The Peace Dove Lace Valance is a soft cream band of filet mesh and fan lace with seven rounded scallops along the bottom. Small sage leaf pairs sit above each scallop. Seven sage cords hang below the band, carrying doves and stars, a second leaf pair and a cream tassel.
The palette has only two colors: warm cream and muted sage green. The look is calm and wintry, so it suits a Christmas window and still works after the holidays.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished band measures 29 in (73.7 cm) wide and 7.25 in (18.4 cm) deep at the scallop centers. From the top of the tab loops to the tassel tips, the valance is about 31.25 in (79.4 cm) long.
You work the band top-down in rows: hem, mesh, fans, then a scallop rim. Next you add a two-row border, crochet the tabs directly onto the top edge, and work the cords straight out of the scallop points. Finally you sew on the doves, stars, leaves and tassels.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm) band. Overall length is 31.25 in (79.4 cm).
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton
- Hook: 4 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 1 lace band. The tabs and cords are worked onto the band. Doves, stars, leaves and tassels are sewn on.
- Layout: 7 scallop repeats side by side. There is 1 tab above each scallop and 1 cord below each scallop.
- Repeat size: 20 stitches = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Size before border: 28 x 6.75 in (71.1 x 17.1 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on the top and both sides
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or matte cotton. Cotton gives crisp mesh and holds the scallop shape after blocking. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they blur the lace.
- Cream: 250 g, about 550 m
- Sage green: 50 g, about 110 m
- 4 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (at least 7)
- Cardboard rectangle, 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, for the tassels
- Blocking mats, rustproof pins, spray bottle
- Measuring tape
Quantities include a margin of roughly 20% for gauge swatches and tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sk: skip
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
- Mesh square: (ch 1, sk 1, dc in next st). One square is 2 sts wide.
- Fan: a group of dc separated by chain spaces, all growing from one dc. Each row adds width.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 dc and 8 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). In mesh, 10 squares = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Test before committing. Chain 23, then work Rows 1–9 of the band over 21 sts (10 mesh squares). The swatch should be 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall.
Checkpoints:
– After Row 2: the band is 28 in (71.1 cm) wide.
– After Row 9: the band is 28 x 4.5 in (71.1 x 11.4 cm).
– After Row 14: the band is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) deep at the scallop centers.
– After the border: the band is 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm).
If your swatch is too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.5 mm. Don’t change the stitch counts, because every repeat depends on 141 sts.
Lace Band
Row 1 is the RS. Each turning ch-3 counts as a dc.
Row 1 (RS): With cream, ch 143. Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (141 sts: 140 dc + turning ch)
Row 2: Ch 3. Dc in each dc across, then dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (141 sts)
Check that the band is 28 in (71.1 cm) wide.
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Sk the next dc and dc in the next dc. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st; repeat from * across. The last dc goes into the top of the turning ch. Turn. (70 mesh squares: 71 dc + 70 ch-1 sps = 141 sts)
Rows 4–8: Ch 4. Dc in the next dc, ch 1; repeat from * across. End with a dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch-4. Turn. (70 squares per row)
Row 9 (conversion row): Ch 3. Dc in each ch-1 sp and each dc across. End with a dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. (71 dc worked into the posts + 70 dc worked into the spaces = 141 sts)
Number the Row 9 sts 0–140, with st 0 at your current end. The fans sit at sts 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110 and 130.
Check that the band is 28 x 4.5 in (71.1 x 11.4 cm).
Row 10: Ch 1, sc in the first st. Ch 5, sk 9 sts. In the next st, work (dc, ch 1) 4 times, then dc in the same st. Ch 5, sk 9 sts, sc in the next st; repeat from * 6 more times. Turn. (7 fans of 5 dc and 4 ch-1 sps; 14 ch-5 loops; 8 sc)
Row 11: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Ch 4, dc in the first dc of the fan. (Ch 2, dc in the next dc) 4 times. Ch 4, sc in the next sc; repeat from * across. Turn. (Each fan: 5 dc and 4 ch-2 sps; 14 ch-4 loops; 8 sc)
Row 12: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Ch 3, dc in the first dc. (Ch 1, dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, dc in the next dc) 4 times. Ch 3, sc in the next sc; repeat from * across. Turn. (Each fan: 9 dc and 8 ch-1 sps; 63 dc in total; 14 ch-3 loops; 8 sc)
Row 13: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Ch 2, dc in the first dc. (Ch 2, dc in the next dc) 8 times. Ch 2, sc in the next sc; repeat from * across. Turn. (Each fan: 9 dc and 8 ch-2 sps; 63 dc in total; 8 sc)
The connecting chains get shorter with each row while the fans widen. That is what rounds each fan into a scallop. The stacked sc between the fans form the valleys.
