The Swallow Song curtain is a single window panel. Fourteen burgundy swallows seem to fly through a curtain of vertical beaded strands. A scalloped shell lace header in deep burgundy hangs from the rod. Below it, cream chain strands carry alternating burgundy and sage green faceted beads. Each strand ends in a small burgundy tassel.
The swallows are crocheted in burgundy, and their wings are embroidered with sage green yarn. When the window light comes through, the lacy header and the birds show up as crisp silhouettes against the sheer strands.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished panel measures 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) wide by 64 in (162.6 cm) tall, from the top of the header to the tassel tips. The hanging tabs add extra height above that.
Construction is simple. You work a solid header band in rows, then a scalloped shell lace border along its lower edge. Next you crochet 15 beaded strands and hang them from the border. Finally, you appliqué 14 swallows between the strands and tie a tassel to the end of each strand.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) wide x 64 in (162.6 cm) tall, excluding tabs
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 1 panel, made up of a header, 15 strands, 14 appliqué swallows and 15 tassels
- Layout: 15 strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, with one swallow in each of the 14 gaps
- Swallow size: 5 in (12.7 cm) wingtip to wingtip x 4 in (10.2 cm) beak to tail
- Size before border: header band 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) x 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Border depth: 2.5 in (6.4 cm), for a total header depth of 4 in (10.2 cm)
- Strand length: 56 in (142.2 cm), plus a 4 in (10.2 cm) tassel
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized or matte worsted cotton. Cotton holds the lace crisply and does not fuzz in sunlight. Avoid stretchy blends, because the bead weight will lengthen them over time.
Yarn:
– Deep burgundy: 200 g / 300 m. This covers the header, tabs, swallows and tassels.
– Cream: 100 g / 150 m. This covers the strands.
– Sage green: 50 g / 75 m. This covers the wing embroidery.
Beads:
– 210 burgundy faceted beads, 10 mm (about 0.4 in), with large holes of at least 3 mm
– 210 sage green faceted beads, same size and hole
Buy about 10% extra of each bead color to allow for flawed beads.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) hook
– Big-eye beading needle or dental floss threader, for stringing beads onto yarn
– Tapestry needle
– Burgundy sewing thread and a sharp needle, for tacking the birds
– 4 in (10.2 cm) piece of cardboard, for tassels
– Stitch markers, measuring tape and scissors
– Blocking mat, rust-proof pins and a spray bottle
All yarn quantities include a margin of about 15% for swatching and tails.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitches:
– Bead chain (BCH): Slide one bead up against the hook, yarn over and pull through, so the chain locks the bead in place.
– Shell: Work 9 dc into the same chain space.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc rows. In chain, 10 ch = 2 in (5.1 cm).
Test before you commit. Make a 4 in (10.2 cm) swatch, one 4-segment trial strand, and one swallow. These three tests confirm every measurement in the pattern.
Checkpoints:
– Swatch: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– One strand segment (8 ch + 1 BCH): 2 in (5.1 cm)
– Header after Row 5: 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) wide, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep
– Header after Row 7: 4 in (10.2 cm) deep
– Swallow: 5 in (12.7 cm) wingtip to wingtip
– Finished strand: 56 in (142.2 cm) after hanging
If your swatch is too big (fewer than 16 sc per 4 in), go down one hook size. If it is too small, go up one size.
For strands, chain gauge matters most. If 8 ch plus a bead measure more than 2 in (5.1 cm), work 7 ch per segment. If they measure less, work 9 ch per segment.
Part 1: Header Band
Work the header in burgundy, flat, from the top down.
Row 1: Ch 170, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (169 sc)
Rows 2–3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (169 sc)
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn, dc in each remaining st across. (169 dc)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, working the last sc into the top of the turning ch. (169 sc)
Checkpoint: The band should measure 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) by 1.5 in (3.8 cm). Rows 1–3 make up 0.75 in (1.9 cm), Row 4 is 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and Row 5 is 0.25 in (0.6 cm). Do not fasten off. Place a marker in the working loop and set the band aside.
Hanging tabs: Join burgundy into the first foundation ch on the top edge (the opposite side of Row 1).
Ch 20, sl st in the same ch, sl st in each of the next 12 foundation chs. Rep from * 13 more times. Finish with ch 20 and a sl st in the last foundation ch. Fasten off.
