This festive door hanging has a solid red header band and thirteen hanging cords that form a deep V. Five green and four red five-petal flowers, each with a pearl center, run along the header. The cords hang below it, and each one carries red bells and small flowers. Every bell has a short pearl clapper.
The palette is classic holiday: bright red, leaf green, and creamy white pearls. The red-and-green cords look speckled because they’re chained with both colors held together. The finished hanging looks like a traditional door toran, and it fits a standard interior door frame.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The header band measures 29 in (73.7 cm) wide by 2.8 in (7.1 cm) tall after the border. The center point hangs about 32 in (81.3 cm) from the top of the band, and the outer cords hang about 14 in (35.6 cm).
You will work the header in rows of single crochet and add a three-round border. Next, you’ll make the bells and flowers in the round, chain the cords directly onto the bottom edge of the band, and sew everything in place.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 29 in (73.7 cm) wide; center drop about 32 in (81.3 cm), outer drop about 14 in (35.6 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate (easy stitches, careful assembly)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK (light, #3)
- Hooks: 3.5 mm (US E/4) for the pieces; 4.5 mm (US 7) for the cords
- Number of pieces: 1 header band, 9 large flowers, 13 cords, 41 bells, 34 small flowers
- Layout: 13 cords in a V, with 3 elements on each outer cord and 9 on the center cord
- Header size before border: 28.2 × 2 in (71.6 × 5.1 cm)
- Border depth: about 0.4 in (1.0 cm) per edge
- Bell: about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall
- Flowers: large 1.75 in (4.4 cm); small 1.25 in (3.2 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth cotton or cotton-blend DK yarn. Cotton gives the bells crisp scallops and holds its shape on a door. These amounts assume 100 g ≈ 230 m.
- Red: 250 g (about 575 m)
- Green: 50 g (about 115 m)
The quantities include a margin of about 20%.
Tools and notions:
– 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm crochet hooks
– Tapestry needle
– 123 white pearl beads, 8 mm (bell clappers)
– 34 white pearl beads, 6 mm (small flower centers)
– 9 white pearl beads, 10 mm (large flower centers)
– Clear nylon beading thread and a sharp beading needle
– Stitch markers (at least 20)
– Clear-drying fabric glue (optional, for the knots)
– Tape measure, blocking pins and a spray bottle
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
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- MR – magic ring
- RS – right side
Reverse sc (crab stitch): Work from left to right. Insert your hook in the next stitch to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through both loops.
Gauge and Checkpoints
With the 3.5 mm hook: 20 sc and 22 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm). That’s 5 sts and 5.5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Cord gauge, using the 4.5 mm hook with red and green held together: 4 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm), so 12 ch = 3 in (7.6 cm).
Test one piece first. Make one bell and check it against these numbers:
– After Rnd 8: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) tall; rim flattened 1.8 in (4.6 cm) wide
– After Rnd 9: about 1.75 in (4.4 cm) tall
Header checkpoints:
– After Row 1: 28.2 in (71.6 cm) wide
– After Row 11: 2 in (5.1 cm) tall
– After the border: 29 × 2.8 in (73.7 × 7.1 cm)
If your pieces are too big, go down 0.25 mm. If they’re too small, go up 0.25 mm. If your cord is too long, chain more tightly or switch to a 4 mm hook. The cord count only works if 12 ch = 3 in (7.6 cm).
Header Band
Use red and the 3.5 mm hook.
Foundation: Ch 142.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (141 sts)
Rows 2–11: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (141 sts)
Don’t fasten off. Check that the band measures 28.2 × 2 in (71.6 × 5.1 cm).
Large Flowers (make 9: 5 green, 4 red)
Use the 3.5 mm hook.
Rnd 1: MR, 10 sc in the ring, then sl st to the first sc. (10 sts) This center should measure 0.75 in (1.9 cm).
Rnd 2: *(Hdc, 3 dc, hdc) in the next st, sl st in the next st; repeat from * 4 more times. The last sl st lands in the joining st. (5 petals; 30 sts: 25 petal sts + 5 sl sts)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The finished flower measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm). Sew a 10 mm pearl over the center.
