This window curtain has a lacy header with a pointed bottom edge. Nine cords hang from the points. Each cord carries crochet dragonflies, oval flower medallions, round beads and a tassel, set at staggered heights so the dragonflies seem to drift across the glass.
The colors are sage green and cream:
– Sage: the header, cords, dragonfly bodies, medallion frames and most of the beads.
– Cream: the wing lace, the medallion flowers, the top bead on each strand and the edging along the points.
– Both colors: the tassels.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 36.5 in (92.7 cm) wide and 33 in (83.8 cm) long.
Here’s the construction in order:
1. Crochet the header in rows.
2. Add a border with nine points.
3. Make the motifs and sew them onto slip-stitch cords.
4. Hang one cord from each point.
Finished Size and Construction
- Size: 36.5 in x 33 in (92.7 x 83.8 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Sport (#2) mercerized cotton
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
- Pieces:
- 1 header
- 9 cords
- 13 dragonflies
- 14 medallions
- 27 beads
- 9 tassels
- Layout: 9 strands spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart
- Header size before border: 36.2 x 3 in (91.9 x 7.6 cm)
- Border depth:
- 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of sc on each long edge
- Points 2 in (5.1 cm) deep
- Header depth after border: 3.5 in (8.9 cm), or 5.5 in (14.0 cm) to the point tips
- Strand length: 24 in (61.0 cm) cord plus a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tassel
Materials
Use mercerized cotton at about 155 m per 50 g. It keeps the points and wings crisp. Soft acrylic will droop.
- Sage: 400 g, about 1,240 m
- Cream: 200 g, about 620 m
These quantities include a margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 3.25 mm hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– Fiberfill
– 4 in (10.2 cm) card for the tassels
– Pins and a blocking board
– Curtain rod with 10 clip rings
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sp: space
- MR: magic ring
- inc: 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec: sc2tog
- sc3tog: (insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull up a loop) 3 times, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops
- rev sc: reverse single crochet, worked left to right
- Shell: 9 dc in the same stitch or space
Slip-stitch cord: Make a chain. Sl st into the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and into the back bump of each ch across.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge:
– Fabric: 20 dc and 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Cord: 5 sl st = 1 in (2.5 cm)
Make one medallion first as your test piece. It should measure 2.75 x 2 in (7.0 x 5.1 cm).
Checkpoints:
– Header after Row 2: 36.2 in (91.9 cm) wide
– Header after Row 8: 3 in (7.6 cm) deep
– Each point: 3.8 in (9.7 cm) wide at the base and 2 in (5.1 cm) deep
– Bead: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
– Dragonfly: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) long, 7 in (17.8 cm) wingspan
If your pieces are too big, go down one hook size. If they’re too small, go up one size. For the cords, adjust your tension until 10 sl st measure 2 in (5.1 cm).
Header Band
Use sage. Ch 182.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (181 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (181 dc)
Row 3 (mesh):
1. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip 1 st, dc in the next st.
2. Ch 1, skip 1, dc in next; repeat across, turn.
Count: 91 dc + 90 ch-1 sps = 181 sts.
Row 4 (shells):
1. Ch 1, sc in the first dc.
2. Skip 4 sts, Shell in the next ch-1 sp, skip 4 sts, sc in the next dc; repeat across, turn.
Count: 18 shells (162 dc) + 19 sc = 181 sts.
Row 5 (leveling): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Work dc in each shell dc and tr in each sc, turn. (162 dc + 19 tr = 181 sts)
Rows 6–8: Repeat Rows 3, 4 and 5. (181 sts each) Don’t fasten off.
Checkpoint: 36.2 x 3 in (91.9 x 7.6 cm).
Motifs
Bead (make 27: 9 cream, 18 sage)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc around. (12)
- Rnd 3: Sc, inc; repeat around. (18)
- Rnds 4–5: Sc around. (18)
- Rnd 6: Sc, dec; repeat around. (12) Stuff.
- Rnd 7: Dec 6 times. (6)
Close the hole and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The bead measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Oval Medallion (make 14)
Rnd 1 (cream): Ch 1, 8 sc in MR, join. (8)
Rnd 2: Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), dc in the next sc, ch 3; repeat 6 times, join. (8 dc, 8 ch-3 sps)
Rnd 3: Sl st into the first sp. Work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in each sp, join. Fasten off. (8 petals, 40 sts)
Number the petals 1–8 clockwise. Petal 1 is the top and Petal 5 is the bottom.
