Sunlit Drops is a light, airy window curtain made from strands of solid teardrop motifs. Each strand ends in a full tassel, and all of them hang from a neat crocheted band. Sunlight passes through the teardrop openings, and the alternating strands give a warm boho look.
The palette is terracotta and cream. Ten strands alternate across the window, starting with terracotta on the left, and the cream header band ties them together. Every strand finishes with a tassel in its own color.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain is 30 in (76.2 cm) wide and 40.5 in (102.9 cm) long including the tassels. It hangs from clip rings, so you don’t need a rod pocket.
Here is the construction. You make 80 small teardrop motifs and join them as you go into 10 strands of 8. Then you crochet the header band and catch the top of each strand into its first row. Finally, you tie a tassel to the bottom of each strand.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 30 in (76.2 cm) wide × 40.5 in (102.9 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 80 teardrop motifs, 10 tassels, 1 header band
- Layout: 10 strands of 8 motifs, alternating colors (5 terracotta, 5 cream)
- Motif size: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide × 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- Strand length (motifs and links): 32 in (81.3 cm)
- Size before header: 10 strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, center to center
- Header depth: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Tassel: 6 in (15.2 cm), on a 1 in (2.5 cm) link
Materials
Use a smooth worsted-weight yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton or a cotton blend hangs straight and resists stretching in sun and heat. Soft acrylic also works, but it may need firmer blocking.
- Terracotta: 220 g / approx. 440 m (40 motifs, 5 tassels)
- Cream: 250 g / approx. 500 m (40 motifs, 5 tassels, header band)
These quantities include about a 15% margin for the gauge swatch, tassel trimming, and the long tails you’ll weave in.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– 1 stitch marker per motif in progress (locking style)
– Stiff cardboard, 6.5 in (16.5 cm) tall, for the tassels
– Sharp scissors
– Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
– Spray bottle
– 10–12 curtain clip rings and a rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
Special stitch – Joined sc: Insert the hook through the next foundation chain and through the last chain of the strand’s top link held behind it. Yarn over and pull up a loop through both, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops. This counts as 1 sc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one motif first. The motif is your gauge swatch.
- After Rnd 1: 2 in (5.1 cm) wide × 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with an opening about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall
- After Rnd 2: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide × 3 in (7.6 cm) tall
- Link: a ch-4 link plus its sl st measures 1 in (2.5 cm)
- Header gauge: 12 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm) in both sc and hdc. Rows 1–5 measure 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
If your motif is too big (2.75 in / 7.0 cm wide or more), go down half a hook size. If it is too small (2.25 in / 5.7 cm wide or less), go up half a size. Even small errors add up quickly: a 0.25 in difference per motif changes each strand’s length by 2 in (5.1 cm).
Teardrop Motif
Make 40 in terracotta and 40 in cream. Work over the starting tail in Rnd 1 so it’s hidden.
Foundation: Ch 18. Sl st in the first ch to form a ring. This join is the point of the teardrop.
Rnd 1: Ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st). Working into the ring, not into the chains, work 2 sc, 3 hdc, 10 dc, 3 hdc, 2 sc. Sl st to the first sc. (20 sts)
Push the stitches around the ring so the 10 dc gather at the opposite end from the point. The rising stitch heights (sc to hdc to dc) shape the teardrop: short at the point, tall around the rounded bottom.
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in the first 5 sts (2 sc, 3 hdc). [2 sc in the next dc, sc in the next dc] 5 times. Sc in the next 5 sts (3 hdc, 2 sc). Sl st to the first sc. (25 sts: 5 + 15 + 5)
The point stays at the join because it’s flanked by short sc. The 5 increases spread across the rounded bottom so the motif lies flat instead of cupping.
Mark the bottom-center stitch: Put a marker in st 13 of Rnd 2. It sits in the middle of the 15 bottom sts, with 7 sts on each side.
The link worked from the point depends on the motif’s position:
- Motif 1 (top of each strand): From the point, ch 4. Fasten off with an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Leave the marker out. This free link joins the header later.
- Motifs 2–8: Joined as you go (see Joining).
Make All Pieces
- Terracotta: 40 motifs (5 strands × 8), 5 tassels
- Cream: 40 motifs (5 strands × 8), 5 tassels, 1 header band
Layout (T = terracotta, C = cream; strands 1–10 left to right, motifs top to bottom):
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10
Header [ cream band, 90 sts wide ]
Motif 1 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 2 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 3 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 4 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 5 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 6 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 7 T C T C T C T C T C
Motif 8 T C T C T C T C T C
Tassel T C T C T C T C T C
Each strand is a single color. Build one strand at a time, keeping its motifs in order.
Joining
Method: Join as you go, working from the top of the strand down.
- Make Motif 1 as written, including its free ch-4 link at the point.
- Make Motif 2 through Rnd 2. From its point, ch 4, then sl st into the marked bottom-center st (st 13) of Motif 1. Fasten off and remove the marker from Motif 1.
- Make Motif 3 and join it the same way to the bottom-center st of Motif 2.
- Keep going until the strand has 8 motifs. Leave the marker in Motif 8 for the tassel.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: Each link runs from one motif’s point to the exact center of the rounded bottom above it. Because that center stitch has 7 sts on each side, every motif hangs straight below the one above. If you join one stitch off-center, the strand will lean.