Row 14 (scallop rim): Ch 1, sc in the first sc. Sk the ch-2 sp, sc in the first dc. (2 sc in the next ch-2 sp, sc in the next dc) 8 times. Sk the ch-2 sp, sc in the next sc; repeat from * across. Fasten off. (25 sc per scallop + 8 valley sc = 183 sc)
The center of each scallop is the 13th sc of its 25, which is the sc worked into the 5th dc. Mark all 7 centers.
Check that the band is 6.75 in (17.1 cm) deep at the scallop centers.
Border
Border gauge: each sc row adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
Border Row 1: With the RS facing, join cream at the end of Row 9 on one side. The border runs up that side, across the top and down the other side. The scallop rim already finishes the bottom edge.
- Ch 1. Work 18 sc up the side, 2 sc in each row end of Rows 9–1.
- Work 3 sc in the corner foundation st.
- Working into the opposite side of the foundation chain, sc in each of the next 139 sts.
- Work 3 sc in the last corner st.
- Work 18 sc down the other side.
Turn. (Side 18 + corner 3 + top 139 + corner 3 + side 18 = 181 sc)
Counting the center sc of each corner, the top side has 141 sts.
Border Row 2:
– Ch 1. Sc in each of the 18 side sc and in the first sc of the corner group (19 sc).
– Work 3 sc in the center corner sc.
– Sc in the next 141 sts across the top, which includes the outer sc of both corner groups.
– Work 3 sc in the next center corner sc.
– Sc in the remaining 19 sts.
Fasten off. (19 + 3 + 141 + 3 + 19 = 185 sc)
Why the math works: the top edge has 1 sc per foundation st, so its 141 sts match Rows 1–9 exactly and the width doesn’t change. Each dc row is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall, and 2 sc per row end fills that height without ruffling. Only the corner centers add stitches: 2 per corner per row, so 181 + 4 = 185. The two rows add 0.5 in (1.3 cm) to the top and to each side, so the band grows from 28 x 6.75 in to 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm).
Tabs (make 7)
Number the 141 top sts of Border Row 2 from 1 to 141. The tabs use sts 9–13, 29–33, 49–53, 69–73, 89–93, 109–113 and 129–133. That leaves 8 sts at each end and 15 sts between tabs: 8 + (7 x 5) + (6 x 15) + 8 = 141. Each tab centers over a scallop.
Row 1: With the RS facing, join cream in the first tab st. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then dc in the next 4 sts. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Sk 1, dc in the next st, ch 1, sk 1, dc in the top of the turning ch. Turn. (3 dc + 2 ch-1 sps = 5 sts)
Rows 3–7: Ch 4. Dc in the next dc, ch 1, then dc in the 3rd ch of the turning ch. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 8: Ch 3. Dc in each st and sp across. (5 sts) Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail.
Each tab measures 1 x 4 in (2.5 x 10.2 cm). Fold the tab to the WS and whipstitch Row 8 along the base of Row 1 of the tab. This makes a loop about 2 in (5.1 cm) deep, which fits rods up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Cords (make 7)
With the RS facing, join sage at a marked scallop center. Ch 91. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch back to the band. Sl st into the scallop center again. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (90 sl sts)
Each cord measures 18 in (45.7 cm). If it is shorter or longer, adjust the chain before slip stitching back.
Leaves (make 28 = 14 pairs)
With sage, ch 7. Work along the chain starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc (5 sts). Work 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate and work along the opposite side: hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc (5 sts). Sl st in the first sc. (13 sts) Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Each leaf is about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long. Sew two leaves together at their 3-sc ends to form a V that spreads about 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Stars (make 3)
Rnd 1: With sage, ch 12 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, work 15 sc into the ring, and join. Fasten off. (15 sc)
Rnd 2: Join cream. Ch 1, then work sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st 5 times. Join. (20 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work sc, hdc, dc, tr along the chain. Sk 3 sc and sl st in the next sc; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 points; each uses 4 sc, for 20)
Fasten off. Each star measures 3 in (7.6 cm) from tip to tip, with a sage-lined open center.
