This valance brings a little greenhouse calm to any window. A lace header with nine pointed triangles hangs from a wooden rod. Nine strands hang from the point tips, carrying monstera leaves, lacy mandala medallions, round crochet beads and soft tassels.
The valance uses two colors. Muted sage green is used for the header, leaves, cords, half the beads and the leaf-strand tassels. Warm natural cream is used for the medallions, the other beads and the medallion-strand tassels. The style is boho cottage: light, airy and clearly handmade.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. After the border, the header measures 37 in (94.0 cm) wide and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) deep. Leaf strands hang 27.5 in (69.9 cm) and medallion strands hang 25.5 in (64.8 cm). The longest drop from the top edge is 33.5 in (85.1 cm).
The valance is built in parts. You crochet the header in rows, add nine points, and edge everything with a two-round border that puts a hanging loop at each tip. The leaves, medallions, beads and tassels are made separately, then linked into strands with chain cords.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 37 in (94.0 cm) wide; longest drop 33.5 in (85.1 cm), shortest 31.5 in (80.0 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 64 (1 header, 10 leaves, 8 medallions, 36 beads, 9 tassels)
- Layout: 9 strands across, alternating leaf and medallion strands
- Piece sizes: leaf 5 × 4 in (12.7 × 10.2 cm); medallion 4 in (10.2 cm) across; bead 1 in (2.5 cm); tassel 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Header size before border: 36 × 4.5 in (91.4 × 11.4 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm), two rounds of sc
Materials
Choose a smooth cotton in worsted weight, either mercerized or matte. Cotton keeps the leaf lobes and medallion picots crisp and won’t stretch when it hangs.
- Sage green: 300 g, approx. 540 m (590 yd)
- Natural cream: 150 g, approx. 270 m (295 yd)
These quantities include about 15 percent extra for swatching and trimming tassels.
Tools
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Small amount of polyester fiberfill
- 6 in (15.2 cm) piece of cardboard for tassels
- 10 curtain rings, about 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Wooden rod, at least 40 in (101.6 cm) long
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- BPsc – back post single crochet
- sp(s) – space(s)
- sk – skip
- RS – right side
Special stitches
- Lobe: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, tr in next 2 ch (6 sts). Sk the next 2 sts of the leaf edge, sl st in the next st.
- Picot: Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.
- Bead join: Take the hook out of the loop. From the magic-ring end, push the hook up through a bead and out the open end. Catch the loop, pull it down through the bead, put the hook back in and pull snug.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge is 16 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Edge single crochet is worked at 4 sts per inch, and each sc row adds about 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Make one test piece of each kind first: a gauge swatch, then one leaf and one medallion before you start the header.
Checkpoints:
- Header Row 2: 144 dc = 36 in (91.4 cm)
- Header band (Rows 1–5): 2 in (5.1 cm) deep
- Each point: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at the base, 2.5 in (6.4 cm) deep
- Leaf: 5 × 4 in (12.7 × 10.2 cm)
- Medallion: 2 in (5.1 cm) after Rnd 2, 3 in (7.6 cm) after Rnd 4, 4 in (10.2 cm) finished
- Bead: 1 in (2.5 cm)
If your pieces come out too big, go down one hook size. If they come out too small, go up one size. A small gauge error adds up across 144 sts, so correct it before you start the header.
Header
Use sage green.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 145, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (144 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (144 dc)
Row 3 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st. Ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; rep from * until 1 st remains. Dc in last st, turn. (144 sts: 73 dc and 71 ch-1 sps)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each dc and each ch-1 sp across, turn. (144 dc)
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across. (144 sc) Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 36 × 2 in (91.4 × 5.1 cm).
Points
Each point is worked over 16 sts of Row 5. Nine points × 16 sts = 144 sts, so the points sit side by side with no gaps.
Row 1: With RS facing, join sage green in the first st of the section. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 15 sts, turn. (16 dc)
Row 2: Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st. Ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st 4 times. Dc in next st, leave last 2 sts unworked, turn. (12 sts: 7 dc and 5 ch-1 sps)
Row 3: Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 7 sts, leave last 2 sts unworked, turn. (8 dc)
Row 4: Sl st in first 2 sts, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 3 sts, leave last 2 sts unworked, turn. (4 dc)
Row 5: Sl st in first st, ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc2tog over next 2 sts, leave last st unworked. (1 st, the tip) Fasten off.
