Navy and light-blue crocheted ballerina figures hang from a decorative band suspended on a natural wood rod.

Prima Blue Ballerina Curtain Crochet Pattern

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This curtain is a short lace panel for a window. A dark denim-blue lace header with light blue scallops hangs from a wooden rod on metal rings. Below it hang nine chain-cord strands. Five strands carry two ballerinas each, and four carry dark circles alternating with light blue bows.

Each ballerina has a round head, a small topknot circle, arms that loop up to meet at the topknot, a solid bodice, and a fan-shaped light blue tutu. The tutu has open rays, tiny four-petal flowers, and a dark scalloped hem. One pointed leg shows below the skirt.

The pattern uses US terms. The curtain measures 36.2 in (91.9 cm) wide and about 32 in (81.3 cm) long, from the top of the header to the ends of the cords.

You make the header in rows and add a scalloped edging. Then you make the motifs and cords, sew the motifs onto the cords, and tie each cord to the center of a scallop.

Finished Size and Construction

  • Finished size: 36.2 in (91.9 cm) wide x about 32 in (81.3 cm) long
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Terminology: US
  • Yarn weight: DK (#3) cotton
  • Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
  • Number of pieces: 1 header, 9 cords, 10 ballerinas, 25 circles, 31 bows
  • Layout: 9 strands, alternating B-R-B-R-B-R-B-R-B (B = ballerina strand, R = rosette strand)
  • Piece sizes:
  • Ballerina: 7 in (17.8 cm) tall x 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
  • Circle: 1.2 in (3.0 cm) across
  • Bow: 2.6 in (6.6 cm) wide
  • Header before border: 36.2 in x 4 in (91.9 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Border depth: 1.2 in (3.0 cm), for a total header depth of 5.2 in (13.2 cm)

Materials

Mercerized DK cotton gives crisp stitches and firm cords. Choose a yarn of about 112 m (122 yd) per 50 g.

  • Color A, dark denim blue: 200 g, about 450 m (492 yd)
  • Color B, light baby blue: 150 g, about 340 m (372 yd)

Both quantities include a margin of about 15%.

Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– 10 curtain rings, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
– Tape measure, rust-proof pins, and a spray bottle

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • ch: chain
  • sl st: slip stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • tr: treble crochet
  • sc2tog: single crochet 2 together
  • sk: skip
  • sp(s): space(s)
  • MR: magic ring
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • RS/WS: right side/wrong side

Special stitches:
– Picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.
– Picot flower (pf): ch 4, sl st in the 4th ch from the hook to form a small ring, then [ch 3, sl st in the ring] 3 times. This makes 4 petals.

Gauge and Checkpoints

  • Single crochet: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Double crochet: 20 dc and 10 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm)
  • Cord: 5 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm)

Before you start the long header, make one ballerina and one circle as a test.

Checkpoints:
– Head or circle after Rnd 3: 1.2 in (3.0 cm) across
– Bodice after Row 7: 1.2 in (3.0 cm) wide x 1.3 in (3.3 cm) tall
– Skirt after Row 5: 2.2 in (5.6 cm) from waist to hem, about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
– Header after Row 1: 36.2 in (91.9 cm) wide
– Header after Row 10: 4 in (10.2 cm) deep

If your test pieces are too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If they are too small, go up 0.5 mm.

Crocheted ballerina figure with navy head and body, light blue lace tutu with scalloped edges, on soft beige background.

Header

With Color A, ch 182.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. (181 sc)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across, turn. (181 dc)

Row 3 (fan row): Ch 1, sc in the first st. Sk 4, 9 dc in the next st, sk 4, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 17 more times, turn. (18 fans, 19 sc)

Row 4 (trellis): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Ch 3, sc in the 5th dc of the next fan, ch 3, tr in the next sc. Repeat from * across, turn. (19 tr, 18 sc, 36 ch-3 sps)

Row 5: 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 tr. Repeat from * across, turn. (1 + 18 x 10 = 181 dc)

Rows 6–8: Repeat Rows 3–5. (181 dc)

Row 9 (mesh): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), sk 1, dc in the next st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in the next st. Repeat from * across, turn. (91 dc + 90 ch-1 sps = 181 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp across. (181 sc) Fasten off.

The header should measure 36.2 in x 4 in (91.9 cm x 10.2 cm).

