These charming Christmas bells feature an open lace body in red, cream, or green, decorated with little flowers or poinsettias and finished with a cream scalloped hem. A gold bead band circles each bell, a bow with holly leaves and red berries sits on top, and a tiny snowflake with a pearl dangles below like a clapper. Hung in pairs on a red and gold twisted cord, they are perfect for Christmas trees, doors, windows, and gift toppers.
Each bell is made in four parts. First you crochet the lace bell from the top down, then you add the scalloped hem. Next you make the bow, holly, berries, flowers, and snowflake. Finally you sew on the beads and trims and join the bells with a twisted cord.
Materials
Sport weight cotton yarn in red, about 30 g
Sport weight cotton yarn in cream, about 30 g
Sport weight cotton yarn in dark green, about 20 g
Gold metallic thread or fine gold yarn, about 5 g
Crochet hook 2.5 mm
About 40 small gold beads per bell, 4 mm
1 pearl bead and 2 gold beads per bell, 6 mm
Fabric stiffener or a mix of white glue and water
Tapestry needle, beading needle, scissors, and stitch markers
Finished Size
Each bell is about 9 cm (3.5 inches) tall and 10 cm (4 inches) wide at the hem, not counting the bow and snowflake.
Stitches Used (US Terms)
ch chain
sl st slip stitch
sc single crochet
hdc half double crochet
dc double crochet
tr treble crochet
MR magic ring
shell 5 double crochet worked into the same stitch
picot chain 3 and slip stitch into the first chain
Part 1: The Lace Bell (make 1 per ornament)
Choose your main color: red, cream, or green.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet) and work 11 double crochet in the ring. Join. You have 12 stitches.
Round 2: Chain 3 and double crochet in each stitch around. Join. This solid round forms the top of the bell.
Round 3: Chain 4 (counts as a double crochet and chain 1). Double crochet in the next stitch and chain 1. Repeat around. Join. You have 12 spaces.
Round 4: Slip stitch into the first space. Chain 4, double crochet in the same space, and chain 1. In the next space, work a double crochet and chain 1. Repeat these two steps around. Join. You have 18 spaces.
Rounds 5 to 6: Work a double crochet and chain 1 in each space around. Join.
Round 7: Increase as in Round 4, working 2 double crochet with chain 1 between in every third space. Join. You have 24 spaces.
Rounds 8 to 10: Work a double crochet and chain 1 in each space around. Join.
Round 11: Increase again in every fourth space. Join. You have 30 spaces.
Round 12: Chain 3 and work 2 double crochet in each space around. Join. This solid round is where the gold bead band will sit.
Round 13: Change to dark green (or red on a cream bell). Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around. Join and fasten off.
Part 2: The Cream Scalloped Hem
Round 1: Join cream in any stitch. Chain 1 and single crochet in each stitch around. Join.
Round 2: Chain 1 and single crochet in the first stitch. Skip 2 stitches and work a shell in the next stitch. Skip 2 stitches and single crochet in the next stitch. Repeat around. Join.
Round 3: Slip stitch to the center of the first shell. Work a picot, then chain 3 and single crochet in the next single crochet. Chain 3 and slip stitch in the center of the next shell. Repeat around. Join and fasten off.
On the cream bell, work Round 1 of the hem in red and Rounds 2 and 3 in cream for the red stripe shown in the photo.
Part 3: The Bow (make 1 per ornament)
Make a cream bow for a red bell, and a red bow for a cream or green bell.
Loops: Chain 31 and join into a ring without twisting. Work 4 rounds of single crochet. Fasten off and flatten the tube.
Tails: Chain 13. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and across. Turn and work 2 more rows. Make 2 and cut one end of each into a V shape by slip stitching across at an angle.
Center band: Chain 5. Single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and across. Work 4 rows.
Wrap the band around the middle of the flat loops to pinch them into a bow. Sew the ends together and sew the tails under the bow.
