The Sea Glass Curtain Panel lets light through its airy cream lace and is held in shape by firm aqua stripes. Each lace row is classic broomstick lace: five long loops are gathered into a little cream knot, so the row looks like a line of small fans or lanterns. Between the lace rows, two rows of aqua single crochet keep the fabric steady and keep the panel hanging straight.
The palette is cream and soft sea-glass aqua. It works well in a coastal room, a farmhouse kitchen or a sunny bedroom. Small aqua rings along the top slide onto a rod or clip rings, and a scalloped cream-and-aqua hem finishes the bottom edge.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. One panel measures 36.75 in (93.3 cm) wide and 74.25 in (188.6 cm) long from the top edge to the scallop tips. With the hanging rings, it is 75.75 in (192.4 cm) long. For a pair, like the one shown at the window, make two identical panels.
The panel is made in one piece. You work a two-row aqua foundation, then repeat a three-row stripe 36 times: one cream broomstick row and two aqua single-crochet rows. After that comes one aqua edging round, then the hanging rings across the top and the scallops across the bottom. Nothing is sewn together.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36.75 in x 74.25 in (93.3 cm x 188.6 cm), plus 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rings
- Skill level: Intermediate (broomstick lace is easy once you get the rhythm)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8), plus a 19 mm (US 35) knitting needle or a 3/4 in (1.9 cm) smooth dowel for the loops
- Number of pieces: 1 panel (make 2 for a pair)
- Layout: 36 stripe repeats stacked vertically, 29 lace groups across
- Piece size before border: 36.25 in x 72.5 in (92.1 cm x 184.2 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on all sides, plus the 1.25 in (3.2 cm) scallop at the bottom and the 1.5 in (3.8 cm) rings at the top
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted yarn with clear stitch definition. A cotton-acrylic blend is a good choice because it drapes well, resists sun fading better than pure cotton, and will not stretch much while hanging. The amounts below assume about 180 m (197 yd) per 100 g.
- Cream (lace and scallops): 500 g, about 900 m (984 yd)
- Aqua (bands, edging, rings, scallop outline): 550 g, about 990 m (1,083 yd)
These amounts are for one panel and include a margin of about 15%. For a pair, double them, and buy all yarn from the same dye lot.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
- 19 mm (US 35) knitting needle or 3/4 in (1.9 cm) dowel, at least 14 in (35.6 cm) long, or use two needles side by side
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers
- Tape measure
- Blocking mats and rust-proof pins, or a clean floor covered with towels
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Broomstick Lace (BSL), worked in two passes without turning:
Loop pass: With RS facing, pull the loop on your hook up long and slip it onto the needle. Working from left to right, *insert the hook into the next st, yo, pull up a loop and slip it onto the needle; rep from * across.
Work-off pass: Working from right to left, insert the hook through the first 5 loops together, slide them off the needle, yo, pull through, ch 1, then work 5 sc into the center of that group. *Insert the hook through the next 5 loops, slide them off, and work 5 sc into the group; rep from * across. These 5 sc form the little cream knot at the top of each fan.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 sc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). One finished BSL row (both passes) = 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall, and one 5-loop group = 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.
Test piece first. With aqua, ch 21. Work Rows 1–2 below over 20 sc, then 2 full stripe repeats. The swatch should measure 5 in (12.7 cm) wide and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall. This swatch also lets you practice the loop and work-off passes.
Checkpoints on the panel:
- After Row 2: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide, 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall
- After 1 stripe repeat: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
- After 18 repeats: 36.5 in (92.7 cm) tall
- After 36 repeats: 72.5 in (184.2 cm) tall
Too big? Go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If only the lace rows are too tall, use a 15 mm (US 19) needle. Too small? Go up 0.5 mm. If only the lace rows are too short, use a 25 mm (US 50) needle. Always keep the 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) width gauge, because the border counts depend on it.
Panel Pattern
RS is the side facing you during Row 2 and every second aqua row. The broomstick rows are always worked with RS facing.
Foundation (aqua)
Ch 146.
Row 1 (WS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn. (145 sc)
Row 2 (RS): Sc in each st across. (145 sc) Your hook should now be at the left edge with RS facing. Do not turn. Drop aqua and join cream in the last st.
Stripe Repeat (3 rows)
Row A – BSL (cream): Work the loop pass across all 145 sts. (145 loops on the needle) Work the work-off pass in 29 groups of 5 loops, with 5 sc in each group. (145 sc = 29 groups x 5 sc) Your hook is back at the left edge. Drop cream and pick up aqua.
Row B (aqua, WS): Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (145 sc)
Row C (aqua, RS): Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (145 sc) You end at the left edge again. Drop aqua and pick up cream.
Work Rows A–C a total of 36 times. End after a Row C. Fasten off both colors.
Notes:
- Carry both yarns loosely up the left edge, where the border will hide them. Don’t pull the carried yarn tight, or the left edge will pucker.
- Keep the loops the same height by sliding each loop snugly against the needle before you pull up the next one.
- Count groups, not single loops. Put a marker after every fifth group (25 loops) so you can spot a miscount early.
