Navy blue crocheted lace beads alternating with cream pearl beads hang in vertical strands on a neutral background.

Midnight Paisley Bead Curtain Crochet Pattern

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This curtain is made of lace motifs on long strands. Navy paisleys, wheel medallions and slim almond shapes hang one below the other, with a champagne-gold pearl bead between each pair and a full navy tassel at the bottom of every strand. When light comes through the window, the scalloped edges show up clearly.

The palette is deliberately simple: one deep navy thread and warm gold pearls. Because the design uses only one color, all the interest comes from the shapes, the lace textures and the way neighboring strands are staggered.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures about 36 in (91.4 cm) wide and 63 in (160.0 cm) long, including tassels.

You make 48 paisleys, 48 medallions, 48 almonds and 12 tassels. Next, you add a scalloped edging to every motif. Then you link each strand together with crocheted bead links and hang it from the rod with a chain loop.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 36 in (91.4 cm) wide x 63 in (160.0 cm) long
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Size 3 mercerized cotton thread (fingering, CYC #1 Super Fine)
  • Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
  • Number of pieces: 144 motifs + 12 tassels, joined into 12 strands
  • Layout: 12 strands, 3 in (7.6 cm) apart center to center; each strand has 4 repeats of 3 motifs
  • Piece sizes: paisley 4.75 x 3 in (12.1 x 7.6 cm); medallion 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across; almond 3.75 x 1.5 in (9.5 x 3.8 cm)
  • Size before border: paisley 4 x 2.25 in (10.2 x 5.7 cm); medallion 1.75 in (4.4 cm); almond 3.25 x 1 in (8.3 x 2.5 cm)
  • Border depth: 0.375 in (1.0 cm) on paisleys and medallions; 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on almonds

Materials

Choose a smooth mercerized cotton. It gives crisp stitch definition, holds the scallops when blocked and won’t stretch much while hanging. Avoid fuzzy fibers, because they blur the lace windows.

  • Navy: 500 g / 1700 m (ten 50 g / 170 m balls)
  • Beads: 150 champagne-gold pearl beads, 12 mm, with holes at least 2 mm wide (144 needed)
  • 2.25 mm (US B-1) hook
  • Big-eye beading needle or a loop of fine wire for threading beads
  • Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers
  • Stiff card 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall for tassels
  • Blocking mats, rustproof pins, spray bottle
  • Wooden curtain rod at least 40 in (101.6 cm) long and up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter

These quantities include a margin of about 15%. Per strand you need roughly 115 m: 44 m for paisleys, 28 m for medallions, 20 m for almonds, 18 m for the tassel and 5 m for links and the loop.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • sp – space
  • rep – repeat
  • RS – right side

Scallop (special stitch): Sc in next st, skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st. Each scallop uses exactly 4 sts. The almond uses a small scallop, which has 3 dc instead of 5.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 8 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm). Medallion Rounds 1–3 = 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.

Make one medallion before anything else, and measure it after each round:

  • Round 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
  • Round 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
  • Round 3: 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
  • Border: 2.5 in (6.4 cm)

If the medallion is too big, go down 0.25 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.25 mm. Over 144 motifs, a 0.25 in (0.6 cm) error per motif adds 3 in (7.6 cm) to each strand, so get this right first.

Navy crocheted teardrop ornament with open lace pattern and pearl bead, suspended from cord loop.

Medallion (make 48)

Round 1: Make a magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch-3. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small center hole. (16 dc)

Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in next st, ch 2; rep from * 14 more times, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning ch-5. (16 dc, 16 ch-2 sps)* These are the spokes and windows.

Round 3: Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in each ch-2 sp around, join to first sc. (48 sc) Fasten off, or keep going straight into the border.

Paisley (make 48)

Foundation: Ch 16.

Round 1:
1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook (this is the tip). Sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 4 ch, dc in next 6 ch, then 7 dc in last ch for the rounded bottom.
2. Working along the opposite side of the foundation, dc in next 6 ch, hdc in next 4 ch, sc in next 3 ch.
3. Work 2 sc in the ch holding the first sc, then join to the first sc.

