Crochet curtains?

[Sahmamma]

has anyone ever crocheted curtains before? I want to use the same thread that you use with doilies so that they will look lace-y, but I need a pattern and I have not been able to find one. I am not able at this time to just wing-it. Probably because I have 3 kids 5 and under at my heels at all times. thanks!

[lisalu]

Hi Kathy, I have about 20 some-odd issues of Magic Crochet and Decorative Crochet. (For the original poster, I'm sure there are at least a few curtain patterns in there).

 

My only problem is that there are only so many doilies you can make. I love making them, the more complicated the better. But I have put most of my doilies in storage. They are just too "frilly" and Victorian for today's style.

 

I did make a thread lace summer jacket from one of the issues about 10 years ago and it is gorgeous. Also, did you ever happen to see that amazing parasol pattern in the October 1995 issue? It blows my mind but I can't think of a single reason I'd have for making it (or where on earth I'd get the parasol frame?)

[beyondallmeasure]

http://www.adriafil.com/index.html?id_pagina=3&id_lingua=2&id_rivista=24&id_rubrica=4

[magiccrochetfan]

TestifyToLove, The diamond lace valance is very pretty, I like the way the top goes over the rod, and the bottom edging...the whole thing is quite nice. Maybe someday you will feel like making it again:)

 

Sahmamma,There are several nice patterns for curtains and valances on the site posted by TestifyToLove, if youwant to check it out. You have to register but it is free.

[threadlover]

Years aago I made a couple filet panels in kind of a Victorian looking pattern out of a Fantasy crochet mag. and hung them in my kitchen window. I loved them. They are in a drawer somewhere now because I changed my decor.

Marcia

[TestifyToLove]

We were moving. I had the finished valance and the in progress one tied carefully in a bag and stored under my van seat. I told the kids to clean the van. Only time in their LIVES they actually thought to clean out from underneath *my* seat when they clean the van.

 

Actually though, working with black wasn't that hard to see.

 

http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=322

 

It was the diamond lace valance.

[magiccrochetfan]

Oh my, I'll bet working with black thread was hard to see, wasn't it? I doubt if I'd be able to do that. I'd be heartbroken too if something I made got pitched! Were the kids confused about what it was?

[beyondallmeasure]

http://www.crochetandknitting.com/curtains.htm

[TestifyToLove]

I did a lace valance out of black thread...and then my children threw it away before I got it hung. The original plan was that I was going to do enough for the entire living room. That was a year and 2 months ago and I'm still so heartbroken that they threw it away, I haven't tried it again!

[magiccrochetfan]

Priscilla, I had Crocheting School checked out from the library and I really liked it...hoping to get a copy of it for my birthday.:-) I can't recall exact patterns from it but do remember some of the Irish crochet motifs like the multi-layer rose--the clearest instructions for that I have seen yet. the Irish crochet type background mesh would make a pretty curtain. Lacy squares sounds pretty too.

[magiccrochetfan]

Lisalu, I definitely agree that I would love to make doilies but really don't have a use for them at all. The mat I posted the pic of above was a nice challenge, working out the inverted corners and the middle to come together correctly, so I enjoyed that, and I did need something for that surface. I have it in mind to make a filet curtain for my front door--that window is quite small so it will be about doily size. I have experimented with making a hat from a doily pattern, inspired by a post here in show and tell. I guess a parasol could be used as interior decoration somehow?? but that would be even harder to find a use for than a doily! As far as clothing, the last thing I made for myself, many years ago, was a short sleeved v-neck top in Lustersheen; it looks nice but I have never worn it much as it just feels heavy and doesn't breathe.

[priscilla79]

Not long ago i joined the crafters choice book club they've got lots of crochet books. One of my enrollment books is this book called crocheting school:a complete course, it show's how to do several stitches.There is a few I'm gonna try to use to make curtains( i am fairly new at crochet).There are 2 stitches that is written that can be used to crochet curtains which are this pattern that is used to connect irish lace motifs together but can be used by itself to make curtains and lacy square which you join to make curtains:and there are some that are not written that can be used to make curtains but they look pretty lacy to me so i'll give them a try. I don't know if this helps any but hope so.

 

Priscilla

[magiccrochetfan]

Hi Lisalu! Yes indeed my screen name is referring to Magic Crochet magazine. I have a small collection of about 15-20 copies that I bought back in the early 80s to early 90s. And I recently bought another copy from a member here. (there is a sale/trade/free section here that you get access to when you have posted a while.) I really LOVE that magazine. I also have some old Decorative Crochet and Crochet Fantasy. I am tempted to try to seek out and buy every old copy of these magazines that I can find....but really the ones I have are enough to keep me going with ideas for a long time.