With gold thread, work a round of slip stitches around the outer edge of the loops and tails for the gold trim.
Part 4: The Holly Leaves and Berries
Holly leaves (make 2 per ornament in dark green): Chain 10. Slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook, then work sc, hdc, picot, dc, hdc, picot, dc, hdc, and sc across. Work the same down the other side of the chain. Fasten off. The picots make the spiky holly points.
Berries (make 3 to 4 per ornament in red): Make a magic ring and work 6 single crochet. Join. Single crochet in each stitch around. Pull the tail to close it into a tiny ball. You can also use red wooden beads.
Part 5: The Flowers
Cream flowers (make 3 per red or green bell): With cream, make a magic ring. Chain 1 and work 8 single crochet. Join. Chain 4, slip stitch in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in the next 2 chains, and slip stitch in the next stitch of the ring. Repeat around to make 8 pointed petals. Sew a small gold bead in the center.
Poinsettias (make 3 per cream bell): With red, make a magic ring. Chain 1 and work 6 single crochet. Join. Chain 5, then slip stitch, sc, hdc, and dc back down the chain, and slip stitch in the next stitch. Repeat around to make 6 petals. Make a few small green leaves the same way with chain 4. Sew a gold bead in the center.
Part 6: The Snowflake Clapper (make 1 per ornament)
With cream, make a magic ring. Chain 1 and work 6 single crochet. Join.
In each stitch, chain 5, slip stitch in the 3rd chain from the hook for a picot, chain 2, picot, and slip stitch back to the ring. Repeat around to make 6 arms. Join and fasten off.
Stiffen the snowflake and pin it flat to dry.
Part 7: The Twisted Cord
Cut one strand of red yarn and one strand of gold thread, each about 1.5 m long. Hold them together, twist them tightly, then fold in half and let the cord twist on itself. Tie a knot at each end.
Make one cord for each pair of bells.
Assembly
Stiffen each bell first. Place it over a small funnel, a paper cone, or a cup wrapped in plastic. Brush it with fabric stiffener, shape the hem so the scallops flare out, and let it dry completely.
Sew small gold beads all around the solid round just above the hem to make the gold band.
Sew the flowers or poinsettias in a row around the middle of the bell.
Sew the bow to the top of the bell. Sew the two holly leaves over the center of the bow and add the berry cluster on top.
Thread a gold bead, a pearl, and a second gold bead onto a short length of thread. Tie the snowflake to the end and sew the other end inside the top of the bell so it hangs below the hem like a clapper.
Thread the twisted cord through the top of the first bell, under the bow. Leave a loop at the top for hanging. Bring the cord down through the inside of the first bell and tie on the second bell about 10 cm below it.
Weave in all ends on the inside.
Blocking
Block the bows, leaves, and snowflakes flat with a little stiffener. Shape the bell bodies over a cone as described above. Do not stiffen the berries so they stay round and soft.
Ways to Use Your Christmas Bells
Hang a pair on the Christmas tree or from a branch garland.
Hang them on a front door handle or wreath to greet guests.
Tie a single bell to a wrapped gift as a keepsake topper.
Hang a row of bells from a mantel or window rod.
Make mini versions with thread and a smaller hook for earrings or napkin rings.
Color Ideas
White bells with silver beads and blue bows for a frosty winter look
Gold bells with cream flowers and red bows for a classic elegant style
Pink bells with white snowflakes for a pastel Christmas
Burgundy bells with green bows and gold trim for a vintage feel
Tips for Success
Count your spaces after each increase round so the bell flares evenly.
Use a firm cotton yarn so the lace keeps its shape after stiffening.
Sew the gold beads before adding the flowers so the band stays straight.
Pin the bow, holly, and flowers in place before sewing to check the layout.
Final Thoughts
These lace Christmas bells are a quick and festive project that adds a handmade touch to your tree and home. Make them in different colors and hang them in pairs for a cheerful holiday display. Share your finished bells in the comments below. We would love to see your holiday makes!