Crochet Christmas Bell Ornament Pattern with Festive Bow and Holly

Introduction

Bring festive cheer and handcrafted charm to your holiday decor with this beautifully detailed crochet Christmas bell ornament. Featuring a classic bell shape in creamy white, a bold red bow adorned with golden touches, and vibrant holly leaves and red berries, this project merges timeless tradition with intricate crochet artistry. Gold beads and a shiny metal bell add sparkle and jingling delight, making this decoration a delightful sensory addition to any holiday setting.

This ornament is perfect for hanging on your Christmas tree, adorning a festive garland, or gifting to someone special. The tasteful color palette—classic red, green, gold, and white—is reminiscent of cozy, nostalgic Christmases and integrates seamlessly with nearly any holiday theme. The bell’s textured surface, lovely scalloped edge, and eye-catching decorative appliqués make it an eye-catching piece that will be cherished for years to come. Crocheters will love the opportunity to practice shaping, color changes, and appliqué techniques while creating a practical, heartfelt item that’s both ornamental and functional. Whether you’re an enthusiastic gift-giver or a decor-lover embellishing your home, this project has something memorable for everyone.

Project Overview

This crochet bell ornament is composed of several parts: the main bell shape is worked in the round, starting at the top and increasing as you go down. The base is finished with a decorative scalloped edge. The large bow, holly leaves, and berries are each crocheted separately and then sewn onto the bell. Gold bead accents and a real jingle bell are attached for extra holiday sparkle, and a hanging loop is formed at the top for easy display. This modular construction allows each element to be crocheted and assembled for a polished, structured finish.

Skill Level

Intermediate. This pattern combines basic stitches with shaping, color changes, and small appliqué work. The separate construction of the bow, leaves, and berries adds a layer of complexity that is manageable for a practiced beginner but ideal for an intermediate crocheter.

Materials

Worsted weight yarn (category 4) in 4 colors:
- Cream/White: approx. 70 yards (64 meters) for the bell
- Red: approx. 40 yards (37 meters) for the bow, stripe, and berries
- Green: approx. 25 yards (23 meters) for the holly leaves
- Gold: approx. 5 yards (5 meters) for bow edging and hanging loop
3.75mm (F) crochet hook (adjust if your gauge is too tight or loose)
Small gold jingle bell (approx. 1 inch / 2.5 cm in diameter)
6 small gold beads (6-7 mm)
Tapestry needle for sewing
Embroidery needle (to help attach beads and bell)
Stitch markers (for marking rounds)
Scissors
Optional: hot glue gun for extra securing of heavy embellishments

Finished Size

The completed ornament is approximately 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) tall from the tip of the hanging loop to the bell’s bottom scallop, and about 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) wide at the base. Size may be adjusted by changing yarn weight and hook size or altering the number of rounds in the bell section. A smaller hook will produce a denser, more compact ornament; a larger hook yields a looser, floppier result.

Gauge

Approximate gauge: 16 single crochets and 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Gauge is not critical for this project, but a similar gauge ensures the ornament holds its shape and matches the intended size. If your stitches are much looser, the bell may become too floppy and lose definition; much tighter may make assembly trickier.

Stitches and Abbreviations

ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble (triple) crochet
inc – increase (2 stitches in the same space)
dec – decrease (sc2tog, single crochet 2 together)
MR – magic ring

Pattern Notes

The bell is worked from the top down in joined rounds (not continuous spiral). Chain stitches at the start of the round do not count as a stitch unless otherwise noted. Join each round with a slip stitch to the first real stitch of the round. Use stitch markers to identify the start of each round, especially in the bell and decorative sections. For color changes (such as red and green stripes and bow edgings), change color on the last yarn-over of the stitch before the new color. Weave ends in neatly after each color section to keep the inside tidy. Appliqué pieces (holly leaves, berries, and bow) are assembled after crochet and sewn in place. Gold beads should be sewn securely to prevent choking hazards if gifting to children.

Crochet Pattern Instructions

Main Bell Body

With cream/white yarn and 3.75mm hook, make a MR.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into MR. Pull tight and join with sl st. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Join. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around. Join. (18 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. Join. (24 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around. Join. (30 sts)
Rounds 6-8: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (30 sts per round)
Round 9: Ch 1, (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next) around. Join. (36 sts)
Rounds 10-12: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (36 sts per round)
Round 13: Ch 1, (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next) around. Join. (42 sts)
Rounds 14-16: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (42 sts per round)

Red Stripe Accent

Switch to red. Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off red, return to cream/white. (42 sts)

Lower Bell & Scalloped Edge

With cream/white, ch 1, (sc in 6 sts, 2 sc in next) around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 19: Ch 1, (sc in each st) around. Join. (48 sts)
Round 20 (scallops): [Sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st, sl st in next st] repeat around. There will be 12 scallops. Join. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Green Leafy Band

With green, join with sl st to any st just above the red stripe (choose a post round above the stripe). *Ch 4, sl st in same st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st* repeat around (forms little leaf arches). Fasten off, weave in ends.

