Plum Pirouette is a window curtain made from a lace valance and hanging strands. Ballerinas in lavender mesh tutus hang along five of the strands. Between them, six strands carry little plum roses and lavender bows, so light still comes through the window.
The palette uses two shades: deep plum for the valance, cords, dancers and roses, and soft lavender for the skirts, bows and valance edging. Pattern is written in US crochet terms.
The finished curtain measures 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide and about 33.75 in (85.7 cm) from the top of the valance to the lowest strand tip.
You’ll crochet the valance flat in rows and add a border. Then you’ll make the cords and motifs and sew the motifs onto the cords at measured points. Last, you’ll sew each cord to a valley of the valance.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide x 33.75 in (85.7 cm) long
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted cotton (#3)
- Hooks: 4.0 mm (valance, bodices, skirts, cords, bows); 3.0 mm (heads, hands, roses)
- Number of pieces: 1 valance, 11 cords, 10 ballerinas (5 parts each), 35 roses, 24 bows
- Layout: 11 strands spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, alternating rose-and-bow strands and ballerina strands
- Strand length: 30 in (76.2 cm)
- Ballerina size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 8 in (20.3 cm) tall
- Valance before border: 36.25 in (92.1 cm) x 3 in (7.6 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at the top plus 0.5 in (1.3 cm) at the bottom, for a finished valance depth of 3.75 in (9.5 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or matte cotton. Cotton holds the lace shapes crisply and hangs without stretching. The amounts below assume about 2.1 m per gram (roughly 105 m per 50 g).
- Plum: 250 g, about 525 m (574 yd)
- Lavender: 150 g, about 315 m (344 yd)
Both amounts include a margin of roughly 25% for gauge swatches and tension differences.
Tools:
– 4.0 mm and 3.0 mm crochet hooks
– Small amount of polyester fiberfill
– 13 curtain rings, 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across, and a curtain rod
– Tapestry needle, stitch markers, blocking pins, 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
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec – invisible sc decrease
- MR – magic ring
- sk – skip
- sp – space
Special stitch: Fan. In one stitch, work (dc, ch 2) 4 times, then dc. That gives 5 dc and 4 ch-2 sps.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge with the 4.0 mm hook:
– 16 dc and 8 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– 18 sc and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Sl-st chain cord: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm)
Make one complete ballerina and the first 25 stitches of the valance before you commit to the full project.
Checkpoints:
– Valance Row 1 is 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide, and each 12-st fan repeat spans 3 in (7.6 cm).
– After Row 4, the valance is 3 in (7.6 cm) deep.
– The head is 1 in (2.5 cm) across. The skirt hem spans 5.5 in (14.0 cm) when pinned flat.
– A 150-st cord measures 30 in (76.2 cm).
If your pieces come out too big, go down 0.5 mm. If they come out too small, go up 0.5 mm. Recheck before continuing.
Valance
With plum and the 4.0 mm hook:
Row 1: Ch 147, dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (145 dc; the skipped 3 ch count as the first dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (145 dc)
Row 3 (fans): Ch 1, sc in first dc. Then sk 5 dc, Fan in next dc, sk 5 dc, sc in next dc; repeat from * 11 more times. Turn. (13 sc, 12 Fans)
Each repeat uses exactly 12 stitches: 1 + (12 x 12) = 145. The sc land on stitches 1, 13, 25 and so on, up to 145. These are your valleys.
Row 4 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in first sc. Then sk 1 dc, 3 dc in each of next 4 ch-2 sps, sk 1 dc, sc in next sc; repeat from * 11 more times. Fasten off. (157 sts: 13 valley sc + 144 dc, which is 12 dc per scallop)
The valance now measures 36.25 in x 3 in (92.1 x 7.6 cm).
Ballerina (make 10)
Head
With plum and the 3.0 mm hook, work in continuous rounds.
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnds 4–6: Sc in each st. (18)
- Rnd 7: (Sc, dec) 6 times. (12) Stuff firmly.
- Rnd 8: Dec 6 times. (6)
Close the opening and leave a long tail. The head should be 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Hands Ball
With plum and the 3.0 mm hook:
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: Dec 6 times. (6)
Tuck the tail inside and close. The ball should be 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across.
Bodice
With plum and the 4.0 mm hook:
- Row 1: Ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (6)
- Rows 2–6: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (6)
- Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog. Fasten off. (4)
The bodice measures 1.33 in (3.4 cm) wide x 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall.