Doves (make 4)
Body, Rnd 1: With cream, ch 10. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in the next 7 ch. Work 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate and sc in the next 7 ch along the other side. Work 2 sc in the first ch. Join. (20 sc)
Sts 1–8 run along the back, sts 9–11 are the head end, sts 12–18 are the belly and sts 19–20 are the tail end.
Rnd 2:
– Ch 1. Sc in sts 1–7.
– 2 hdc in st 8.
– 3 dc in st 9.
– In st 10, work dc, ch 3, sl st in the 3rd and 2nd ch from the hook (this is the beak), then dc in the same st.
– 3 dc in st 11.
– Sc in sts 12–18.
– (2 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in st 19, and again in st 20.
– Join.
(32 sts: 14 sc + 2 hdc + 8 dc + 8 tr; plus the beak and 2 ch-1 sps)
Rnd 3: Sl st loosely in each st around. Skip the beak, and work (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in each tail ch-1 sp. Fasten off. (32 sl sts + 2 tail tips)
Wing: With cream, ch 8. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work sc, hdc, 2 dc, then 3 tr along the chain. Turn. (7 sts) Ch 1, sc in the first st, then (ch 3, sl st in the next st) 6 times. (1 sc + 6 ch-3 feather loops) Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Sew the narrow sc end of the wing at the shoulder, behind the head, with the feathered tr end sweeping up above the back. Hold the dove with the head at the left. It measures about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from beak to tail.
Assembly
- Upper leaves: Sew a leaf pair in the mesh just above each fan point (Row 9, st 10 of each repeat), with the leaves pointing up and out.
- Doves: Sew a dove onto cords 1, 3, 5 and 7, with its center 5 in (12.7 cm) below the scallop. The cord runs behind the body.
- Stars: Sew a star onto cords 2, 4 and 6, with its center 6 in (15.2 cm) below the scallop.
- Lower leaves: Sew a leaf pair to each cord 12 in (30.5 cm) below the scallop.
- Tassels (make 7): Wrap cream 40 times around the 4.5 in (11.4 cm) card. Tie the top with a strand, leaving long ends, and cut the bottom loops. Wrap the neck 0.75 in (1.9 cm) below the top to form a rounded head. Trim the tassel to 4 in (10.2 cm). Tie each tassel to a cord end and hide the knot inside the head.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends before blocking.
- Mist the band until it is damp but not dripping.
- Pin it flat to 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm).
- Pin the top edge straight. Pin each tab at 1 in (2.5 cm) wide.
- Pin each scallop into a smooth curve, setting the center sc at the lowest point and each valley sc level.
- Open the mesh squares evenly with your fingertips.
- Block the stars flat and pin each point. Pinch the dove wings upward.
- Let everything dry completely before you unpin.
- Steam the tassels lightly and comb them straight.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The band measures 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm).
- There are 7 scallops, each 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.
- There are 7 tabs, each centered above a scallop.
- The cords are all 18 in (45.7 cm) and hang from the scallop centers.
- Doves are on cords 1, 3, 5 and 7, and stars are on cords 2, 4 and 6.
- Ornaments and leaf pairs are at matching heights.
- Tassels are trimmed level at 4 in (10.2 cm).
- No loose ends show from the front.
Troubleshooting
- The fans don’t line up over the scallop centers: your Row 9 count isn’t 141. Recount and fix it before starting Row 10.
- The scallops ruffle: your tension is loose on Rows 12–13. Shorten the connecting chains by 1 ch or go down a hook size.
- The scallops are pointed instead of rounded: use firmer blocking pins along the curve.
- The sides flare: work 2 sc per row end, never 3.
- The tabs are too tight for your rod: add 2 mesh rows to each tab.
- The cords twist: wet-block them hanging straight with a light weight at the end.
- The doves curl: work Rnd 3 more loosely, or block them flat.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and press out the water in a towel. Lay the valance flat to dry, reshaping the scallops and tassels.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple:
- 20 dc = 4 in, so 141 sts = 28 in (71.1 cm).
- Nine rows reach 4.5 in (11.4 cm), and the fan rows bring the depth to 6.75 in (17.1 cm).
- Two border rows finish the band at 29 x 7.25 in (73.7 x 18.4 cm).
- The 18 in (45.7 cm) cords and 4 in (10.2 cm) tassels complete the hanging length.
Check each stage and the valance will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!