Each loop row has 41 anchors separated by 40 ch-3 spaces. Every “next sc” instruction in a cream row skips the ch-3 space between anchors.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make a test swatch before you start the panel. With A, ch 34. Work Rows 1–8 below using 4 repeats instead of 20:
– Row 1 has 33 sc.
– Loop rows have 9 anchors.
– Each “times” count drops from 20 to 4, or from 19 to 3.
Gauge after light steam or wet blocking:
– 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) on Row 1
– 1 shell repeat (8 sts) = 2 in (5.1 cm) wide
– 1 tier (3 rows) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall
– The full swatch is 8 in wide x 3.5 in tall (20.3 x 8.9 cm)
If the swatch is too big, go down 0.5 mm. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. If only the height is off, adjust the height of your puff loops (taller loops make taller tiers) and keep the hook that gives the right width.
Checkpoints on the panel:
– After Row 2: width 40 in (101.6 cm)
– After Row 8 (2 tiers): height 3.5 in (8.9 cm)
– After Row 80 (26 tiers): height 39.5 in (100.3 cm)
– After Row 158 (52 tiers): 40 x 78.5 in (101.6 x 199.4 cm)
Pattern
Color handling: Cream rows are always RS rows. Join cream at the right edge and fasten it off at the left edge. While you work the cream row, leave the lavender loop on a stitch marker at the right edge. Then pick the lavender loop up again and work the lavender arch row (RS) and loop row (WS), which end back at the right edge. Work over the cream tails as you go to save time weaving them in later.
Setup
Foundation: With A, ch 162.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (161 sc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * 39 more times. Do not turn. Place the A loop on a marker. (41 sc anchors, 40 ch-3 sps)*
Tier A (Rows 3–5): Full Shells
Row 3 (RS, B): Join B with a sl st in the first sc at the right edge. Ch 1, sc in the same sc, shell in next sc, sc in next sc; rep from * 19 more times. Fasten off B. (20 shells / 100 puffs, 21 sc)*
Row 4 (RS, A): Pick up the A loop at the right edge. Ch 3 (counts as dc; it stands over the first cream sc). Ch 3, sk 2 puffs, sc in next puff, ch 3, sk 2 puffs, V-st in next sc; rep from * 18 more times. Ch 3, sk 2 puffs, sc in next puff, ch 3, sk 2 puffs, dc in last sc. Turn. (2 edge dc, 20 center sc, 19 V-sts, 40 ch-3 sps)*
The sc in each center puff makes the two arches that cup each fan. The V-sts make the lavender points between fans.
Row 5 (WS, A): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, sc in ch-1 sp of next V-st; rep from * 18 more times. Ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, sc in top of turning ch. Do not turn. Place the A loop on a marker. (41 sc anchors, 40 ch-3 sps)*
Tier B (Rows 6–8): Offset Shells
Row 6 (RS, B): Join B with a sl st in the first sc at the right edge. Ch 1, half shell in the same sc, sc in next sc, shell in next sc; rep from * 18 more times. Sc in next sc, half shell in last sc. Fasten off B. (2 half shells + 19 shells = 101 puffs, 20 sc)*
These shells sit above the V-sts from Row 4, halfway between the shells of the tier below. That offset creates the lattice.
Row 7 (RS, A): Pick up the A loop. Ch 2 (carries the yarn up the edge and does not count as a stitch). Sc in first puff, ch 3, sk 2 puffs, V-st in next sc. Ch 3, sk 2 puffs, sc in next puff, ch 3, sk 2 puffs, V-st in next sc; rep from * 18 more times. Ch 3, sk 2 puffs, sc in last puff. Turn. (2 edge sc, 19 center sc, 20 V-sts, 40 ch-3 sps)*
Row 8 (WS, A): Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 3, sc in ch-1 sp of next V-st, ch 3, sc in next sc; rep from * 19 more times. Do not turn. Place the A loop on a marker. (41 sc anchors, 40 ch-3 sps)*
Body
Repeat Rows 3–8 another 25 times, for 26 Tier A and 26 Tier B (52 tiers). The final row is Row 158, a Row 8 repeat with 41 anchors and 40 ch-3 sps. Keep A attached for the border.
Check: The panel should measure 40 x 78.5 in (101.6 x 199.4 cm).
