This curtain hangs a row of tiny dancers in a window. A lace header of brown flower squares runs along the top, finished with a soft green shell scallop. Below it, chain strands carry flat ballerinas with layered petal skirts. Between them hang strands of little green bows and olive leaves.
The palette is just two colors: olive brown and sage green. Together they look calm and a little vintage, and they show up well against daylight. Every piece is flat, so light shines through the petal windows and the lace header.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished curtain measures 42 in (106.7 cm) wide and 28.5 in (72.4 cm) long, from the top of the header to the toes of the lower ballerinas.
Here is the order of work. You make 8 lace squares and join them into a strip. You work a top band and a scalloped bottom border on the strip. Then you make 14 ballerinas, 16 bows and 16 leaves, and hang everything on chain strands.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 42 in × 28.5 in (106.7 cm × 72.4 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Number of pieces: 8 squares, 14 ballerinas, 16 bows, 16 leaves, plus chain strands
- Layout: 8 squares in one row, with 15 strands hanging below
- Square size: 5.25 in (13.3 cm)
- Header size before border: 42 in × 5.25 in (106.7 cm × 13.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on top and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) on the bottom, so the header is 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep
- Ballerina: 9 in (22.9 cm) tall × 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
Materials
Choose a smooth worsted cotton, mercerized or matte. Cotton keeps the petal points crisp and stretches very little as it hangs. Avoid fuzzy yarns, because they fill in the open petal windows.
- Color A, olive brown: 550 g (about 990 m)
- Color B, sage green: 375 g (about 675 m)
These amounts include a margin of about 15%, which covers your gauge swatch and some extra.
Tools:
– 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Stitch markers
– 9 curtain rings with clips
– Tape measure
– Blocking mats, 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
- FL / BL: front loop / back loop
- sp: space
- st(s): stitch(es)
- MR: magic ring
- RS / WS: right side / wrong side
Special stitches
– Picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook.
– Petal loop (PL-n): sc in the indicated st, ch n, then sl st in the top of the sc you just made. This makes a long closed loop.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). For chains, 4 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Make one square and one ballerina before you start the rest. Block both and measure them.
Checkpoints:
– Square after Rnd 3: about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) across.
– Square after Rnd 5: 5.25 in (13.3 cm) per side.
– Ballerina head: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
– Bodice: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide and about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall.
– Skirt: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long from the waist.
– Whole ballerina: 9 in (22.9 cm) from the top ring to the toes.
Being off by up to 0.25 in (0.6 cm) is fine. If your pieces are too big, go down 0.5 mm in hook size. If they are too small, go up 0.5 mm. Don’t change the stitch counts, because the border math depends on them.
Lace Header Square (make 8, Color A)
Rnd 1: In a MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), then work 15 dc. Sl st to the top of the ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in the first st. Ch 5, skip 1, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 6 more times. Ch 5, skip the last st, sl st to the first sc. (8 sc, 8 ch-5 sps)
Rnd 3: Sl st into the first ch-5 sp. Work (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-5 sp around, then sl st to the first sc. (8 petals, 56 sts)
Rnd 4: Sl st in the next hdc and the next 2 dc. You are now at the center dc of the first petal. Ch 1, sc in the same dc. Ch 7, work (tr, ch 3, tr) in the center dc of the next petal to make a corner, ch 7, sc in the center dc of the next petal. Repeat from * 3 more times, leaving out the last sc. Sl st to the first sc. (4 sc, 4 corners, 8 ch-7 sps)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in the first sc. 7 sc in the ch-7 sp, sc in the tr, 3 sc in the ch-3 sp, sc in the tr, 7 sc in the ch-7 sp, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * around, leaving out the last sc. Sl st to the first sc. (80 sts)
The middle sc of each 3-sc corner is the corner stitch. Each side has 21 sts, counted from one corner st to the next and including both: 1 + 1 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 21. To check the total: 4 × 21 − 4 shared corners = 80. Fasten off.
Ballerina (make 14)
Head and Bodice (Color A)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in a MR, sl st to the first sc. (6)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st, sl st to the first sc. (12)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, (sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st) 6 times, sl st to the first sc. (18)
Don’t fasten off. The join becomes the bottom of the head.
