The Seaside Fan Curtain Panel is a light, airy fan-stitch curtain in soft cream and powder blue. Rows of fans stack in neat vertical columns, with chain arches between them that let daylight through. A scalloped cream hem finishes the bottom, and seven crocheted rings at the top slide straight onto a curtain rod.
The two colors alternate in two-row stripes, so the panel looks coastal and calm rather than busy. It suits a bedroom, living room or sunroom, and it hangs well in cotton yarn.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. One finished panel measures 30.5 in (77.5 cm) wide by 77 in (195.6 cm) long. Measured to the tops of the rings, it is 78.25 in (198.8 cm). For a pair like the one in the photos, make two identical panels.
Here’s how it’s built. The panel is worked flat in rows from the bottom up, starting with a foundation chain and a single crochet row. Next come 60 two-row stripes and a three-row single crochet top band. One border round then adds the side edging, the scalloped hem (worked into the foundation chain) and the hanging rings.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30.5 in × 77 in (77.5 cm × 195.6 cm), plus rings adding 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
- Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 panel (make 2 for a pair)
- Layout: 15 fan columns across × 60 stripes up
- Size before border: 30 in × 76 in (76.2 cm × 193.0 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on the sides and top; 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of scallops at the bottom
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton or cotton blend, roughly 190 m (208 yd) per 100 g. Cotton holds the fan shapes crisply and drapes well at full length. Avoid fuzzy yarns, which blur the arches.
- Color A – Cream: 420 g / 800 m (875 yd), for the foundation, the odd-numbered stripes, the top band and the border
- Color B – Light Blue: 350 g / 665 m (727 yd), for the even-numbered stripes
These amounts are for one panel and include a margin of about 15%. Double them for a pair.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Locking stitch markers
– Tape measure
– Blocking mats or a large clean towel-covered surface, plus rust-proof pins
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
- Fan: 9 dc worked into the same stitch. The 5th dc is the fan’s center.
- Hanging Ring (HR): Sc in the next st, ch 12, sl st into the sc just made to close a loop. Work 18 sc into the ch-12 loop, then sl st into the same base sc. Each HR counts as 1 top-edge stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc × 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). In pattern, one 8-stitch fan repeat = 2 in (5.1 cm) wide, and one stripe (2 rows) = 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall. A fan row is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) and a mesh row is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Test swatch first. In Color A, ch 34. Work the Foundation Row (33 sc), then Rows 1–8 below, with 4 fans per fan row instead of 15. Block the swatch, then measure it. It should be 8 in (20.3 cm) wide and 5 in (12.7 cm) tall for the 8 pattern rows.
Checkpoints:
– Foundation Row: 121 sc should measure about 30 in (76.2 cm).
– After 8 stripes: 10 in (25.4 cm) of stripes.
– After 20 stripes: 25 in (63.5 cm).
– After 40 stripes: 50 in (127.0 cm).
– After 60 stripes: 75 in (190.5 cm).
If your swatch is too big, go down 0.5 mm. If it’s too small, go up 0.5 mm. If only the height is off, check your arches: tight ch-4 arches shorten the stripes, and loose ones stretch them.
Foundation
With Color A, ch 122.
Foundation Row: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (121 sc)
121 = 8 × 15 + 1, which gives exactly 15 fan repeats plus 1 closing stitch.
Body Pattern
Work the colors as follows:
– Odd-numbered stripes (Rows 1–2, 5–6, 9–10, and so on) use Color A.
– Even-numbered stripes (Rows 3–4, 7–8, and so on) use Color B.
To change color, work the last sc of a mesh row until 2 loops remain on the hook, then finish it with the new color. Each color works 2 rows, so the unused yarn always waits at the same edge. Carry it loosely up the side; the border will cover it.
Row 1 (Color A, fan row): Ch 3 (counts as dc), skip 3 sc, Fan in the next sc, skip 3 sc. Sc in the next sc, skip 3 sc, Fan in the next sc, skip 3 sc; rep from * 13 more times. Dc in the last sc. Turn.
(15 Fans = 135 dc, 14 sc, 2 edge dc = 151 sts)*
The edge dc stitches match the height of the fans, so the sides stay straight.
Row 2 (Color A, mesh row): Ch 1, sc in the first dc. Ch 4, sc in the center (5th) dc of the next Fan, ch 4, sc in the next sc; rep from * across. On the last repeat, the final sc goes into the top of the turning ch-3. Turn.
(31 sc, 30 ch-4 sps)*
The sc stitches alternate: edge, Fan center, between-fans, Fan center, and so on, ending with an edge sc. Change to Color B on the last sc.
Row 3 (Color B, fan row): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Skip the ch-4 sp, Fan in the next sc (a Fan center), skip the ch-4 sp, sc in the next sc; rep from * across. On the last repeat, replace the final sc with dc in the last sc. Turn.
(15 Fans = 135 dc, 14 sc, 2 edge dc = 151 sts)*
Each new Fan sits on the center of the Fan below, which is what stacks the fans in vertical columns.
Row 4 (Color B, mesh row): Work as Row 2. Change to Color A on the last sc. (31 sc, 30 ch-4 sps)
Rows 5–6 (Color A): Work as Rows 3–4.
Rows 7–8 (Color B): Work as Rows 3–4.
Continue repeating Rows 3–4, alternating colors every 2 rows, until you have 60 stripes (Row 120). Stripe 60 is Color B. Every fan row has 151 sts and every mesh row has 31 sc and 30 ch-4 sps.
