This curtain panel pairs tall columns of stacked fans with slim ladder stripes. When it hangs in a window, the fans catch the light and the ladders lead the eye upward, so even a modest window looks taller.
The sample is worked in a single soft dusty mauve. The muted shade suits the vintage, romantic style of the design, and a matte cotton keeps the lace crisp. Any solid color works. Avoid variegated yarn, because it hides the fan columns.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 40.5 in wide x 80 in long (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm), not counting the tabs. With the tab loops it hangs about 82.75 in (210.2 cm) below the top of the rod.
The panel is made in one piece. You work a solid band at the bottom, repeat one pattern row up the full length, and finish with a matching solid band. Then you work two rounds of single crochet border around all four sides and add seven tabs along the top edge. For a pair like the one in the room photo, make two identical panels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one panel): 40.5 in x 80 in (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm), not including tabs
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate. The stitches are easy, but this is a long project that needs careful counting.
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 panel per curtain, with 7 tabs worked directly onto it
- Layout: 14 fan columns alternating with 15 ladder stripes, with a ladder at each side edge
- Panel size before border: 39.5 in x 79 in (100.3 cm x 200.7 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on every side, 2 rounds
- Tabs: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide, 6 in (15.2 cm) long before folding
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend in dusty mauve. Cotton drapes well, holds the fan shapes after blocking, and handles sunlight better than most acrylics. Avoid fuzzy or brushed yarns, which blur the openings.
- Dusty mauve: 1,300 g / approx. 2,210 m (2,417 yd) per panel, based on 100 g / 170 m balls
- For a pair: 2,600 g / approx. 4,420 m (4,834 yd)
These quantities include about a 10 percent margin for your gauge swatch and small differences in tension. Buy all the yarn from one dye lot, because two panels hanging side by side show even slight color differences.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 8 locking stitch markers
- Measuring tape, at least 80 in (203.2 cm) long
- Scissors
- Blocking mats or a clean floor covered with towels, plus rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitch – Fan: 7 dc worked into the same stitch.
Ladder: Dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts (or the ch-2 sp), dc in next st. A ladder covers 4 sts and counts as 4 sts.
Turning chain: In dc rows, the ch 3 at the start counts as the first dc. Work the last stitch of each row into the top of the turning ch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sts and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in pattern, after blocking. Each dc row is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall. A fan section is 7 sts, or 1.75 in (4.4 cm), wide. A ladder is 4 sts, or 1 in (2.5 cm), wide.
Make a test swatch first:
- Ch 39.
- Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. (37 sts)
- Rows 2–3: Work as panel Rows 2–3. (37 sts)
- Rows 4–11: Work the panel pattern rows with 3 fan repeats instead of 14. (37 sts)
Block the swatch the same way you will block the panel. It should measure 9.25 in (23.5 cm) wide and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall.
If it is too big: Change to a 4.5 mm hook. If it is too small: Change to a 5.5 mm hook. On a piece this large, a swatch that is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) off becomes a panel that is about 1 in (2.5 cm) off.
Panel checkpoints:
- After Row 1: 158 sts, 39.5 in (100.3 cm) wide
- After Row 3: solid band 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall
- After Row 43: 21.5 in (54.6 cm) tall
- After Row 155: 77.5 in (196.9 cm) tall
- After Row 158: 79 in (200.7 cm) tall
- After the border: 40.5 in x 80 in (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm)
Measure on a flat surface without stretching the work. Lace grows as it hangs, so let the panel rest flat for a few minutes before you measure.
The Panel
The panel is 158 sts wide. One repeat is a ladder plus a fan section: 4 + 7 = 11 sts. Each row has 14 repeats plus 1 closing ladder: (14 x 11) + 4 = 158 sts.
Bottom Band
Foundation: Ch 160.
Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (the skipped 3 ch count as the first dc) and in each ch across. Turn. (158 sts)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (158 sts)
Row 3: Rep Row 2. (158 sts)
The solid band should measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
Lace Body
Row 4 (set-up pattern row): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in next st. This makes the first ladder. Sk 3 sts, Fan in next st, sk 3 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in next st; rep from * 13 more times. The last dc goes into the top of the turning ch. Turn. (158 sts: 15 ladders of 4 sts + 14 Fans of 7 sts)*
To check the count: the first ladder uses 4 sts and each of the 14 repeats uses 11 sts, so 4 + 154 = 158.
Row 5 (pattern row): Ch 3 (counts as dc), ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc. Sk next 3 dc of Fan, Fan in 4th (center) dc of Fan, sk next 3 dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, sk ch-2 sp, dc in next dc; rep from * 13 more times. The last dc goes into the top of the turning ch. Turn. (158 sts)*
Each Fan grows from the center dc of the Fan below. Skipping the 3 outer dc on each side opens the small triangles at the base of every fan. The ladders stay as straight posts with a chain gap between them. Every row has the same count, so the columns stay exactly vertical.
