Brown and cream macramé wall hanging with scalloped and diamond-shaped elements on a wooden rod against a neutral wall.

Prima Ballerina Window Curtain Crochet Pattern

by

This curtain hangs a row of dancers across your window. Chocolate-brown ballerinas with raised arms and cream-and-tan chevron tutus hang on brown chain cords. Between them, cream bows and brown teardrops alternate down slimmer cords. A lacy brown valance with a cream scalloped hem sits on top.

The palette has three colors: Chocolate Brown, Cream, and Light Tan. The look is soft and vintage, and it works well in a nursery, dance room, or bedroom window.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 37.4 in (95.0 cm) wide and 26.6 in (67.6 cm) from the top of the valance to the lowest toe. Each ballerina is 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall.

Construction is modular. You work the valance in flat rows, then add its scalloped trim. You make 8 ballerinas from six small parts each, plus 15 bows, 15 teardrops, and 13 slip-stitch cords. Then you hang 9 strands from fixed scallops on the valance.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 37.4 in x 26.6 in (95.0 cm x 67.6 cm)
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US crochet terms
  • Yarn weight: DK / light (#3) cotton
  • Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
  • Number of pieces: 1 valance, 8 ballerinas, 15 bows, 15 teardrops, 13 cords
  • Layout: 9 strands, alternating bow strand and ballerina strand, 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart
  • Piece size: ballerina 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall, skirt 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
  • Valance before trim: 37.4 in x 2.2 in (95.0 cm x 5.6 cm)
  • Trim (border) depth: 0.8 in (2.0 cm), giving a 3 in (7.6 cm) valance

Materials

Use a smooth mercerized cotton for crisp stitch definition and a firm drape. Acrylic will work, but the tutus will flare less sharply.

  • Chocolate Brown: 120 g, about 300 m
  • Cream: 100 g, about 250 m
  • Light Tan: 25 g, about 63 m

These quantities include a margin of about 25 percent for swatching and joining.

Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Small amount of fiberfill for the heads
– 11 curtain rings, 1.25 in (3.2 cm), sew-on style
– Curtain rod
– Stitch markers, scissors, rust-proof pins, and a blocking mat

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)
  • RS – right side

Special stitches:
– Shell: 7 dc in the same stitch.
– Sl st cord: Chain the stated number. Then sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in the back bump of each ch across. The cord ends up with one sl st fewer than the chain.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Sc gauge: 20 sc x 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Dc gauge: 18 dc x 9 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Cord gauge: 5 sl st = 1 in (2.5 cm)

Make one complete ballerina before you start anything else. Check her against these measurements:

  • Head after Rnd 4: 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across
  • Bodice: 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall, 1.4 in (3.6 cm) wide at the chest, 1 in (2.5 cm) at the waist
  • Skirt after Row 7: 2.8 in (7.1 cm) long and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide when blocked
  • Arm cord: 7 in (17.8 cm)
  • Each leg: 2.4 in (6.1 cm)
  • Assembled ballerina: 8.3 in (21.1 cm)

If your pieces come out too big, go down one hook size. If they come out too small, go up one size. The valance width depends directly on your sc gauge, so measure again after Row 1 of the valance.

Brown crochet ornament with textured spheres and twisted rope frame hanging indoors.

Ballerina (make 8)

Head (Brown)

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, then work 6 sc into it. (6)

Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in each st. (12)

Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat around. (18)

Rnd 4: Sc in each st around. (18) The edge will cup slightly.

Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Tuck a pinch of fiberfill behind the head to pad it into a rounded dome.

Bodice (Brown)

Ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (5)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st. (7)

Rows 3–6: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (7)

Row 7: Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog. (5) The ends of this row are the shoulders.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn. Sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog. (3)

Row 9: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across. (3) This is the neck. Fasten off.

Checkpoint: 1.6 in (4.1 cm) tall.

Skirt (Cream and Tan)

Turn the bodice upside down so the foundation chain is on top. The 5 free loops of the foundation chain form the waist.

Row 1 (Cream): Join Cream in the first free loop. Ch 3 (counts as dc throughout), then 2 dc in the same loop. Work 3 dc in each of the next 4 loops. (15) The center dc of each 3-dc group is a point, so you have 5 points.