Skirt
Turn the bodice upside down and work into the 6 free loops of the foundation chain, using lavender and the 4.0 mm hook.
- Row 1: Join in the first loop with ch 1, sc in the same loop, then (ch 3, sc in next loop) 5 times. Turn. (6 sc, 5 ch-3 loops)
- Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, (ch 4, sc in next loop) 5 times, ch 4, sc in last sc. Turn. (7 sc, 6 ch-4 loops)
- Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, (ch 5, sc in next loop) 6 times, ch 5, sc in last sc. Turn. (8 sc, 7 ch-5 loops)
- Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first sc, (ch 5, sc in next loop) 7 times, ch 5, sc in last sc. Fasten off. (9 sc, 8 ch-5 loops)
Each row adds a loop at each edge, so the diamond mesh fans outward.
Hem (plum):
– Row 5: With the same side facing, join plum in the first sc with ch 1. Sc in the same sc, then work 4 sc in each of the 8 loops. Turn. (33 sc)
– Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first sc, then sk 1, 5 dc in next st, sk 1, sc in next st; repeat from * 7 more times. Fasten off. (8 shells, 9 sc)
Each shell uses 4 sts: 1 + (8 x 4) = 33. The skirt is 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall.
Arm Cord
With plum and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 33. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (32 sc)
The cord is 7 in (17.8 cm) long.
Leg
With plum and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 23. Work down the first side of the chain, starting in the 2nd ch from hook:
– sl st in next ch, sc in next 4, hdc in next 6, dc in next 10, 3 dc in last ch
Rotate and work along the other side of the chain:
– dc in next 10, hdc in next 6, sc in next 4, sl st in the base of the first sl st
Fasten off. You now have a pointed leg 4.5 in (11.4 cm) long.
Assemble the Ballerina
- Sew the head on top of Row 7 of the bodice.
- Sew one end of the arm cord to each top corner of the bodice.
- Bring the center of the arm cord up and sew it under the hands ball, so the hands ball sits 0.75 in (1.9 cm) above the head. The arms should curve outward in an oval.
- Sew the wide end of the leg behind the waist so that 1.75 in (4.4 cm) of the point shows below the center of the hem.
The finished ballerina is 8 in (20.3 cm) tall.
Rose (make 35)
With plum and the 3.0 mm hook, ch 22.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, then sk 1 ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals)
Each petal uses 4 ch: 1 + (5 x 4) = 21 ch worked. Roll the strip from one end, keeping the base flat, and stitch through every layer. The rose should be 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Bow (make 24)
With lavender and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 22 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch, sl st to the first sc. (22 sc)
Flatten the ring so the join sits at the center back.
Tails: Ch 11, then sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (10 sl st) Fold the tails into a V.
Place the tails under the ring, then wrap lavender yarn 8 times around the center of both and secure on the back. The bow measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
Cord (make 11)
With plum and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 151. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (150 sl st)
Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail at the top end. The cord measures 30 in (76.2 cm).
Make All Pieces
Plum:
– 1 valance (plus the border’s top row and sides)
– 11 cords
– 10 heads, 10 hands balls, 10 bodices, 10 arm cords and 10 legs
– 10 skirt hems
– 35 roses
Lavender:
– 10 skirt meshes
– 24 bows
– The valance’s bottom edging
Strand A (rose-and-bow, make 6). Positions are measured from the top of the cord to the center of each motif:
– Rose at 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
– Bow at 5.75 in (14.6 cm)
– Rose at 9 in (22.9 cm)
– Bow at 12.25 in (31.1 cm)
– Rose at 15.5 in (39.4 cm)
– Bow at 18.75 in (47.6 cm)
– Rose at 22 in (55.9 cm)
– Bow at 25.25 in (64.1 cm)
– Rose at 28.5 in (72.4 cm)
That’s 5 roses and 4 bows, repeating every 6.5 in (16.5 cm).
Strand B (ballerina, make 5). Positions are measured from the top of the cord:
– Ballerina 1: hands ball at 4 in (10.2 cm)
– Ballerina 2: hands ball at 17 in (43.2 cm)
– Rose centered at 28.5 in (72.4 cm)
The dancers sit 13 in (33.0 cm) apart, which is exactly two Strand A repeats. That way, bows always fall beside the arms and roses beside the skirts.
