The Sapphire Lace Bell is a small hanging Christmas ornament worked in the round from the top down. It has a cream cap, a royal blue lace body with three tiers of fans, and a flared cream hem with a soft scalloped edge. A little cream ball hangs from a cord inside as the clapper, and a chain loop at the top lets you hang it on a tree.
The colors are classic: deep sapphire blue for the openwork and warm cream for the cap, hem, loop, and clapper. The open fans keep the bell light and delicate, and tree lights glow through the gaps.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished bell is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall without the loop and 4 in (10.2 cm) across the hem at the scallop tips. With the loop, it hangs about 4.5 in (11.4 cm) from the top of the loop to the bottom of the hem.
Construction overview: you work a solid cream cap, switch to blue for an increase round and three growing fan tiers, then return to cream for a three-round hem. After that, you make the clapper ball on its own cord and the hanging loop, thread both through the top, and stiffen the bell over a form so it holds its shape.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3 in (7.6 cm) tall; 4 in (10.2 cm) across the hem
- Skill level: Intermediate (shells, chain arches, joined rounds)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 crochet cotton (light fingering)
- Hook: 2.5 mm (US C-2)
- Number of pieces: 1 bell, plus 1 clapper ball and 1 hanging loop attached at the end
- Layout: Single three-dimensional ornament, worked top down in joined rounds
- Cap size: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Size before hem: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall; lower opening 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across
- Hem depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized cotton. It gives crisp fans and takes stiffener well. Wool or acrylic will work, but the bell will be softer and may need a stronger stiffener.
- Color A, Royal Blue: 15 g / 41 m (45 yd)
- Color B, Cream: 8 g / 22 m (24 yd)
These amounts assume about 137 m (150 yd) per 50 g ball. Quantities include a margin of about 25% for the gauge test and any ripping back.
Tools:
- 2.5 mm (US C-2) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Small amount of fiberfill or cotton scraps for the clapper
- Fabric stiffener, or a heavy starch solution
- Blocking form: a small paper cone, cup, or plastic bell about 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across the base
- Plastic wrap and rustproof pins
- Scissors
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- MR – magic ring
- rep – repeat
Special stitch – Shell: Work the stated number of dc all into the same chain space. A 7-dc shell is 7 dc in one space.
Turning chains: Ch 3 at the start of a round counts as the first dc. Ch 1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 7 sc and 8 rounds = 1 in (2.5 cm) in sc worked in the round.
Make one bell all the way through before making a set. Small changes in tension add up quickly in lace, and the hem makes them easy to see.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 5 (cap): The cap measures 1 in (2.5 cm) across and about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep.
- After Round 8 (first fan tier): The bell measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from the top center.
- After Round 12 (third fan tier): The bell measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with a lower opening about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across.
- After Round 15 (hem): The bell measures 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across the scallop tips.
If your cap is too big, go down to a 2.25 mm (US B-1) hook. If it is too small, go up to a 2.75 mm hook. Fix gauge at the cap, because every later round grows from it. If only the lace is off, adjust your chain tension in the arches before changing hooks.
Bell Body Pattern
Cap (Color B, Cream)
Round 1: Make a MR, ch 1, 6 sc in ring. Sl st to first sc. (6 sts)
Leave the MR slightly loose for now. You will thread the loop and clapper cord through it later, then pull it closed.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (18 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (24 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (24 sts)
The work now cups into a small dome. Fasten off Color B.
Body (Color A, Royal Blue)
Round 6: Join Color A in any st. Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * 6 times. Sl st to first sc. (30 sts)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 5, skip next 4 sts, sc in next st; rep from * 4 more times, ch 5, skip last 4 sts, sl st to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-5 sps)
Each repeat uses 5 sts (1 sc + 4 skipped), and 6 × 5 = 30.
Round 8 (first fan tier): Sl st into first ch-5 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same sp, *ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 2, 7 dc in next ch-5 sp; rep from * 4 more times, ch 2, sc in last sc, ch 2. Sl st to top of ch 3. (6 shells of 7 dc = 42 dc, 6 sc, 12 ch-2 sps)
Round 9: Sl st in next 3 dc to reach the center (4th) dc of the shell. Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 7, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * 4 more times, ch 7. Sl st to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-7 sps)
Each ch-7 arch bridges over the sc between two shells. This places the next fans halfway between the first ones, so the tiers stagger.
Round 10 (second fan tier): Sl st into first ch-7 sp. Ch 3, 8 dc in same sp, *ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, 9 dc in next ch-7 sp; rep from * 4 more times, ch 3, sc in last sc, ch 3. Sl st to top of ch 3. (6 shells of 9 dc = 54 dc, 6 sc, 12 ch-3 sps)
Round 11: Sl st in next 4 dc to reach the center (5th) dc. Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 9, sc in center dc of next shell; rep from * 4 more times, ch 9. Sl st to first sc. (6 sc, 6 ch-9 sps)
Round 12 (third fan tier): Sl st into first ch-9 sp. Ch 3, 10 dc in same sp, *ch 4, sc in next sc, ch 4, 11 dc in next ch-9 sp; rep from * 4 more times, ch 4, sc in last sc, ch 4. Sl st to top of ch 3. (6 shells of 11 dc = 66 dc, 6 sc, 12 ch-4 sps)
The shells grow from 7 to 9 to 11 dc, and the arches grow from 5 to 7 to 9 ch. That steady growth makes the bell flare without separate increase rounds. Fasten off Color A.
Checkpoint: The bell measures 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with a lower opening about 3.75 in (9.5 cm) across. The bottom edge is wavy, with six fan tops.