Row 2 (Cream): Ch 3, turn. Dc in each dc up to the next point, 3 dc in the point; repeat from * 4 more times. Dc in each remaining st, finishing in the top of the turning ch. The center dc of each new 3-dc group becomes the point for the next row. (25)

Row 3 (Tan): Work as Row 2. (35)

Row 4 (Cream): Work as Row 2. (45)

Row 5 (Tan): Work as Row 2. (55)

Row 6 (Cream): Work as Row 2. (65)

Each row gains exactly 10 sts (2 per point). Between points, each segment grows by 2 sts per row, and each end grows by 1. In Row 6 that gives 5 points + 4 segments of 12 + 2 ends of 6 = 65.

Row 7 (Cream edge): Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across, working 3 sc in each point. That is 65 sc worked one per st + 10 extra sc = 75 sc.

To change colors, fasten off and rejoin at the start of the row. The increases stack into five downward points, so the stripes bend into chevrons that point toward the hem.

Arm Cord (Brown)

Ch 36. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (35) Fasten off.

Checkpoint: 7 in (17.8 cm).

Hanging Ring (Brown)

Ch 8 and sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Fasten off.

Legs (Brown, make 2)

Ch 13.

Working along the first side of the chain: sc in 2nd ch from hook (toe), sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 4 ch, dc in next 3 ch, then 3 dc in the last ch.

Working along the other side: dc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 4 ch, sc in next 4 ch. (25)

Fasten off. Each leg is a slim taper, 2.4 in (6.1 cm) long.

Assembly

  1. Sew the head onto the neck, overlapping Row 9.
  2. Sew the cord ends to the back of the shoulders (the ends of Row 7). Shape the cord into an oval arch that rises 2.5 in (6.4 cm) above the shoulders.
  3. Sew the hanging ring to the top center of the arch.
  4. Sew the thigh ends of both legs to the back of skirt Row 4, so 1.2 in (3.0 cm) of each leg shows below the hem.
  5. Stitch the toe tips together to make a pointed V.

Valance (Brown Rows 1–6)

Ch 188.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across. (187)

Checkpoint: 37.4 in (95.0 cm) wide.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st. Sk 2 sts, shell in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat across. (31 shells, 32 sc)

Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), turn. Sc in center dc of next shell, ch 2, dc in next sc, ch 2; repeat across, ending the last repeat at **. (32 dc, 31 sc, 62 ch-2 sps)

Row 4: Ch 3, turn. 3 dc in the first dc (half shell). Sc in next sc, shell in next dc; repeat across, skipping all ch-2 sps. On the last dc, work 4 dc instead of a shell (half shell). (30 shells, 2 half shells, 31 sc)

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first dc. Ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, sc in center dc of next shell; repeat across. End with ch 3, dc in last sc, ch 3, sc in top of turning ch. (32 sc, 31 dc, 62 ch-3 sps)

Row 6: Ch 1, turn. Sc in first st. 2 sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in next st; repeat across. That is 1 + (62 x 3) = 187 sc. Fasten off.

The staggered shells and open spokes form the lacy wheel band. Checkpoint: 37.4 in x 2.2 in (95.0 cm x 5.6 cm).

Make All Pieces

  • Brown: valance Rows 1–6, 8 heads, 8 bodices, 8 arm cords, 8 hanging rings, 16 legs, 15 teardrops, 13 cords
  • Cream: valance trim, 8 skirts (Rows 1, 2, 4, 6, 7), 15 bows
  • Tan: Rows 3 and 5 of all 8 skirts

Teardrop (Brown, make 15): Ch 7. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, 7 dc in last ch. Working along the other side: dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in last ch. (17) Ch 3 and sl st in the first sl st to make a tip loop. Size: 1.3 in x 0.9 in (3.3 cm x 2.3 cm).

Bow (Cream, make 15): Ch 25 and sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch around, then join. (24) Flatten the ring into a figure-eight.

For the tails, make a sl st cord on 13 ch (12 sl st) and fold it into a V behind the bow. Wrap Cream 8 times around the center. The bow measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide.