Layout, left to right (positions 1–11, 3 in / 7.6 cm apart):
A B A B A B A B A B A
To attach a ballerina, lay its cord behind the dancer. Tack the cord at the hands ball, the waist and the leg tip so it stays hidden.
Joining
Lay the valance right side down. Count the valley sc of Row 4: valleys 2 through 12 are the 11 interior valleys.
- Thread the top tail of cord 1 onto a tapestry needle.
- Butt the cord end against the lower edge of valley 2. Stitch it through both loops of that sc and through the cord end 4 times, then weave in.
- Repeat for cords 2–11 at valleys 3–12, following the layout grid.
Each valley takes one cord end, so you’re joining one stitch to one stitch. Keep the stitches snug but not tight: if you pull hard, the scallop puckers. Before going on, hang the valance and check that every cord drops 30 in (76.2 cm) from its valley and that the strands sit 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.
Border
The border stitches are worked 1 sc per foundation chain or row stitch, so the valance stays 36.25 in (92.1 cm) wide.
Border Row A (top, plum): With the foundation edge on top, join at the right corner with ch 1. Sc in each of the 145 foundation chains. Fasten off. (145 sc; both corner stitches are included in that count)
Side edges (plum): Down each short end, work 7 sc. Fasten off after each side. (7 sc per side)
– 2 sc along the end of each dc row, Rows 1–2 (4 sc)
– 2 sc along the end of the fan row
– 1 sc along the end of the scallop row
Border Row B (bottom edging, lavender): Join in the first valley sc with ch 1 and sc in the same sc. Then (ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in next dc) 6 times, sc in next valley sc; repeat from * 11 more times. Fasten off. (85 sc, 72 ch-3 loops)
The cords stay sewn to the valley sc underneath the new lavender sc.
Why the math works:
– 145 = (12 x 12) + 1, so the 12 repeats of 3 in (7.6 cm) end on a valley stitch at both edges.
– There are 13 valleys: the 2 end valleys plus the 11 interior valleys that carry the strands.
– On Border Row B, each scallop’s 12 dc become 6 loops: 12 x 6 = 72. The sc count is 72 + 13 valleys = 85.
– Rings: Sew one ring to stitches 1, 13, 25 and so on up to 145 of Border Row A. That gives 13 rings, each directly above a valley, so the valance hangs in even swags.
Final Blocking
- Soak all pieces in cool water and press out the water in a towel. Don’t wring them.
- Pin the valance flat to 36.25 in x 3.75 in (92.1 x 9.5 cm), opening each fan and pinning each scallop point.
- Pin each skirt to a fan 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide, opening the mesh diamonds and pinning every hem shell.
- Shape the arm loops into ovals and the bows into crisp loops.
- Let everything dry completely.
- Hang the curtain and let it settle for 24 hours. Then trim any cord stretch by easing the motifs back to their marked positions.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The valance has 145 sts in Rows 1–2, 12 Fans, and 12 scallops with 12 dc each.
- Border Row A has 145 sc and Border Row B has 72 loops.
- Exactly 11 cords hang 3 in (7.6 cm) apart, each 30 in (76.2 cm) long.
- There are 10 ballerinas, 35 roses and 24 bows, all at their marked heights.
- Every head is firmly stuffed and every leg points straight down.
- All tails are woven in and nothing is visible from the room side.
- 13 rings are spaced 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.
Troubleshooting
- The valance ripples: Your Row 4 dc are too loose. Go down a hook size for that row.
- The fans cup: Check that you skipped exactly 5 dc on each side of every Fan.
- The skirt curls: Block it harder, or work Row 5 with a looser tension.
- The cords stretch: Hang-block them with a light clip on each cord before attaching the motifs.
- The head flops forward: Sew through the bodice twice and add a little more stuffing.
- The strands twist: Sew each motif flat-side forward, and tack each cord at two points per motif.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel and dry flat. Re-pin the skirts and scallops if they need refreshing.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other:
– 16 dc per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives 12-st repeats of 3 in (7.6 cm).
– Twelve repeats make a 36.25 in (92.1 cm) valance with 13 valleys.
– Eleven 30 in (76.2 cm) cords hang from the interior valleys.
– The 3.75 in (9.5 cm) bordered valance plus the cords gives a drop of 33.75 in (85.7 cm).
Check your gauge on one ballerina and one fan repeat first, and the rest should fall into place. Happy crocheting!