This curtain is made of hanging strands of lace motifs in one soft olive green. On each strand, small round medallions alternate with long, pointed lace leaves, and an ivory pearl bead sits between every pair of motifs. A full olive tassel finishes the bottom of each strand, and a crocheted loop at the top slips over a wooden rod. Hung in a sunny window, it filters the light without blocking it.
The style is botanical boho. All the motifs use one color, so the openwork shapes carry the design and the pearls add a little shine.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 38 in (96.5 cm) wide and 66.5 in (168.9 cm) long, from the top of the rod to the tips of the tassels. It has 14 strands.
You work each motif separately in the round. Then you link the motifs into strands with short chain connectors, each holding one pearl. Last, you add a hanging tab at the top and a tassel at the bottom of each strand.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 38 in (96.5 cm) wide x 66.5 in (168.9 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport weight (#2) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.0 mm (US C/2 or D/3)
- Number of pieces: 98 round medallions and 84 lace leaves (182 motifs)
- Layout: 14 strands, each with 7 medallions and 6 leaves, alternating, starting and ending with a medallion
- Piece size: medallion 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across; leaf 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide x 4.75 in (12.1 cm) long
- Motif section (before tab and tassel): 59.25 in (150.5 cm), from top picot to bottom picot
- Edge depth: tab drop 1.5 in (3.8 cm) at the top; tassel 4.5 in (11.4 cm) at the bottom
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized cotton. It shows stitch detail clearly, holds its shape after blocking and doesn’t fuzz in sunlight. Avoid acrylic, because the leaves may stretch under the weight of the pearls.
- Olive green: 550 g / 1,650 m (about 11 skeins of 50 g / 150 m)
- Pearl beads: 190 ivory or champagne pearls, 10 mm, hole at least 2 mm (182 needed plus spares)
- 3.0 mm crochet hook
- 0.75 mm steel hook or a big-eye beading needle, for pulling yarn through the pearls
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Cardboard, 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, for the tassels
- Sharp scissors
- Blocking mat, rust-proof pins and spray bottle
- Wooden curtain rod, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) diameter, at least 42 in (106.7 cm) long
The quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – picot: ch 3, then sl st into the 3rd ch from the hook.
Special stitch – pearl lock: pull the working loop through the pearl’s hole with the steel hook, slide the pearl down against the last chain, then ch 1 to lock it in place.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm), worked firmly.
Make one medallion and one leaf before you start the full set. Block them, then measure.
Medallion checkpoints (diameter):
– After Round 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
– After Round 2: 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
– After Round 3: 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
– After Round 4: 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
Leaf checkpoints (length x width):
– After Round 1: 4 in (10.2 cm) x 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
– After Round 2: 4.5 in (11.4 cm) x 1.75 in (4.4 cm)
– After Round 3: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm)
If your test motifs are too big, switch to a hook 0.25 mm smaller. If they are too small, go up 0.25 mm. Over 13 motifs, an error of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per motif adds 3.25 in (8.3 cm) to each strand, so it’s worth fixing now.
Round Medallion
Each medallion is a lace wheel. It has a solid center, an open spoke ring, a ring of dc clusters and a scalloped picot edge.
Round 1: Ch 4 and sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work 11 dc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch-3. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2). Dc in next dc, ch 2; repeat from * 10 more times. Join with a sl st to the 3rd ch of the ch-5. (12 dc, 12 ch-2 sps)
Round 3: Sl st into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 2 dc in the same sp, then ch 1. Work 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1; repeat from * 10 more times. Join to the top of the ch-3. (36 dc in 12 groups, 12 ch-1 sps)
Round 4: Ch 1. Sc in each of the next 3 dc, then (sc, picot, sc) in the next ch-1 sp; repeat from * 11 more times. Join to the first sc and fasten off, leaving a 4 in (10.2 cm) tail. (60 sc, 12 picots)
Count: 12 groups x 3 sc = 36, plus 12 sps x 2 sc = 24, for 60 sc in total.
Mark any one picot as the top picot. The bottom picot is the 7th picot, counting the top one as the 1st. It sits directly opposite, with 5 picots on each side between them.
Lace Leaf
The leaf is worked around both sides of a foundation chain. The center forms a solid vein. The graded stitches in Round 2 make the pointed oval shape and the open ladder veins.
Round 1: Ch 23. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (22 sc) Ch 3 for the first tip loop. Turn the work so you can crochet into the free loops on the other side of the foundation chain. Sc in each ch across. (22 sc) The last sc goes into the same ch as the first sc. Ch 3 for the second tip loop and join with a sl st to the first sc. (44 sc, 2 ch-3 tip loops)
Round 2: Sl st into the ch-3 tip loop just made. Ch 1, then work (sc, ch 4, sc) in the same loop.
Side: [ch 2, skip the next sc, work the next st] 11 times. Work these 11 sts in this order: sc, hdc, dc, tr, tr, tr, tr, tr, dc, hdc, sc. This uses all 22 sc on that side.
Work (sc, ch 4, sc) in the next tip loop. Repeat the side once more. Join to the first sc. (22 graded sts, 22 ch-2 sps, 4 tip sc, 2 ch-4 tip loops)
Round 3: Sl st into the next ch-4 tip loop. Ch 1, then work (2 sc, picot, 2 sc) in the same loop. Sc in the next tip sc.
Side: Work 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp, then sc in the next st. Repeat 11 times in total. Add a picot after the sc in each tr. (33 sc, 5 picots)
Sc in the next tip sc. Work (2 sc, picot, 2 sc) in the ch-4 tip loop, then sc in the next tip sc. Repeat the side once more. Join to the first sc and fasten off. (78 sc, 12 picots in total)
Count: each side has 22 sc in the sps plus 11 sc in the sts, which makes 33. Each tip has 4 sc in the loop plus 2 flanking sc, which makes 6. So 33 x 2 + 6 x 2 = 78.