Row 1 (neck): Ch 1, sc in the same st and the next 2 sts. Turn. (3)
Row 2 (shoulders): Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st. Turn. (5)
Rows 3–7: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (5)
Change to Color B at the end of Row 7.
Skirt (Color B)
Row 1: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st across. Turn. (10)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the first st, (2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st) 4 times, 2 sc in the last st. Turn. (15)
Row 3 (outer petals, BL only): Ch 1, sc in the first st. PL-12 in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 6 more times. Turn. (15 sc, 7 loops)
Row 4: Sl st in the first sc. Work (9 sc, ch 2, 9 sc) in the next ch-12 loop, sl st in the next sc. Repeat from * 6 more times. Fasten off. (7 petals, 8 sl sts)
Skip the base sc of each petal loop, because it sits under the loop. The stitches wrap around both strands of the loop, so each petal keeps an open teardrop window in the center.
Row 5 (edging, Color A): Join Color A in the first sl st. Work each petal like this: (sc in the next 3 sts, picot) twice, sc in the next 3 sts; in the ch-2 tip, work (sc, picot, sc); then (sc in the next 3 sts, picot) twice, sc in the next 3 sts. Sl st in the sl st between petals. Fasten off. (20 sc and 5 picots per petal; 140 sc and 35 picots in total)
Inner petals (FL of Row 2): Hold the piece with the bodice at the top. Join Color B in the first free FL of Row 2.
– Row A: Ch 1, sc in the same FL. PL-8 in the next FL, sc in the next 2 FL. Repeat from * 3 more times. PL-8 in the next FL, sc in the last FL. Turn. (15 sc, 5 loops on sts 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14)
– Row B: Sl st in the first sc. Work (6 sc, ch 2, 6 sc) in the next ch-8 loop, sl st in the next 2 sc. Repeat from * 3 more times. Work (6 sc, ch 2, 6 sc) in the last loop, sl st in the last sc. Fasten off.
The 5 short petals lie on top of the 7 long ones.
Arms (Color A)
With RS facing, join Color A in the first st of bodice Row 2. Ch 30, sl st in the last st of Row 2, and turn. Sc in each of the next 15 ch, ch 6 for the hanging ring, then sc in each of the remaining 15 ch. Sl st to the first shoulder st and fasten off.
The arms now make a teardrop loop around the head, with the ring at the top.
Legs (Color A)
With WS facing, join Color A around the post of the center st of skirt Row 2 (the 8th of 15). Ch 30, sl st in the same st. Work (18 sc, ch 2, 18 sc) into the loop, sl st to the base, and fasten off.
About 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of leg shows below the skirt. The ch-2 tip forms the pointed toes.
Bow (make 16, Color B)
- Loops: Ch 26, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (25 sc) Sew the short ends together to make a ring, then flatten it with the seam at the center back.
- Tails: Ch 13, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (12 sc) Fold the strip into a V and put it behind the loops.
Wrap the center 8 times with a Color B tail and secure it. The bow is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) wide.
Leaf (make 16, Color A)
Ch 8. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, work sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc. Work 3 sc in the last ch. Then work along the other side of the chain: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc. Sl st to the first sc. (15 sts)
Each leaf is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) wide.
Make All Pieces
- Color A: 8 squares, 16 leaves, all the strand chains, and the heads, bodices, arms, legs and edgings of the ballerinas
- Color B: 14 ballerina skirts and 16 bows
Layout (front view):
| S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | S8 | <- header squares
W B W B W B W B W B W B W B W <- strands
W is a bow strand, hung from the center of a square. B is a ballerina strand, hung from a seam. That makes 8 W strands and 7 B strands, spaced 2.625 in (6.7 cm) apart.
Joining
Lay the squares in a row with RS facing up. Whipstitch with Color A through the BL only. Work stitch to stitch from corner st to corner st, so each seam joins 21 pairs. Join all 7 seams.
Keep your tension relaxed: tight seams make the strip cup, and loose seams leave gaps. After joining, the strip measures 42 in × 5.25 in (106.7 cm × 13.3 cm), which is 8 × 5.25 in.
