This curtain fills a window with soft lace stars. Fifty five-pointed stars in periwinkle and peach hang from ten cream cords with wooden beads. A fan-scalloped header with tab loops holds everything on a curtain rod. Light passes between the strands, so the curtain decorates the window without darkening the room.
The style is relaxed boho: warm natural wood, a creamy header and two soft pastels. Each strand alternates its star colors. Neighboring strands are dropped by half a step, so the stars make a staggered checkerboard across the window.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 40.25 in (102.2 cm) wide and 54.25 in (137.8 cm) long, from the top of the header band to the last bead. The tab loops stand 2.25 in (5.7 cm) above the band.
The work happens in four stages. First you crochet 50 small star motifs in the round. Then you chain 10 beaded cords with the yarn held double, attaching the stars as you go. Next you crochet the header strip in rows, with fan scallops along the bottom and tabs along the top. Finally you sew each strand to the center of a scallop and block the whole curtain.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 40.25 in (102.2 cm) wide × 54.25 in (137.8 cm) long, plus 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tabs
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hooks: 4.0 mm (stars, header) and 5.0 mm (cords)
- Number of pieces: 50 stars, 10 cords, 1 header (61 pieces)
- Layout: 10 strands with 5 stars each, colors alternating, even strands staggered
- Star size: 4 in (10.2 cm) tip to tip
- Strand length: 52 in (132.1 cm)
- Header before scallops: 40.25 in × 1 in (102.2 cm × 2.5 cm)
- Header depth with scallops: 2.25 in (5.7 cm); the scallops add 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized or combed worsted cotton, about 180 m per 100 g. Cotton holds the star points crisply and won’t stretch much while it hangs. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they hide the lace.
- Periwinkle: 125 g (about 225 m), enough for 25 stars
- Peach: 125 g (about 225 m), enough for 25 stars
- Cream: 150 g (about 270 m), enough for the header, tabs and 10 cords
These quantities include a margin of roughly 20%.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm and 5.0 mm crochet hooks
– 130 wooden beads, 12 mm (about 0.5 in / 1.3 cm), with a hole of at least 4 mm so they fit two strands of yarn
– Yarn needle and a fine beading needle or dental-floss threader for stringing beads
– Scissors, tape measure, rust-proof pins and a blocking board or towel
– Locking stitch markers
– Spray bottle
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- tr: treble crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 together (insert hook in next st, pull up a loop, insert hook in following st, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops)
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side
- B: slide one pre-strung bead up against the hook, then make the next chain so the bead is locked in place
- S (star join): see the Joining section
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one star first and measure it before you buy the full amount of yarn.
Header gauge (4.0 mm hook): 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Cord gauge (5.0 mm hook, yarn held double): 4 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Star checkpoints (laid flat):
– After Rnd 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across
– After Rnd 2: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
– After Rnd 3: 2.75 in (7.0 cm) across
– After Rnd 5: 4 in (10.2 cm) from tip to tip, and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from the top tip to the lower valley
If your star is more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm) too large, go down a hook size. If it’s too small, go up a hook size. Check the header gauge the same way. A 0.25 in (0.6 cm) error over 4 in grows to about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across the full header.
Star Motif (Make 50)
Use the 4.0 mm hook. Make each star in a single color.
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 9 dc in the ring, and sl st to the top of the ch-3. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small center hole. (10 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * 8 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (10 dc, 10 ch-1 sps = 20 sts) These are the open spokes.
Rnd 3 (conversion round): Ch 1. Sc in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * 9 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (10 sc worked into the dc + 20 sc worked into the spaces = 30 sc)
Rnd 4 (points): Ch 1. Sc in next st, hdc in next st, (dc, tr) in next st, ch 3, (tr, dc) in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st; repeat from * 4 more times. Sl st to the first sc. Each point uses 6 sts of Rnd 3, and 5 × 6 = 30. (8 sts and 1 ch-3 sp per point; 40 sts and 5 ch-3 sps in total)
In each point, the stitches run sc, hdc, dc, tr, [ch-3 tip], tr, dc, hdc, sc. The last sc of one point sits next to the first sc of the following point. That meeting place is the valley.
Rnd 5 (outline): Sl st in the next hdc. Ch 1, sc in the same hdc, then sc in the next 2 sts (the dc and tr). Work (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the ch-3 tip. Sc in the next 3 sts (tr, dc, hdc). Sc2tog over the next 2 sts (the last sc of this point and the first sc of the next point).
