Sugarplum Lace Bell Ornament Crochet Pattern

The Sugarplum Lace Bell is a small, vintage-style Christmas ornament. The body is dusty rose with an open lattice of V-stitches that line up into rows of little triangles. The hem has a soft cream scalloped trim, a cream cord bow sits around the top, and a gold loop hangs it from a branch. A tiny gold jingle bell inside catches the light just below the scallops.

The palette is quiet and warm: dusty rose, cream, and gold. It suits a pastel or heritage-themed tree.

The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished bell is about 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at the scalloped hem.

The bell is one piece worked top-down in joined rounds. You start with a flat circle for the top, turn the work down into a short wall with a back-loop round, then work five lace rounds that slowly grow wider. Two cream rounds make the scalloped hem. The bow cord and hanger are made separately and tied on at the end.

Finished Size and Construction

• Finished size: 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall x 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at the hem, measured flat
• Skill level: Easy
• Terminology: US crochet terms
• Yarn weight: DK (light worsted, category 3)
• Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
• Number of pieces: 1 bell body, plus 1 bow cord and 1 thread hanger
• Layout: single ornament, worked in the round from the top down
• Piece size before border: 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall x 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide at the lower edge, flat
• Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm), cream scallops

Materials

Use a smooth DK yarn with good stitch definition. Cotton or a cotton blend keeps the lace crisp and holds the bell shape well. Fuzzy yarns hide the triangle pattern, so avoid them.

• Color A, dusty rose: 10 g, about 24 m (26 yd)
• Color B, cream: 6 g, about 14 m (15 yd), for the border and bow cord
• Gold metallic thread or fine cord: 16 in (40.6 cm) for the hanger
• 1 gold jingle bell, 15 mm (0.6 in)

Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle
– Scissors
– Stitch marker
– Spray bottle, pins, and a small bell-shaped form (a paper cone or a plastic shot glass covered with plastic wrap)

These quantities include a margin of about 20%, so you will have extra for a test swatch or a re-worked round.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• BLO – back loop only
• MR – magic ring
• sp(s) – space(s)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sk – skip

Special stitches:

• V-st (V-stitch): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch or space.
• Large V-st: (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same space.
• Shell: 7 dc in the same space.

When a round starts with ch 4, it counts as dc + ch 1. When it starts with ch 5, it counts as dc + ch 2. A starting ch 3 always counts as 1 dc.

Gauge and Checkpoints

Gauge: 20 dc and 10 dc rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) with a 3.5 mm hook. That works out to 5 dc per inch, and each dc round is about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) tall.

Make one bell before you plan a batch. It is small and quick, and it will tell you whether your gauge is right.

Checkpoints:

• After Round 2: the flat circle measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
• After Round 4: the tube measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide flattened, and 0.8 in (2.0 cm) tall from the top of the circle.
• After Round 9: the body measures 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide at the lower edge, flattened.
• After Round 11: the finished bell measures 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at the hem.

If your bell is too big: go down to a 3.25 mm (D-3) hook, or work the chains more tightly. If it is too small: go up to a 3.75 mm (F-5) hook. Check at Round 2 first. If the circle is right, the rest usually follows.

Bell Body

Use Color A (dusty rose). Join every round with a sl st to the top of the beginning chain (the 3rd ch of the ch 3, ch 4, or ch 5). Do not turn.

Top Circle

Round 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join. Pull the ring tight but leave a pinhole in the center for the hanger. (12 dc)

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join, 2 dc in each st around, join. (24 dc)

Checkpoint: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.

Ribbed Band

Round 3 (turning round): Ch 3, dc in the BLO of each remaining st around, join. (24 dc: 24 worked 1-per-stitch + 0 added)

The unused front loops make a small ridge, and the work turns down to form the side wall of the bell.

Round 4: Ch 3, dc in each st around, join. (24 dc)

The stacked dc posts of Rounds 3 and 4 give the ribbed band at the top of the bell.

Checkpoint: 2.4 in (6.1 cm) wide flattened, 0.8 in (2.0 cm) tall.

Lace Body

Round 5: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same st as join (first V-st made), sk 2 sts, V-st in next st; repeat from * 6 more times, sk last 2 sts, join to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (8 V-sts: 16 dc, 8 ch-1 sps)

Check: 8 V-sts x 3 sts each = 24 stitches used, which matches Round 4.

Round 6: Sl st into first ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in same sp, ch 1, V-st in next V-st sp, ch 1; repeat from * 6 more times, join. (8 V-sts, 8 ch-1 sps between: 16 dc total)

These V-sts sit directly on top of the Round 5 V-sts.

Round 7: Sl st into V-st sp, sl st in next dc, sl st into next ch-1 sp (between V-sts). Ch 4, dc in same sp, ch 2, V-st in next ch-1 sp between V-sts, ch 2; repeat from * 6 more times, join. (8 V-sts, 8 ch-2 sps: 16 dc total)

Each ch 2 bridges over a Round 6 V-st. This half-step shift is what forms the triangles.

Round 8: Sl st into V-st sp, sl st in next dc, sl st into next ch-2 sp. Ch 4, dc in same sp, ch 2, V-st in next ch-2 sp, ch 2; repeat from * 6 more times, join. (8 V-sts, 8 ch-2 sps: 16 dc total)

The V-sts shift back again, so they line up over the Round 6 columns.

Round 9: Sl st into V-st sp, sl st in next dc, sl st into next ch-2 sp. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same sp, ch 3, Large V-st in next ch-2 sp, ch 3; repeat from * 6 more times, join to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (8 Large V-sts, 8 ch-3 sps: 16 dc total)

Fasten off Color A and weave in the tail on the wrong side.