- The five loops in each group start in five separate stitches and come together under the 5-sc knot. That makes the fan shape that is wide at the bottom and pinched at the top.
Border
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) on all edges, the same as the body.
Round 1 (aqua): With RS facing, join aqua with a sc in the first st of the top edge (the top-right corner).
- Sc in each st across the top. (145 sc) Ch 2 for the corner.
- Work down the left side: 1 sc in each aqua row end, and 6 sc evenly along the side of each BSL row. (290 sc) Ch 2.
- Work across the bottom: 1 sc in the base of each foundation ch. (145 sc) Ch 2.
- Work up the right side the same way as the left. (290 sc) Ch 2.
- Sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Round total: 870 sc + 4 ch-2 corner sp. The ch-2 corners are not part of any side count.
Why the math works: The top and bottom have 1 sc per body stitch, so they stay 145 sc = 36.25 in (92.1 cm). On each side, one stripe repeat is 2 aqua rows (0.5 in / 1.3 cm) plus one BSL row (1.5 in / 3.8 cm), which equals 2 in (5.1 cm). At 4 sc per inch, that is 2 + 6 = 8 sc per repeat. The foundation rows add 2 sc. So 2 + (36 x 8) = 290 sc = 72.5 in (184.2 cm), which matches the body. The edge will not ruffle or pull in.
After Round 1: 36.75 in x 73 in (93.3 cm x 185.4 cm).
Hanging Rings (aqua, worked across the 145 top sts):
Ring: Sc in the next st, ch 14, sl st in the sc you just made to form a loop, work 22 sc into the loop, then sl st into the base sc.
With RS facing, join aqua in the first sc of the top edge.
Sc in the first 8 sts. Make a Ring in the next st, then sc in the next 15 sts. Rep from * 7 more times. Make a Ring in the next st, then sc in the last 8 sts. Fasten off.
Check: 8 + (8 x 16) + 1 + 8 = 145 sts, with 9 rings spaced 16 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) apart. The center ring sits on st 73, the exact middle, and the two end rings are 2 in (5.1 cm) from the sides. Each ring is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across and fits a rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.
Bottom Scallops
Scallop Row 1 (cream): With RS facing, join cream with a sc in the first sc of the bottom edge. Sk 2 sts, 7 dc in the next st, sk 2 sts, sc in the next st. Rep from * 23 more times. (24 shells, 25 sc) Each shell takes 6 base sts, so 1 + (24 x 6) = 145 sts. Fasten off.
Scallop Row 2 (aqua): With RS facing, join aqua with a sl st in the first sc. Sc in the next 3 dc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in the 4th (center) dc, sc in the next 3 dc, sl st in the next sc. Rep from * across. (24 scallops, each with 8 sc and 1 ch-3 picot; 25 sl sts) Fasten off.
Each scallop is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep at the picot.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the carried edge or inside the aqua bands. Skip the lace loops, where ends would show.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes. Press the water out gently, without wringing.
- Roll the panel in towels to remove extra water.
- Lay it flat on mats or towels. Pin it to 36.75 in x 73 in (93.3 cm x 185.4 cm), measured to the edge of Round 1.
- Pin each aqua band straight with a long ruler, and spread each lace group evenly.
- Pin each scallop at its picot. Lay the rings flat and round.
- Let it dry completely, usually 24–48 hours, before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- 145 sts in every body row and 29 groups in every BSL row
- 36 cream lace rows, each followed by two aqua rows
- Width 36.25 in (92.1 cm) before the border and 36.75 in (93.3 cm) after
- 290 sc on each side and 145 sc on the top and bottom in Round 1
- 9 rings, evenly spaced and centered
- 24 scallops, with a picot at each tip
- Both long edges hang straight with no puckering at the carried yarn
- All ends woven in out of sight
Troubleshooting
Lace rows are uneven in height. Pull each loop snug to the needle before you start the next one. Use the same needle for the whole panel.
The panel slants or narrows. You may be missing the first or last st in the aqua rows. Mark both edge sts and count each row.
Fans lean to one side. Make sure each 5-sc knot goes into the center of its group and not into the last loop.
Left edge puckers. The carried yarn is too tight. Loosen it at every color change, and tack it in place with the border sc.
Sides ruffle in Round 1. You have too many sc per BSL row. Stick to 6.
Scallops curl. Block them flat and pin them. If they still curl, work Scallop Row 2 with a slightly looser tension.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, or machine wash on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag. Then lay the panel flat to dry and reshape it. Don’t hang it while wet, or it will stretch in length.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other in this order. Gauge of 16 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives 145 sts = 36.25 in (92.1 cm). Each 2 in (5.1 cm) stripe repeat, done 36 times on top of the foundation, gives 72.5 in (184.2 cm). The border keeps the same 4 sc per inch on every edge: 145 across the top and bottom and 290 down each side. That brings the panel to 36.75 in x 73 in (93.3 cm x 185.4 cm), and the scallops bring the length to 74.25 in (188.6 cm). Check your gauge swatch first, count your groups, and the panel will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!