Crocheted lace trim in brown and pink with hanging shell and bow ornaments on dark wood.

Pointe Ballerina Valance Curtain Crochet Pattern

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This valance is a brown lace header with a soft pink scalloped edge and nine strands hanging from it. Four strands each carry a small ballerina with raised arms and a pink fan tutu. The other five alternate brown beads, pink bows, and pink rosettes. Every strand ends in a small brown diamond drop.

The palette is just two colors: chocolate brown for the lace, cords, beads, and dancer outlines, and dusty rose for the tutus, bows, rosettes, and scallops. In a sunny window it looks delicate and a little vintage.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished valance is 34.6 in (87.9 cm) wide. The header is 5.25 in (13.3 cm) deep and the strands hang 17.5 in (44.5 cm), so the total drop is 22.75 in (57.8 cm).

You work the header flat in rows, then add a pink scallop border. Make the ballerinas and small parts separately, sew them onto chain cords, and hang each strand from a scallop point.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 34.6 in (87.9 cm) wide x 22.75 in (57.8 cm) total drop
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US terms
  • Yarn weight: Sport (#2) mercerized cotton
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
  • Number of pieces: 1 header + 9 strands (4 ballerina strands, 5 bead-and-bow strands)
  • Layout: 9 strands in one row, 4 in (10.2 cm) apart
  • Header size before border: 34.2 in (86.9 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Border depth: 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
  • Strand length: 17.5 in (44.5 cm)

Materials

Use a smooth sport-weight mercerized cotton, about 155 m per 50 g. Cotton keeps the lace crisp and stops the strands from stretching.

  • Color A, Chocolate Brown: 150 g (465 m)
  • Color B, Dusty Rose: 100 g (310 m)

These quantities include a margin of about 15 percent for swatching and differences in tension.

Tools:

  • 3.25 mm (US D/3) hook
  • 3.5 mm (US E/4) hook, for the cords if your chains run tight
  • Tapestry needle
  • 10 stitch markers
  • Fiberfill or yarn scraps
  • Measuring tape and scissors
  • Blocking mat, rustproof pins, and a spray bottle
  • 10 curtain clip rings and a rod

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch = chain
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • sc = single crochet
  • hdc = half double crochet
  • dc = double crochet
  • sc2tog / sc3tog = single crochet 2 / 3 together
  • sp = space
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • MR = magic ring

Special stitches:

  • Shell: 9 dc in the same st or sp.
  • V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same st.
  • Picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 20 dc and 10 dc rows = 4 in (10.2 cm), blocked.

Cord gauge: 10 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).

Test one piece first: Ch 32 and work Rows 1–6 of the header. This gives 31 sts, or 3 lace repeats. Block the swatch. It should measure 6.2 in (15.7 cm) wide x 2.4 in (6.1 cm) tall.

Checkpoints:

  • Header after Row 6: 34.2 in (86.9 cm) x 2.4 in (6.1 cm)
  • Header after Row 10: 34.2 in (86.9 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Header after border: 34.6 in (87.9 cm) x 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
  • Ballerina: 5.8 in (14.7 cm) from arm peak to ankles; tutu 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide
  • Bead 0.6 in (1.5 cm), bow 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide, rosette 0.8 in (2.0 cm)

If your swatch is too big, go down 0.25 mm in hook size. If it is too small, go up 0.25 mm. If only your chains are tight, make the cords with the 3.5 mm hook.

Crocheted figure with brown head and arms, pink shell-patterned skirt, displayed against blurred garden backdrop.

Header

With Color A, ch 172.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (171 sc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (171 dc)

Row 3 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), skip 1 st, dc in the next st, *ch 1, skip 1 st, dc in the next st; repeat from * across, turn. (86 dc + 85 ch-1 sps = 171 sts)

Row 4 (shell): Ch 1, sc in the first dc, *skip 4 sts, shell in the next ch-1 sp, skip 4 sts, sc in the next dc; repeat from * across, turn. (17 shells + 18 sc = 153 dc + 18 sc = 171 sts)

Count each ch-1 sp as 1 st. Each shell then lands in a ch-sp and each sc lands on a dc.

Row 5 (net): Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), sc in the center (5th) dc of the next shell, ch 3, dc in the next sc, ch 3; repeat from * across, ending the last repeat at *, turn. (18 dc + 17 sc + 34 ch-3 sps)

Row 6 (solid): Ch 3 (counts as dc), *4 dc in the next ch-3 sp, dc in the next sc, 4 dc in the next ch-3 sp, dc in the next dc; repeat from * across, turn. (1 + 17 x 10 = 171 dc)

Rows 7–10: Repeat Rows 3–6. (171 sts)

The two mesh-shell-net bands make the diamond-and-fan lace. Fasten off. The header should now measure 34.2 in (86.9 cm) x 4 in (10.2 cm).