Cords (Brown, sl st cords):
– 4 top cords: ch 16 (15 sl st), 3 in (7.6 cm)
– 4 connectors: ch 21 (20 sl st), 4 in (10.2 cm)
– 5 bow cords: ch 111 (110 sl st), 22 in (55.9 cm)

Layout grid:

Strand:   1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9
Scallop:  4    7    10   13   16   19   22   25   28
Type:     Bow  Bal  Bow  Bal  Bow  Bal  Bow  Bal  Bow

Joining

  1. Attach the cords. For each strand, sew the top of its cord through the center sc of its scallop in Row 8 (the middle of the 3 sc). Anchor it again into Row 6 directly behind.
  2. Ballerina strands (2, 4, 6, 8). Sew a top cord to the hanging ring of ballerina 1. Then sew a connector from her toe tips to the hanging ring of ballerina 2. Strand length: 3 + 8.3 + 4 + 8.3 = 23.6 in (59.9 cm).
  3. Bow strands (1, 3, 5, 7, 9). Sew bows to the cord at sl st 15, 50, and 85. Those positions are 3, 10, and 17 in (7.6, 25.4, and 43.2 cm) from the top. Hang teardrops by their tip loops at sl st 30 and 65, which are 6 in (15.2 cm) and 13 in (33.0 cm) down, and at the cord end.
  4. Rings. Sew one ring above Row 1 at st 1 and one at st 187. Sew one ring above each strand at the nine scallop stitches listed in the Border section, for 11 rings total.

Tension: Sew with matching yarn and snug stitches, but don’t pull so hard that the valance puckers. The rings above the strands carry the weight.

Size checkpoint: 37.4 in (95.0 cm) wide. Strands sit 18 sts, or 3.6 in (9.1 cm), apart. The outer strands sit 4.2 in (10.7 cm) in from each end.

Border (Cream Valance Trim)

Work this trim on the valance before you join the strands, because the cords attach to Row 8.

Border gauge: each scallop takes 6 sts of Row 6, or 1.2 in (3.0 cm). The trim runs along the bottom long edge only. The top edge carries the rings, and the short ends need no trim.

Row 7 (Cream): With RS facing, join Cream in the first sc of Row 6. Ch 1, sc in first st. Sk 2 sts, 7 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in next st; repeat across. (31 scallops, 32 sc: 31 x 7 + 32 = 249 sts)

Row 8 (Cream): Ch 1, turn. Sc in first sc. Sc in next 3 dc, 3 sc in center dc, sc in next 3 dc, sc in next sc; repeat across. That is 249 sc worked one per st + 62 extra sc = 311 sc. Fasten off.

Why the math works: 187 = (31 x 6) + 1. Each scallop uses exactly 6 sts, and the extra st ends the row with a sc. Scallop k sits on Row 1 st (6k − 2), so scallops 4 through 28 at steps of 3 fall on sts 22, 40, 58, 76, 94, 112, 130, 148, and 166. These positions are symmetric: 187 − 166 + 1 = 22, and st 94 is the exact center.

Final Blocking

  1. Wet-block the ballerinas and the valance separately before you assemble the curtain.
  2. Soak them in cool water for 10 minutes, then press the water out in a towel.
  3. Pin each skirt to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, pinning every point.
  4. Pin the valance to 37.4 in x 3 in (95.0 cm x 7.6 cm), pinning each scallop tip.
  5. Shape the arm arches over a rolled card.
  6. Let everything dry completely before you hang it.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • 8 ballerinas, all 8.3 in (21.1 cm) tall
  • 5 even chevron points on each skirt, with a 75-sc edge
  • Valance of 187 sts, with 31 scallops and 311 sc in Row 8
  • 9 strands on scallops 4 to 28, 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart
  • 11 rings sewn firmly
  • All ends woven into stitches of the same color

Troubleshooting

  • Skirt ruffles too much: Your dc is too short. Go up a hook size for the skirt only.
  • Skirt cups: Check that you worked exactly 3 dc in each point, not 2.
  • Valance too wide: Rework it with a smaller hook. Don’t remove repeats, because that breaks the strand spacing.
  • Strands twist: Steam the cords and hang them weighted overnight.
  • Head flattens: Add a little more fiberfill.

Care

Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry. Reshape the skirt points while damp.

Crocheted window valance in brown and cream with hanging ballet figures displayed against a bright window.

Final Notes

The measurement chain is simple. A sc gauge of 20 sts per 4 in (10.2 cm) gives 187 sts and 37.4 in (95.0 cm). Thirty-one 6-st scallops give nine symmetric strand points 3.6 in (9.1 cm) apart. Ballerinas of 8.3 in (21.1 cm) on a 3 in (7.6 cm) valance give a 26.6 in (67.6 cm) drop.

Happy crocheting!

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