(14 + 7 + 13 + 2 = 36 sts) It should measure about 2.75 x 1.25 in (7.0 x 3.2 cm).

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Work 2 sc in each of the 7 bottom dc, and 3 sc in the last st (the center of the tip). Join. (28 sts x 1 + 7 x 2 + 3 = 45 sc) It should measure 3.25 x 1.5 in (8.3 x 3.8 cm).

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 13 more times, ch 3, skip last 2 sts, join to first sc. (15 sc, 15 ch-3 loops)* This makes the open lace ring.

Round 4: Sl st into first loop, ch 1, 4 sc in each ch-3 loop around, join. (60 sc) It should measure 4 x 2.25 in (10.2 x 5.7 cm).

Almond (make 48)

Foundation: Ch 18.

Round 1:
1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 11 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, then 3 sc in last ch.
2. Working along the opposite side, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 11 ch, hdc in next 2 ch.
3. Work 2 sc in the ch holding the first sc, then join.

(16 + 3 + 15 + 2 = 36 sts) It should measure 3 x 0.75 in (7.6 x 1.9 cm).

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, working 3 sc in st 18 and 3 sc in st 36 (the center st at each point). Join. (34 single sc + 3 + 3 = 40 sc) It should measure 3.25 x 1 in (8.3 x 2.5 cm).

Make All Pieces

Piece Per strand Total (12 strands) Color
Paisley 4 48 Navy
Medallion 4 48 Navy
Almond 4 48 Navy
Tassel 1 12 Navy
Pearl bead 12 144 Gold

Odd strands are Strand A, which runs Paisley, Medallion, Almond. Even strands are Strand B, which runs Almond, Medallion, Paisley. In each grid cell, P = paisley, M = medallion, Al = almond, and every arrow is a bead link.

Strand:  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12
         A   B   A   B   A   B   A   B   A   B   A   B
Rep 1:   P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al
         M   M   M   M   M   M   M   M   M   M   M   M
         Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P   Al  P
Rep 2-4: same three rows, repeated
End:     tassel on every strand

Joining

Method: Each crocheted bead link joins the bottom of one motif to the top of the next motif.

Attachment points:

  • Medallion: the center dc of any scallop (top), and the center dc of the scallop 6 scallops away (bottom)
  • Almond: the center dc of the tip scallops
  • Paisley: the center dc of the tip scallop (top), and the center dc of the scallop at the middle of the rounded end (bottom)

Link, stitch by stitch:

  1. Thread 1 bead onto the thread.
  2. Join with a sl st in the bottom point of the upper motif.
  3. Ch 3, slide the bead up against the hook, and ch 1 to lock it.
  4. Ch 3, then sl st in the top point of the next motif.
  5. Fasten off.

Each link is 1 in (2.5 cm) long, including the bead. Work 11 links between the 12 motifs on a strand. The 12th link goes below the last motif, and its final sl st goes through the tassel’s top loop.

Tassel: Wrap the thread 60 times around the 5.5 in (14.0 cm) card. Tie the wraps together at the top with a strand, leaving a loop for the link. Cut the wraps at the bottom. Wrap the neck tightly 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top, then trim the tassel to 5 in (12.7 cm).

Hanging loop: Join at the top point of the first motif, ch 32, and sl st in the same st. This makes a loop of about 4 in (10.2 cm) around, which hangs 2 in (5.1 cm) below the rod.

Tension: Keep the link chains firm and even. Loose links stretch under weight and make strands uneven.

Checkpoint: Each repeat is 4.75 + 1 + 2.5 + 1 + 3.75 + 1 = 14 in (35.6 cm). Four repeats give 56 in (142.2 cm). Add the 2 in (5.1 cm) loop, and each strand should hang 58 in (147.3 cm) before the tassel.

Border

The border is the scalloped edging worked around each motif. It is all one round.

Border gauge: One 5-dc scallop is about 0.65 in (1.7 cm) wide along the edge and 0.375 in (1.0 cm) deep.