You now have 15 tabs, one at foundation stitch 1, 13, 25, and so on through 169. Each loop is about 4 in (10.2 cm) around and fits a rod up to 1 in (2.5 cm) in diameter.
Part 2: Beaded Strands (Make 15)
Use cream yarn. Each strand holds 28 beads, alternating burgundy and sage green, with a burgundy bead at the top.
- Thread the beads onto the yarn in reverse order of use. Start with a green bead and alternate, ending with a burgundy bead. That gives 14 beads of each color.
- Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail and make a slip knot.
- Segment: Ch 8, then work 1 BCH.
- Rep the segment 27 more times, for 28 segments in total.
- Fasten off directly after the last BCH, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail for the tassel.
Each segment measures 2 in (5.1 cm): 8 ch at 1.6 in (4.1 cm) plus a bead at about 0.4 in (1.0 cm). Twenty-eight segments give a 56 in (142.2 cm) strand.
Keep your chain tension even. Loose chains will stretch under the bead weight.
Part 3: Swallow Appliqués (Make 14)
Work all swallows in burgundy.
Body
Ch 11.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook (this is the tail end), sc in next 8 ch, 3 sc in the last ch (head end). Working along the opposite side of the foundation, sc in next 8 ch, 2 sc in the same ch as the first sc. Join with a sl st. (22 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each of the first 9 sts. Work 2 sc in each of the 3 head sts. Sc in each of the remaining 10 sts. Join. (25 sc)
Tail forks: These are worked at the tail end.
– Sl st into the last st of Rnd 2.
– Ch 9. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc 1, hdc in next 3 ch, dc in next 4 ch. Sl st into the same st.
– Sl st into the first st of Rnd 2 and rep the fork.
– Fasten off.
Each fork is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long. The body plus forks measure 4 in (10.2 cm).
Beak: Join at the center of the head increases. Ch 2, sl st in the 2nd ch from hook, sl st into the head. Fasten off.
Wings (make 2 per bird)
Ch 5.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (4 sc)
Rows 2–10: Ch 1, turn, sc across. (4 sc)
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each of the last 2 sts. (3 sts)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in the last st. (2 sts)
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, sc2tog. (1 st)
Before edging, the wing measures 1 in (2.5 cm) by 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
Edging: Work 1 sc into each of the 13 row-ends down one long side. Work 3 sc in the tip, then 13 sc up the other long side, and 4 sc across the base. Join. (33 sc)
The edged wing measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) by 3.5 in (8.9 cm).
Embroidery: Thread the sage green yarn on a tapestry needle. Fill the inside of each wing with long straight stitches running from the base toward the tip, working in 4 to 5 feather bands. Leave the burgundy edging visible as an outline. Weave in the ends on the back.
Assemble: Sew the wing bases to the upper sides of the body, angled upward, so the tips sit 5 in (12.7 cm) apart. Embroider a small sage green French knot for the eye.
Part 4: Tassels (Make 15)
- Wrap burgundy yarn 20 times around the 4 in (10.2 cm) card.
- Slide a 10 in (25.4 cm) tie under the wraps at one edge and knot it tightly. Cut the opposite edge.
- Wrap a second strand around the bundle 0.5 in (1.3 cm) below the tie and knot it.
- Trim the tassel to an even 4 in (10.2 cm).
Border: Scalloped Shell Lace Edge
Return to the live loop on the header band. Work with the wrong side facing for Row 6.
Border gauge: Same as the band, 4 sts per in. Each scallop spans 6 sts, which equals 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first st, ch 5, sk 5 sts, sc in the next st. Rep from * 27 more times.
The count is 29 sc and 28 ch-5 arches. The arches cover all 169 band sts: 1 + (28 x 6) = 169.
Row 7: Ch 1, turn. Sc in the first sc, work a shell (9 dc) in the next ch-5 sp, sc in the next sc. Rep from * 27 more times. Fasten off.
This row has 28 shells (252 dc) plus 29 sc, for a total of 281 sts.
Checkpoint: The border adds 2.5 in (6.4 cm), bringing the total header depth to 4 in (10.2 cm). The width stays at 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm).
