This ornament is two soft blue bells hanging side by side, topped with a cream holly cluster and a slim blue hanging loop. A gold jingle bell hangs inside each bell, so it rings a little when the branch moves. The look is wintry and calm, with icy blue and creamy white in place of the usual red and green.
Each bell is worked top down in tight single crochet rounds. The sides widen gently, then flare at the bottom, and a crab-stitch rim gives the edge a corded, rolled look. Each holly leaf is one round worked around a foundation chain, with picot points. Each berry is a small stuffed ball.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished ornament measures about 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide and 4 in (10.2 cm) tall, not counting the loop. With the loop it is about 7 in (17.8 cm) tall. Each bell is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, with a rim 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
Construction overview: crochet two bells, two leaves, three berries and one hanging cord. Add a jingle bell clapper inside each bell. Sew the bells together side by side, then stack the loop, leaves and berries over the join.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide x 4 in (10.2 cm) tall without the loop; 7 in (17.8 cm) tall with the loop
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Worsted weight (#4)
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 8 crocheted pieces (2 bells, 2 leaves, 3 berries, 1 hanging cord), plus 2 metal jingle bells
- Layout: two bells side by side, with the holly cluster and loop centered over the join
- Piece size: bell 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall x 3 in (7.6 cm) rim; leaf 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm); berry 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Bell size before border: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall, 3 in (7.6 cm) across the opening
- Border (rim) depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Pick a smooth worsted weight yarn. Cotton or a cotton blend gives the crispest bell shape and the clearest crab-stitch rim. Acrylic also works, but the bells will be softer, so plan on light starching. Avoid fuzzy yarn, because the tight rounds make the stitches hard to see.
- Light blue (Color A): 20 g, about 40 m, for the bells and the hanging cord
- Cream (Color B): 10 g, about 20 m, for the leaves, berries and clapper strands
These quantities are for one ornament and include a margin for gauge testing and sewing tails.
Tools and notions:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- 2 gold jingle bells, 15 mm (0.6 in / 1.5 cm)
- Small amount of polyester fiberfill for the berries
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch marker
- Scissors
- Optional: fabric stiffener or spray starch, plus pins and a foam board
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together (an invisible decrease through the front loops is recommended)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Picot: ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook (the first of those 3 chains). This makes one small pointed bump.
Reverse sc (crab stitch): Work from left to right (if you are right-handed). Insert the hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops. This makes the twisted, corded rim.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc x 22 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in continuous rounds. That is 5 sts and 5.5 rnds per inch.
Make one complete bell first and use it as your gauge test. The bell’s shape depends on gauge, so measure at each stage:
- After Rnd 3: the flat crown measures 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across.
- After Rnd 9: the opening is 1.9 in (4.8 cm) across, and the bell is 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 14: the bell is 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall, with a 3 in (7.6 cm) opening.
- After the rim: the bell is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall, and the rim still measures 3 in (7.6 cm) across.
If the bell is too big (rim over 3.25 in / 8.3 cm), go down to a 3.25 mm hook or tighten your tension. If it is too small (rim under 2.75 in / 7.0 cm), go up to a 3.75 mm hook. Keep the fabric firm. If you can see light through the stitches, the bell will slump.
Bell (Make 2, Color A)
Work in continuous spiral rounds without joining. Put the marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in the MR. Pull it closed. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, inc) 6 times. (18)
This is the flat crown, 1.1 in (2.8 cm) across.
Rnds 4–5: Sc in each st around. (18)
These even rounds bend the crown down into a dome.
Rnd 6: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 6 times. (24)
Rnds 7–8: Sc in each st around. (24)
Rnd 9: (Sc in next 3 sts, inc) 6 times. (30)
Checkpoint: the opening is 1.9 in (4.8 cm) across and the bell is 1.4 in (3.6 cm) tall.
Rnds 10–11: Sc in each st around. (30)
Rnd 12: (Sc in next 4 sts, inc) 6 times. (36)
Rnd 13: Sc in each st around. (36)
Rnd 14 (flare): (Sc in next 2 sts, inc) 12 times. (48)
Going from 36 to 48 sts in a single round makes the bottom of the bell flare out. Checkpoint: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall, with a 3 in (7.6 cm) opening.
Leave the yarn attached. You will use it for the rim in the Border section.
Holly Leaf (Make 2, Color B)
Ch 11.
Rnd 1, first side: Working into the back bumps, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, picot, dc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, picot, dc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, picot, sc in the next ch. (9 sts, 3 picots)
Tip: In the last ch, work (sc, picot, sc). (2 sts, 1 picot)
Second side: Rotate the leaf and work along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, picot, dc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, picot, dc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, picot, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch, sl st in the last ch. (9 sts, 3 picots)
Sl st in the first sl st to join. Total: 20 sts and 7 picots.
The picots on the two sides line up in mirrored pairs, so you get 3 points on each side plus 1 at the tip. Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The leaf measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) long and 1.25 in (3.2 cm) wide across the points.
Berry (Make 3, Color B)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in the MR. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Rnd 3: Sc in each st around. (12)
Stuff firmly with a small pinch of fiberfill.