Small Flowers (make 34: 20 red, 14 green)
Rnd 1: MR, 10 sc in the ring, then sl st to the first sc. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: *(Hdc, dc, hdc) in the next st, sl st in the next st; repeat from * 4 more times. (5 petals; 20 sts: 15 petal sts + 5 sl sts)
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. The finished flower measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm). Sew a 6 mm pearl to the center.
Bells (make 41 in red)
Each bell is worked from the top down in continuous rounds. Leave an 8 in (20.3 cm) starting tail and place a marker in the first st of each round.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in the ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Sc in each st. (6 sts)
Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) 3 times. (9 sts)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) 3 times. (12 sts)
Rnds 5–6: Sc in each st. (12 sts)
Rnd 7: (Sc, inc) 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 8: Sc in each st. (18 sts)
Rnd 9 (scallop edge): *Sl st in the next st, skip the next st, 5 dc in the next st; repeat from * 5 more times. Sl st in the first sl st. (6 scallops; 36 sts: 6 sl sts + 30 dc)
Each repeat uses 3 sts, and 6 repeats × 3 = 18, so the scallops fit Rnd 8 exactly. Fasten off and weave in the bottom tail. Keep the starting tail at the top for sewing.
Pearl clapper: Cut 6 in (15.2 cm) of nylon thread. Tie it securely through Rnd 1 on the inside of the bell. Leave 1.25 in (3.2 cm) of bare thread, then string three 8 mm pearls. Knot the thread under the last pearl and add a dot of glue. The pearls should hang about 2.2 in (5.6 cm) below the top of the bell, so they peek out below the scallops.
Make All Pieces
Red: 1 header band, 41 bells, 20 small flowers, 4 large flowers
Green: 14 small flowers, 5 large flowers
Red + green held together: 13 cords (made during assembly)
Number the cords 1–13 from left to right. Cord n carries a set number of elements, spaced every 12 ch (3 in / 7.6 cm). Each cord ends with a bell. Here is the order from top to bottom (B = bell, R = red flower, G = green flower):
Cord 1 & 13 (3): B R B
Cord 2 & 12 (4): G B R B
Cord 3 & 11 (5): B G B R B
Cord 4 & 10 (6): R B G B R B
Cord 5 & 9 (7): B R B G B R B
Cord 6 & 8 (8): G B R B G B R B
Cord 7 (9): B G B R B G B R B
Check the totals:
– Bells: 2 × (2+2+3+3+4+4) + 5 = 41
– Red flowers: 2 × (1+1+1+2+2+2) + 2 = 20
– Green flowers: 2 × (0+1+1+1+1+2) + 2 = 14
Border
Continue with red on the header band. The border keeps the 5 sts per inch gauge. Each 3-sc corner group counts as corner st, corner center, corner st.
Rnd 1: Ch 1. Along the top: 3 sc in the first st, sc in the next 139 sts, 3 sc in the last st. Down the short side: sc in each of the 11 row ends. Along the foundation chain: 3 sc in the first ch, sc in the next 139 ch, 3 sc in the last ch. Up the second short side: sc in each of the 11 row ends. Sl st to the first sc.
This gives 304 sts worked one per existing st (141 + 141 + 11 + 11), plus 8 corner extras, for 312 sts.
– Each long side: 143 sts, counting both corner centers
– Each short side: 15 sts, counting both corner centers
– Check: 2 × 143 + 2 × 15 − 4 shared corners = 312
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st, with 3 sc in each corner center. Sl st to join.
This gives 312 sts worked one per st, plus 8 corner extras, for 320 sts.
– Long sides: 145 sts each
– Short sides: 17 sts each
– Check: 2 × 145 + 2 × 17 − 4 = 320
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Reverse sc in each st around. Sl st to join. (320 sts; no increases)
Why the math works: 145 sts ÷ 5 = 29 in (73.7 cm). Number the bottom side of Rnd 2 from st 1 at the left corner center to st 145 at the right corner center. Mark sts 7, 18, 29, 40, 51, 62, 73, 84, 95, 106, 117, 128 and 139 for the cords.
There are 11 sts between cords (2.2 in / 5.6 cm) and 6 sts beyond each outer cord. St 73 is the exact center, so the V is symmetrical.
Hanging loops: Join red in the top-left corner center of Rnd 3. Ch 20, sl st in the same st, work 30 sc into the loop, sl st to join and fasten off. Repeat at the top-right corner. Each loop measures about 2 in (5.1 cm).