Ballerina (make 10)

Head and Bodice

Use Color A.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a MR, sl st to the first sc. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to the first sc. (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 the first sc. (18 sc) The head is 1.2 in (3.0 cm) across. Do not fasten off.

Row 1 (RS, neck): Ch 1, sc in the next 4 sts, turn. (4 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the last st, turn. (6 sc)

Rows 3–6: Ch 1, sc in each st, turn. (6 sc)

Row 7 (RS, waist): Ch 1, sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts. (5 sc) Fasten off.

Topknot

With Color A, work Rnds 1–2 of the Head. (12 sc) Fasten off. The topknot is 0.8 in (2.0 cm) across.

Skirt

With the RS facing and without turning, join Color B in the first st of Row 7.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in the same st, 2 dc in the next st, 3 dc in the next st, 2 dc in the next st, 3 dc in the last st, turn. (3 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 13 dc)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Ch 2, tr in the next st. Repeat from * across, turn. (13 tr, 12 ch-2 sps)

Row 3 (RS, flower row): Ch 4 (counts as tr). Ch 3, tr in the next tr, pf, ch 3, tr in the next tr. Repeat from * 5 more times, turn. (13 tr, 12 ch-3 sps, 6 flowers) The flowers sit on the even-numbered rays.

Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in the first tr. 2 sc in the next ch-3 sp, sc in the next tr. Repeat from * 11 more times. Keep the flowers to the front. (1 + 12 x 3 = 37 sc) Fasten off.

Row 5 (RS, scallop hem): Join Color A in the first st. Ch 1, sc in the same st. Sk 2, 7 dc in the next st, sk 2, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 more times. (6 shells + 7 sc = 49 sts) Fasten off.

Each shell is worked into stitch 4 + 6k of Row 4, which is the top of a flower ray. That puts every shell directly under a flower.

Leg

With Color A, ch 20.

Row 1: Sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and in the next ch, sc in the next 5 ch, hdc in the next 6 ch, dc in the next 6 ch. (19 sts)

Rotate the work to the opposite side of the foundation chain. Dc in the next 6 ch, hdc in the next 6 ch, sc in the next 5 ch, sl st in the last 2 ch. (38 sts in total)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The leg is a pointed spike 3.4 in (8.6 cm) long. Sew the wide end behind the waist so that 1.2 in (3.0 cm) of the leg shows below the hem.

Arms

Place the topknot 0.3 in (0.8 cm) above the head. With the RS facing, join Color A at the right edge of bodice Row 2.

  1. Ch 14, sl st in the bottom st of the topknot, ch 14, sl st at the left edge of Row 2. Turn.
  2. Sc in each of the 14 ch, sl st in the topknot, sc in each of the 14 ch, sl st at the right shoulder. (28 sc)

Fasten off. The arms form an oval loop around the head.

Circle (make 25)

With Color A, work Rnds 1–3 of the Head. (18 sc) Fasten off. Each circle is 1.2 in (3.0 cm) across.

Bow (make 31)

Use Color B.

Loops: Ch 26 and sl st in the first ch to join it into a ring without twisting. Ch 1, sc in each ch, sl st to the first sc. (26 sc) Flatten the ring so it is 2.6 in (6.6 cm) wide.

Tails: Ch 17. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (16 sc) The strip is 3.2 in (8.1 cm) long.

Assembly: Fold the tail strip into an inverted V and place it behind the center of the flattened ring. Wrap yarn tightly around the middle 5 times and secure. The finished bow is about 2.6 in x 2 in (6.6 cm x 5.1 cm).

Cords (make 9)

With Color A, ch 141. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in the back bump of each ch across. (140 sl st)

Each cord should be 28 in (71.1 cm) long. If yours is not, adjust the chain count.

Make All Pieces

  • Color A: 1 header, plus 10 each of heads/bodices, topknots, legs, arm loops, and skirt hems, plus 25 circles and 9 cords
  • Color B: 1 header edging, 10 skirts, 31 bows

B strand (make 5). Distances are measured from the top of the cord.
– Bow centered at 2 in (5.1 cm)
– Ballerina from 4 in to 11 in (10.2 cm to 27.9 cm)
– Bow centered at 13 in (33.0 cm)
– Ballerina from 15 in to 22 in (38.1 cm to 55.9 cm)
– Bow centered at 24 in (61.0 cm)
– Circle centered at 27 in (68.6 cm)

R strand (make 4):
– Circles centered at 3, 9, 15, 21, and 27 in (7.6, 22.9, 38.1, 53.3, and 68.6 cm)
– Bows centered at 6, 12, 18, and 24 in (15.2, 30.5, 45.7, and 61.0 cm)

That gives 5 x 3 + 4 x 4 = 31 bows and 5 x 1 + 4 x 5 = 25 circles.