Rnd 4 (sage): Join with sc in the center dc of Petal 1. Ch 5, sc in the center dc of the next petal; repeat 6 times, ch 5, join. (8 sc, 8 ch-5 sps)
Rnd 5 (shapes the oval):
– Petals 1 and 5: 3 dc in the sc. For Petal 1, ch 3 counts as the first dc.
– Sps next to Petals 1 and 5: 6 sts graded from short to tall toward the end petal: 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc.
– Other 4 sps: 6 sc each.
– Petals 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8: 1 sc each.
Join and fasten off. Count: 6 dc + 48 sts in the sps + 6 sc = 60 sts.
Rnd 6 (cream): Sc in each st, with 3 sc in the center dc of each end group. Join and fasten off. (58 sc + 2 x 3 sc = 64 sc)
Checkpoint: 2.75 x 2 in (7.0 x 5.1 cm).
Dragonfly (make 13)
Head (sage):
1. Work Rnds 1–2 of the Bead. (12)
2. Sc 2 rnds. (12)
3. Stuff, then dec 6 times. (6)
The head measures 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Body (sage): Ch 21.
Rnd 1: Work around both sides of the chain:
1. First side: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and the next 13 ch, hdc in the next 4, dc in the next 2. (20)
2. Thorax end: 6 dc in the last ch.
3. Second side: dc in the next 2, hdc in the next 4, sc in the next 13. (19)
4. Work 2 more sc in the first ch and join.
Count: 20 + 6 + 19 + 2 = 47.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, rev sc around, join. (47) This corded edge makes the segmented tail. The body measures 4 in (10.2 cm) long.
Upper Wing (make 2 per dragonfly): Use cream for Rnds 1–2. Ch 16.
Rnd 1:
1. First side: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc, 2 dc, 7 tr, 2 dc, hdc. (14)
2. Tip: 5 hdc in the last ch.
3. Second side: hdc, 2 dc, 7 tr, 2 dc, hdc. (13)
4. Work 1 more sc in the first ch and join.
Count: 14 + 5 + 13 + 1 = 33.
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the next st, ch 1; repeat around, join. Fasten off. (33 dc + 33 ch-1 sps = 66 sts)
Rnd 3 (sage): Sc in each st and each sp, join. Fasten off. (66 sc) The wing measures 3.25 x 1.25 in (8.3 x 3.2 cm).
Lower Wing (make 2 per dragonfly): Use cream for Rnds 1–2. Ch 13.
Rnd 1:
1. First side: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc, 2 dc, 5 tr, 2 dc. (11)
2. Tip: 5 hdc in the last ch.
3. Second side: 2 dc, 5 tr, 2 dc, hdc. (10)
4. Work 1 more sc in the first ch and join. (27)
Rnd 2: Work as for the Upper Wing. (54 sts)
Rnd 3 (sage): Sc in each st around. (54 sc) The wing measures 2.75 x 1 in (7.0 x 2.5 cm).
Assembly:
1. Sew the head to the thorax end of the body.
2. Sew the upper wings to the back of the thorax, angled slightly up.
3. Sew the lower wings just below them, angled slightly down.
The wingspan should measure 7 in (17.8 cm).
Cord (make 9, sage)
Ch 121. Work a slip-stitch cord across. (120 sl st, 24 in / 61.0 cm)
Tassel (make 9)
- Hold one sage strand and one cream strand together. Wrap them 15 times around the card.
- Tie the top and cut the loops at the bottom.
- Wrap the tassel 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top.
- Trim to 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Make All Pieces
Sage:
– 1 header
– 9 cords
– 18 beads
– 13 heads and 13 bodies
– Edge rounds on 52 wings and 14 medallions
Cream:
– 9 beads
– Lace for 52 wings
– Centers and outer rounds for 14 medallions
Both colors: 9 tassels.
Make 5 of Strand A and 4 of Strand B. The positions below show where the top of each item sits, measured from the top of the cord.
Strand A:
– Cream bead at 3 in (7.6 cm)
– Medallion at 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
– Sage bead at 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
– Dragonfly at 11.5 in (29.2 cm)
– Sage bead at 17.5 in (44.5 cm)
– Medallion at 19.75 in (50.2 cm)
– Tassel at the end of the cord
Strand B:
– Cream bead at 2 in (5.1 cm)
– Dragonfly at 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Sage bead at 9.75 in (24.8 cm)
– Medallion at 11.75 in (29.8 cm)
– Sage bead at 15.5 in (39.4 cm)
– Dragonfly at 17.5 in (44.5 cm)
– Tassel at the end of the cord
Point: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Strand: A B A B A B A B A
Totals:
– Dragonflies: 5 + 8 = 13
– Medallions: 10 + 4 = 14
– Beads: 27
Joining
Mark the positions on each cord. Then attach each item:
- Beads: Run the bead tail through the center of the bead. Stitch it to the cord at the top and bottom of the bead.