Ballerina (make 4)

Head: With Color A, make a MR.

  • Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring, sl st to join. (6 sc)
  • Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to join. (12 sc)
  • Rnd 3: Ch 1, *sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st; repeat from * 5 more times, sl st to join. (18 sc)

The head is a flat spiral circle, 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across. Do not fasten off.

Bodice: Work in rows into the bottom of the head.

  • Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the same st and the next 2 sts, turn. (3 sc)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (5 sc) This row forms the shoulders.
  • Rows 3–5: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (5 sc)

Fasten off.

Tutu: Join Color B in the first st of Row 5.

  • Row T1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same st, 3 dc in each remaining st, turn. (15 dc)
  • Row T2: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), *dc in the next dc, ch 1; repeat from * across, ending with dc in the last st, turn. (15 dc + 14 ch-1 sps)
  • Row T3: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in the first dc, *ch 1, V-st in the next dc; repeat from * across, turn. (15 V-sts = 30 dc + 29 ch-1 sps)

Fasten off. The tutu fans out from the waist in open spokes.

Row T4 (brown edge): Join Color A in the first dc.

  1. Ch 1, sc in the first dc.
  2. (Sc, picot, sc) in the ch-1 sp of the V-st, sc in the next dc, sc in the ch-1 sp between V-sts, sc in the next dc.
  3. Repeat from * to * across. In the last repeat, end with sc in the last dc instead of working into a between-sp.

Count: 30 sc on dc + 30 sc in V-st sps + 14 sc between V-sts = 74 sc, plus 15 picots. The picots make the ruffled brown edge. The tutu measures 3.75 in (9.5 cm) wide x 1.5 in (3.8 cm) deep. Fasten off.

Arms: With Color A, sl st into the right end of Row 2.

  1. Ch 33, then sl st into the left end of Row 2.
  2. Turn. Sc in each of the first 16 ch, 3 sc in the next ch (the peak), sc in each of the last 16 ch. (35 sc)
  3. Sl st to the right shoulder and fasten off.

Shape the arms into a diamond around the head, with the peak above it. Tack each arm to the side of the head with 1 stitch.

Legs: With the wrong side facing, join Color A at the 2nd st of Row 5 and ch 27 (2.7 in / 6.9 cm). Drop the loop. Join a separate strand of Color A at the 4th st, ch 27, and fasten off. Pick up the dropped loop and sl st into the end of the second leg. The legs hang behind the tutu and come out below it in a narrow V. Keep the loop live.

Small Components

Bead (make 28): With Color A, make a MR.

  • Rnd 1: 6 sc in the ring. (6 sc)
  • Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st. (12 sc)
  • Rnd 3: Sc in each st. (12 sc)
  • Rnd 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts)

Stuff lightly, close the bead, and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The bead measures 0.6 in (1.5 cm).

Bow (make 14): With Color B, ch 12 and sl st to form a ring.

  • Rnd 1: Ch 1, 24 sc in the ring, sl st to join. (24 sc)

Flatten the ring and wrap the center 6 times. From the center, ch 6 and sl st back along the chain. Repeat for a second tail. The bow is 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide.

Rosette (make 14): With Color B, make a MR.

  • Rnd 1: 10 sc in the ring, sl st to join. (10 sc)
  • Rnd 2: *Sl st in the next st, (hdc, dc, hdc) in the next st; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals)

The rosette measures 0.8 in (2.0 cm).

Diamond drop (make 9): With Color A, ch 2.

  • Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, turn. (1 sc)
  • Row 2: Ch 1, 3 sc in the sc, turn. (3 sc)
  • Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (5 sc)
  • Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (5 sc)
  • Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, turn. (3 sts)
  • Row 6: Ch 1, sc3tog. (1 st)

Sc evenly around the edge. The drop is 1 in (2.5 cm) long.

Make All Pieces

Color A: 1 header, 4 ballerina outlines, 28 beads, 9 drops, 9 cords.

Color B: 4 tutus, 14 bows, 14 rosettes, and the header border.

Strand A (ballerina), make 4:

  • Upper cord: ch 77 (7.7 in / 19.6 cm). Sew a bead at ch 25, a bow at ch 45, and a bead at ch 65.
  • Sl st the bottom of the upper cord into the center sc of the arm peak.
  • From the joined legs, ch 30 (3 in / 7.6 cm). Sew a rosette at ch 15 and sew a drop to the end.
  • Length: 7.7 + 5.8 + 3 + 1 = 17.5 in (44.5 cm).

