This curtain brings a soft, sunny look to a window without blocking the light. A scalloped mustard header holds thirteen hanging strands. Mustard wheel motifs alternate with cream leaf motifs, and every motif is linked by a short chain with a small solid ring.
The palette is just two colors: warm mustard and creamy ivory. The wheels look like little sun medallions with open spokes. The leaves are pointed almond shapes with a raised center vein. Together they give a light, airy, vintage-cottage feel.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 36.6 in (93.0 cm) wide and 30 in (76.2 cm) long, including the header.
Construction is simple and modular. You make 42 wheel motifs and 30 leaf motifs. Then you link them into strands, crochet the header in rows, and attach each strand to the center of a scallop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36.6 in (93.0 cm) wide x 30 in (76.2 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK (weight 3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 73 total: 42 wheels, 30 leaves, 1 header
- Layout: 13 strands across: 7 wheel strands alternating with 6 leaf strands
- Piece size: wheel 3 in (7.6 cm) across; leaf 3.9 in (9.9 cm) long x 1.75 in (4.4 cm) wide; link 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long
- Size before header: 13 free strands, each 27 in (68.6 cm) long
- Header (border) depth: 3 in (7.6 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth mercerized DK cotton. It holds the spokes crisp, resists sagging, and survives sunlight and washing. The quantities below assume about 120 m per 50 g.
- Mustard (MC): 200 g, about 480 m (wheels, wheel links, header)
- Cream (CC): 100 g, about 240 m (leaves, leaf links)
Estimated use is about 170 g of mustard and 60 g of cream. The listed quantities include a margin for gauge swatches and the many yarn tails.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors and measuring tape
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle
- 14 curtain rings and a curtain rod
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp(s) – space(s)
- sk – skip
- blo – back loop only
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Ring link (special stitch): Ch 3. Ch 6, sl st in the 6th ch from hook to close a small ring. Work 10 sc into the ring, sl st in the first sc to join, then sl st in the next 5 sc (you are now at the bottom of the ring). Ch 3. Finished link length is 1.5 in (3.8 cm), with a ring about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one wheel and one leaf first, then block them lightly before you start mass production.
- Header gauge: 20 dc and 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Wheel checkpoints: after Rnd 1, 1 in (2.5 cm); after Rnd 2, 2.2 in (5.6 cm); after Rnd 3, 2.6 in (6.6 cm); after Rnd 4, 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Leaf checkpoints: after Rnd 1, 3.6 in x 1.4 in (9.1 cm x 3.6 cm); after Rnd 2, 3.9 in x 1.75 in (9.9 cm x 4.4 cm)
If your wheel is too big, go down 0.25 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.25 mm. Recheck the test pieces after each change.
A difference of even 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per wheel adds 1.5 in (3.8 cm) over six wheels. Small errors grow along a strand, so test before you commit.
Wheel Motif (make 42 in MC)
Ring: Ch 8, sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 16 sc in ring, sl st in first sc. (16 sc)
This padded ring forms the thick center of the wheel.
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as tr), ch 2, tr in next sc, ch 2; repeat from * 14 more times, sl st in top of beginning ch-4. (16 tr, 16 ch-2 sps)
These 16 tr are the open spokes.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next tr, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * around, sl st in first sc. (48 sc: 16 sc worked 1-per-tr + 32 sc added in the ch-2 sps)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc blo in each sc around, sl st in first sc. (48 sc)
Working in back loops leaves the front loops as a ridged rim on the outer edge. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Place a marker in sc 1 of Rnd 4 (top) and in sc 25 (bottom). These are directly opposite each other, since 48 / 2 = 24 stitches apart.
Leaf Motif (make 30 in CC)
Foundation: Ch 16.
Rnd 1, side 1: Working in the back bump of the ch, beginning in 2nd ch from hook: sl st, sc, hdc, 2 dc, 5 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc, sl st. (15 sts)
Tip: Ch 3.
Rnd 1, side 2: Rotate and work into the remaining loops of the same 15 ch: sl st, sc, hdc, 2 dc, 5 tr, 2 dc, hdc, sc, sl st. (15 sts)
Tip: Ch 3, sl st in first sl st. (30 sts, 2 ch-3 tip sps)
The tall stitches rising from both sides of the foundation chain create the central vein and pointed almond shape.
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each of next 15 sts, 3 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in each of next 15 sts, 3 sc in ch-3 sp, sl st in first sc. (36 sc: 30 sc worked 1-per-st + 6 sc added at the tips)
Fasten off and weave in ends. Mark the center sc of each 3-sc tip group. One is the top, the other is the bottom.
Make All Pieces
- MC wheels: 7 strands x 6 wheels = 42 wheels
- CC leaves: 6 strands x 5 leaves = 30 leaves
- MC links: 7 strands x 6 links = 42 links (worked during joining)
- CC links: 6 strands x 5 links = 30 links (worked during joining)
Layout grid (W = wheel, L = leaf, read across the curtain from left to right):
Strand: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
W L W L W L W L W L W L W
W L W L W L W L W L W L W
W L W L W L W L W L W L W
W L W L W L W L W L W L W
W L W L W L W L W L W L W
W . W . W . W . W . W . W
Leaves are longer than wheels, so the cream strands hold one motif fewer but end at the same length.
Joining
Method: Each pair of motifs is joined with one ring link, worked in the color of that strand.