Red Berry Appliqués

With red, make 8 small berries: For each, MR, ch 1, 6 sc into ring, pull tight, join, fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.

Gold Beads

Thread gold beads onto gold yarn. Space them roughly evenly on the bell, just above scallops but below the green leaf band. Use sewing needle or fasten with yarn/tapestry needle.

Large Red Bow

With red, ch 40 (or to desired length for bow width).
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across. (39 sts)
Rows 2-6: Ch 1, sc across. Fasten off red. (39 sts per row)
With gold, surface slip stitch around edge for accent. To surface slip stitch: with hook, insert into front loop at any edge, pull gold through, sl st closely along edge, fasten off.
Fold band into bow shape. With separate short sc strip (ch 8, sc in 2 rows), wrap bow’s center and sew securely.

Bow Ribbon Tails (Optional)

Repeat above for each tail, but ch 25, work 6 rows sc for each. Add gold edging, sew in place below bow’s center.

Holly Leaves

Make 4 leaves with green:
- Ch 8.
- Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc (across, 7 sts). Do not turn; work down other side of ch: sc, hdc, dc, 2 tr, dc, hdc, sc to end. Fasten off, leave tail for sewing. Shape leaf points by pinching and running a stitch through at intervals.

Hanging Loop

With gold, ch 28. Fold to make a loop. Secure ends and sew at very top of bell.

Attaching the Jingle Bell

Thread gold yarn or embroidery thread through the jingle bell’s hanger, sew inside the bell through the MR center. Adjust hanging depth for best dangle. Knot securely inside.

Assembly and Finishing

Lay out all your pieces. Begin by arranging and sewing the red bow at the top of the bell, with ribbon tails (if made) drooping below the bow. Attach the holly leaves just under the bow center, letting them fan outward. Stack the three largest red berries in a cluster at the bow’s center, and sew the remaining berries around the bell evenly spaced along the green leafy band. Secure all ends firmly inside the bell; weave and trim any visible threads. Carefully attach gold beads just under the leafy band, evenly spaced. If desired, lightly block the bell and bow for neatness (pin to shape, mist with water, and let dry). Secure the jingle bell to the inside base of the bell firmly; double knot and hide thread ends. Finally, test the hanging loop for strength and adjust if needed.

Customization Ideas

Swap out the classic red, green, and gold for icy blue, silver, and white for a winter wonderland feel.
Use variegated yarn for the bell body for a marbled holiday effect.
Embellish the bow with tiny sequins or buttons for extra sparkle.
Change out the jingle bell for a crocheted ball if avoiding metal bells for safety.
Enlarge the bell with chunky yarn for a statement wall hanging, or make tiny versions for gift tags.
Replace holly with poinsettia leaves for a botanical twist.

Troubleshooting

Curling Bell: If the bell body curls or ruffles excessively, your increases may not be even. Check your stitch count at each round and ensure you are following the increase pattern correctly. Blocking can help relax the fabric and resolve minor curling.
Uneven Edges: If the scalloped edge is wavy or uneven, count your stitches to ensure that you have the right number between scallops and that you’re skipping stitches evenly. Surface slip stitching the stripe can help visually smooth the border.
Size Issues: If the bell is too large or too small, adjust your hook size, or substitute yarn with a lighter or heavier weight. Small changes in gauge make a big difference for finished ornaments.
Loose Color Changes: Make color changes on the last yarn-over of the previous stitch and weave ends securely. Crocheting over the color-change tails for a few stitches can help hide bumps.
Uneven Tension: Relax your grip and aim for consistent tension. Block appliqué pieces such as leaves and bow before assembly if they appear distorted.

Care Instructions

If made with acrylic or cotton yarn, hand-wash gently in cool water with mild detergent. Squeeze out excess water gently (do not wring), reshape and let air dry. Avoid soaking metal embellishments. Store in a dry place to avoid tarnishing or yarn stretching.

Final Notes

Always check stitch counts at the end of each round to keep the bell shape even. Adjust your tension to match the desired size and firmness, and don’t hesitate to reference the project image as a visual guide while assembling. Enjoy making and gifting this festive ornament—it’s sure to become a keepsake for years to come!