This doorway curtain is made of small puffy ring motifs hung on slim chain cords, with a pearl bead in every gap. In front of a lit tree or a sunny window, the rings catch the light and the pearls shine between them. It looks soft and romantic, and every part is quick to make.
There are two colors: dusty rose pink and warm cream. Some rings are solid pink, some are solid cream, and some are mixed, with a pink base and puffs that alternate pink and cream. The cords are pink and the beads are ivory pearls.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. Each ring is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across, with a 1 in (2.5 cm) open center. The finished curtain is about 35.5 in (90.2 cm) wide. The shorter strands hang about 65.4 in (166.1 cm) from the top of the rod, and the longer staggered strands hang about 68.4 in (173.7 cm).
You make 120 separate ring motifs in four rounds each. Then you crochet 12 chain cords, sliding pre-strung pearls into place and joining each ring with slip stitches as you go. Each cord starts with a loop that slips over a curtain rod.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 35.5 in (90.2 cm) wide; strands 65.4 in (166.1 cm) and 68.4 in (173.7 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (light #3)
- Hook: 4 mm (US G-6)
- Number of pieces: 120 ring motifs joined onto 12 chain strands
- Layout: 12 strands × 10 rings, strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart
- Piece size: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) diameter per ring
- Size before border: each strand’s 10 rings and gaps measure 61 in (154.9 cm)
- Border depth: no fabric border; the finishing is a 2 in (5.1 cm) hanging-loop drop at the top and a 2.4 in (6.1 cm) beaded tail at the bottom
Materials
Choose a smooth DK yarn with a clear twist so the puffs stay defined. Cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend gives crisp texture and stretches very little while hanging. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which hide the puffs and catch on the beads. These amounts assume about 225 m per 100 g.
- Color P (dusty rose pink): 300 g, about 675 m (rings, ring bases, and all 12 cords)
- Color C (cream): 175 g, about 394 m (cream rings and cream puffs)
All quantities include about a 15% margin for the gauge ring and tails.
Tools:
- 4 mm (US G-6) crochet hook
- 140 ivory pearl beads, 10 mm (0.4 in / 1.0 cm), with holes of at least 2 mm (132 needed, plus spares)
- Big-eye beading needle or floss threader
- Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers, tape measure
- Curtain rod at least 36 in (91.4 cm) long and up to 1 in (2.5 cm) thick
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sp: space
- yo: yarn over
- BLsl st: slip stitch through the back loop only
- P / C: pink / cream
Special stitch, Puff: (Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up a loop to about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm tall) 4 times in the same st, for 9 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through all 9 loops. Pull every loop up to the same height so the puff stays plump and even.
Slide bead: Push one pre-strung bead up against the hook, then work the next ch snugly behind it to lock the bead in place.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one complete ring first. It is your gauge test, and it tells you whether all 120 rings will match.
Checkpoints for one ring:
- After Round 2: about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- After Round 3: about 2.1 in (5.3 cm) across the puffs
- After Round 4: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across, with a 1 in (2.5 cm) open center
Cord gauge: 10 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm), measured relaxed.
If your ring measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm) or more, go down to a 3.75 mm hook. If it measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) or less, go up to a 4.5 mm hook. If only the puffs look too big, pull the loops up a little shorter instead of changing hooks. For the cord, adjust your hook until 10 ch measure 2 in (5.1 cm), because every strand length depends on this.
Ring Motif
There are three versions of the same ring:
- Ring A: all rounds in P
- Ring B: all rounds in C
- Ring C (mixed): Rounds 1, 2, and 4 in P; Round 3 alternates P and C puffs
Round 1: Ch 16 and sl st in the first ch to form a ring, without twisting the chain. (16 ch)
Round 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Work 24 sc into the ring, covering the chain completely. Sl st in the first sc to join. (24 sc)
Packing the sc tightly keeps the center open and round. Slide them along the chain so they sit evenly.