Border
Border gauge: 4 sc per inch (16 sc = 4 in / 10.2 cm). This matches the body width gauge, so the edges stay flat.
Count method: Each side count below covers the stitches between corners. Corner groups are counted separately.
Round 1 (RS): With A, ch 1 and work along the top edge first:
– Top: 3 sc in first sc (corner). Sc in each remaining sc and 3 sc in each ch-3 sp up to the last sc, then 3 sc in last sc (corner). The top has 41 sc + 120 sc in spaces = 161 workable sts. The 2 corner sts get 3 sc each, which leaves 159 sc between corners.
– Left side: Work 314 sc evenly into the row ends: 3 sc in each cream row end, 2 sc in each arch row end and 1 sc in each loop row end (6 per tier x 52 = 312), plus 1 sc in each of Rows 2 and 1 (2).
– Bottom: Working into the foundation ch loops, 3 sc in first ch (corner), sc in next 159 ch, 3 sc in last ch (corner).
– Right side: Work 314 sc, worked the same way as the left side. Sl st to the first sc.
Round 1 total: 159 + 159 + 314 + 314 + (4 x 3) = 958 sc
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc with 3 sc in the center sc of each corner. Sl st to join.
– Sides between corners: top and bottom 161 each, sides 316 each.
– Round 2 total: 161 + 161 + 316 + 316 + 12 = 966 sc. That is 958 + 8, or 2 new stitches at each corner.
Round 3: Ch 1, rev sc in each sc around, with no corner increases. Sl st to join. Fasten off. (966 rev sc)
Why the math works:
– Top and bottom each start from 161 stitches. That equals 20 repeats x 8 sts + 1, which is the Row 1 count.
– The 314-stitch sides equal 78.5 in x 4 sc per inch, so the sides neither ruffle nor pull in.
– Three rounds add about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) per side, which gives 40 + 1 = 41 in by 78.5 + 1 = 79.5 in.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along lavender stitches, where they hide best.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little wool or cotton wash for 15 minutes.
- Press out the water gently. Roll the panel in towels to remove more. Don’t wring it.
- Lay it flat on mats or a sheet-covered carpet.
- Pin the corners first, to 41 x 79.5 in (104.1 x 201.9 cm).
- Pin the edges every 4 in (10.2 cm), keeping them straight.
- Open each fan with your fingers so the 5 puffs spread evenly. Gently pull the V-st points into shape.
- Let it dry completely, usually 24–48 hours.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Panel is 41 x 79.5 in (104.1 x 201.9 cm), with opposite sides equal
- [ ] Every tier has 20 full shells, or 19 full shells plus 2 half shells
- [ ] Shells alternate in an offset pattern for the full length
- [ ] Every loop row has 41 anchors
- [ ] Border Round 3 has 966 sts and the corners are square
- [ ] No ends are showing, and the cream tails are hidden
- [ ] Puffs are evenly sized, with no loose loops
Troubleshooting
- Panel narrows as it grows: Your ch-3 loops are too tight. Chain more loosely, or use a 5.5 mm hook just for the loop rows.
- Edges wave or flare: Count the border stitches against the 314 per side. Too many row-end sc cause ripples.
- Shells don’t line up: You probably repeated the same tier type twice. Tier A and Tier B must alternate.
- Puffs look flat: Pull every loop up to 1/2 in (1.3 cm) before closing the puff.
- Wrong stitch count in a cream row: Make sure you skipped every ch-3 space and worked only into the sc anchors.
- Lavender yarn is at the wrong edge: Rows 3, 4, 6 and 7 are all RS rows. Turn only after Rows 4 and 7.
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on a cool, gentle cycle in a laundry bag, then lay flat to dry and reshape. Avoid strong direct heat, and rotate the panels now and then so they fade evenly in sunlight.
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain:
– 8 sts = 2 in (5.1 cm), so 20 repeats give 40 in (101.6 cm).
– Each tier is 1.5 in (3.8 cm), so 52 tiers plus the 0.5 in (1.3 cm) setup give 78.5 in (199.4 cm).
– The 0.5 in (1.3 cm) border on all sides brings the panel to 41 x 79.5 in (104.1 x 201.9 cm).
If you check your swatch, Row 2 and the 2-tier checkpoint, the rest of the panel follows from the repeat. Make a second panel the same way for a matching pair.
Happy crocheting!