Tension: Work the ch-4 links at the same tension as your foundation chain. Tight links pucker the bottom of the motif above. Loose links let the strand stretch over time. Weave each end-tail up through the link and into the back of the motif above.
Tassel link: Join the same color to the marked bottom-center st of Motif 8. Ch 4 and fasten off with a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. You’ll tie the tassel to this link.
Size checkpoint: Lay the strand flat without stretching it. From the end of the top link to the bottom of Motif 8, it should measure 32 in (81.3 cm): 8 links × 1 in (2.5 cm) + 8 motifs × 3 in (7.6 cm). All 10 strands should match within 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Tassels (make 10, 5 per color): Wrap the yarn 30 times around the 6.5 in (16.5 cm) card. Slide a 12 in (30.5 cm) strand under the wraps at the top and tie it tightly. Cut the loops at the bottom. About 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top, wrap a separate strand around the bundle 6 times to form a rounded head, then knot it and bury the ends inside. Trim the skirt so the tassel measures 6 in (15.2 cm). Use the top tie to knot each tassel to the tassel link of a strand in the same color.
Border (Header Band)
The header is the curtain’s border. It’s worked in rows across the top and catches all 10 strands in Row 1.
Header gauge: 12 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Why the math works: Each strand gets a 9-st section, which is 3 in (7.6 cm) of header. 10 strands × 9 sts = 90 sts, so 90 sts ÷ 3 sts per inch = 30 in (76.2 cm). Each strand joins at st 5 of its section, with 4 sts on each side. That puts the strands 3 in (7.6 cm) apart center to center and leaves 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of space between neighboring motifs (3 in spacing − 2.5 in motif). The joined sc is part of the 90 sts, so no stitches are added at the joins.
Foundation: With cream, ch 91.
Row 1 (joining row): Lay the strands in order (S1–S10) below the chain, right side facing. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and the next 3 ch. Joined sc in the next ch through the last chain of the next strand’s top link. Sc in each of the next 8 ch. Repeat from * to * 8 more times. Joined sc in the next ch through the S10 link, then sc in the last 4 ch. Turn. (90 sts: 4 + [1 + 8] × 9 + 1 + 4 = 90; 10 joined sc included)
Rows 2–4: Ch 2 (doesn’t count as a st). Hdc in each st across. Turn. (90 hdc per row)
Row 5: Ch 1. Sc in each st across. (90 sc) Fasten off.
Edge counts: The top and bottom edges each have 90 sts. Each short side is 5 rows tall, 1.5 in (3.8 cm). Weave in the top-link tails along the back of Row 1.
Finished checkpoint: The header measures 30 in (76.2 cm) × 1.5 in (3.8 cm). Total length is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) header + 32 in (81.3 cm) strand + 1 in (2.5 cm) tassel link + 6 in (15.2 cm) tassel = 40.5 in (102.9 cm).
Final Blocking
- Lay the curtain face down on a large mat or a towel-covered floor.
- Pin the header straight to 30 in (76.2 cm) × 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
- Lay each strand straight down from its join and pin through the center of every motif opening.
- Shape each motif to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) × 3 in (7.6 cm). Ease the point upward and round out the bottom.
- Mist everything evenly. Let the motifs stay damp for a few minutes, but don’t soak them.
- Leave it to dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Steam the tassel skirts lightly (no pressing) and trim any uneven ends.
- Hang the curtain with clip rings spaced evenly along Row 5.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each motif has 25 sts in Rnd 2 and a clear point at the top.
- Motif openings are evenly sized and centered.
- Every link joins the exact bottom-center stitch.
- All strands measure 32 in (81.3 cm) from the top link to the bottom of Motif 8.
- Colors alternate T, C, T, C… left to right.
- The header has 90 sts per row and lies flat at 30 in (76.2 cm).
- All 10 tassels measure 6 in (15.2 cm) with matching heads.
- All ends are woven in securely and hidden on the back.
Troubleshooting
The motif cups or ruffles. Cupping means Rnd 2 is too tight. Ruffling means you added extra stitches. Recount to 25 sts and work the increases more loosely.
There’s no visible point. Make sure Rnd 1 begins and ends with 2 sc. Pull the ring join snug before you start Rnd 2.
The opening is too large. Check that you chained 18, not 20. Slide the Rnd 1 stitches together firmly around the ring.
The strands lean or twist. One link probably went into the wrong stitch. Undo it and rejoin into st 13.
The strands are different lengths. Compare the motifs and links. Remake any motif that’s off by more than 0.25 in (0.6 cm).
The header pulls in at the joins. Work the joined sc more loosely. Make sure each strand is caught in st 5 of its section.
The tassels are uneven. Trim them all together while they hang, then steam.
Care
Hand wash in cool water, press out the water in a towel, and dry flat, re-pinning to the blocked measurements. Don’t hang it wet, because the weight of the water will stretch the strands.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other:
- 1 motif = 2.5 in (6.4 cm) × 3 in (7.6 cm)
- 1 link = 1 in (2.5 cm)
- 8 motifs + 8 links = 32 in (81.3 cm) per strand
- 10 strands × 9 header sts = 90 sts = 30 in (76.2 cm) wide
- Header 1.5 in (3.8 cm) + strand + tassel link + tassel = 40.5 in (102.9 cm) long
If your first motif matches its gauge, the rest of the curtain will come out to these measurements.
Happy crocheting!