Checkpoint: The stripes should measure 75 in (190.5 cm), with 30 Color A stripes and 30 Color B stripes.
Top Band
Change to Color A at the end of Row 120. Cut Color B.
Row 121 (conversion row): Ch 1, sc in the first sc, 3 sc in the next ch-4 sp, sc in the next sc; rep from * across. Turn.
(31 sc worked 1-per-existing-sc + 90 sc worked into the 30 arches = 121 sc)*
Rows 122–123: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn at the end of Row 122 only. (121 sc)
Don’t fasten off after Row 123.
Checkpoint before border: The panel should measure 30 in × 76 in (76.2 cm × 193.0 cm). That’s the 0.25 in (0.6 cm) foundation row, plus 75 in (190.5 cm) of stripes, plus the 0.75 in (1.9 cm) top band.
Border
Border gauge: 4 sc per inch (2.5 cm) along every edge, the same as the main sc gauge.
Border Round (Color A): Do not turn after Row 123. Ch 1 and rotate to work down the side.
Side 1:
– Work 1 sc into the end of each of Rows 123, 122 and 121. (3 sc)
– Down the stripes, for each stripe work 2 sc into the end of the mesh row and 3 sc into the side of the edge dc of the fan row. That’s 5 sc per stripe, × 60 stripes. (300 sc)
– Work 1 sc into the end of the Foundation Row. (1 sc)
– Side total: 304 sc
Bottom (scalloped hem): Rotate and work into the 121 free loops of the foundation chain. Sc in the first loop. Skip 3 loops, Fan in the next loop, skip 3 loops, sc in the next loop; rep from * 14 more times.
(15 scallops = 135 dc, plus 16 sc = 151 sts)*
Side 2: Rotate and work up the second side, mirroring Side 1: 1 sc in the end of the Foundation Row, 5 sc per stripe, then 1 sc in each end of Rows 121–123. (304 sc)
Top: Rotate and work across Row 123. HR in the first st. Sc in the next 19 sts, HR in the next st; rep from * 5 more times. (121 sts, including 7 HRs at sts 1, 21, 41, 61, 81, 101 and 121)*
Sl st into the first sc of the round and fasten off.
(Round total: 304 + 151 + 304 + 121 = 880 sts, plus 7 rings)
Why the math works:
– Each stripe is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall, and 5 sc ÷ 1.25 in = 4 sc per inch. Each sc row is 0.25 in (0.6 cm) and gets 1 sc. So 304 sc ÷ 4 = 76 in (193.0 cm), exactly the pre-border length, and the sides lie flat without rippling.
– The hem uses all 121 chain loops: 15 repeats × 8 loops + 1 = 121. The scallops sit at the same positions as the Row 1 fans, so they line up under the columns.
– Across the top, 121 sts with rings every 20 sts gives 7 rings spaced 5 in (12.7 cm) apart.
Finished size: 30.5 in × 77 in (77.5 cm × 195.6 cm). The width adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per side. The length adds 0.75 in (1.9 cm) of scallops at the bottom and 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of border at the top.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends inside the sc stitches or along the edges, never through the open arches.
- Soak the panel in cool water with a little wool wash for 15 minutes.
- Press out the water gently; don’t wring it. Roll the panel in towels to remove extra moisture.
- Lay it flat on mats or towels and smooth the stripes so they run straight.
- Pin the sides to 30.5 in (77.5 cm) apart every 6 in (15.2 cm). Pin the length to 77 in (195.6 cm).
- Pin the tip of each bottom scallop so the hem curves evenly.
- Open each ring with a finger so it dries round.
- Let it dry completely, usually 24–48 hours, before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] 60 stripes, starting with Color A and ending with Color B
- [ ] Every fan row has 15 Fans; every mesh row has 30 arches
- [ ] The fans stack in 15 straight vertical columns
- [ ] Each side has 304 border sc and lies flat
- [ ] There are 15 bottom scallops, lined up under the fan columns
- [ ] There are 7 rings, evenly spaced 5 in (12.7 cm) apart
- [ ] The panel measures 30.5 in × 77 in (77.5 cm × 195.6 cm)
- [ ] No ends or carried strands show on the front
Troubleshooting
The fans drift sideways. A fan was worked into a between-fans sc instead of a Fan-center sc. Fans always go into the sc that sits on the 5th dc of the Fan below.
The sides ripple. You have too many border sc. Recount to 5 per stripe.
The sides pull in. You have too few border sc, or the carried yarn is too tight. Loosen the carried strand before working the border.
The fabric narrows as you go. The ch-4 arches are too tight. Work the chains a little looser, or go up a hook size for the mesh rows only.
The top band ruffles. Use exactly 3 sc per arch in Row 121 and recount to 121.
The rings are too small for your rod. Increase to ch 14 and 21 sc per ring.
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cool cycle in a mesh laundry bag, then dry flat. Don’t hang the panel wet, because the weight will stretch it.
Final Notes
Here’s the measurement chain:
– 8 foundation sc = 1 fan repeat = 2 in (5.1 cm), and 15 repeats = 30 in (76.2 cm).
– 2 rows = 1 stripe = 1.25 in (3.2 cm), and 60 stripes = 75 in (190.5 cm).
– The foundation row and top band bring the panel to 76 in (193.0 cm).
– 5 border sc per stripe keep the sides flat.
– The scallops and top border finish the panel at 30.5 in × 77 in (77.5 cm × 195.6 cm), and the seven rings are ready for the rod.
If your swatch matches gauge, every checkpoint after it will too. Make a second panel the same way for a matching pair.
Happy crocheting!