This curtain panel is built from stacked tiers of “bowtie” clusters. Six long cream loops rise between two aqua rows, and a small aqua band pinches each group at the waist. The result is airy and graphic, and it lets soft light through without feeling bare.
The palette is just two colors: cream for the loops and a gentle aqua for the rows and bands. The look is coastal and a little vintage, and it fits bright kitchens, sunrooms, and bedrooms.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 43.5 in (110.5 cm) wide by 84 in (213.4 cm) long. The photo shows a pair, so you will make two identical panels that hang side by side but stay separate.
Each panel is worked flat in one piece, from the bottom up. Every tier has a cream long-loop row held on a dowel (the broomstick lace method), an aqua row that works off the loops, an aqua single crochet row, and then the cinch bands. A plain hem and a clip-ring header finish the panel.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size (one panel): 43.5 in (110.5 cm) wide x 84 in (213.4 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 2 identical panels, not joined
- Layout: 1 panel per side of the window, hung on one rod
- Piece structure: 21 bowtie clusters across plus 1 narrow edge column on each side; 27 tiers tall
- Size before border: 43.5 in (110.5 cm) x 81.25 in (206.4 cm)
- Border depth: bottom hem 0.75 in (1.9 cm); top header 2 in (5.1 cm); side edges left open by design
Materials
Use a smooth, firmly plied worsted cotton or cotton blend at about 200 m per 100 g. Cotton drapes well and holds loop length. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the clean lines of the loops.
Yarn (for both panels):
- Aqua (MC): 900 g / 1,800 m (450 g / 900 m per panel)
- Cream (CC): 600 g / 1,200 m (300 g / 600 m per panel)
These quantities include a margin of about 10% for swatching, tails, and small tension differences.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Smooth wooden dowel, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter and at least 48 in (121.9 cm) long (a sanded closet rod works)
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers
- Measuring tape
- Rustproof pins and a blocking surface
- 16 curtain clip rings (8 per panel) and a curtain rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
- yo – yarn over
- LL – long loop (see below)
Long loop (LL): Insert hook in the next st, yo, and pull up a loop. Elongate it and slip it onto the dowel without twisting it.
Standing sc: With a slip knot on the hook, insert hook where indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo, and draw through both loops.
Cinch band: A small sc collar worked around a bundle of loops at mid-height. Instructions are given in Row D.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Base gauge: 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in aqua, so 4 sts and 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Test one swatch first. Ch 31 and work Row 1 (30 sc). Then work 3 tiers, following Rows A–D with the 3-cluster counts below:
- Row A: 22 LL (2 edge, 3 x 6 cluster, 2 edge)
- Row B: 22 sc and 4 ch-2 sps
- Row C: 30 sc (22 + 8)
Swatch checkpoints:
- Width: 30 sts = 7.5 in (19.1 cm)
- One cluster with its gap = 8 sts = 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Relaxed loop height after Row B: 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- One tier (loops plus the two aqua rows) = 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Full swatch height: 9.25 in (23.5 cm)
If the swatch is too wide, go down one hook size. If it is too narrow, go up one hook size. If the loops are shorter than 2.5 in (6.4 cm), use a thicker dowel or lift each loop to the top of the dowel before you slip it on. If they are longer, use a thinner dowel.
Panel Pattern (Make 2)
Foundation and Base
With aqua, ch 175.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across: 174 sc. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 174 sc = 43.5 in (110.5 cm). If you place a marker every 40 sts, each 40-st section should measure 10 in (25.4 cm).
The 174 sts break down as 2 edge sts + 22 gaps of 2 sts + 21 clusters of 6 sts (2 + 44 + 126 + 2 edge = 174).
The Tier (Rows A–D)
Row A (RS, cream, LL row): With RS facing, join cream with a sl st in the first sc at the right edge. Elongate the loop on your hook and slip it onto the dowel (LL 1). LL in the next sc (2 edge loops). Skip 2 sc. *LL in each of the next 6 sc, skip 2 sc; repeat from * 20 more times (21 clusters). LL in each of the last 2 sc: 130 loops on the dowel. Cut cream, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
The skipped pairs of sts become the open gaps between clusters. Keep every loop untwisted and evenly lifted to the top of the dowel.
Row B (RS, aqua, work-off row): With RS facing, work a standing sc in aqua through the first loop at the right edge. Slide each loop off the dowel only as you work it. Sc in the next loop. Ch 2. *Sc in each of the next 6 loops, ch 2; repeat from * 20 more times. Sc in each of the last 2 loops: 130 sc and 22 ch-2 sps.
Work each loop on its own, not in groups. This keeps the tops spread out to match the bottoms, and the cinch creates the waist. Keep the ch-2 loose enough that the row lies as wide as Row 1.
Row C (WS, aqua, conversion row): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each of the first 2 sc, 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp. *Sc in each of the next 6 sc, 2 sc in the next ch-2 sp; repeat from * 20 more times. Sc in each of the last 2 sc: 174 sc (130 sc worked 1 per sc + 44 sc added in the 22 ch-2 sps). Fasten off.
The 2 sc packed into each ch-2 sp make the small raised V-bump above each gap.
Row D (cinch bands, aqua): Measure 1.25 in (3.2 cm) up from the base of the loops and mark that height. Work every band at this level.
- Cluster cinch (make 21): Gather the 6 loops of one cluster. With a slip knot on the hook, work a standing sc around the whole bundle, then work 5 more sc around it: 6 sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Ch 1, then sc in each sc around: 6 sc. Join with a sl st and fasten off. Pull it snug so the band is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall.