- Medallions: Place the cord behind the medallion. Sew the center sc of the top end group and the center sc of the bottom end group to the cord.
- Dragonflies: Lay the body over the cord with the head at the top. Whipstitch it to the cord every 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
- Tassel: Tie it to the last stitch of the cord.
Spacing check: The items plus the gaps between them add up to 24 in on both strands.
– Strand A: items 13.25 in + gaps 10.75 in
– Strand B: items 15.25 in + gaps 8.75 in
Sew with snug stitches. Stitches that are too tight will bunch the cord. Checkpoint: Each strand measures 27.5 in (69.9 cm) including the tassel.
Border
The border uses the same gauge as the header: 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Rnd 1 (sage)
Work this round from the end of Row 8:
1. Ch 1 for the corner.
2. Work 15 sc down the short side: 1 in the end of Row 1 and 2 in each of the 7 tall row ends.
3. Ch 1. Work 181 sc across the foundation chain.
4. Ch 1. Work 15 sc down the second short side.
5. Ch 1. Work 181 sc across Row 8.
6. Join and fasten off.
The sides have 181 / 15 / 181 / 15 sc, for 392 sc in all. The four ch-1 corners aren’t counted in the side totals.
Points (sage)
Work the points across the 181 bottom sc. Each point uses 19 sts, and there is a 1-st gap before each point and after the last one: 9 x 19 + 10 = 181. Point 1 uses sts 2–20, Point 2 uses sts 22–40, and so on.
- Row 1: Join in the first st of the point. Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip 1, dc in the next st. Ch 1, skip 1, dc in next; repeat 8 times, turn. (10 dc + 9 sps = 19)
- Row 2: Sl st in the first 3 sts. Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the next 14. Leave 2 sts unworked, turn. (15)
- Rows 3–5: Work as Row 2, with 4 fewer dc each row. (11, then 7, then 3)
- Row 6: Ch 1, sc3tog. (1) Fasten off.
Rnd 2 (cream edging)
- Join in the bottom-right corner ch-1 sp. Sc in the corner sp, then sc in the gap st.
- For each point: work 10 sc up the side (2 per row end on Rows 1–5), (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip, and 10 sc down the other side. Then sc in the next gap st.
- Sc in the last corner sp. Fasten off.
Count: 9 x 22 + 10 + 2 = 210 sc, plus 9 ch-2 tips.
Why the math works
Each point plus its gap takes 20 sts, which is 4 in (10.2 cm). So the point tips land exactly 4 in apart, which matches the strand spacing.
Attach the strands
Sl st the top of each cord into a ch-2 tip and secure it with a few stitches. Use Strand A on the odd-numbered points and Strand B on the even-numbered points.
Clip rings
Clip the rings to the top edge at sts 1, 21, 41, and so on through st 181. That gives 10 rings spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
Final Blocking
- Before attaching the strands, soak the header, wings and medallions, then press out the water.
- Pin the header to 36.5 x 3.5 in (92.7 x 8.9 cm), with sharp points 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.
- Pin the wings open so every ch-1 sp shows.
- Pin each medallion to 2.75 x 2 in (7.0 x 5.1 cm).
- Mist with light starch if you like, and let everything dry fully.
- Hang the curtain. After one day, trim the tassels level.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The header is 36.5 in (92.7 cm) wide with 9 even points.
- The point tips are 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
- Every cord measures 24 in (61.0 cm).
- The strands run A-B-A across, with A at both ends.
- Each item is at its listed position.
- The wings lie flat and are firmly attached.
- All the tails are woven in.
Troubleshooting
- The header ripples: Go down one hook size for the shell rows.
- The header pulls in: Make the foundation chain with a larger hook.
- The points curl: Check that you left exactly 2 sts unworked at each end, then block firmly.
- The wings cup: Work Rnd 3 more loosely.
- The medallion comes out round: Check the graded stitches in Rnd 5.
- The strands twist: Steam the cords and hang them with a light weight overnight.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap. Lay flat to dry and reshape the wings while they’re damp.
Final Notes
Each measurement sets up the next one:
– A gauge of 20 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm) gives a 36.2 in (91.9 cm) header.
– The border brings the width to 36.5 in (92.7 cm) and creates 9 points spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.
– Each point holds a 24 in (61.0 cm) strand and a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tassel.
– Added to the 5.5 in (14.0 cm) header, that gives a total length of 33 in (83.8 cm).
Check each stage as you go and the curtain will hang evenly.
Happy crocheting!