Rows 6–155: Rep Row 5. (158 sts in every row)
That makes 152 pattern rows in all (Rows 4–155). Place a marker every 20 rows to make counting easier. After Row 155, the panel should measure 77.5 in (196.9 cm).
Top Band
Row 156 (conversion row): Ch 3 (counts as dc). 2 dc in ch-2 sp, dc in next dc, dc in each of the 7 Fan dc, dc in next dc; rep from * 13 more times, 2 dc in last ch-2 sp, dc in top of turning ch. Turn. (158 sts)*
Here is the conversion: the pattern row has 128 dc and 15 ch-2 sps. You work 1 dc into each existing dc (128) plus 2 dc into each ch-2 sp (15 x 2 = 30), for 128 + 30 = 158 sts.
Rows 157–158: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (158 sts)
The panel should now measure 39.5 in x 79 in (100.3 cm x 200.7 cm). Do not fasten off. Continue straight into the border.
Border
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). Each sc round adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Round 1: Ch 1 and rotate the panel to work down the first side. Work 2 sc into the end of each row (158 rows x 2 = 316 sc). Ch 2 at the corner. Working across the underside of the foundation ch, sc in each ch (158 sc). Ch 2. Work 2 sc into the end of each row up the second side (316 sc). Ch 2. Sc in each st across the top (158 sc). Ch 2, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (948 sc + 4 corner ch-2 sps)
Round 2 (trim round): Ch 1. Sc in each sc around, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (948 sc worked 1 per st + 8 corner sc = 956 sc: top and bottom 160 sc each, sides 318 sc each, plus 4 corner ch-2 sps)
The 2 sc at each corner go to the 2 sides that meet there. So each side gains exactly 2 sc, and no corner stitch is counted twice.
Why the math works: The sides take 2 sc per dc row. The body has 2 dc rows per 1 in (2.5 cm), and the border has 4 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm), so 2 sc per row matches the gauge exactly. The edges lie flat without ruffling or pulling in. The top and bottom take 1 sc per st, which matches the body’s 4 sts per inch. The 2 rounds add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) per side: 39.5 + 1 = 40.5 in (102.9 cm) wide and 79 + 1 = 80 in (203.2 cm) long.
Fasten off.
Tabs
The top edge has 160 sc. Each tab is 10 sts wide, with 15 sts between tabs: (7 x 10) + (6 x 15) = 70 + 90 = 160.
Hold the panel RS facing with the top edge up. Counting from the right corner, mark the first sc of each tab: sts 1, 26, 51, 76, 101, 126 and 151.
Each tab:
- Row 1: Join yarn in the marked sc, ch 1, sc in the same st and in each of the next 9 sts. Turn. (10 sc)
- Rows 2–24: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (10 sc)
Each tab measures 2.5 in x 6 in (6.4 cm x 15.2 cm). Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. Fold the tab to the WS and whipstitch its last row along the base of border Round 1. This forms a loop about 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, which fits rods up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the dc posts, never across the openings.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes.
- Press out the water without wringing, then roll the panel in towels to remove more.
- Lay it flat and pin the corners to 40.5 in x 80 in (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm).
- Pin along each side every 4 in (10.2 cm). Use the ladder posts as guides to keep the columns straight.
- Shape each Fan into an even half-circle with your fingers.
- Let the panel dry completely, which takes 24–48 hours. Then hang it and let it settle for a day.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every pattern row has 158 sts: 15 ladders and 14 Fans.
- The fan columns and ladders run straight from the bottom band to the top band.
- Before the border, the panel measures 39.5 in x 79 in (100.3 cm x 200.7 cm).
- Border Round 2 has 956 sc: 160 on each short side and 318 on each long side.
- There are 7 evenly spaced tabs, each sewn securely on the WS.
- The finished size is 40.5 in x 80 in (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm).
- The two panels of a pair match in length to within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Troubleshooting
Fans drift sideways: A Fan was worked into a dc other than the center one. Skip exactly 3 dc on each side every time.
Stitch count changes: Check the row ends. The ch 3 counts as a dc, and the last dc goes into the top of the turning ch.
Sides ruffle: The border has too many stitches for your row height. Work 3 sc over every 2 rows instead.
Sides pull in: Loosen your border tension, or use a hook one size larger for the border only.
Panel grows too long after hanging: Cotton lace drops a little over time. Re-block it flat. For future panels, work 2 fewer pattern rows.
Panels in a pair don’t match: Count rows instead of judging by eye, and make both panels from the same dye lot.
Care
Hand wash, or machine wash on a cold delicate cycle in a mesh bag. Lay flat to dry and re-block. Never tumble dry, because the panel’s weight will stretch the lace.
Final Notes
Everything in this pattern follows from the gauge. At 16 sts and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), the 158-st body is 39.5 in (100.3 cm) wide and its 158 rows are 79 in (200.7 cm) tall. The border adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) per side, for a finished panel of 40.5 in x 80 in (102.9 cm x 203.2 cm). The seven tabs let it hang about 82.75 in (210.2 cm) below the rod. If your swatch matches the gauge, each checkpoint after it will match too.
Happy crocheting!