Materials
Cream worsted weight cotton or acrylic yarn for the bell body.
Red yarn for the bow, berries, and lower accent stripe.
Dark green yarn for the holly leaves and green accent stripe.
A small amount of metallic gold yarn or gold embroidery thread for the bow edge.
3.0 mm to 3.5 mm crochet hook.
One small metal jingle bell for the bottom.
Fiberfill, only if you want the bow center or berries slightly padded.
Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, and strong hanging cord.
Finished Size
With medium weight yarn and a 3.25 mm hook, the finished ornament is about 18 to 22 cm tall from the top of the bow to the bottom jingle bell. The crochet bell itself is about 10 to 12 cm tall and 9 to 11 cm wide at the lower edge.
Abbreviations
MR = magic ring
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
inc = 2 stitches in the same stitch
dec = single crochet 2 stitches together
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
st / sts = stitch / stitches
rnd = round
Method
The ornament is made in separate pieces and assembled at the end. Crochet the bell body from the top downward. Add the green and red accent rounds near the lower edge. Work a scalloped cream border to create the flared bell shape. Crochet the bow in separate loops and tails, then add the holly leaves and berries. Finish by attaching the hanging loop and the small metal bell.
Formation
For the cleanest shape, keep the bell body firm but not stiff. The upper section should be gently rounded and the lower section should widen gradually. The final cream scallop round should sit slightly outward so the bell reads clearly as a bell rather than a cone. The bow is placed high on the front and should be wide enough to cover the top third of the bell.
Full Pattern
1. Bell Body
Use cream yarn.
Rnd 1: Make an MR and work 6 sc into the ring. Join with a sl st. 6 sts.
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Inc in every st around. Join. 12 sts.
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 18 sts.
Rnd 4: Ch 1. Work 2 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 24 sts.
Rnd 5: Ch 1. Work 3 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 30 sts.
Rnd 6: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 30 sts.
Rnd 7: Ch 1. Work 4 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 36 sts.
Rnd 8: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 36 sts.
Rnd 9: Ch 1. Work 5 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 42 sts.
Rnd 10: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 42 sts.
Rnd 11: Ch 1. Work 6 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 48 sts.
Rnd 12: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 48 sts.
Rnd 13: Ch 1. Work 7 sc, inc. Repeat around. Join. 54 sts.
Rnd 14 to 18: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 54 sts each round.
At this point the bell body should have a rounded upper portion and a gently widening lower half. If your yarn is thin, add one or two extra plain rounds before the color stripes.
2. Green Accent Stripe
Change to dark green yarn.
Rnd 19: Ch 1. Sc around in BLO. Join. 54 sts.
Rnd 20: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 54 sts.
3. Red Accent Stripe
Change to red yarn.
Rnd 21: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 54 sts.
Rnd 22: Ch 1. Sc around. Join. 54 sts.
4. Cream Flared Edge
Change back to cream yarn.
Rnd 23: Ch 1. Work 8 sc, inc. Repeat around as evenly as possible. Join.
Rnd 24: Ch 1. Work 1 hdc in each st around. Join.
Rnd 25: Ch 1. In first st work sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc. Skip 1 st. Repeat the shell sequence around. Join with a sl st.
The last round creates the soft scalloped edge visible in the photo. If you want a wider ruffle, work 3 dc instead of 2 dc in the center of each shell.
5. Top Hanging Loop
Use cream yarn or strong cotton cord.
Ch 30 to 36, depending on the hanging length you prefer.
Sl st into the first ch to form a loop.
Fasten off, leaving a long sewing tail.
Sew the loop securely to the center top of the bell body. Reinforce the attachment several times.
6. Red Bow Center
Use red yarn.
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc in ring. Join.
Rnd 2: Inc around. 12 sts.
Rnd 3: Sc around. 12 sts.
Fasten off. Lightly stuff if desired. Flatten into a small rounded center and save for assembly.
7. Bow Loops – Make 2
Use red yarn.
Ch 24.
Row 1: Starting in the second ch from hook, hdc across. 23 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Hdc across.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn. Hdc across.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
Fold the strip into a loop and overlap the short ends by about 1 cm. Sew together firmly.
Pinch the loop at the center so it forms a bow shape.
8. Bow Tails – Make 2
Ch 20 with red yarn.
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and across. 19 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Hdc across.
Fasten off.
Fold one short end slightly so the tail angles downward when sewn behind the bow.
9. Gold Bow Edge
Use metallic gold yarn or gold embroidery thread.
Join gold yarn to the outer edge of each bow loop.
Work a loose round of sl sts around the full outer edge.
Repeat along the two bow tails.
Keep the gold line thin so the red bow remains the main feature.
10. Holly Leaves – Make 2 or 3
Use dark green yarn.
Ch 10.
Starting in second ch from hook work sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 2 dc in next st, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
Continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain with sl st, sc, hdc, dc, 2 dc in next st, dc, hdc, sc, sl st.
Ch 1 and fasten off.
For a more pointed holly shape, add tiny picots along the sides by working ch 2, sl st into the first ch at two or three evenly spaced points.
11. Red Berries – Make 3
MR, 6 sc in ring.
Rnd 2: Inc around. 12 sts.
Rnd 3: Sc around. 12 sts.
Rnd 4: Dec around. 6 sts.
Add a tiny amount of stuffing if desired.
Fasten off and close the opening.
12. Bottom Bell Attachment
Cut a 12 to 15 cm length of strong cream yarn or cord.
Pass one end through the metal jingle bell loop.
Tie securely.
Bring the other end through the center bottom of the crochet bell.
Secure inside the bell with several tight stitches and a knot.
Assembly
Place the two bow loops horizontally across the upper front of the bell.
Place the two bow tails behind them so they angle downward.
Sew all four pieces firmly to the bell body.
Sew the red bow center over the middle to hide the joins.
Arrange the holly leaves above and slightly behind the bow center.
Sew three red berries in a cluster between the leaves.
Check that the hanging loop rises from the center behind the decoration.
Attach the metal jingle bell at the bottom so it hangs freely beneath the scalloped edge.
Shaping and Finishing
Weave in all yarn ends securely.
Gently steam block the bow tails and holly leaves if they curl too much. Do not press acrylic yarn directly with an iron.
Shape the scalloped lower edge with your fingers so each shell sits evenly.
If the bell body collapses, place a small circle of plastic canvas or stiff felt inside the lower edge. This is optional and can be removed for washing.
Make sure the metal bell and hanging loop are strongly secured before displaying the ornament.
Size Adjustment
To make a smaller ornament, stop increasing after 42 stitches and work fewer plain rounds. To make a larger ornament, continue the increase sequence by adding one more sc between increases in each increase round. Keep the bow proportional by adding or removing 4 to 6 chains from each bow loop.