Decorative beaded trim with teal fan-shaped shells, cream beaded chain connectors, and hanging ivory tassels on neutral fabric.

Seaside Shell Fan Curtain Crochet Pattern

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This curtain is made of teal-and-cream shell fans that hang in seven light, airy strands. Each fan has seven teal ribs that open out from a cream ring and end in a soft scalloped cream edge. Small cream rings link the fans, and each strand ends in a full tassel.

The style is coastal and calm: just two colours, crisp texture, and plenty of open space so light still comes through. Neighbouring strands hang at different heights, so the fans fit into each other’s gaps instead of lining up in flat rows.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 28 in (71.1 cm) wide. The odd-numbered strands are 46 in (116.8 cm) long, measured from the top of the header to the tip of the tassel, and the even-numbered strands are 49.25 in (125.1 cm) long.

Construction is simple and modular:
1. Crochet 42 fan motifs.
2. Join them in sixes using chain-and-ring connectors.
3. Crochet the mesh header band.
4. Hang the strands from the header at measured intervals.
5. Add the tassels and block.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 28 in (71.1 cm) wide; odd strands 46 in (116.8 cm) long, even strands 49.25 in (125.1 cm) long
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: Sport (#2) cotton
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (US D-3)
  • Number of pieces: 42 fan motifs, 7 tassels, 1 header band
  • Layout: 7 strands of 6 fans each
  • Piece size: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide × 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall
  • Size before border: 7 strands spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, centre to centre
  • Border (header) depth: 1 in (2.5 cm)

Materials

Use a smooth mercerized sport-weight cotton, about 150 m per 50 g. Mercerized cotton shows the rib texture clearly, holds the scallops crisp and doesn’t stretch much when it hangs. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns: the strands will get longer over time.

  • Teal blue: 150 g, 450 m (fan ribs)
  • Cream: 300 g, 900 m (rings, edging, connectors, header, tassels)

Both quantities include a margin of about 20%, for swatching and dye-lot safety.

Tools:
– 3.25 mm (US D-3) hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stiff card 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide, for tassels
– Locking stitch markers
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Measuring tape
– 7 to 8 clip curtain rings

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • tr – treble crochet
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • sp(s) – space(s)
  • RS / WS – right side / wrong side

Special stitch – Small Ring (SR): Ch 8, then sl st in the first of those 8 ch to form a loop. Ch 1, work 12 sc into the loop and sl st in the first sc. Then sl st in each of the next 6 sc to reach the opposite side of the ring. The ch 1 doesn’t count as a stitch. One SR measures 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Header gauge: 23 sc and 5.5 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Motif gauge: one finished fan = 4.75 in (12.1 cm) wide × 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall

Make one complete test fan before anything else. Check it at three points:

  1. After centre Rnd 2: the ring measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
  2. After Row 4: the teal fan measures 3.75 in (9.5 cm) from edge to edge across the widest point.
  3. After the trim: the fan measures 4.75 in × 3.25 in (12.1 cm × 8.3 cm).

If your fan is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too big, go down half a hook size. If it is that much too small, go up half a size. If the scallops ripple, your trim is tighter than your ribs, so loosen your grip on the trim only.

Crochet lace ornament featuring teal fan-stitches centered in a cream circular frame pattern.

Fan Motif (make 42)

Centre Ring (cream)

Rnd 1: Ch 5 and sl st to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then 17 dc in the ring. Sl st in the top of the ch-3. (18 dc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each dc around, then sl st in the first sc. (18 sc)

Fasten off. Number the Rnd 2 stitches 1–18 and mark three of them:
– St 1: the start of the fan base
– St 7: the end of the fan base
– St 13: the bottom centre, directly opposite st 4

The fan uses sts 1–7. Sts 8–18 stay free; there are 11 of them, with st 13 in the middle.

Ribs (teal)

Row 1 (RS): Join teal with a sl st in st 1. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Ch 1, dc in the next st. Repeat from * 6 times, ending in st 7. Turn. (7 dc, 6 ch-1 sps)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st. Ch 1, skip the ch-1 sp, 2 dc in the next dc. Repeat from * 6 times. Turn. (14 dc in 7 pairs, 6 ch-1 sps)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr in the next dc. Ch 1, skip the sp, tr in each of the next 2 dc. Repeat from * 6 times. Turn. (14 tr, 6 ch-1 sps)

Row 4 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the next tr. Ch 1, skip the sp, dc in the next tr, 2 dc in the next tr. Repeat from * 6 times. (21 dc in 7 ribs of 3, 6 ch-1 sps)

Fasten off teal. Each rib now grows from 1 stitch to 2 to 3, which gives the fanned, widening shape.