Border
The border uses the same gauge as the squares: 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). Work into the long edges only.
Top band (Color A)
– Row 1: With RS facing, join in the top right corner st. Ch 1, sc in each st across. Count the 2 corner sts at each seam as separate sts. (168 sts: 8 squares × 21)
– Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. Fasten off. (168)
Bottom scallops
– Row 1 (Color B): Join in the bottom corner st. Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (168)
– Row 2 (Color B): Work each 21-st section like this: sc in the first st, skip 4 sts, 9 dc in the next st, skip 4 sts, sc in the next st, skip 4 sts, 9 dc in the next st, skip 4 sts, sc in the last st. Repeat across all sections, then fasten off. (16 shells, 24 sc)
– Row 3 (Color A): Join in the first sc. Sl st in each sc. On each shell, work sc in the first 4 dc, (sc, picot, sc) in the center dc, and sc in the last 4 dc. Fasten off. (10 sc and 1 picot per shell)
Why the math works: Each square has 21 sts per side, and that count already includes both corner sts. So the joined edge is 8 × 21 = 168 sts, with no extra stitches at the seams. At 4 sts per in, 168 sts = 42 in, so the border lies flat. Each 21-st section breaks down as 1 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 21, which gives every square exactly 2 shells.
Strands and Assembly
Ballerina strands (7): Join Color A through both sc at a seam on bottom Row 2 (st 21 of one square and st 1 of the next). Ch 8, which is 2 in (5.1 cm), and sl st into a ballerina’s hanging ring. Then join Color A at that ballerina’s toe tip, ch 8, and sl st into the ring of a second ballerina. The finished strand is 22 in (55.9 cm) long.
Bow strands (8): Join Color A in the center sc (st 11) of a square on Row 2. Ch 78, which is 19.5 in (49.5 cm), and fasten off. Measure down from the header and sew on, in order:
– a bow at 4.5 in (11.4 cm), level with the arms
– a leaf at 8.5 in (21.6 cm), level with the skirt
– a bow at 15.5 in (39.4 cm)
– a leaf at the end of the chain, hanging to 21.25 in (54.0 cm)
Clip the 9 rings to the top band: one at each of the 7 seams and one at each outer corner. They end up 5.25 in (13.3 cm) apart.
Final Blocking
- Spray the header until damp and pin it to 42 in × 6.5 in (106.7 cm × 16.5 cm).
- Pin each shell into an even curve with the picot at the center.
- Lay each ballerina flat. Pin the head into a circle and the arms into an even teardrop.
- Fan the 7 outer petals evenly and pin each tip. Then settle the 5 inner petals between them.
- Pin the bows open and pin the leaves to points.
- Let everything dry completely before you unpin it.
- Hang the curtain overnight so the strands straighten.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Each square has 80 sts, with 21 per side.
- The header measures 42 in × 6.5 in (106.7 cm × 16.5 cm).
- Each ballerina has 7 outer petals, 5 inner petals and 35 picots.
- Every ring and toe connection is secure.
- There are 15 strands, alternating W and B, starting and ending with W.
- The bows and leaves line up across the curtain.
- All ends are woven in on the WS.
Troubleshooting
- The square cups: The ch-7 sps are too tight. Chain more loosely or go up a hook size.
- The square ruffles: Your tension is loose. Go down 0.5 mm.
- A petal window closed up: You worked into the chains. Work around the whole loop instead.
- The skirt curls: Block it more firmly, or work the Row 5 edging more loosely.
- The strands twist: Steam the chains straight and let them hang under their own weight.
- The header is too long: Make sure you didn’t add stitches at the seams. The count should be 168.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, roll in a towel and dry flat. Re-pin the petals if they need it.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. Your gauge makes each 21-st square side 5.25 in (13.3 cm). Eight squares make 42 in (106.7 cm), which is 168 border sts. The borders bring the header to 6.5 in (16.5 cm) deep. Add the 22 in (55.9 cm) strands and the curtain finishes at 28.5 in (72.4 cm) long. Check each measurement as you go and the curtain will hang straight.
Happy crocheting!