Repeat for the other 8 points, joining at sts 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113 and 129.
Checkpoint: the header measures 36 × 4.5 in (91.4 × 11.4 cm), and each point is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) deep.
Leaf (Make 10)
Use sage green.
Rnd 1: Ch 21. Working from the tip end toward the stem: sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 14 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last ch (side A: 20 sts). Ch 3 for the stem. Working in the other side of the foundation chain: sc in first ch, hdc in next 2 ch, dc in next 14 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in last ch (side B: 20 sts). Join with sl st to first sc. (40 sts and 1 ch-3 stem sp)
Rnd 2:
– Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts.
– Work 5 Lobes. The last lobe ends with a sl st in the 18th st of side A.
– Sc in next 2 sts, 5 sc in ch-3 stem sp, sc in next 3 sts.
– Work 5 Lobes. The last lobe ends in the 18th st of side B.
– Sc in next 2 sts. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Rnd 2 count: 15 sc (5 on each side plus 5 at the stem), 10 lobes of 6 sts each (60 sts) and 10 sl sts.
The lobes sit edge to edge. Their outer tips separate where two lobes meet, which creates the typical monstera slits. The foundation chain stays visible down the center as the leaf vein.
Checkpoint: 5 in (12.7 cm) long and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, with each lobe about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Medallion (Make 8)
Use natural cream.
Rnd 1: Magic ring, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join to top of ch-3. (12 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join. (24 dc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 3, sk next st. Sc in next st, ch 3, sk next st; rep around, join to first sc. (12 sc and 12 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 4: Sl st into first ch-3 sp. Work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-3 sp around, join. (12 petals, 60 sts)
Rnd 5: Working behind the petals, BPsc around next Rnd 3 sc, ch 4; rep around, join to first BPsc. (12 BPsc and 12 ch-4 sps)
Rnd 6: Sl st into first ch-4 sp, 5 sc in each ch-4 sp around, join. (60 sc)
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in next 5 sts, picot; rep around, join. (60 sc and 12 picots) Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 4 in (10.2 cm) across. Picots 1 and 7 sit opposite each other and become the top and bottom hanging points.
Bead (Make 18 Green, 18 Cream)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring. Pull the ring snug but leave an opening the hook can pass through. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnds 3–4: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Stuff lightly, leaving a channel open through the center.
Rnd 5: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts) Fasten off without closing the opening. Weave in ends.
Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm).
Tassel (Make 5 Green, 4 Cream)
- Wrap yarn 30 times around the 6 in (15.2 cm) card.
- Slide a 12 in (30.5 cm) strand under the wraps at the top and knot it tightly.
- Cut the bottom loops and remove the card.
- Wrap a second strand 6 times around the bundle 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top. Knot it and bury the ends inside.
- Trim to 5 in (12.7 cm).
Make All Pieces
Totals:
- Sage green: 1 header, 10 leaves, 18 beads, 5 tassels
- Natural cream: 8 medallions, 18 beads, 4 tassels
Layout (strand 1 is at the left, strand 9 at the right):
Strand: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Type: L M L M L M L M L
Tassel: G C G C G C G C G
Key: L = leaf strand, M = medallion strand, G = green tassel, C = cream tassel.
Every strand carries 4 beads. From top to bottom they are green, cream, green, cream.
Border
The border is worked at the main gauge: 4 sc per inch, and each round adds about 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Round 1:
1. With RS facing, join sage green in the first foundation ch at the top right corner.
2. Top edge: Ch 1, sc in each foundation ch across the top (144 sc), ch 1 for the corner.
3. Left end: Work 8 sc down the row ends of the band: 1 sc in each sc row end and 2 sc in each dc row end.
4. Each point: Work 2 sc in each of the 5 row ends going down (10 sc), 3 sc in the tip st, and 2 sc in each of the 5 row ends going up (10 sc). That is 23 sc per point.