Round 3: Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Puff in the same st as the join, ch 1, skip next st. Puff in next st, ch 1, skip next st. Repeat from * to * 10 more times. Sl st in the top of the first puff to join. (12 puffs and 12 ch-1 sps)
For Ring C, join C at the start of this round and keep P attached. Work puffs 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 in P and puffs 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 in C. Work every ch-1 in P. Make each puff entirely in its own color, then pick up P for the ch-1. Carry the unused yarn along the top of Round 2 and work over it so it hides inside the puffs. Count: 6 P puffs + 6 C puffs = 12 puffs. Fasten off C at the end of the round.
Round 4: Ch 1 (does not count as a st). Sc in the top of the next puff, 2 sc in the next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * to * 11 more times. Sl st in the first sc to join. (36 sc)
This is a conversion round: 12 sc (1 in each puff) + 24 sc (2 in each of the 12 sps) = 36 sc. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Number the Round 4 sts for joining. St 1 is the sc over puff 1, and st 19 is the sc over puff 7, directly opposite. These are the top and bottom of the ring when it hangs.
Make All Pieces
- Ring A (all pink): 30 rings
- Ring B (all cream): 30 rings
- Ring C (mixed): 60 rings
- Total: 120 rings
Each strand uses 10 rings, read from top to bottom:
Odd strands (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11): A C B C A C B C A C, which is 3 A, 2 B, and 5 C per strand
Even strands (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12): B C A C B C A C B C, which is 2 A, 3 B, and 5 C per strand
Check: A = (6 × 3) + (6 × 2) = 30. B = (6 × 2) + (6 × 3) = 30. C = 12 × 5 = 60.
Layout grid (strands 1 to 12 from left to right, ring row 1 at the top):
- ROW 1: A B A B A B A B A B A B
- ROW 2: C C C C C C C C C C C C
- ROW 3: B A B A B A B A B A B A
- ROW 4: C C C C C C C C C C C C
- ROW 5: A B A B A B A B A B A B
- ROW 6: C C C C C C C C C C C C
- ROW 7: B A B A B A B A B A B A
- ROW 8: C C C C C C C C C C C C
- ROW 9: A B A B A B A B A B A B
- ROW 10: C C C C C C C C C C C C
The even strands start 3 in (7.6 cm) lower, so the rings are staggered across the doorway.
Joining
The rings are joined onto each cord as you chain it, so there is no sewing.
Prepare: Before each strand, thread 11 pearl beads onto the P yarn.
Hanging loop: Leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail, ch 20 and sl st in the first ch to make a loop 4 in (10.2 cm) around. (20 ch)
Even strands only: Ch 15 for an extra 3 in (7.6 cm) drop.
Ring unit (work 10 times, following the strand sequence):
- Ch 8, slide bead, ch 8. The gap is 1.6 in (4.1 cm) + 0.4 in (1.0 cm) + 1.6 in (4.1 cm) = 3.6 in (9.1 cm).
- Hold the next ring right side facing you. Insert the hook from front to back through st 1 and sl st to join.
- Turn the ring so the wrong side faces you. BLsl st in each of sts 2 through 19 down one side. (18 sl sts)
- The working loop now sits at st 19, the bottom of the ring.
Stitch logic: 36 edge sts ÷ 2 = 18 sts per half. Starting at st 1 and moving 18 sts lands you exactly on st 19, the opposite point. Both points sit over puffs (puffs 1 and 7), so each ring hangs straight. On Ring C, both are pink puffs.
Tension: Make the BLsl sts loose, about the size of your ch. Tight sl sts curl the ring and pull it out of round.
Tail: After the 10th ring, ch 8, slide the last bead, ch 2, fasten off, and tie a firm knot under the bead.
Stitch count per strand: odd strands 20 + 10 × (8 + 8 + 1 + 18) + 10 = 380 sts; even strands 380 + 15 = 395 sts.