Edging (cream)

Row 5 (RS): Join cream in the last dc made in Row 4, at the st-1 end. Ch 1, then:
– 2 sc in that same dc, then sc in each of the next 2 dc.
– Sc in the ch-1 sp, sc in each of the next 3 dc. Repeat from * 5 times.
– Sc in the last ch-1 sp, sc in each of the next 2 dc, then 2 sc in the last dc.

That gives 29 sc: 21 worked one-per-dc, 6 in the spaces, and 2 extra sc as the end increases.

Fasten off.

Stitch map for Row 5: the ribs sit on sts 1–4, 6–8, 10–12, 14–16, 18–20, 22–24 and 26–29. The space sc are sts 5, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 25. Sts 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25 and 29 will anchor the scallops, with exactly 3 sts between each pair.

Row 6 – Trim (RS, worked all around the fan): With RS facing, join cream with a sl st in st 18 of Rnd 2, the free stitch next to st 1. Ch 1, then:

  1. Up the first side: work 10 sc over the row ends: 2 in Row 1, 2 in Row 2, 3 in Row 3, 2 in Row 4 and 1 in Row 5.
  2. Across the top: sc in the first sc of Row 5. Skip 1 sc, 5 dc in the next sc, skip 1 sc, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * 7 times. That makes 43 sts: 8 sc and 7 scallops of 5 dc.
  3. Down the second side: work 10 sc over the row ends: 1 in Row 5, 2 in Row 4, 3 in Row 3, 2 in Row 2 and 2 in Row 1.
  4. Sl st in st 8 of Rnd 2.

Total: 10 + 43 + 10 = 63 sts.

Fasten off. Each scallop is centred over a rib, and the sides are now framed in cream down to the ring. Weave in the ends.

Make All Pieces

  • Fans: 42, each using teal for Rows 1–4 and cream for everything else
  • Tassels: 7, cream (made during assembly)

Work in batches of six and lay each batch out as one strand. Layout, front view (H = header, F = fan, T = tassel). Even-numbered strands start one fan-plus-connector lower:

H====H====H====H====H====H====H
S1   S2   S3   S4   S5   S6   S7
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
|    F    |    F    |    F    |
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
|    F    |    F    |    F    |
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
|    F    |    F    |    F    |
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
|    F    |    F    |    F    |
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
|    F    |    F    |    F    |
F    |    F    |    F    |    F
T    |    T    |    T    |    T
     F         F         F
     T         T         T

Joining

Each strand needs 5 connectors between its 6 fans. Connectors run from the bottom of one fan to the top of the next.

Connector (cream): With RS facing, join cream with a sl st in st 13 (bottom centre) of the upper fan’s ring. Then:

  1. Ch 4, SR, ch 3, SR, ch 4.
  2. Sl st in the centre (3rd) dc of the centre (4th) scallop of the next fan.
  3. Fasten off.

Joining stitch to stitch like this lines up the bottom centre of one fan with the top centre of the next, so the strand hangs straight. One connector measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) between the two fans.

Tail and tassel: On fan 6, join cream at st 13. Ch 4, SR, ch 4, then fasten off with an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. This tail section measures 2.75 in (7.0 cm).

To make a tassel:
1. Wrap cream 30 times around the 3.75 in (9.5 cm) card.
2. Pass the strand’s tail under the wraps at the top of the card and tie them tightly.
3. Cut the wraps at the bottom edge.
4. Wrap a separate strand of cream around the bundle 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the top to form the neck.
5. Trim the tassel to 3.5 in (8.9 cm).

Tension advice: Keep your chains exactly as firm as your stitches. Loose chains stretch under the weight of the fans, so one strand can end up longer than its neighbours.

Size checkpoint: Lay each strand flat, without stretching it. From the top of fan 1 to the bottom of fan 6 it should measure 35.75 in (90.8 cm): 6 × 3.25 in for the fans plus 5 × 3.25 in for the connectors.

Border: Header Band (cream)

Border gauge: 23 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm).

Foundation: Ch 162.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (161 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Turn. (161 sc)

Row 3 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip the next sc, dc in the next sc. Ch 1, skip the next sc, dc in the next sc. Repeat from * across. Turn. (81 dc, 80 ch-1 sps = 161 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp across. Turn. (81 + 80 = 161 sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. (161 sc)

Fasten off. The band should measure 28 in × 1 in (71.1 cm × 2.5 cm).

