This Christmas door curtain is made of five crocheted cords hanging from a wooden dowel. The cords carry cream bells with gold scalloped edges and red bows, small cream stars, gold beads, and red berry clusters. Hung in a doorway, it frames the room behind it like a holiday garland.
The palette has three colors: warm cream for the bells, stars, and cords; metallic gold for the bell edges, beads, and bow centers; and deep cranberry red for the bows and berries. The look is cozy and traditional, with a little sparkle where the light hits the gold.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The strands hang about 28 in (71.1 cm) wide across the outer bells on a 36 in (91.4 cm) dowel, and each strand drops 65 in (165.1 cm) below the dowel.
Every element is worked in the round with single crochet. You make the bells top-down, add a two-tier gold edge, make the small parts, chain five cords, and attach the parts at measured positions.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: about 28 in (71.1 cm) wide x 65 in (165.1 cm) drop, on a 36 in (91.4 cm) dowel
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (#3) for all colors
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 173 (9 large bells, 17 small bells, 14 stars, 24 beads, 78 berries, 26 bows, 5 cords)
- Layout: 5 vertical strands, 6 in (15.2 cm) apart
- Piece size (large bell): 3.4 in (8.6 cm) tall x 4 in (10.2 cm) wide across the scallops
- Size before border (large bell body): 2.9 in (7.4 cm) tall x 3.4 in (8.6 cm) across the opening
- Border depth (gold edge): 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
Materials
Cotton or a cotton blend gives the bells a crisp shape. For the gold, choose a DK-weight metallic blend that is soft enough to work dense single crochet.
- Cream DK: 150 g, about 330 m (bells, stars, cords)
- Gold metallic DK: 100 g, about 250 m (bell edges, beads, bow centers)
- Cranberry red DK: 50 g, about 110 m (bows, berries)
All quantities include a margin of about 30–40%.
Tools:
– 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
– Tapestry needle and a large-eye darning needle
– Stitch markers
– A small amount of polyester fiberfill
– Wooden dowel, 36 in (91.4 cm) long, 3/4 in (1.9 cm) diameter
– Two cup hooks or curtain-rod brackets
– Tape measure, pins, and optional fabric stiffener
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec – sc2tog (invisible decrease recommended)
- MR – magic ring
- BLO / FLO – back loop only / front loop only
- sk – skip
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Special stitch – Scallop: sk 2, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sl st in next st. One scallop uses 6 sts.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 20 sc and 22 rounds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in the round. That works out to 5 sts and 5.5 rounds per inch.
Before you start the batch, make one large bell and check these measurements:
- After Round 4: the flat circle measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across.
- After Round 16: the bell is 2.9 in (7.4 cm) tall and 3.4 in (8.6 cm) across the opening.
- After the gold edge: the bell is 3.4 in (8.6 cm) tall and about 4 in (10.2 cm) across the scallops.
If your bell is too big, go down to a 3.25 mm hook. If it’s too small, go up to a 3.75 mm hook. Measure the first cord after 50 chains. Those 50 chains should be 10 in (25.4 cm) long.
Large Bell (make 9)
Use cream. The bell is worked in joined rounds: sl st to the first sc at the end of each round, then ch 1. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Round 2: inc in each st. (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Rounds 5–8: sc in each st. (24)
Round 9: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
Rounds 10–11: sc in each st. (30)
Round 12: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
Round 13: sc in each st. (36)
Round 14: (5 sc, inc) x 6. (42)
Round 15: (6 sc, inc) x 6. (48)
Round 16: (7 sc, inc) x 6. (54)
Fasten off cream. Leave the magic ring slightly loose for now, because the cord will pass through it later. The three quick increase rounds at the end make the flared mouth of the bell.
Small Bell (make 17)
Use cream and work in joined rounds, as for the large bell.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Round 2: inc in each st. (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6. (18)
Rounds 4–6: sc in each st. (18)
Round 7: (2 sc, inc) x 6. (24)
Rounds 8–9: sc in each st. (24)
Round 10: (3 sc, inc) x 6. (30)
Round 11: (4 sc, inc) x 6. (36)
Fasten off cream. The body measures 2.0 in (5.1 cm) tall and 2.3 in (5.8 cm) across the opening.