Size checkpoint: Lay the first strand flat without stretching it. An odd strand measures 2 in (5.1 cm) + 61 in (154.9 cm) + 2.4 in (6.1 cm) = 65.4 in (166.1 cm). An even strand adds 3 in (7.6 cm), for 68.4 in (173.7 cm). If yours is off by more than 1 in (2.5 cm), check your cord gauge before going on.
Border: Hanging Loops and Strand Ends
This curtain has no fabric border. Its edges are the top loops and the beaded tails, and both use the cord gauge.
Border gauge: 10 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm).
Top edge (all 12 strands): 20 ch per loop. The loop is 4 in (10.2 cm) around and folds into a 2 in (5.1 cm) drop over the rod.
Bottom edge (all 12 strands): 8 ch + 1 bead + 2 ch = 1.6 in (4.1 cm) + 0.4 in (1.0 cm) + 0.4 in (1.0 cm) = 2.4 in (6.1 cm). The even strands end 3 in (7.6 cm) lower because of their extra top drop.
Why the math works: Each strand has 10 gaps + 1 tail = 11 beads, and 12 × 11 = 132 beads. One unit is a 3.6 in (9.1 cm) gap + a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) ring = 6.1 in (15.5 cm), and 10 units = 61 in (154.9 cm). The 3 in (7.6 cm) offset is about half a unit, so each even strand’s rings hang roughly level with the gaps on the strands next to it.
Width: Mark the rod every 3 in (7.6 cm). Twelve strands give 11 spaces × 3 in = 33 in (83.8 cm) center to center. Add half a ring at each outer edge (2.5 in / 6.4 cm total) for 35.5 in (90.2 cm).
Final Blocking
- Block the rings before joining. Pin each one face up on a foam mat as a 2.5 in (6.4 cm) circle.
- Mist until damp. For acrylic, steam from 1 in (2.5 cm) above instead. Never press the puffs flat.
- Let them dry completely, about 2 to 4 hours.
- After joining, hang the strands on the rod in order, with strand 1 on the left.
- Lightly mist the cords and let them hang overnight to straighten.
- Line the loops up with the rod marks, 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every ring is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across, with a round, open center.
- Every ring has 12 puffs and 36 sts in Round 4.
- Ring C puffs alternate P and C all the way around.
- Each ring hangs from st 1 and continues from st 19.
- Every gap has one bead with 8 ch on each side.
- Each strand follows its correct sequence.
- Odd strands are 65.4 in (166.1 cm); even strands are 68.4 in (173.7 cm).
- All ends are woven in and the tail knots are secure.
Troubleshooting
The center hole closes up. Work exactly 24 sc in Round 2 and pack them snugly onto the 16 ch.
The ring ruffles. The puffs are too tall. Pull each loop up to 0.5 in (1.3 cm) and no more.
The ring cups. Round 4 is too tight. Loosen the 2 sc in each sp, or use a 4.5 mm hook for that round.
Carried yarn shows in Ring C. Lay the carried strand flat on top of Round 2 and work every puff over it.
A ring tilts. It was joined at the wrong st. Count again so that st 1 and st 19 sit over opposite puffs.
A bead slides. Work the ch after the bead snug against it.
Strands are uneven. Check the cord gauge. One extra ch per gap adds about 2 in (5.1 cm) over 10 units.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel to press out the water, and dry flat before rehanging. Between washes, dust gently with a soft brush.
Final Notes
The whole curtain follows one measurement chain. Each ring goes 24 sc, then 12 puffs, then 36 sc, and measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm). One unit is a 3.6 in (9.1 cm) beaded gap plus one ring, for 6.1 in (15.5 cm). Ten units make 61 in (154.9 cm). Adding the 2 in (5.1 cm) loop and the 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tail gives 65.4 in (166.1 cm), and the extra 3 in (7.6 cm) drop gives 68.4 in (173.7 cm). Twelve strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart make a curtain 35.5 in (90.2 cm) wide.
Check your first ring and first strand against these numbers, and the rest will match.
Happy crocheting!