This ballerina ornament has a taupe dancer with her arms raised in a soft oval over her head and a light pink tutu that opens like a lace fan. Two small pink bows finish her: one at the hanging loop and one at the ankle.
The look is vintage and romantic, in the style of a nursery or Nutcracker decoration. Only two colors are used, warm taupe for the body and light pink for the tutu and bows, so the outline reads clearly from across a room.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament is about 7.25 in (18.4 cm) tall including the hanging loop, 6.25 in (15.9 cm) for the body alone, and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide across the tutu.
Construction is simple and seamless. The head is worked in rounds, and the torso is worked in rows from the bottom of the head. The tutu is worked into the front loops of the waist and the legs into the back loops. Then the arms are chained across the shoulders, the hanging loop is added, and the two bows are made separately and sewn on.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7.25 in (18.4 cm) tall with loop × 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
- Skill level: Easy+ (short rows, simple increases, working into front and back loops)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Sport (#2), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: US C-2 (2.75 mm)
- Number of pieces: 1 ballerina body + 2 bow appliqués
- Layout: single vertical motif, symmetrical about the center line
- Piece size: body 6.25 in (15.9 cm) tall; tutu 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
- Size before border: tutu 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide after Row 4
- Border depth: tutu edging (Rows 5–6) adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) on each side
Materials
Use a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton. Cotton holds the open loops crisply and blocks flat, while fuzzy acrylic blurs the lace. Choose a warm taupe with clear contrast against a soft pink.
- Color A – Taupe: 8 g / 26 m (28 yd)
- Color B – Light Pink: 6 g / 20 m (22 yd)
Both quantities include about a 30% margin for gauge swatching and tails.
Tools:
– US C-2 (2.75 mm) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– 2 locking stitch markers
– Rust-proof pins and a foam blocking mat
– Spray bottle with water
– Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- FLO / BLO – front loop only / back loop only
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
Special stitch – 3-dc cluster (3dc-cl): (Yo, insert hook in st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops) 3 times in the same st, then yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook.
Note: Turning chains in this pattern do not count as stitches.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 24 sc and 26 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). Double crochet rows are about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.
The whole project is small, so your first ballerina doubles as the gauge test. Check each stage before moving on:
- Head after Rnd 2: 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across
- Torso after Row 4: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide (6 sc)
- Torso after Row 7: 1.1 in (2.8 cm) from neck to waist
- Tutu after Row 4: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide
- Tutu after Row 6: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, 2 in (5.1 cm) deep below the waist
- Legs after Row 21: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) from waist to ankle
- Foot loop: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long
- Arm arch: peak 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the shoulders
If your piece is too big: go down to a 2.5 mm hook. If it is too small or stiff: go up to a 3.0 mm hook. A difference of 0.25 in (0.6 cm) in tutu width is fine for an ornament. If you are making a matching set, all of them must use the same gauge.
Head
With A, make a MR.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring. Sl st to first sc. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
Checkpoint: 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across. Pull the ring closed tightly.
Bun: Place a marker in any st and call it the top of the head. Work 3dc-cl in the marked st, ch 1, and sl st in the same st. Count 6 sts around from the marker to find the bottom of the head (directly opposite the bun) and mark it. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Torso
Torso rows are worked from the bottom of the head. Turn at the end of each row.
Row 1 (neck): With RS facing, join A with a sl st in the marked bottom st. Ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next st. (2 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st. (4 sts)
Row 3 (shoulders): Ch 1, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. (6 sts)
Rows 4–5: Ch 1, sc in each st. (6 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. (4 sts)
Row 7 (waist): Ch 1, sc in each st. (4 sts) Fasten off.
Checkpoint: 1 in (2.5 cm) wide at Row 4 and 1.1 in (2.8 cm) tall. The torso is narrowest at the waist, which gives the hourglass shape.
Tutu
Work with the ballerina’s front facing you, into the front loops of torso Row 7. The back loops stay free for the legs. Turn at the end of each row.
Row 1: Join B in the FLO of the first st of Row 7. Ch 2, 2 dc in FLO of each st across. (8 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) 4 times. (12 sts)
Row 3: Ch 2, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) 6 times. (18 sts)
Row 4: Ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) 7 times, dc in last 2 sts. (25 sts)
Check: 2 + 14 + 2 = 18 sts used, and 2 + 21 + 2 = 25 sts made.
Checkpoint: the tutu is a half-circle fan, 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide and 1.6 in (4.1 cm) deep. Don’t fasten off. The edging comes next in the Border section.
Legs
Work into the remaining back loops of torso Row 7. Turn at the end of each row.
Row 1: Join A in the BLO of the first st of Row 7. Ch 1, sc in BLO of each st. (4 sts)
Rows 2–6: Ch 1, sc in each st. (4 sts) These rows sit under the tutu.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc2tog, sc in last st. (3 sts)
Rows 8–18: Ch 1, sc in each st. (3 sts)
Row 19: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in last st. (2 sts)
Rows 20–21 (ankle): Ch 1, sc in each st. (2 sts)
Checkpoint: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) from waist to ankle.
Foot (pointe shoe): Ch 10, then sl st in the first sc of Row 21 to form a loop. Work into the ch-10 loop: 6 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) for the toe point, 6 sc. Sl st in the base st. (14 sc + 1 ch-2 tip) Fasten off. Pull the ch-2 tip down so the loop forms a pointed teardrop 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long.