Gold Bead (make 24)
Use gold.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Round 2: inc in each st. (12)
Rounds 3–4: sc in each st. (12)
Stuff firmly.
Round 5: dec x 6. (6)
Close the hole and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. The finished bead is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
Berry (make 78)
Use red.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6)
Round 2: sc in each st. (6)
Round 3: dec x 3. (3)
Stuff with a pinch of fiberfill or red scraps, then close. Each berry is about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) across. Sew 3 berries together in a triangle to make 26 clusters. Each cluster is about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
Star (make 14)
Use cream.
Round 1: 10 sc in MR, sl st to the first sc. (10)
Round 2: Ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next ch, sk next sc, sl st in next sc. Repeat from * 4 more times; the last sl st lands in the joining st. (5 points)
Each point uses 2 sts of Round 1, so 5 points x 2 = 10 sts. The star measures about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) from tip to tip.
Bows (make 9 large, 17 small)
Use red.
Large bow: Ch 12 and sl st in the first ch to make loop 1. Ch 12 and sl st in the same ch to make loop 2. Work 16 sc around loop 1 and sl st at the center, then work 16 sc around loop 2 and sl st at the center. For the tails, ch 9, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and the next 7 ch (8 sc), then sl st at the center. Repeat once for the second tail. The bow is about 3 in (7.6 cm) wide.
Small bow: Work as for the large bow, but use ch-7 loops with 10 sc in each, and ch-6 tails with 5 sc each. The bow is about 2 in (5.1 cm) wide.
Center knot: Wrap gold yarn 6 times around the middle of the bow and tie it tight. Sew the knot down so it forms a small gold bead.
Gold Scalloped Edge (Bell Border)
The border has two tiers worked on the last cream round. This is what makes the full, double ruffle.
Border gauge: One back-tier scallop covers 6 sts, which is 1.2 in (3.0 cm) of the bell’s circumference. One front-tier shell covers 3 sts, which is 0.6 in (1.5 cm).
Large bell:
Round 17 (gold): Join gold in the back loop of any st of Round 16. Working in BLO, sc in each st: 54 sc worked 1 per stitch + 0 added. (54) Sl st to join.
Round 18 (back tier): Sl st in the first st. Sk 2, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sl st in next st. Repeat from * around; the last sl st lands in the first sl st. (9 scallops: 45 dc + 9 sl st)
Round 19 (front tier): Join gold in any free front loop of Round 16. Sl st in next FL, 5 hdc in next FL, sk next FL. Repeat around. (18 shells: 90 hdc + 18 sl st) Fasten off.
Small bell:
Round 12: BLO sc in each st of Round 11: 36 worked 1 per stitch + 0 added. (36)
Round 13: 6 scallops, as in Round 18. (30 dc + 6 sl st)
Round 14: Work in the free front loops of Round 11, as in Round 19. (12 shells)
The finished small bell is 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall and 2.9 in (7.4 cm) across.
Why the math works: 54 and 36 both divide evenly by 6 for the back tier (9 and 6 scallops) and by 3 for the front tier (18 and 12 shells). Every repeat closes neatly, with no leftover stitches.
Make All Pieces
Totals by color:
– Cream: 9 large bell bodies, 17 small bell bodies, 14 stars, 5 cords
– Gold: 26 bell edges, 24 beads, 26 bow centers
– Red: 26 bows (9 large, 17 small) and 78 berries (26 clusters)
Cord (make 5): Use cream. Ch 365. Sl st in the back bump of the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (364 sl st). The cord should measure 73 in (185.4 cm): 65 in (165.1 cm) for the drop plus 8 in (20.3 cm) to go over the dowel and tie.