Why the math works: The band is divided into 7 sections of 23 sts, one per strand, and 7 × 23 = 161. With no extra stitches, it measures exactly 7 × 4 in = 28 in (71.1 cm). The mesh row needs an odd number of stitches so that it starts and ends with a dc, and 161 is odd. Row 4 puts back exactly one stitch per dc and one per space, so the count returns to 161.

Hanging the strands: Mark Row 5 sts 12, 35, 58, 81, 104, 127 and 150. Each marked stitch is the centre of its section, with 11 sts on either side, and the marks are 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.

For each strand, join cream with a sl st in its marked stitch, then work the hanger:

  • Odd strands (1, 3, 5, 7): Ch 6, SR, ch 6. This measures 3 in (7.6 cm).
  • Even strands (2, 4, 6): Ch 6, SR, ch 4, SR, ch 3, SR, ch 6. This measures 6.25 in (15.9 cm).

Finish each hanger with a sl st in the centre dc of the centre scallop of fan 1, then fasten off.

The 3.25 in (8.3 cm) difference between the two hangers equals one fan height. That is what makes the even strands’ fans sit in the gaps of the odd strands.

Total SR count:
– Odd strands: 12 each (1 in the hanger, 10 in the connectors, 1 in the tail)
– Even strands: 14 each (3 in the hanger, 10 in the connectors, 1 in the tail)
– Whole curtain: 4 × 12 + 3 × 14 = 90

Final Blocking

  1. Weave in all ends securely, working back through stitches of the same colour.
  2. Soak the curtain in cool water for 15 minutes, then press the water out in a towel. Don’t wring it.
  3. Lay the header flat and pin it to 28 in × 1 in (71.1 cm × 2.5 cm).
  4. Lay each strand straight down from its marked stitch.
  5. Pin each fan to 4.75 in × 3.25 in (12.1 cm × 8.3 cm). Open every scallop and straighten every rib.
  6. Pin each SR into a round 0.75 in (1.9 cm) circle.
  7. Comb the tassels straight with your fingers.
  8. Let everything dry completely flat.
  9. Hang the curtain on its clip rings for 24 hours so the chains settle before you trim the tassels for the last time.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • 42 fans, each with 7 teal ribs and 7 cream scallops
  • Every scallop sits centred over a rib
  • Each trim has 10 sc up each side and 43 sts across the top
  • Every connector runs from st 13 to the centre dc of the centre scallop
  • Each strand measures 35.75 in (90.8 cm) from the top of fan 1 to the bottom of fan 6
  • The header has 161 sts in every row and measures 28 in (71.1 cm)
  • Strands are 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, and the even strands are offset by 3.25 in (8.3 cm)
  • All 7 tassels measure 3.5 in (8.9 cm)

Troubleshooting

  • Fan cups upward: The trim is too tight. Redo Row 6 with looser dc.
  • Scallops ruffle: Check that you skipped 1 sc on each side of every 5-dc group.
  • Scallops are off-centre: Recount Row 5. You need 29 sc, with the 2 extra sc only at the two ends.
  • Ribs crowd at the base: Make sure Row 1 uses only sts 1–7 and that the ch-1 spaces are there.
  • A strand hangs crooked: The connector was attached away from st 13 or away from the centre dc. Re-attach it.
  • Strands are uneven in length: Re-block, or remove one chain from each connector of the long strand.
  • The header ripples: Your sc are looser than gauge. Rework the band with a smaller hook.

Care

Hand wash cool with mild soap, press the water out in a towel, and dry flat with pins to re-set the scallops. Avoid hanging the curtain in strong direct sun for months on end, because the teal may fade.

Crocheted window panels with teal fan motifs and cream borders hang from brass rods beside a window seat.

Final Notes

Each stage controls the size of the next one:
– A 1 in (2.5 cm) ring grows into a fan 4.75 in × 3.25 in (12.1 cm × 8.3 cm).
– Six fans and five connectors make a strand body of 35.75 in (90.8 cm).
– Seven strands spaced 4 in (10.2 cm) apart match the 161-stitch header, which measures exactly 28 in (71.1 cm).
– With hangers and tassels added, the strands finish at 46 in (116.8 cm) and 49.25 in (125.1 cm).

If you check each stage as you go, the curtain will hang straight and balanced. Happy crocheting!

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