Medallion border: Ch 1, work 12 scallops around, join to first sc. (12 sc + 60 dc = 72 sts) A scallop lands every 4 sts, so the scallop 6 away sits directly opposite. That’s where the bottom link goes.

Paisley border: Ch 1, work 15 scallops around, join. (15 sc + 75 dc = 90 sts) Fasten off.

Paisley curl: With RS facing, join thread in the center dc of the tip scallop. Ch 11, then work 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (20 sc). Sl st in the same dc and fasten off. The curl twists by itself. Lay it toward the wide side of the paisley, over the upper body, and tack the end down so it stays inside the outline.

Almond border: Join in the center st of one point. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 2 dc in the same st, skip 1, sc in next, skip 1, 3 dc in next, skip 1, sc in next, skip 1; rep from * 8 more times, then join. (10 small scallops: 1 at each point + 4 along each long side; 30 dc + 10 sc = 40 sts)*

Why the math works:

  • Every scallop uses 4 sts, so you need a stitch count that divides by 4: 48 / 4 = 12, 60 / 4 = 15 and 40 / 4 = 10.
  • On the almond, the two points are 20 sts apart. Since 20 / 4 = 5, a scallop falls exactly on each point.
  • On the medallion, opposite points are 24 sts apart. Since 24 / 4 = 6, the top and bottom scallops line up.

Final Blocking

  1. Block all motifs before you join them.
  2. Soak them in cool water for 10 minutes, then press the water out in a towel.
  3. Pin each motif to its finished size: paisley 4.75 x 3 in (12.1 x 7.6 cm), medallion 2.5 in (6.4 cm), almond 3.75 x 1.5 in (9.5 x 3.8 cm).
  4. Pin every scallop tip and open each lace window. Pin almond points sharp.
  5. Let everything dry completely before you remove the pins.
  6. After joining, comb the tassels. Steam them lightly and trim them level at 5 in (12.7 cm).
  7. Hang the curtain for 24 hours to let the links settle.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Medallions measure 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across with 12 even scallops
  • Paisleys have 15 scallops and a curl tacked inside the outline
  • Almonds have 10 scallops, with one sitting on each point
  • All 144 beads are locked and centered in their links
  • Strands A and B alternate across the rod
  • Every strand is 63 in (160.0 cm) long, ±0.5 in (1.3 cm)
  • Strands are spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, for a total of 36 in (91.4 cm)
  • All tails are woven in securely

Troubleshooting

  • Medallion cups: Round 2 is too tight. Loosen the ch-2 spaces or go up a hook size.
  • Medallion ruffles: Round 3 is too loose. Work the sc more firmly.
  • Almond points are rounded: Make sure the 3 sc in Round 2 went into the exact center sts, then re-block with pins at the points.
  • Scallops are uneven: Recount the stitches in the round before the border. The count must divide by 4.
  • Curl sticks out: Tack it at two points instead of one.
  • Strands hang at different lengths: Remake any stretched links firmly. Check that every hanging loop is ch 32.
  • Bead slides: You missed the locking ch 1. Redo that link.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, and dry flat. Then re-hang the curtain and comb the tassels. Dust it occasionally by shaking each strand gently.

Navy crocheted curtain with cream beaded teardrop and circular motifs and tassels, hanging in a warm, sunlit room.

Final Notes

The size of the whole curtain depends on a chain of measurements:

  • Gauge is 8 sc to 1 in (2.5 cm). This gives a 1.75 in (4.4 cm) medallion before the border and 2.5 in (6.4 cm) after it.
  • Paisleys are 4.75 in (12.1 cm) tall and almonds are 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
  • Add three 1 in (2.5 cm) links, and each repeat is 14 in (35.6 cm).
  • Four repeats plus the hanging loop make 58 in (147.3 cm). The tassel brings the strand to 63 in (160.0 cm).
  • Twelve strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart give a 36 in (91.4 cm) curtain.

If you check each link in that chain as you go, the finished curtain will hang straight and even.

Happy crocheting!

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