Sc in the next 3 sts (hdc, dc, tr), (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the ch-3 tip, sc in the next 3 sts, sc2tog over the valley; repeat from * 3 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (11 sts and 1 ch-2 tip per point; 55 sts and 5 ch-2 tips in total)
Fasten off and weave in the ends securely. The sc2tog pulls each valley inward, which sharpens the star’s outline.
Make All Pieces
- Periwinkle stars: 25
- Peach stars: 25
- Beaded cords: 10 (made in the Joining section)
- Header: 1 (made in the Border section)
Number the strands 1 to 10 from left to right. Odd-numbered strands start with periwinkle, and even-numbered strands start with peach.
In this grid, B = periwinkle (blue) and O = peach (orange). Each tier is about 4.25 in (10.8 cm) lower than the one above it.
Strand: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tier 1: B . B . B . B . B .
Tier 2: . O . O . O . O . O
Tier 3: O . O . O . O . O .
Tier 4: . B . B . B . B . B
Tier 5: B . B . B . B . B .
Tier 6: . O . O . O . O . O
Tier 7: O . O . O . O . O .
Tier 8: . B . B . B . B . B
Tier 9: B . B . B . B . B .
Tier 10: . O . O . O . O . O
- Odd strands use B, O, B, O, B: 3 periwinkle and 2 peach each. Five strands give 15 periwinkle and 10 peach.
- Even strands use O, B, O, B, O: 3 peach and 2 periwinkle each. Five strands give 15 peach and 10 periwinkle.
- Totals: 25 periwinkle and 25 peach.
Joining: Beaded Cords with Stars
Use the 5.0 mm hook with cream yarn held double. Thread 13 beads onto the doubled yarn before you start each strand. Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) starting tail; you’ll use it to sew the strand to the header later.
Star join (S): Hold a star RS facing you, top point up. Insert the hook from front to back through the ch-2 tip of the top point and sl st, so the working yarn sits behind the star. Ch 14 behind the star, which is 3.5 in (8.9 cm). Insert the hook through the sc2tog at the valley between the two lower points and sl st. The cord is now hidden behind the star, and the star is anchored at both ends.
Repeat unit (U): S, ch 4, B, ch 8, B, ch 4.
– That is 30 ch (14 + 4 + 8 + 4) plus 2 beads.
– Length: 7.5 in of chain + 1 in of beads = 8.5 in (21.6 cm).
Odd strands (1, 3, 5, 7, 9):
– Lead: ch 8, B, ch 4. That is 12 ch + 1 bead = 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
– Stars: work U five times, attaching stars in the order B, O, B, O, B.
– Tail: ch 8, B, ch 12, B. That is 20 ch + 2 beads = 6 in (15.2 cm).
– Totals: 182 ch (12 + 150 + 20) and 13 beads, for a length of 52 in (132.1 cm).
Even strands (2, 4, 6, 8, 10):
– Lead: ch 8, B, ch 8, B, ch 11. That is 27 ch + 2 beads = 7.75 in (19.7 cm).
– Stars: work U five times, attaching stars in the order O, B, O, B, O.
– Tail: ch 5, B. That is 5 ch + 1 bead = 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
– Totals: 182 ch (27 + 150 + 5) and 13 beads, for a length of 52 in (132.1 cm).
The two leads differ by 4.25 in (10.8 cm), which is exactly half of one unit. That offset creates the checkerboard.
Finishing each strand: After the last bead, tie an overhand knot snugly under it. Thread the ends back up through the bead and trim them.
Tension: Keep every chain the same size. Tight chains shorten a strand, and loose chains let the stars sag. Don’t pull the star-join sl sts tight, or the star tips will cup.
Size checkpoint: Hang each strand from its top tail and measure it. It should be 52 in (132.1 cm), ±0.5 in (1.3 cm). All 10 strands should match.
Border: Scalloped Header with Tabs
The header is the curtain’s border. It holds all 10 strands, so its stitch count is built from the strand count.
Border gauge: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) with the 4.0 mm hook.
Why the math works: Each strand gets one scallop, and each scallop repeat is 16 sts, or 4 in (10.2 cm). Ten strands × 16 sts = 160 sts, plus 1 closing sc so the last scallop ends evenly. That gives 161 sts, and 161 ÷ 4 = 40.25 in (102.2 cm).
Use cream yarn, single strand.
Foundation: Ch 162.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (161 sc)
Rows 2–4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (161 sc per row)
The band is now 1 in (2.5 cm) deep and 40.25 in (102.2 cm) wide.