Key:
– L = large bell
– S = small bell
– * = star
– b = bead
– r = berry cluster
Strand A (3 strands), from top to bottom:
L b r S b r L b r S b r L b r S b r (18 items)
Strand B (2 strands), from top to bottom:
S * r * b S * r * b S * r * b S * r (18 items)
Layout along the dowel (measured from the left end):
6 in 12 in 18 in 24 in 30 in
(15.2) (30.5) (45.7) (61.0) (76.2)
A B A B A
Joining: Attaching Components to the Cords
Method: Mark the dowel line 8 in (20.3 cm) from one end of each cord. Measure every position down from that mark. Leave 2 in (5.1 cm) of bare cord between items.
- Strand A: start the first large bell 2.8 in (7.1 cm) below the dowel line.
- Strand B: start the first small bell 2.5 in (6.4 cm) below the dowel line.
Stitch-to-stitch logic:
– Bells: Thread the cord down through the magic ring with the darning needle, then pull the ring snug around the cord. Tack Round 1 to the cord with 3 stitches. Sew the bow over Rounds 3–5 on the front of the bell.
– Beads: Sew the bead’s side to the cord using its gold tail, stitching through the cord at both the top and bottom of the bead.
– Berry clusters: Wrap each cluster around the cord and stitch it closed behind.
– Stars: Sew the star to the front of the cord through the center ring.
Tension: Hold the cord straight but don’t stretch it while you sew. If you stretch the cord, it will shorten again once it hangs, and the spacing will close up.
Size checkpoint:
– Strand A: 2.8 + (3 x 3.4) + (3 x 2.5) + (6 x 0.75) + (6 x 1) + (17 x 2) = 65 in (165.1 cm)
– Strand B: 2.5 + (4 x 2.5) + (7 x 1.75) + (3 x 0.75) + (4 x 1) + (17 x 2) = 65 in (165.1 cm)
Both strands end with a berry cluster. Knot the cord end and hide it inside the last cluster.
Hanging: Fold the 8 in (20.3 cm) allowance over the dowel at its marked position. Tie it to the cord at the dowel line with a firm square knot and trim the excess.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist each bell or brush it with diluted fabric stiffener.
- Shape each bell over an egg cup or a paper cone, and fan the gold scallops evenly.
- Pin the stars flat and pin the bow loops open. Let everything dry completely.
- Hang the curtain and steam the cords lightly from 2 in (5.1 cm) away so the kinks relax.
- Let it hang for 24 hours, then recheck the spacing.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] All 26 bells match their checkpoint sizes.
- [ ] Every bell has 9 or 6 back scallops and 18 or 12 front shells.
- [ ] All 5 cords measure 73 in (185.4 cm) before hanging.
- [ ] Items sit 2 in (5.1 cm) apart.
- [ ] All strands hang 65 in (165.1 cm).
- [ ] Bows sit straight, and the gold centers are secure.
- [ ] All tails are woven in.
- [ ] The strands are 6 in (15.2 cm) apart on the dowel.
Troubleshooting
- Bell looks like a cup instead of flaring: Check Rounds 14–16. The flare needs all three increase rounds.
- Scallops don’t close evenly: Your stitch count before the edge is wrong. Recount the cream round before you add gold.
- Front tier lies flat: Use 5 full hdc per shell and don’t skip the sl st.
- Strands hang at different lengths: Remeasure each cord’s dowel line and retie the knots.
- Stars curl: Block them pinned flat, or sl st loosely in Round 2.
- Metallic yarn splits: Use a hook with a rounded head and work slowly.
Care
Spot clean with a damp cloth and cool water. Store the curtain wrapped loosely around its dowel in a dry box so the bells keep their shape.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short. Gauge of 5 sts per inch gives bell bodies of 3.4 in (8.6 cm) and 2.3 in (5.8 cm) across. The gold edge brings them to 4 in (10.2 cm) and 2.9 in (7.4 cm). Eighteen items spaced 2 in (5.1 cm) apart fill a 65 in (165.1 cm) drop on 73 in (185.4 cm) cords, and five strands spaced 6 in (15.2 cm) apart fill a 36 in (91.4 cm) dowel. Check each link in that chain as you go, and the curtain will hang straight and even.
Happy crocheting!