Arms and Hanging Loop
Arms: Join A with a sl st in the side edge of torso Row 3 on the right shoulder. Ch 22, then sl st in the side edge of Row 3 on the left shoulder. Turn. Sc in each ch back across. (22 sts) Sl st in the right shoulder and fasten off.
Shape the chain into an oval over the head. The peak should be 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the shoulders, with a small gap between the arms and the bun.
Hanging loop:
1. Join A with a sl st in the 11th sc of the arm arch.
2. Ch 14, then sl st in the 7th ch from the hook to form a small ring.
3. Sl st in each of the remaining 7 ch back down the stem.
4. Sl st in the 12th sc of the arch.
5. Fasten off.
Joining across sc 11 and 12 pinches the hands together at the top. The ring and stem together measure about 1 in (2.5 cm).
Bows (Make 2)
With B, ch 14 and sl st in the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist it.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around. Sl st to first sc. (14 sts) Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail.
Flatten the ring with the join at the center. Wrap the tail tightly around the center 6 times to make two loops of 7 sts each. Pass the tail through the back of the wrap. Leave a short end hanging 0.5 in (1.3 cm), then trim. Add a second 3 in (7.6 cm) strand of B under the wrap and trim both ends to 0.5 in (1.3 cm) so the bow has two tails.
Each bow is about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) wide.
Attach the bows: Sew one bow at the base of the hanging ring, where the ring meets the stem. Sew the second bow across ankle Rows 20–21. Stitch through the center wrap only so the loops stay free.
Border (Tutu Edging)
The tutu edging is the border for this piece. It runs along the curved outer edge of the tutu. Continue with B after Row 4 and turn at the end of each row.
Border gauge: each finished scallop is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide along the outer curve, and the edging is 0.375 in (1.0 cm) deep.
Row 5 (lace tier): Ch 1, sc in first st, (ch 4, skip 1 st, sc in next st) 12 times. (13 sc, 12 ch-4 loops)
Check: 1 + (12 × 2) = 25 sts used, which is exactly the Row 4 count.
Row 6 (scallop edge): Ch 1, sc in first sc, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in next ch-4 loop, sc in next sc. Repeat from * 11 more times. (13 sc + 48 hdc = 61 sts, plus 12 ch-2 tips) Fasten off.
Counts per side: The 7th sc of Row 5 sits in st 13 of Row 4, which is the exact center of the tutu, directly above the legs. That leaves 6 loops on each side in Row 5 and 6 scallops on each side in Row 6.
Why the math works: Row 4 has 25 sts, which equals 1 anchor sc plus 12 two-stitch repeats, so the lace row ends exactly in the last st. Each loop gets exactly one scallop, so Row 6 has no partial repeats. Because 12 is even, the center sc lands at the middle and the tutu is symmetrical. The edging adds 0.375 in (1.0 cm) on each side, which takes the tutu from 3.25 in (8.3 cm) to 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends except the bow tails, working each end back into stitches of its own color.
- Lay the ballerina face down on the blocking mat and mist her until damp but not soaked.
- Turn her face up. Pin the waist center and the toe point so the body measures 6.25 in (15.9 cm) from the arch peak to the toe.
- Pin the outer tutu curve to 4 in (10.2 cm) wide, with one pin in each of the 12 ch-2 tips.
- Pin the arm arch into a smooth oval with the peak 1.5 in (3.8 cm) above the shoulders.
- Pin the foot loop into a pointed teardrop.
- Let it dry completely, at least 6 hours, before removing the pins.
- If you want a stiffer ornament, brush on a diluted fabric stiffener (1 part stiffener to 1 part water) before drying.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Head is 12 sts, round, with the bun centered on top
- Torso stitch counts are 2-4-6-6-6-4-4
- Tutu row counts are 8-12-18-25, then 12 loops and 12 scallops
- Center sc of Row 5 lines up with the legs
- Legs are 4 sts, then 3, then 2, and the foot loop has one pointed tip
- Arm arch has 22 sc, with the hanging loop joined across sc 11 and 12
- Both bows are the same size and firmly sewn on
- Total height is 7.25 in (18.4 cm) and tutu width is 4 in (10.2 cm)
Troubleshooting
Tutu ruffles or cups: your dc tension is tight compared with your sc. Go up a hook size for the tutu rows only, or block it firmly flat.
Tutu won’t lie as a half circle: recount Row 4. It must have 25 sts, or the lace row will not end evenly.
Scallops lean to one side: you probably skipped the anchor sc at the start of Row 5 or Row 6. Rip back and recount.
Arm arch too tight against the head: add 2 ch (and so 2 sc) to the arm chain. Keep the total even so the hanging loop still lands at the center.
Legs twist: chain 1 loosely at each turn and block with pins every 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Bows flop forward: stitch through the center wrap and then once more through the back of each loop.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and reshape her flat to dry. If you used stiffener, a short soak will soften the piece, so re-block it afterwards.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. A head 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across leads to a torso 1 in (2.5 cm) wide. The tutu is 3.25 in (8.3 cm) wide before the edging and 4 in (10.2 cm) after it. Legs of 3.25 in (8.3 cm) plus a 0.75 in (1.9 cm) foot complete a 6.25 in (15.9 cm) body, and the hanging loop brings her to 7.25 in (18.4 cm). If each checkpoint matches, the finished ballerina will too.
Happy crocheting!