Checkpoint: 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall, 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide flattened at the lower edge.

Every lace round has 16 dc. The bell flares because the chain spaces grow: ch 1 in Rounds 5 and 6, ch 2 in Rounds 7 and 8, and Large V-sts with ch 3 between in Round 9.

Border

Use Color B (cream).

Border gauge: one Round 10 shell is about 0.9 in (2.3 cm) wide and 0.3 in (0.8 cm) deep. Eight shells plus their sc go around a hem of about 7 in (17.8 cm), or 3.5 in (8.9 cm) flattened. Round 11 adds 0.2 in (0.5 cm) of depth, for a total border depth of 0.5 in (1.3 cm).

Round 10: Join Color B with a sl st in any Large V-st ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in same sp (first shell made), sc in next ch-3 sp, shell (7 dc) in next ch-2 sp, sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * 6 more times, join to top of beg ch-3. (64 sts: 8 shells x 7 dc = 56 dc, plus 8 sc)

Round 11 (trim round): Ch 1. Sc in 1st dc of shell, hdc in 2nd dc, dc in 3rd dc, (dc, ch 2, dc) in 4th (center) dc, dc in 5th dc, hdc in 6th dc, sc in 7th dc, sk the sc; repeat from * 7 more times, join to first sc. Fasten off. (64 sts plus 8 ch-2 tips: 56 sts worked 1-per-stitch + 8 extra dc in the center stitches)

Why the math works: the bell is round, so the border counts per repeat, not per side. Round 9 has 8 repeats, and each repeat has 1 ch-2 sp and 1 ch-3 sp. Each ch-2 sp takes 1 shell (7 sts) and each ch-3 sp takes 1 sc, so each repeat has 8 sts and 8 x 8 = 64. In Round 11, each shell’s 7 dc get 1 stitch each, the center dc gets 1 extra dc, and the sc is skipped. That keeps each repeat at 8 sts, and 8 x 8 = 64 again. Nothing is added at the joins.

Bow Cord

With Color B, ch 61. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (60 sc) Fasten off and leave 2 in (5.1 cm) tails.

The cord measures about 12 in (30.5 cm).

Hanger and Jingle Bell

1. Fold the 16 in (40.6 cm) gold thread in half. Knot it 2 in (5.1 cm) from the fold to make the hanging loop.
2. Thread both cut ends onto the tapestry needle. Pass them down through the pinhole at the center of Round 1, from the outside to the inside.
3. Slide the jingle bell onto both ends. Tie it so it hangs about 3 in (7.6 cm) below the top of the bell, which puts it at or slightly below the hem.
4. Knot the ends together just under the ring on the inside so the loop cannot pull back out. Trim the excess.

Final Blocking

1. Weave in all remaining tails along the inside of the dc stitches.
2. Mist the bell lightly with water until it is damp but not wet.
3. Slip it over your bell-shaped form, with the top circle sitting flat on top.
4. Ease the lace rounds down so the triangles open evenly and all 8 columns line up straight.
5. Pin each of the 8 Round 11 ch-2 tips so it points down and out, and keep the hem at 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.
6. Let it dry completely, for at least 6 hours.
7. Remove it from the form. Wrap the bow cord around the bell at the line between Rounds 2 and 3, centered on the front, and tie a bow with loops about 1 in (2.5 cm) long. Leave the tails hanging, or trim them to 2 in (5.1 cm).

For a firmer bell, block it with a light spray starch or a 1:1 mix of white glue and water, and let it dry on the form.

Final Quality-Control Checklist

• Round 1 has 12 dc and Rounds 2 to 4 have 24 dc each.
• Each lace round has exactly 8 V-sts (16 dc).
• The triangles alternate cleanly, with Rounds 6 and 8 stacked and Round 7 offset.
• Round 10 has 8 shells and Round 11 has 8 pointed scallops.
• The bell is 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide at the hem.
• The jingle bell hangs centered and shows below the hem.
• The hanger knot sits firmly inside the top.
• The bow is centered and both loops are about the same size.
• No tails show on the outside.

Troubleshooting

The top circle cups or ruffles. Cupping means your tension is tight, so loosen your dc. Ruffling means it is loose, so check that Round 2 has exactly 24 dc.

The top does not turn down. Make sure Round 3 is worked in the back loops only.

The triangles look like straight columns. You probably skipped the slip stitch shift in Round 7 or 8. Each of those rounds must start in the space between V-sts.

The bell is too narrow at the hem. Count your chains. The ch-2 sps in Rounds 7 and 8 and the ch-3 sps in Round 9 create the flare.

The scallops are uneven. Each shell must sit in a Large V-st ch-2 sp, and each sc must sit in a ch-3 sp.

The jingle bell is hidden. Lengthen the thread below the knot by 0.25 in (0.6 cm) at a time.

Care

Spot clean with cool water and mild soap, then reshape the bell on the form and let it dry. Store it in a box with tissue so the hem does not get crushed.

Final Notes

Here is the full measurement chain. Gauge is 5 dc per inch. The 12-dc top grows to 24 dc and a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) circle. The ribbed band is 0.8 in (2.0 cm) tall. Five lace rounds of 8 V-sts bring the body to 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall and 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide. Two cream rounds of 64 stitches add 0.5 in (1.3 cm), for a finished bell 3.3 in (8.4 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide.

Once your first bell matches these numbers, the rest go quickly.

Happy crocheting!