Why the math works:
– The scallop repeat needs a multiple of 6 plus 1 stitches. 169 = (6 x 28) + 1, so the scallops fit exactly.
– The Row 7 sc anchors sit at band sts 1, 7, 13 and so on, every 6 sts. Taking every other anchor gives sts 1, 13, 25 and so on through 169. That is 15 points, 12 sts apart, which equals 3 in (7.6 cm).
– Those points line up exactly with the 15 hanging tabs, so each strand’s weight pulls straight down from a tab.
– The outer strands sit at sts 1 and 169. The 168 sts between them span 14 gaps of 3 in, which equals 42 in (106.7 cm).
Attach the strands:
1. Count the Row 7 anchor sc from one edge and mark sc 1, 3, 5, and so on through 29. That gives 15 markers.
2. Using the 8 in (20.3 cm) top tail, sew each strand securely through its marked sc and the band behind it. Weave in the tail.
Attach the tassels: Tie each tassel’s top tie around the strand directly below its last bead. Knot twice, then thread the cream tail down into the tassel and trim it level with the tassel ends.
Appliqué the swallows: Number the gaps between strands from 1 to 14, left to right. Measure the body center of each bird down from the bottom of the header:
- Tier A: 8 in (20.3 cm), after 4 segments. Gaps 3, 7 and 11.
- Tier B: 20 in (50.8 cm), after 10 segments. Gaps 1, 5, 9 and 13.
- Tier C: 32 in (81.3 cm), after 16 segments. Gaps 4, 8 and 12.
- Tier D: 44 in (111.8 cm), after 22 segments. Gaps 2, 6, 10 and 14.
That places 14 birds in total. Face all the heads in the same direction.
Each bird is 5 in (12.7 cm) wide, and the strands in each gap are 3 in (7.6 cm) apart. Each wing therefore crosses one strand about 1 in (2.5 cm) from its tip.
Tack each wing to its strand with burgundy thread at 2 to 3 points, catching the chain and never the bead. Add one tack at the tail fork if the bird tilts.
Final Blocking
- Before attaching anything, pin the header to 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) by 4 in (10.2 cm). Open each shell into an even fan.
- Mist the header until damp and let it dry completely.
- Pin each swallow flat at 5 in (12.7 cm) wingtip to wingtip. Mist it and let it dry.
- Once the curtain is assembled, hang it on the rod and lightly mist the strands.
- Let the beads weight the strands for 24 hours.
- Re-measure. Every strand should be 56 in (142.2 cm), and the overall panel should be 64 in (162.6 cm) to the tassel tips.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The header has 169 sts, 28 shells and 15 tabs.
- The header measures 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) by 4 in (10.2 cm).
- There are 15 strands, each with 28 beads alternating burgundy and green, starting with burgundy at the top.
- The strands hang 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, directly below the tabs.
- There are 14 swallows, one per gap, placed in staggered tiers.
- All tassels hang level at 4 in (10.2 cm).
- All tails are woven in, and no bead has slipped out of its locking ch.
Troubleshooting
- Strands are different lengths: Your chain tension changed between strands. Remake the long ones, or remove one segment from the longest strand.
- Scallops ruffle: Reduce the shell to 7 dc, or go down one hook size for Row 7 only.
- Scallops cup or pull in: Your Row 6 arches are too tight. Work ch 6 per arch instead.
- Birds twist on the strands: Add a tack at the tail fork and at the head.
- Beads won’t thread: Use a floss threader or switch to beads with larger holes. Do not split the yarn to make it fit.
- Header sags between tabs: Check that the tabs align with the strands. Add a center tab if your rod is long.
Care
Hand wash cool and lay the curtain flat to dry with the strands straightened, keeping it away from direct heat. Dust between washes with a soft brush or a hair dryer on its cool setting.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is straightforward:
- 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), so 169 sts give a 42 1/4 in (107.3 cm) header.
- Six-stitch scallops place the strand anchors exactly 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, right under the tabs.
- 28 segments of 2 in (5.1 cm) make 56 in (142.2 cm) strands.
- Add the 4 in (10.2 cm) header and 4 in (10.2 cm) tassels, and the panel reaches 64 in (162.6 cm).
Check each link as you go, and the swallows will fly evenly across your window.
Optional: for a wider window, hang two panels side by side on one rod.
Happy crocheting!