Sew each motif to the front of its cord. For each ballerina, run the cord behind her from the topknot to the tip of the leg. Tack it at the topknot, head, waist, and leg.

Layout grid (header stitches are counted from the right-hand end of Row 10):

Strand:     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9
Type:       B    R    B    R    B    R    B    R    B
Header st:  11   31   51   71   91   111  131  151  171

Border (Header Edging)

Work the edging along the bottom edge of the header only. The rings go on the top edge, and the side edges stay as they are.

Border gauge: 1 scallop per 20 header sts, which equals 4 in (10.2 cm).

Row 1 (RS): With the RS facing, join Color B in the first st at the right-hand end of Row 10. Ch 1, sc in the same st. Ch 5, sk 4, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 35 more times, turn. (36 ch-5 loops, 37 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1. Sc in the next loop, 7 dc in each of the next 2 loops, sc in the next loop. Repeat from * 8 more times, turn. (9 scallops x 16 sts = 144 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in the next sc, [sc in the next 2 dc, picot] 7 times, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * 8 more times. (144 sc, 63 picots) Fasten off.

Why the math works: 181 = 1 + 9 x 20. Each 20-st section holds 4 ch-5 loops (4 x 5 = 20), and 36 loops ÷ 4 = 9 scallops. The Row 1 sc sit on header sts 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, and so on. That puts each scallop center on st 11 + 20k (k = 0 to 8). The points where scallops meet fall on st 1 + 20k.

Joining

  1. Tie the top of each cord to the Row 1 edging sc at the header stitch shown in the grid.
  2. Pull the tail through, then sl st through that stitch twice so the knot is hidden behind the center of the scallop.
  3. Keep your tension relaxed. If you pull too tight, the scallop puckers.
  4. Sew the 10 rings to Row 1 at sts 1, 21, 41, and so on up to st 181, so they sit 4 in (10.2 cm) apart.

Checkpoint: The strands should be 4 in (10.2 cm) apart, center to center. The outer strands should be 2 in (5.1 cm) in from each side edge.

Final Blocking

  1. Spray the header and motifs until they are damp.
  2. Pin the header to 36.2 in x 4 in (91.9 cm x 10.2 cm), and pin out each scallop and picot.
  3. Pin each skirt into an even fan 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, with straight rays.
  4. Shape the bows, then let everything dry completely.
  5. Hang the curtain for a day, then even out any cords that hang unevenly.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

  • Header Row 10 has 181 sc and measures 36.2 in (91.9 cm).
  • There are 9 scallops, each with 16 sc and 7 picots.
  • Each skirt has 13 rays, 6 flowers, and 6 shells.
  • Each ballerina is 7 in (17.8 cm) tall.
  • All 25 circles and 31 bows sit at their listed distances.
  • All 9 cords are 28 in (71.1 cm) long and hang at the scallop centers.
  • All ends are woven in.

Troubleshooting

  • The header gets narrower: End each fan row with a sc in the last st.
  • The skirt cups: Your tr stitches are too short. Loosen your yarn overs.
  • The skirt ruffles: Work only 2 sc in each space in Row 4.
  • The flowers are on the WS: Join Color B for the skirt without turning.
  • The arms leave a gap at the topknot: Shorten each arm chain by 1 ch.
  • The cords twist: Steam them lightly while they hang.

Care

Hand wash in cool water, roll in a towel, and dry flat. Reblock the scallops if needed.

Navy and light-blue crocheted lace curtain hangs on a wooden rod with dangling bows, medallions, and ballerina figurine charms.

Final Notes

At a gauge of 20 sts = 4 in (10.2 cm), the 181-st header is 36.2 in (91.9 cm) wide. Each 20-st section holds one scallop and one strand. Nine 28 in (71.1 cm) cords hang from the 4 in (10.2 cm) header, so the curtain is about 32 in (81.3 cm) long. If you check each stage as you go, the curtain will hang straight.

Happy crocheting!

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