The tip picots are the top and bottom connection points of the leaf.
Make All Pieces
All pieces use olive green.
- Medallions: 14 strands x 7 = 98
- Leaves: 14 strands x 6 = 84
- Tassels: 14
Weave in all the starting tails as you go. Leave the final tail on each piece until it is blocked.
Layout of one strand, from top to bottom (M = medallion, L = leaf, o = pearl):
TAB
M - o - L - o - M - o - L - o - M - o - L - o - M
- o - L - o - M - o - L - o - M - o - L - o - M
- o - TASSEL
Curtain layout across the rod, from left to right:
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14
Space the strands 2.75 in (7.0 cm) apart, center to center.
Joining
Block all the motifs flat before you join them. It’s much easier than blocking finished strands.
Connector (12 per strand):
- Join yarn with a sl st into the bottom picot of the upper motif.
- Ch 4.
- Work a pearl lock.
- Ch 4.
- Sl st into the top picot of the next motif.
- Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Each connector is 9 ch long, including the lock chain, plus the pearl. Together they measure 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
Stitch-to-stitch logic: always connect a bottom picot to a top picot. Never connect into a side picot. This keeps every motif hanging straight on its center line. On a medallion, the top and bottom picots are the 1st and 7th. On a leaf, they are the two tip picots.
Tension: keep the connector chains firm and even. Loose chains let the pearls tilt and the strand twist. To check, hold the strand up. All the motifs should face forward.
Strand checkpoint: 7 medallions x 2.25 in (5.7 cm) = 15.75 in (40.0 cm). 6 leaves x 4.75 in (12.1 cm) = 28.5 in (72.4 cm). 12 connectors x 1.25 in (3.2 cm) = 15 in (38.1 cm). From the top picot to the bottom picot, the motif section should measure 59.25 in (150.5 cm).
Border: Hanging Tabs and Tassel Edge
A strand curtain has no fabric border. Instead, the top tabs and the bottom tassels finish the edges. Work them at the same gauge as the motifs: 6 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Top tab (1 per strand):
- Join yarn with a sl st into the top picot of the first medallion.
- Ch 36 and sl st into the same picot to form a loop.
- Ch 1, then work 45 sc around the chain loop.
- Join and fasten off.
There are 45 sc on 36 ch, so the loop is packed solidly. That stops it from sliding along the rod, and the extra height stiffens the tab. The loop goes around a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) rod and drops 1.5 in (3.8 cm) below it.
Tassel connector: work one more connector from the bottom picot of the last medallion. Make it the same way as in Joining, up to and including the second ch 4. Don’t fasten off. Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail to tie on the tassel. Each strand has 12 + 1 = 13 pearls, so the curtain has 14 x 13 = 182 pearls.
Tassel:
- Wrap yarn 30 times around the 5 in (12.7 cm) card.
- Thread a 10 in (25.4 cm) tie under the wraps at the top edge and knot it tightly.
- Cut the wraps open at the bottom edge. This gives 60 strands.
- Wrap a 12 in (30.5 cm) strand 8 times around the bundle, 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top, and tie it off.
- Tie the tassel to the connector tail.
- Trim the tassel to 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Why the math works: the tab drop is 1.5 in (3.8 cm), the motif section is 59.25 in (150.5 cm), the tassel connector is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) and the tassel is 4.5 in (11.4 cm). That makes 66.5 in (168.9 cm). Across the rod, 13 gaps x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) = 35.75 in (90.8 cm). Add half a motif width at each edge, 2.25 in (5.7 cm) in total, and the width is 38 in (96.5 cm).
Final Blocking
- Soak all the motifs in lukewarm water for 10 minutes.
- Gently press out the water in a towel. Don’t wring them.
- Pin each medallion into a 2.25 in (5.7 cm) circle. Put one pin in each picot.
- Pin each leaf to 4.75 in (12.1 cm) x 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Put pins in both tip picots first, then in the side picots.
- Open up the ch-2 ladder spaces with your fingertip.
- Let everything dry completely before you join.
- After assembly, hang the curtain and lightly mist the tassels so they straighten.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every medallion has 60 sc and 12 picots.
- Every leaf has 78 sc and 12 picots.
- Each strand has 7 medallions, 6 leaves and 13 pearls.
- All connectors run from a bottom picot to a top picot.
- Every strand measures 66.5 in (168.9 cm).
- All the tassels are trimmed to the same 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
- All the ends are woven in securely.
Troubleshooting
- Medallion cups: the Round 3 chains are too tight. Loosen the ch-1 sps.
- Medallion ruffles: your dc are too loose. Go down a hook size.
- Leaf is round, not pointed: the stitch heights are wrong. Check the order in Round 2: sc, hdc, dc, 5 tr, dc, hdc, sc.
- Strand twists: a connector is attached to a side picot. Move it to the top or bottom picot.
- Pearl won’t pass: use a pearl with a hole of at least 2 mm, or pull the loop through with the steel hook.
- Strands are uneven lengths: block the motifs again to their checkpoints, and adjust the tab chain by 2 ch at a time.
Care
Dust the curtain gently or shake it out. If it needs washing, hand-wash it cool, then hang it to dry, with the pearls kept out of the water where you can.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A 2.25 in (5.7 cm) medallion and a 4.75 in (12.1 cm) leaf, joined with 1.25 in (3.2 cm) connectors, make a motif section of 59.25 in (150.5 cm). Adding the tab and tassel gives a strand of 66.5 in (168.9 cm). Fourteen strands spaced 2.75 in (7.0 cm) apart give a width of 38 in (96.5 cm). If you check your first medallion and leaf carefully, every strand will hang to the same length.
Happy crocheting!