This little bell ornament pairs a bright red lace body with a soft cream scalloped hem. The red upper two-thirds is worked in an open mesh. Staggered V-stitches and shells create rows of diamond-shaped windows. The cream lower third is solid and smooth, and it finishes in a ruffled shell-stitch edge. A red hanging loop rises from the top point of the bell.
The style is classic and cozy, the kind of ornament that looks hand-made in the best way. It hangs well on a tree, on a gift, or from a door handle. It is quick to make, using only a few grams of each color.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished bell measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide across the scallops when laid flat, not counting the hanging loop.
The bell is worked as one single piece, top-down, in joined rounds. You start with a rounded crown, open into the red diamond lace, change to cream for a smooth band, and finish with a shell edging. A short chain loop is added at the crown last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall × 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide, laid flat
- Hanging loop: about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall, extra to the bell height
- Skill level: Easy-Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport weight (#2), cotton
- Hook: 2.75 mm (US C-2)
- Number of pieces: 1 (hanging loop is worked directly onto it)
- Layout: Single bell, worked top-down in joined rounds
- Piece size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall × 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide
- Size before border: 3 in (7.6 cm) tall × 4 in (10.2 cm) wide
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm)
- Color split: Red section 2.25 in (5.7 cm); cream section 1.25 in (3.2 cm) including border
Materials
Yarn advice: Choose a smooth, mercerized sport-weight cotton. Cotton holds the bell shape, shows lace clearly, and takes starch well. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because the diamond windows will blur and the bell will sag.
- Red: 5 g, about 10 m (11 yd)
- Cream: 4 g, about 8 m (9 yd)
Tools:
- 2.75 mm (US C-2) crochet hook
- 1 stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Blocking form: a small cone, egg, or a ball of foil shaped like a bell
- Fabric stiffener or spray starch (optional but recommended)
- Rustproof pins
Quantities include a margin of roughly 50% for a gauge test and weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- beg – beginning
- MR – magic ring
Special stitches:
- V-st (small): (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same space.
- V-st (large): (dc, ch 2, dc) in the same space.
- Shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same space.
- Scallop: 5 dc in the same stitch.
- Between-space: the gap between the last dc of one group and the first dc of the next group.
Note: Beg ch 3 counts as a dc throughout. Keep the outside of the bell facing you at all times. Do not turn.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 12 dc and 6 rounds = 2 in (5.1 cm) in solid dc.
Test first: Work Rounds 1–3 as your gauge test. This uses very little yarn and tells you right away if your bell will be the right size.
Checkpoints:
- After Round 3: Crown measures 2 in (5.1 cm) across when gently flattened.
- After Round 8: Red section measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) tall, and the lower edge is about 4 in (10.2 cm) across, laid flat.
- After Round 11: Bell measures 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) across.
- After Round 12: Bell measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) across the scallops.
Too big? Go down to a 2.5 mm hook. Too small? Go up to a 3.0 mm hook. Change the hook, not the stitch counts. All counts below depend on the repeats staying exactly as written.
Main Pattern: Red Crown and Lace Body
Use Red.
Crown (Rounded Dome)
The crown increases more slowly than a flat circle needs, so it cups into a rounded dome.
Round 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 7 dc in ring. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. Pull ring closed tightly. (8 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (16 dc)
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st; repeat from * 6 more times. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (24 dc)
The crown should now curve like the top of a dome. Check the 2 in (5.1 cm) checkpoint.
Lace Body (Diamond Windows)
Round 4 (mesh): Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), skip next 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 2, skip next 2 sts; repeat from * 6 more times. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (8 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Check: 8 repeats × 3 sts = 24 sts, which uses every stitch of Round 3.
Round 5 (small V-sts): Sl st into first ch-2 sp, ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same sp. Small V-st in each remaining ch-2 sp around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (8 small V-sts: 16 dc, 8 ch-1 sps)
Round 6 (large V-sts, staggered): Sl st into next ch-1 sp, sl st in next dc, sl st into the between-space. Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same between-space. Large V-st in each remaining between-space around. Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (8 large V-sts: 16 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Each new V-st now sits above a gap. Each old V-st sits below a gap. This stagger opens the first row of diamond windows.
Round 7 (shells, staggered): Sl st into next ch-2 sp, sl st in next dc, sl st into the between-space. Ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same between-space. Shell in each remaining between-space around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (8 shells: 32 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
This round flares the bell. Each group now holds 4 dc instead of 2.
Round 8 (shells, staggered): Sl st in next dc, sl st into ch-2 sp, sl st in next 2 dc, sl st into the between-space. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same between-space. Shell in each remaining between-space around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (8 shells: 32 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)
Fasten off Red, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Check the 2.25 in (5.7 cm) checkpoint.
Main Pattern: Cream Band
Use Cream. This section is solid, smooth, and joins directly onto the red lace.