Joining
Header flowers: On Row 6, mark body sts 7, 23, 39, 55, 71, 87, 103, 119 and 135. Count from the left within the 141 body sts. The flowers sit 16 sts (3.2 in / 8.1 cm) apart, and the center flower sits on st 71.
Sew the flowers on in this color order: green, red, green, red, green, red, green, red, green. Whipstitch under the sl sts between the petals so the petals stay free and lifted.
Cords: Use the 4.5 mm hook with one strand of red and one strand of green held together. Insert your hook in the marked Rnd 2 st, working just under the crab edge, and join with a sl st. Then chain these totals:
| Cords | Elements | Chains | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 & 13 | 3 | 36 | 9 in (22.9 cm) |
| 2 & 12 | 4 | 48 | 12 in (30.5 cm) |
| 3 & 11 | 5 | 60 | 15 in (38.1 cm) |
| 4 & 10 | 6 | 72 | 18 in (45.7 cm) |
| 5 & 9 | 7 | 84 | 21 in (53.3 cm) |
| 6 & 8 | 8 | 96 | 24 in (61.0 cm) |
| 7 | 9 | 108 | 27 in (68.6 cm) |
Fasten off each cord, leaving a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Place markers in ch 12, 24, 36 and so on, counting down from the join. The last element always sits on the last chain.
Elements: Follow the layout grid. Sew each bell top to the front of the cord at its marker, using the bell’s starting tail and 3–4 stitches through the cord. Sew each flower center over its marker so the cord runs behind it. On the bottom bell, also wrap the cord tail through Rnd 1 and knot it.
Tension advice: Pull the sewing stitches snug but don’t pucker the chain. Pulling too tight shortens the 3 in (7.6 cm) spacing.
Size checkpoint: Hang the piece from both loops. The center bell’s rim should sit about 31.55 in (80.1 cm) below the top of the band (2.8 + 27 + 1.75 in). Its pearls should reach about 32 in (81.3 cm). Each cord moving outward from the center should be 3 in (7.6 cm) shorter than the one before.
Final Blocking
- Lightly mist the header band and pin it flat to 29 × 2.8 in (73.7 × 7.1 cm). Let it dry fully.
- Shape each bell over a bottle cap or a rolled cone of plastic wrap. Fan the 6 scallops evenly and mist them.
- Open the flower petals with your fingers and steam them lightly from above without touching the iron to the yarn.
- Hang the piece on a door or rod and mist the cords. Gravity straightens any twists.
- Let everything dry hanging for 24 hours before you trim any tails.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The band measures 29 × 2.8 in (73.7 × 7.1 cm) and its corners are square
- You have 9 header flowers alternating green and red, all centered on Row 6
- You have 13 cords, 11 sts apart, with the center cord on st 73
- Each cord is 3 in (7.6 cm) longer than its neighbor toward the center
- Each bell has 6 even scallops and a three-pearl clapper
- All 166 pearls are secure, and all tails are woven in or glued
- The hanging loops are equal in size and firmly anchored
Troubleshooting
- Band ripples along the edge: Your border tension is too loose. Redo Rnd 2 with a 3.25 mm hook.
- Band cups at the corners: Make sure you worked exactly 3 sc into each corner center, not 2.
- Bell flares flat: Your Rnd 9 dc are too tall. Switch to 5 hdc per scallop.
- Bell too narrow: Recheck Rnd 7; it must end with 18 sts.
- V looks lopsided: Recount the cord chains, or slide an element along its cord to the correct 12-ch marker.
- Cords twist: Chain with both strands lying flat, then steam the cords while they hang.
- Pearls hide inside the bell: Lengthen the bare clapper thread to 1.5 in (3.8 cm).
Care
Dust gently or spot clean with cool water and mild soap, and keep the pearls dry where possible. Store the hanging flat, with the cords laid straight, so they don’t tangle.
Final Notes
Everything rests on one measurement chain:
– 5 sts per inch makes 141 sts = 28.2 in (71.6 cm).
– The border adds 2 sts per side to reach 145 sts = 29 in (73.7 cm).
– Cords placed 11 sts apart center the V on st 73.
– At 4 ch per inch, every 12 ch places one element 3 in (7.6 cm) lower.
If you keep these numbers, the bells will fall into a neat V that frames your doorway all season.
Happy crocheting!