- Edge cinch (make 2): Work the same way around the 2 edge loops, using 4 sc in each round: 4 sc, 4 sc.
Work the starting tail inside the first round, and weave the ending tail back through the band. This keeps the hundreds of tails tidy as you go.
Tier stitch summary: Row A 130 LL → Row B 130 sc + 22 ch-2 sps → Row C 174 sc → Row D 23 cinch bands.
Building the Panel
Work Rows A–D 27 times in total (27 tiers). On the final tier, do not fasten off after Row C. Leave a marker in the live loop and go straight to the header in the Border section.
Length checkpoints (measured flat, loops relaxed):
- After 10 tiers: 30.25 in (76.8 cm)
- After 20 tiers: 60.25 in (153.0 cm)
- After 27 tiers: 81.25 in (206.4 cm), which is the size before the border
Each tier adds 3 in (7.6 cm): 0.25 in (0.6 cm) for Row 1 + 27 x 3 in = 81.25 in.
Make Both Panels
Make 2 identical panels. Per panel you will work 27 cream LL rows, 54 aqua body rows plus Row 1, and 621 cinch bands (27 x 23). Use about 450 g / 900 m of aqua and 300 g / 600 m of cream per panel.
Layout on the rod (seen from the room):
[ Panel 1 ] [ Panel 2 ]
21 clusters 21 clusters
27 tiers 27 tiers
For a matched pair, use the same dowel and hook for both panels, and check each panel against the same length checkpoints.
Joining (Panels Stay Separate)
The panels are not joined to each other. Each one hangs from its own set of clip rings, so the “joining” here is attaching the rings evenly.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Every aqua row has 174 sts sitting in the same columns. The gaps fall at sts 3–4, 11–12, 19–20, and so on, every 8 sts, ending with sts 171–172. Clip a ring into the header directly above gaps 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22: 8 rings, spaced 24 sts = 6 in (15.2 cm) apart. Because the rings sit above gaps, each cluster column hangs straight between two soft folds.
Tension advice: Clip through the full header depth so the weight spreads across all 8 header rows. Do not clip into the cream loops.
Size checkpoint: Before hanging, check that each header measures 43.5 in (110.5 cm) and that the end rings sit at the two edges.
Border
Border gauge: Same as the body, 4 sc and 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Bottom hem: Turn the panel upside down. With RS facing, join aqua with a standing sc in the first ch at the right edge, working into the underside of the foundation chain.
- Row 1: Sc in each ch across: 174 sc.
- Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc: 174 sc.
Fasten off. Hem depth: 3 rows = 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Top header: Continue from the live loop after the final Row C.
- Rows 1–8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc: 174 sc.
Fasten off. Header depth: 8 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm).
Sides: No border stitches (0 sts per side). The 2-loop edge columns, with their own cinch bands, are the finished selvedge. Sc worked along them would flatten the loops and shorten the panel.
Why the math works: 174 = 2 + (21 x 8) + 2 + 2, so every border row matches the body’s row count exactly. No increases or decreases means the hem and header lie flat at 43.5 in (110.5 cm). Total length is 0.75 in + 81.25 in + 2 in = 84 in (1.9 cm + 206.4 cm + 5.1 cm, or 213.4 cm overall).
Final Blocking
- Weave in any remaining tails along aqua rows or inside cinch bands.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little gentle soap for 15 minutes, then press out the water. Do not wring.
- Roll the panel in towels to remove more moisture.
- Lay it flat, in sections if needed, and pin the hem and header straight to 43.5 in (110.5 cm).
- Tug each cluster gently so all 6 loops are even and about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with the cinch centered.
- Check the length against 84 in (213.4 cm), easing tiers up or down as needed.
- Let it dry completely before hanging. You can also steam-block cotton without soaking.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every aqua row has 174 sts, and every Row B has 130 sc and 22 ch-2 sps.
- Each tier measures 3 in (7.6 cm).
- All 21 clusters plus 2 edge columns in each tier are cinched at 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
- No loops are twisted or skipped.
- The hem is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) and the header is 2 in (5.1 cm).
- Both panels measure 43.5 x 84 in (110.5 x 213.4 cm).
- All 8 rings sit above gaps, 6 in (15.2 cm) apart.
Troubleshooting
- Panel narrows as you go: The ch-2 or the Row B sc are too tight. Loosen them, and recheck that Row C has 174 sc.
- Uneven loop heights: Lift each loop fully to the top of the dowel before pulling the next one.
- Cinches slide up or down: Work Rnd 1 tighter, or add one more round.
- Clusters look lopsided: You worked the loops in groups in Row B. Work each loop with its own sc.
- Header ruffles: Your header rows are looser than the body. Go down one hook size for the header only.
- Panel too short: Add one tier for each 3 in (7.6 cm) you need.
Care
Hand wash cool and dry flat, reshaping the loops while damp. Do not hang the panels to dry wet, because the weight will stretch the loops.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. 4 sts = 1 in (2.5 cm), so one 8-st repeat = 2 in (5.1 cm), and 174 sts = 43.5 in (110.5 cm). One tier = 3 in (7.6 cm), so 27 tiers plus the base row = 81.25 in (206.4 cm). The 0.75 in (1.9 cm) hem and 2 in (5.1 cm) header bring each panel to 84 in (213.4 cm). Check your swatch, trust your counts, and both panels will match.
Happy crocheting!