Round 9 (conversion round): Join Cream with a sl st in the first dc of any shell. Ch 1, sc in same st. Sc in each dc around, and work 2 sc in each ch-2 sp. Do not work into the between-spaces. Sl st to first sc.
Count: 32 sc (1 in each existing dc) + 16 sc (2 in each of 8 ch-2 sps) = 48 sc.
This round does not continue the lace growth. It converts the open lace into a solid base for the band.
Round 10: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st around. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (48 dc)
Round 11: Repeat Round 10. (48 dc)
The band stays straight here. The scallop border provides the final flare. Check the 3 in (7.6 cm) × 4 in (10.2 cm) checkpoint.
Border: Scalloped Shell Edge
Border gauge: One scallop repeat uses 4 sts. At 6 dc per 1 in (2.5 cm), each repeat covers about 0.67 in (1.7 cm). Twelve repeats cover the full 8 in (20.3 cm) circumference.
“Per side”: A bell laid flat has two sides, front and back. Each side holds 24 of the 48 sts from Round 11.
Round 12: Ch 1, sc in first st. Skip next st, scallop (5 dc) in next st, skip next st, sc in next st; repeat from * around, ending the last repeat with: skip next st, scallop in next st, skip last st. Sl st to first sc.
Counts:
- Per side: 24 sts used → 6 scallops, 6 sc, 30 dc
- Total: 48 sts used → 12 scallops, 12 sc, 60 dc (72 sts)
Why the math works: Each repeat is sc (1 st) + skip (1 st) + scallop (1 st) + skip (1 st) = 4 sts. 48 ÷ 4 = 12, with no remainder. 24 per side ÷ 4 = 6 scallops per side, so the front and back of the bell match exactly.
Fasten off Cream and weave in the ends.
Hanging Loop and Top Knot
Use Red. Cut a 12 in (30.5 cm) length.
- Insert hook through the center of Round 1 from the outside. Pull up a loop, then sl st around 2 adjacent stitches of Round 1 to anchor.
- Ch 20.
- Sl st into the same anchor point to form the loop.
- Top knot: Ch 1, then work 4 sc around both strands at the base of the loop. Sl st to first sc.
- Fasten off. Weave the tail down through the crown.
The loop should stand about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) tall. If it is longer, remove 2–4 chains.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends securely, especially the red and cream tails at Round 9.
- Wet the bell in cool water. Squeeze out water gently in a towel. Do not wring.
- Optional: soak the bell in fabric stiffener or mist it well with spray starch.
- Slip the bell over your cone, egg, or foil form. Stretch the crown so it sits round and smooth.
- Open each diamond window with your fingertip so the lace is even all around.
- Pull the cream band straight down so the color line is level.
- Pin each of the 12 scallops so it fans outward evenly.
- Stand the loop upright, or lay it flat so it dries straight.
- Let it dry completely, at least 24 hours.
- Remove pins and check the final size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Crown is rounded, not pointed or flat.
- Magic ring is closed with no hole at the top.
- 8 V-sts in Rounds 5 and 6, and 8 shells in Rounds 7 and 8.
- Diamond windows are staggered and open evenly.
- Round 9 has exactly 48 sc.
- Color change is a clean, level line.
- Round 12 has 12 scallops, 6 per side.
- Bell measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) tall and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide.
- Loop is centered and firmly anchored.
- All ends are woven in and trimmed.
Troubleshooting
Crown is flat, not domed: You may have added extra increases. Recount Round 3; it must be exactly 24 dc.
Crown is pointed or puckered: Your tension is too tight. Go up a hook size and work the crown again.
Diamonds look like columns, not diamonds: Your groups are stacked instead of staggered. In Rounds 6–8, each new group must go into a between-space, not into a ch-sp.
Wrong count in Round 9: Make sure you worked 2 sc in every ch-2 sp and skipped every between-space.
Scallops do not end evenly: Round 11 must have 48 sts. Any other count will break the 4-st repeat.
Bell flares too much: Use a smaller hook for Rounds 7–12 only.
Bell sags after hanging: Block again with stiffener and let it dry fully.
Color line is wavy: Re-wet the bell and pull the cream band straight down while blocking.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and lay flat or reshape on a form to dry. If you used stiffener, re-stiffen after washing.
Final Notes
Everything in this bell follows one measurement chain. A crown of 24 dc measures 2 in (5.1 cm) across. Five lace rounds bring the red section to 2.25 in (5.7 cm). The conversion round sets 48 sc. Two dc rounds bring the bell to 3 in (7.6 cm) tall and 4 in (10.2 cm) wide. Twelve 4-st scallops add 0.5 in (1.3 cm), for a finished bell of 3.5 in (8.9 cm) × 4.5 in (11.4 cm).
If your crown checkpoint matches, the rest of the bell will follow. Check your counts at Rounds 3, 8, 9, and 11, and your bell will come out right every time.
Happy crocheting!