The Snowfall Lace Bell is a small, airy Christmas ornament with a vintage feel. It starts as one flat hexagon with a six-petal flower in the middle. You fold that hexagon into a bell, then add a scalloped hem, a tiny ball clapper, and a hanging loop.
Cream crochet thread suits it best. The single soft color shows off the petals, the small triangle openings, and the shell edge, and it looks good against both green branches and gold baubles.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished bell measures about 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide at the scallops. With the loop, it hangs about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall.
Here is the construction in brief. You work a five-round hexagon and then fold it so that the two edges meeting at the top point lie together. A slip-stitch seam joins them and forms the bell’s back ridge. You then work two hem rounds around the open lower edge, add the loop at the top, and hang the clapper inside.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall × 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide; 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall with loop
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 crochet thread or #1 super fine cotton
- Hook: 2.25 mm (B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1 hexagon (the bell body) + 1 small ball clapper
- Layout: One hexagon folded into a cone, with the seam at the back and the flower at the front
- Piece size (flat hexagon): 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat-to-flat, 4 in (10.2 cm) point-to-point, sides 2 in (5.1 cm)
- Size before border (bell, unhemmed): about 3 in (7.6 cm) tall × 4 in (10.2 cm) wide when flattened
- Border (hem) depth: about 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth, mercerized cotton thread in size 3 or a #1 super fine cotton. Mercerized cotton gives crisp stitch definition and holds its shape after blocking. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy fibers, because the triangle openings will blur and the bell may sag.
- Cream (one color): 15 g, about 50 m
This amount covers the hexagon, the hem, the loop, and the clapper, and it includes a safety margin of roughly 20%.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- A small pinch of polyester fiberfill for the clapper
- Stitch marker
- Rust-proof pins and a blocking mat
- Spray bottle, and spray starch if you want a stiffer bell (optional)
- A small cone form for drying, such as a paper cup or a rolled cardstock cone
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
- RS / WS – right side / wrong side
Special stitches
- Cluster (cl): Yarn over, insert hook in the indicated st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Repeat from * to * 2 more times in the same st (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.
- Beginning cluster (beg cl): Ch 2, then work a dc2tog with both legs in the same st.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge matters because the hexagon’s side length controls both the bell’s height and its hem width. Make one hexagon first and measure it before folding. Measure flat-to-flat (side to opposite side) after each round:
- After Round 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- After Round 2: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- After Round 3: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) flat-to-flat
- After Round 4: 3.25 in (8.3 cm) flat-to-flat
- After Round 5: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat-to-flat, 4 in (10.2 cm) point-to-point, each side 2 in (5.1 cm) = 17 sc
Chain gauge: 10 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
If your hexagon is too big: go down to a 2.0 mm hook, or switch to a slightly finer thread.
If your hexagon is too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook.
If it cups or ruffles: a hexagon that cups usually means tight chain spaces, so loosen your ch-1 and ch-2 spaces. One that ruffles means the chains are too loose. Fix the hexagon before moving on, because the seam and the hem both depend on 17 sc per side.
Hexagon (Bell Body)
Round 1: Make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc in the ring, and sl st to the top of the ch-3. Pull the ring nearly closed, but leave a small open center about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) wide. (12 dc)
Round 2 (petals): Work a beg cl in the same st as the join, ch 1, cl in the next st, ch 3. Cl in the next st, ch 1, cl in the next st, ch 3. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beg cl. (12 clusters, 6 ch-1 sps, 6 ch-3 sps)
Each pair of clusters around a ch-1 sp forms one heart-shaped petal, so you now have 6 petals.
Round 3 (corners set): Sl st in the next ch-1 sp, sl st in the top of the next cl, and sl st in the next ch-3 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), then work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same ch-3 sp. Ch 2, sc in the next ch-1 sp (this tacks down the petal notch), ch 2.
(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next ch-3 sp, ch 2, sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 2. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (36 dc, 6 sc, 6 corner ch-2 sps, 12 side ch-2 sps)
The ch-3 sps between petals have now become the 6 corners.
Round 4 (granny groups): Sl st in the next 2 dc and in the corner ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same sp, ch 1. Work 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1.
(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the corner sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-2 sp, ch 1. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Sl st to the top of the ch-3.
Count: 72 dc (36 in the corners + 36 in 12 side groups), 18 ch-1 sps, 6 corner ch-2 sps. Per side (between corner ch-2 sps): 3 dc + ch 1 + 3 dc + ch 1 + 3 dc + ch 1 + 3 dc = 15 sts.
The two side groups sit over the ch-2 sps on either side of the Round 3 sc. That leaves the small triangle openings next to each petal tip.
Round 5 (sc edge): Ch 1. Sc in the same st and in each dc and each ch-1 sp around, and work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Sl st to the first sc and fasten off.
Count: 102 sc and 6 corner ch-2 sps. Per side: 1 sc (corner) + 15 sts + 1 sc (corner) = 17 sc between corner ch-2 sps. Check: 6 × 17 = 102.
In this pattern, “per side” means the 17 sc between two corner ch-2 sps. The ch-2 sps themselves are not counted.
Checkpoint: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat-to-flat, with each side 2 in (5.1 cm). Weave in the center tail now. Leave the outer tail free for now.
Fold and Seam the Bell
- Lay the hexagon RS up with one corner pointing straight up. This is the top point, and it becomes the apex of the bell. Turn the hexagon so that one petal points straight down, opposite the top point. That petal’s flower will be the front of the bell.