Row 5 (fans): Ch 1, turn, sc in the first st. Skip 7 sts, (tr, ch 1) 12 times in the next st, tr in the same st, skip 7 sts, sc in the next st; repeat from * 9 more times.
– Each fan: 13 tr and 12 ch-1 sps.
– Row total: 11 sc, 130 tr and 120 ch-1 sps.
– Check: 1 + (10 × 16) = 161 sts used.
Row 6 (edging): Ch 1, turn, sc in the first sc. Sc in the next tr, [ch 2, sc in the next tr] 12 times, sc in the next sc; repeat from * 9 more times. Fasten off.
– Each scallop: 13 sc on the tr, 12 ch-2 sps and 1 valley sc.
– Row total: 141 sc (1 + 10 × 14) and 120 ch-2 sps.
The scallops are 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) deep. The header is now 2.25 in (5.7 cm) deep.
Tabs (make 10): Turn the header upside down so the foundation chain is on top. You’ll work into its 161 free loops, numbered left to right. Tab k uses loops 16(k−1)+6 through 16(k−1)+12, so Tab 1 uses loops 6–12 and Tab 10 uses loops 150–156. Each tab is centered over loop 16(k−1)+9, the same stitch the fan below was worked into.
– Join cream yarn. Row 1: ch 1, sc in 7 loops. (7 sc)
– Rows 2–18: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. (7 sc per row)
– Each tab is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long. Neighboring tabs are 9 sts, or 2.25 in (5.7 cm), apart. Five loops stay free at each end.
– Fold each tab to the back and whipstitch its last row to the back of Row 3. This makes a 2.25 in (5.7 cm) loop that fits rods up to 1.25 in (3.2 cm) in diameter.
Attaching the strands: Find the 7th of the 13 sc in each scallop. That stitch sits on the center tr of the fan. Thread a strand’s 8 in (20.3 cm) top tail onto a needle. Sew it firmly through that sc, passing through it three times, and weave the ends into the scallop. Attach strand 1 to scallop 1, and so on across.
Final Blocking
- Mist the header until it is damp.
- Pin it flat to 40.25 in × 2.25 in (102.2 cm × 5.7 cm). Pin each scallop into a round arc and open every ch-2 space.
- Lay out the strands straight below the header, either on the floor or on towels.
- Mist each star and pin all 5 tips so each star measures 4 in (10.2 cm) across.
- Let everything dry completely. This takes 12–24 hours.
- Unpin, slide the tabs onto the rod and hang the curtain. Let it settle for one day before making final checks.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The header measures 40.25 in (102.2 cm) wide and has 10 scallops and 10 tabs.
- Every tab is centered over a scallop.
- Each strand measures 52 in (132.1 cm) and carries 13 beads.
- The stars total 25 periwinkle and 25 peach, and each strand alternates colors.
- Even strands sit 4.25 in (10.8 cm) lower than odd strands.
- Every star is attached at its top tip and its lower valley, with the cord hidden behind it.
- All bottom knots are tight and their ends are hidden.
Troubleshooting
- Star tips curl up: Rnd 5 is too tight. Block the star firmly, or go up a hook size for Rnd 5.
- Star is lopsided: Recount Rnd 4. Each point must use exactly 6 sts of Rnd 3.
- Fans ruffle or pull flat: Recount the skipped stitches. Each repeat must cover exactly 16 sts.
- Header is too wide: Your gauge is loose. Remake it with a smaller hook rather than skipping stitches.
- Strands are different lengths: Your chain tension varies. Re-chain the long strand, or unpick and redo its tail.
- Beads won’t slide: Use beads with larger holes, or thread them with a floss threader.
- Star spins on the cord: Add a small tacking stitch at the star’s center.
Care
Hand wash cold and lay the curtain flat to dry, reshaping the star tips while it’s damp. Store it rolled, not folded, so the cords don’t tangle.
Final Notes
Every measurement in this curtain builds on the one before it:
1. A 4-in (10.2 cm) star with exact counts of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 55 sts.
2. A 4-ch-per-inch cord, where each unit is 8.5 in (21.6 cm) and each strand is 52 in (132.1 cm).
3. Ten strands × 16 sts = 160 + 1 = 161 header sts, for a width of 40.25 in (102.2 cm).
4. A 2.25-in (5.7 cm) header, for an overall length of 54.25 in (137.8 cm).
Check each stage against these numbers, and the curtain will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!