Stitch-to-stitch logic: With the strand color, join with a sl st in the bottom marker of the upper motif. For a wheel this is sc 25; for a leaf it is the bottom tip sc. Work one ring link, then sl st in the top marker of the lower motif. For a wheel this is sc 1; for a leaf it is the top tip sc. Fasten off.
Joining top-to-bottom through opposite stitches keeps every strand hanging straight.
Wheel strand: Join 6 wheels with 5 links. Leave the top of wheel 1 free for now. Its top link is worked when you attach the strand to the header.
Leaf strand: Join 5 leaves with 4 links in the same way.
Tension: Keep chain tension the same as in your motifs. Loose chains stretch under the weight of the strand. Tight chains pucker the motif edge. Check that every link measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Size checkpoint (without top link):
- Wheel strand: 6 x 3 in + 5 x 1.5 in = 25.5 in (64.8 cm)
- Leaf strand: 5 x 3.9 in + 4 x 1.5 in = 25.5 in (64.8 cm)
Both types match, so the strands hang evenly.
Header (Border)
Border gauge: 20 dc = 4 in (10.2 cm), so 5 sts per inch (2.5 cm).
The header width is built from the strand spacing. Each strand sits on one scallop that is 14 sts wide. 13 strands x 14 sts = 182 sts, plus 1 st to close the last repeat, gives 183 sts. At 5 sts per inch, that is 36.6 in (93.0 cm). Strand centers are spaced 14 / 5 = 2.8 in (7.1 cm) apart, leaving about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) between a wheel edge and a leaf edge.
With MC, ch 184.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (183 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each sc across, turn. (183 dc)
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk next st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st, dc in next st; repeat across, turn. (92 dc, 91 ch-1 sps)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc; repeat across, turn. (183 dc: 92 dc worked 1-per-dc + 91 dc added in the sps)
The header body now measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep.
Row 5 (fans): Ch 1, sc in first st, sk 6 sts, 11 dc in next st, sk 6 sts, sc in next st; repeat from * 12 more times, turn. (13 fans of 11 dc, 14 sc = 157 sts)
Check the math: 1 + 13 x (6 + 1 + 6 + 1) = 183. Every stitch of Row 4 is accounted for. The sc stitches land on sts 1, 15, 29, and so on to 183.
Row 6 (lacy trim): Ch 1, sc in first sc, (sc in next dc, ch 2) 10 times, sc in last dc of fan, sc in next sc; repeat from * across. Fasten off. (157 sc + 130 ch-2 sps: 157 sc worked 1-per-st + 130 ch-2 sps added)
Each fan has 11 sc and 10 ch-2 sps. The 6th sc of each fan sits on the center dc, which is the strand attachment point.
Attach the strands: Lay the header right side up. Assign scallops 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 to wheel strands, and scallops 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 to leaf strands.
For each strand, join the strand color with a sl st in the center sc of its scallop. Work one ring link, then sl st in the top marker of the first motif. Fasten off.
Each strand is now 25.5 in + 1.5 in = 27 in (68.6 cm). The header is 3 in (7.6 cm) deep, so the total length is 30 in (76.2 cm).
Rings: Sew or slip one curtain ring through Row 2 above each Row 5 sc point. That gives 14 rings, spaced 2.8 in (7.1 cm) apart.
Final Blocking
- Weave in every remaining tail along stitches of the same color.
- Pin the header flat to the mat at 36.6 in x 3 in (93.0 cm x 7.6 cm), pinning each scallop into a round curve.
- Lay each strand straight below its scallop and pin the centers of the motifs. Do not stretch the links.
- Pin each wheel to a 3 in (7.6 cm) circle with straight spokes.
- Pin each leaf to 3.9 in x 1.75 in (9.9 cm x 4.4 cm) with sharp tips.
- Mist evenly until damp, then let dry completely.
- Unpin, hang, and check that all 13 strands end at 30 in (76.2 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Header is 183 sts wide with 13 even scallops
- 7 wheel strands of 6 wheels and 6 leaf strands of 5 leaves, alternating
- Every link measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm), with its ring centered
- Each strand hangs from the center sc of its scallop
- Wheels lie flat at 3 in (7.6 cm), with 16 visible spokes
- All strands hang at 27 in (68.6 cm) below the header
- No loose tails show from either side
Troubleshooting
Wheel cups or ruffles: A cupping wheel means Rnd 2 tr are too short. A ruffled wheel means they are too tall. Adjust your yarn-over tension or the hook size.
Strand hangs crooked: The link was joined off-center. Recount to sc 25 and sc 1.
Leaf twists: Work side 2 into the remaining loops of the foundation chain, not into its back bump. Then block it flat.
Header too wide: Check your gauge. At 21 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm), the header shrinks to about 34.9 in (88.6 cm). Change the hook size rather than the stitch count.
Strands uneven in length: Measure the links. The chains are usually the culprit.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, gently press out the water, and dry flat, reshaping the motifs. Avoid hanging the curtain wet, because the weight will stretch the links.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is simple. A 3 in (7.6 cm) wheel and a 3.9 in (9.9 cm) leaf, joined by 1.5 in (3.8 cm) links, each build a 27 in (68.6 cm) strand. Thirteen strands sit 2.8 in (7.1 cm) apart on a 183-st header that is 36.6 in (93.0 cm) wide and 3 in (7.6 cm) deep. The finished curtain is 30 in (76.2 cm) long. Check each step, and the whole curtain will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!