Hem
The cream hem is the border of this piece. It outlines the last blue fans, adds a plain cream band, and finishes in small, ruffled scallops.
Hem gauge: Round 14 measures 12 in (30.5 cm) around, which is 8 sc per inch (2.5 cm). That is slightly firmer than the cap gauge because the sc packed into the ch-4 spaces sit close together.
Counts below are also given per fan repeat. There are 6 repeats around the bell.
Round 13 (conversion round, Color B): Join Color B in the first dc of any shell. Ch 1, *sc in each of next 11 dc, 2 sc in next ch-4 sp, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-4 sp; rep from * 6 times. Sl st to first sc.
Count: 72 sts worked 1-per-stitch (66 dc + 6 sc) + 24 extra sc worked into the 12 ch-4 sps (2 each) = 96 sc. Per repeat: 12 + 4 = 16 sc.
This round traces the curved tops of the fans, so the first cream line looks scalloped from the outside.
Round 14: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc. (96 sts; 16 per repeat)
Round 15 (scallop round): Ch 1, sc in first st, *skip 1 st, 5 dc in next st, skip 1 st, sc in next st; rep from * 23 more times, omitting the final sc on the last repeat. Sl st to first sc. (24 scallops; 4 per repeat)
Why the math works: Round 13 turns each blue repeat into exactly 16 sc, and Round 14 keeps that count. Each scallop uses 4 sts (1 sc + 1 skipped + 1 shell st + 1 skipped), and 96 ÷ 4 = 24. Since 24 ÷ 6 = 4, every fan repeat carries exactly 4 scallops, so the hem lines up with the lace above. The 5 dc packed into every fourth stitch push the edge outward, giving the hem its gentle flare from 3.75 in (9.5 cm) to 4 in (10.2 cm).
Fasten off and weave in all ends on the inside.
Clapper Ball and Hanging Loop
Clapper (Color B)
Round 1: MR, ch 1, 6 sc in ring. Do not join; use a marker. (6 sts)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts)
Stuff firmly. The ball measures 0.6 in (1.5 cm) across.
Cord: Sl st in next st, ch 18. Fasten off, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Close the bottom of the ball with the starting tail.
The 18-ch cord measures about 2.5 in (6.4 cm), so the ball peeks just below the hem.
Hanging Loop (Color B)
Leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) starting tail. Ch 25, then sl st in the back bump of each ch back to the start. (24 sl sts) Fasten off with a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail.
The cord measures about 3 in (7.6 cm). Folded in half, it makes a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) loop.
Assembly
- Thread both loop tails down through the center of the cap MR, from outside to inside.
- Thread the clapper cord tail up through the same center.
- Tie the loop tails and the clapper tail together in a firm square knot on the inside of the cap.
- Adjust the knot until the ball hangs about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) below the hem.
- Pull the cap’s MR tail to close the ring around the cords. Weave all tails into the cap.
Final Blocking
- Wrap your form in plastic wrap. Build it up with paper if needed so it measures 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across the base.
- Mix fabric stiffener as directed, or use a heavy starch solution.
- Soak the bell completely. Gently squeeze out the excess. Do not wring.
- Slide the bell over the form and center the cap on top.
- Open each fan with your fingertips. Line up the tiers so they stagger evenly.
- Pin the hem to the surface around the form, one pin at each of the 24 scallops. Check that it measures 4 in (10.2 cm) across.
- Dip the clapper separately and let it dry hanging, so the cord stays straight.
- Let everything dry fully, usually 12–24 hours. Remove the pins, then lift off the form.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Cap is 1 in (2.5 cm) across and dome-shaped
- 6 fans in each of the three blue tiers
- Each tier’s fans sit centered between the fans above
- Round 13 and Round 14 each have 96 sc
- 24 even scallops, 4 under each fan repeat
- Bell is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across the hem
- Hem is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep and flares evenly
- Clapper ball is 0.6 in (1.5 cm) and hangs 0.25 in (0.6 cm) below the hem
- Loop is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) and centered
- All ends are woven in on the inside
- Bell keeps its shape when hung
Troubleshooting
The cap is flat instead of domed. Your sc may be loose. Tighten your tension or use a smaller hook, and check that Round 5 has no increases.
The fans curl or ruffle. The arches are too long for your tension. Chain more tightly, or remove 1 ch from each arch in Rounds 9 and 11.
The fans pull tight and pucker. The arches are too short. Chain more loosely, or add 1 ch to each arch.
The fan tiers don’t stagger. Start Rounds 9 and 11 in the center dc of a shell. Count the sl sts carefully.
The scallops come out uneven. You must have exactly 96 sts before Round 15. An extra or missing stitch leaves an odd gap at the join.
The hem doesn’t flare. Your dc may be too tight. Work the scallop dc a little taller, or go up half a hook size for Round 15 only.
The bell is soft after blocking. Stiffen again with a stronger mix and let it dry fully on the form.
The clapper hangs too low or too high. Untie the inner knot and adjust before weaving in the tails.
Care
Dust gently with a soft brush and store in a box with tissue paper tucked inside the bell. If it needs washing, hand wash in cool water and re-stiffen over the form.
Final Notes
Measure each stage as you go. The cap is 1 in (2.5 cm) across. The first fan tier reaches 1.25 in (3.2 cm). After the third tier, the bell is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall with a 3.75 in (9.5 cm) opening. The hem adds 0.5 in (1.3 cm), so the finished bell is 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across. The stitch counts follow the same chain: 24 sts at the cap, 30 after Round 6, 6 repeats through the lace, 96 sc in Rounds 13 and 14, and 24 scallops. If each checkpoint matches, your bell will match too.
Make one, check it, and then make a whole set for the tree.
Happy crocheting!