Rnd 4: Sc2tog 6 times. (6)
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull it closed. Each berry is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Hanging Cord (Make 1, Color A)
Ch 31. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (30 sl sts)
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The cord is about 6 in (15.2 cm) long and folds into a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop.
Make All Pieces
For one ornament you need:
- Color A: 2 bells and 1 hanging cord
- Color B: 2 leaves and 3 berries
- Notions: 2 jingle bells and 2 cream clapper strands, each 6 in (15.2 cm) long
Assembly layout, front view:
( loop )
[Leaf] (Berry) [Leaf]
(Berry) (Berry)
[ Bell A ][ Bell B ]
(jb) (jb)
jb = jingle bell hanging inside each bell
Joining
Clappers first. Thread one cream strand through the shank of a jingle bell. With the tapestry needle, pass both ends up through the center of the magic ring, from inside the bell to the outside. Adjust the strand until the top of the jingle bell hangs 1.5 in (3.8 cm) below the inside of the crown, just above the rim. Knot the ends securely on top of the bell, then repeat for the second bell. The holly cluster will hide these knots later.
Bells together. Hold the bells side by side with the round-change jog facing the back. The bells touch along a vertical line from Rnd 4 down to Rnd 13. That is 10 rounds, about 1.8 in (4.6 cm). Using a Color A tail, whipstitch one stitch of Bell A to the matching stitch of Bell B in each of those rounds, for 10 stitch pairs in total. Matching round to round keeps the bells level. Leave the rims unsewn so they can overlap by about 0.5 in (1.3 cm), and let the crowns lean slightly toward each other.
Tension. Pull each whipstitch just snug enough that the bells touch. Pulling harder puckers the fabric and twists the bells forward.
Topper. Fold the cord in half and sew both ends into the dip where the two crowns meet. Sew each leaf base right beside the cord, with the tips pointing up and out at about 30 degrees above horizontal. Sew one berry centered above the leaf bases and two berries side by side below it. The berries should cover the cord ends, leaf bases and clapper knots.
Size checkpoint: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across both rims, 4 in (10.2 cm) from the bottom of the rims to the leaf tips, and 7 in (17.8 cm) to the top of the loop.
Border: Bell Rim
Each bell gets a two-round rim, worked straight after Rnd 14 with the same yarn. It is easiest to do this before the bells are joined.
Border gauge: 1 rim stitch per Rnd 14 stitch, at the main gauge of 5 sts per inch. The rim adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of depth.
Rnd 15: Sc in each st around. Sl st in the first sc to join. (48)
Rnd 16: Ch 1. Reverse sc in each st around. Sl st in the first st to join. (48)
Fasten off and weave in the end.
Why the math works: The bell is round, so it has no sides. Instead it has 12 equal sections of 4 stitches, set up by the 12 repeats in Rnd 14: 12 x 4 = 48. Rnds 15 and 16 are both worked 1 stitch into each stitch, so the rim stays at exactly 48. Extra stitches would make it ruffle, and skipped stitches would make it pull in. At 5 sts per inch, 48 stitches gives a circumference of 9.6 in (24.4 cm), which is the 3 in (7.6 cm) diameter.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the bells with water, or with diluted fabric stiffener if your yarn is soft.
- Set each bell over a small cup or rolled towel that fills the shape without stretching it.
- Use your fingers to roll the crab-stitch rim outward so the flare is even all the way around.
- Pin each leaf flat on foam, pulling every picot point out sharply. Check that it measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) x 1.25 in (3.2 cm).
- Let everything dry completely, at least 12 hours.
- Finish any remaining assembly once the pieces are dry, so the shapes stay crisp.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Both bells measure 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall with 3 in (7.6 cm) rims.
- Both bells have exactly 48 stitches in Rnds 14 to 16.
- The round-change jogs face the back.
- Both jingle bells hang at the same height and ring freely.
- The leaves match in size and each has 7 crisp points.
- The berries are round and firm, with no stuffing showing.
- The holly cluster covers every knot and cord end.
- The ornament hangs level from its loop.
Troubleshooting
- The bell looks like a cone: Your tension is loose in Rnds 4 to 13. Go down one hook size.
- The rim ruffles: Count Rnd 14 again. You should have exactly 48 stitches.
- The rim curls inward: Your crab stitches are too tight. Loosen your tension for Rnd 16 only.
- The leaf points are soft: Pull each picot sl st snug, and block with starch.
- The ornament tilts: Move the loop ends to the exact center of the join.
- The jingle bell is silent: Shorten the clapper so the jingle bell hangs free of the fabric.
Care
Spot clean with a damp cloth and cool water, then reshape and let it air dry. Store it flat in tissue paper so the leaves and rims keep their shape.
Final Notes
The whole ornament follows one measurement chain. A gauge of 5 sts per inch gives a 1.1 in (2.8 cm) crown at Rnd 3 and a 3 in (7.6 cm) flare at Rnd 14. The 48-stitch rim then brings each bell to 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall. Two bells with overlapping rims measure 5.5 in (14.0 cm) across. The holly cluster brings the height to 4 in (10.2 cm), or 7 in (17.8 cm) with the loop. Check each number as you go and the finished ornament will match.
Happy crocheting!