Strand B (bead-and-bow), make 5:

  • Cord: ch 165 (16.5 in / 41.9 cm).
  • Sew components centered over the cord at these chain counts from the top: bead 33, bow 50, bead 66, rosette 83, bead 100, bow 117, bead 133, rosette 150.
  • Sew a drop to the end.
  • Length: 16.5 + 1 = 17.5 in (44.5 cm).

Totals:

  • Beads: 5 x 4 + 4 x 2 = 28
  • Bows: 5 x 2 + 4 x 1 = 14
  • Rosettes: 5 x 2 + 4 x 1 = 14

Layout (scallop numbers along the header, left to right):

Scallop:  1    3    5    7    9    11   13   15   17
Strand:   B    A    B    A    B    A    B    A    B
Gap:        4"   4"   4"   4"   4"   4"   4"   4"

Joining

Hang each strand from the center picot of an odd-numbered scallop. The scallops are 10 sts, or 2 in (5.1 cm), apart, so using every other one spaces the strands 20 sts, or 4 in (10.2 cm), apart. From scallop 1 (st 6) to scallop 17 (st 166) is 160 sts, or 32 in (81.3 cm). That leaves 1.1 in (2.8 cm) between each outer strand and the edge of the header body.

Method: Pull the top of the cord through the picot ch-3 sp and sl st. Weave the tail down through 3 chains and back through the scallop base, then knot it on the wrong side.

Tension: Keep the stitches snug but not tight. If you pull too hard, the scallop tips pucker. Hang the valance and check that all 9 drops end 22.75 in (57.8 cm) below the top edge.

Border

Border gauge: Same as the header, 20 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm).

Join Color B at the bottom-right corner of Row 10.

Row B1: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (171 sc)

Row B2 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in the first st, *skip 4 sts, shell in the next st, skip 4 sts, sc in the next st; repeat from * across, turn. (17 shells + 18 sc = 171 sts)

Row B3 (picot edge): Ch 1, sc in each st, adding a picot after the sc in the 5th dc of each shell. (171 sc + 17 picots) Fasten off.

Finishing edge: Join Color A at the bottom-right corner.

  1. Work 26 sc up the right side.
  2. Ch 1 at the corner (not counted).
  3. Work 171 sc across the top, into the foundation loops.
  4. Ch 1 at the corner.
  5. Work 26 sc down the left side.

Total: 223 sc. Fasten off.

Why the math works: The shell repeat is 10 sts plus 1, and 171 = 17 x 10 + 1, so the edge holds exactly 17 full scallops with a sc at each end. Each side is 4 in + 1.25 in = 5.25 in tall, and 5.25 x 5 sts per inch gives 26 sc. The side edging adds about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) on each side, so the width grows from 34.2 in to 34.6 in (87.9 cm).

Final Blocking

  1. Before attaching the strands, soak the header and all small pieces in cool water for 10 minutes.
  2. Press out the water and roll everything in a towel.
  3. Pin the header to 34.6 in (87.9 cm) x 5.25 in (13.3 cm), with a pin at every picot.
  4. Pin each tutu into an even 3.75 in (9.5 cm) fan.
  5. Pin each arm diamond so it is symmetrical.
  6. Shape the bows and rosettes by hand.
  7. Let everything dry for 24 hours.
  8. Attach the strands and hang the valance overnight so the cords settle.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • 171 sts and 17 even shells in each lace band
  • Header measures 34.6 in (87.9 cm) x 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
  • 17 scallops, each with a centered picot
  • 9 strands on the odd-numbered scallops, 4 in (10.2 cm) apart
  • Every strand is 17.5 in (44.5 cm) long
  • Each tutu has 15 V-sts and 15 picots
  • Arm diamonds are closed and centered over the head
  • All tails are woven in

Troubleshooting

Header is under 34.2 in. Go up a hook size, or block harder along the width.

Shells land on dc instead of ch-sps. You missed a ch-sp. Count each ch-sp as 1 st.

Strands are uneven. Add or remove chains at the top of the cord.

Tutu curls. Rework Row T4 more loosely, then block it flat.

Arm diamond sags. Add a second tack stitch on each side of the head.

Strands twist. Re-sew the components so they lie flat, then mist the cords while they hang.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap and lay flat to dry. Reshape the scallops and tutus while the piece is damp.

Crocheted window valance in brown and pink with beaded bows and shell motifs hung from wooden rod.

Final Notes

Here is the measurement chain:

  • At 20 sts = 4 in, 171 sts make a 34.2 in (86.9 cm) header.
  • Ten rows give 4 in (10.2 cm) of lace.
  • The border adds 1.25 in (3.2 cm) of depth, and the side edging brings the width to 34.6 in (87.9 cm).
  • Nine 17.5 in (44.5 cm) strands, 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, give a total drop of 22.75 in (57.8 cm).

Check each stage against these numbers and the valance will hang straight and even.

Happy crocheting!

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