5. Right end: Work 8 sc up the row ends of the band, ch 1 for the corner, and join to the first sc.
Round 1 count: 144 sc (top) + 16 sc (ends) + 9 × 23 = 207 sc (points) = 367 sc, plus 2 corner ch-1 sps.
Round 2:
1. Top edge: Ch 1, sc in each sc across the top (144 sc), then (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner sp.
2. Left end: Sc in next 8 sts.
3. Each point: Sc in next 11 sts, (sc, ch 5, sc) in the center tip st, sc in next 11 sts. That is 24 sc and 1 ch-5 hanging loop per point.
4. Right end: Sc in next 8 sts, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the corner sp, join. Fasten off.
Round 2 count: 144 sc (top) + 4 sc (corners) + 16 sc (ends) + 9 × 24 = 216 sc (points) = 380 sc, plus 2 ch-1 sps and 9 ch-5 loops.
Why the math works: The 144 top sts divide into 9 points of 16 sts, and 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm). The header is 36 in (91.4 cm), and the border adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at each end, for 37 in (94.0 cm). The tip loops land exactly 4 in (10.2 cm) apart. That matches the leaf and medallion widths, so the strands hang edge to edge without crowding.
Assembling the Strands
Each strand starts from one ch-5 tip loop, so the 9 loops give 9 strands. Work all cords in sage green.
Leaf strand:
1. Join with sl st in the ch-5 loop. Ch 10, bead join (green), ch 4, bead join (cream), ch 4.
2. Sl st in the center (3rd) stem sc of a leaf. Fasten off.
3. Join in the leaf’s tip sc. Ch 4, bead join (green), ch 4, sl st in the center stem sc of a second leaf. Fasten off.
4. Join in the second leaf’s tip sc. Ch 4, bead join (cream), ch 4. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
5. Thread the tail through the tassel’s top tie, knot it securely and bury it in the tassel.
Medallion strand: Work the same sequence, but join at picot 1 of each medallion instead of the stem, and rejoin at picot 7 instead of the tip.
Keep each chain firm and even. Loose chains stretch under the weight of the pieces and make the strands longer.
Checkpoint: measured from the ch-5 loop, each leaf strand is 27.5 in (69.9 cm) and each medallion strand is 25.5 in (64.8 cm). The uneven tassel heights are intentional.
Final Blocking
- Wet-block the header, leaves and medallions. Soak them in cool water and press out the excess water in a towel.
- Pin the header to 37 × 5.5 in (94.0 × 14.0 cm). Pin each point tip sharply and keep the top edge straight.
- Pin each leaf to 5 × 4 in (12.7 × 10.2 cm). Angle the lobes slightly toward the tip and open every slit.
- Pin each medallion to a 4 in (10.2 cm) circle, with a pin in every picot.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Lightly steam the tassels and smooth them straight. Don’t block the beads.
- Sew the 10 rings to the top edge: one at each end and one above each valley between points (between sts 16 and 17, 32 and 33, and so on).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Header is 37 in (94.0 cm) wide with 9 even points
- Border Round 2 has 380 sc and 9 tip loops
- All 10 leaves measure 5 × 4 in (12.7 × 10.2 cm), each with 10 lobes
- All 8 medallions measure 4 in (10.2 cm) across, each with 12 picots
- All 36 beads are firmly locked on their cords
- Strand lengths match the checkpoints
- All ends are woven in and all knots are secure
Troubleshooting
- Header ruffles: Your dc gauge is loose. Go down one hook size.
- Points lean: Check that each point has 16, 12, 8 and 4 sts in Rows 1–4.
- Lobes curl: Make the lobe chains looser, or block more firmly.
- Medallion cups: Use a larger hook for Rnds 5–7.
- Hook won’t pass through a bead: Remove a little stuffing and loosen the magic ring.
- Strands twist: Steam each cord and let it hang overnight.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, re-pinning the points and lobes if needed. Long periods of strong, direct sun can fade the green.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. At 16 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm), 144 sts make a 36 in (91.4 cm) band, and the border brings it to 37 in (94.0 cm). Nine 16-st points give nine tip loops 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, and each loop carries a leaf or medallion 4 in (10.2 cm) wide. If your swatch matches gauge, every later checkpoint should match too.
Happy crocheting!