 

I don't know if there is a thread specifically about Magic Crochet here or not, but the magazine does get mentioned from time to time. i think it stopped publication around 2003, think I read that somewhere..I was surprised as I thought it had ended in the late 90s. I wish the publisher would gather some of those great patterns and put out a book of the "best of" Magic crochet.

 

Welcome to Crochetville....it is a fun and very informative place!

[lisalu]

WOW! Another Magic Crochet fan! I assume from your moniker that you are referring to the MC publication which is also one of my favorites. I haven't bought an issue in years (do they still publish?) but I have a pretty good collection going back to the 80's.

 

Anyway, in response to the original question, I do have some patterns for thread crochet curtains tucked away in said collection. It would take some digging around, but if you haven't found what you wanted yet, let me know and I'll see what I can find.

 

(BTW...is there a specific thread here for Magic Crochet?)

[magiccrochetfan]

I think filet is easy. If you can do chain, single, and double crochet, and can keep your tension pretty even, that is all you need to know. The patterns are in graph form to show the open and filled blocks.

 

I really do recommend the Filet Crochet Book; just check your library, or ask them for an interlibrary loan on the book. there are probably other books out there that also focus on filet. You might also look at the crochet stitch references and encyclopedias; I think most have a section on filet.

 

Here is a web site with some info that seems pretty clear to me http://www.hassdesign.com/BasicFiletTechniques/

also crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa050298.htm

and http://www.smartcrochet.com/tutorial.shtml

[Sahmamma]

wow, very pretty.

 

so, it is easy to learn? or to follow the patterns?

[magiccrochetfan]

Filet crochet is based on making a mesh consisting of double crochets and chains. It could be varied by using triple crochets as well. When you said you wanted curtains to be lacy I thought of filet. You can make all kinds of designs with filet. Personally I seem to gravitate to more geometric designs like this mat I made clickable

The lattice design in the middle I got from the Filet Crochet Book, and the outer border from an old Magic Crochet magazine.

 

There are also a lot of designs for scenes, flowers, birds, etc. Take a peek at the book on Amazon and you can see several designs.

[Sahmamma]

thank you so much.

 

what exactly is filet crochet?

[Knit Happens]

you could do motifs and stitch them together...very nice for doing a swag on each side.

[magiccrochetfan]

The Filet Crochet Book by Chris Rankin has several patterns for curtains, as well as other patterns you could adapt. You can see it at Amazon and do the "look inside" to see some of the items. http://www.amazon.com/Filet-Crochet-Book-Elegant-Projects/dp/0806958235/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6/002-9697466-8649611?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184284626&sr=8-6

 

I checked it out from the library so using it was free for me. I liked the way the instructions were written and the photos and charts were very clear. I have to be able to visualize the finished item before i start on it. All the projects are written for thread. I think some of the designs would be do-able even if you have a lot of distractions

[Cinnaminn]

Here's some free patterns I have bookmarked:

http://members.aol.com/cillcrochets/valanceset.html

http://www.crochetandknitting.com/curtains.htm

http://www.gallentine.org/Knitting/Doorcurtain.html (knitted)

http://members.aol.com/Sbaycgoa/patvict.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/CottageCurtains.html

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/Cafecurtains.html

http://delsiescrochet.com/Granny.html - have to e-mail Delsie to get copy of her pattern.

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/window_accents.php

http://crittersdesigns.com/35.html (temporarily disabled though)

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/craft-curtain.html

http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=322 (has some valance patterns & 1 curtain pattern

 

Patterns for sale:

http://www.hassdesign.com/FiletCrochetDesigns/IP/FiletCurtains/

http://www.vintage-crochet-patterns.com/spccurt116.html

http://www.crochetdesigns.com/patterns/default.htm

 

For Members only:

http://www.smartcrochet.com/curtain.shtml

http://www.smartcrochet.com/valance.shtml

 

You may want to try using a light weight yarn instead of thread (baby, fingering, sport, etc.) which should still give you a lacy look but easier to take care of than thread?

 

You might also want to look at filet wall hanging patterns as you might be able to adapt one of the patterns for a curtain.

 

HTH!

[luvmnms]

there are a few here at Crochet Pattern Central