- Fold the hexagon WS together so that the two edges meeting at the top point lie on top of each other. The two corners at the ends of those edges now meet.
- Join the thread with a sl st through the top-point ch-2 sp, which is now folded in half.
- Work 1 sl st through each matching pair of sc along the two edges, inserting the hook through both layers. That is 17 sl st.
- Work 1 sl st through the two meeting corner ch-2 sps held together. Seam total: 19 sl st.
Keep your sl sts loose enough to match the sc edge. The seam should be 2 in (5.1 cm) long, the same as one side. It forms the raised ridge down the back of the bell. Do not fasten off.
Checkpoint: The bell now stands as a cone about 3 in (7.6 cm) tall. The open lower edge is made of the 4 remaining sides: 4 × 17 = 68 sc. Those sides are separated by 3 free corner ch-2 sps and by the seam point.
Scalloped Hem (Border)
Border gauge: Hem Round 1 adds about 0.125 in (0.3 cm). The scallop round adds about 0.4 in (1.0 cm). Total depth is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).
Hem Round 1 (trim round): Continue from the seam point. Ch 1, then sc once in the seam point, through both joined corners. Work 1 sc in each of the next 17 sc, then 1 sc in the next corner ch-2 sp. Repeat the 17 sc + 1 corner sc two more times, then work 1 sc in each of the last 17 sc. Sl st to the first sc.
- Count: 68 sc worked one per existing st + 4 added sts (3 corner sps + 1 seam point) = 72 sc
- Per edge: 17 sc + 1 corner or seam-point sc = 18 sts, and 4 edges × 18 = 72
Hem Round 2 (scallops): Ch 1 and sc in the same st. Skip 2 sc, 5 dc in the next sc, skip 2 sc, sc in the next sc. Repeat from * to * 10 more times. Then skip 2 sc, work 5 dc in the next sc, skip 2 sc, and sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
- Count: 12 shells and 12 sc. That is 72 sts (12 × 5 dc + 12 sc), with 3 shells on each edge.
Why the math works: Each scallop uses a 6-st repeat. Each edge has 18 sts, which divides evenly into 3 repeats, and 72 ÷ 6 gives exactly 12 scallops with no partial repeat at the join. Putting 5 dc where there were 6 sc at a taller height makes the hem flare gently, which widens the bell from 4 in (10.2 cm) to about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) when flattened.
Hanging Loop
Join the thread with a sl st through the folded top-point ch-2 sp. Ch 20, which is 2 in (5.1 cm) long, and sl st back into the same sp to form a loop. Work 24 sc over the chain loop, then sl st into the base.
The loop stands about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall. Fasten off, but keep a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail for securing the clapper.
Clapper Ball
Round 1: Work 6 sc in a MR. (6)
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st. (12)
Rounds 3–4: Sc in each st. (12)
Round 5: Sc2tog 6 times. (6)
Stuff the ball firmly. Do not fasten off.
Chain: Ch 30, which is 3 in (7.6 cm) long. Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. Close the bottom of the ball with the starting tail.
Attach: Thread the chain tail onto the needle and pass it up through the apex from inside the bell, next to the loop base. Adjust the chain so that the lower half of the ball, about 0.25 in (0.6 cm), hangs below the scallops. Knot it securely with the loop tail and weave both tails into the seam ridge. The finished ball is about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across.
Final Blocking
- Wet the bell thoroughly, or spray it until it is damp all the way through. Use spray starch if you want a firmer shape.
- Slide the bell over a small cone form. Pull the seam straight so that it runs down the center back.
- Center the flower on the front and open the triangle gaps with your fingertips.
- Pin each of the 12 scallops evenly around the hem so that the bell measures 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide when flattened.
- Check that the height is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from apex to scallop tips.
- Shape the loop so it stands straight up.
- Let it dry completely, usually 12–24 hours, before you remove the form.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Hexagon measured 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flat-to-flat, with 17 sc per side
- Six petals look even, and each petal notch is tacked down by an sc
- Seam has 19 sl st, is 2 in (5.1 cm) long, and sits at center back
- Flower is centered on the front, opposite the seam
- Hem Round 1 has 72 sc, and Hem Round 2 has 12 even scallops
- Bell is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
- Loop is about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall and firmly anchored
- Clapper is securely knotted and peeks just below the hem
- All tails are woven into solid stitches or the seam ridge
Troubleshooting
- Hexagon cups in Round 4: Your ch-1 sps are too tight. Redo the round with looser chains.
- Wavy hexagon edge: Your Round 5 sc are too loose. Go down a hook size for that round only.
- Seam puckers: The sl sts are too tight. Rework the seam with looser sl sts, or use a hook one size larger just for the seam.
- Hem count isn’t 72: Check that you worked exactly 1 sc in each corner sp and 1 sc at the seam point.
- Bell is too narrow or leans: Re-block it over a wider form and pin the scallops evenly.
- Flower is off-center: Before seaming, make sure the top point is the corner directly opposite a petal.
- Clapper twists or hangs crooked: Shorten the chain slightly and re-knot it at the apex.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and press out the water in a towel. Reshape the bell over a cone form and let it air dry.
Final Notes
Everything in this bell depends on one measurement: a 3.5 in (8.9 cm) hexagon with 17 sc per side, or 2 in (5.1 cm). That side length sets the 2 in (5.1 cm) seam. The four remaining sides give the 72-st hem, which divides into exactly 12 scallops and finishes the bell at 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide. Check your hexagon first, and the rest will fall into place. Make a handful in cream and fill your tree with soft lace bells.
Happy crocheting!