Crochet Bel Christmas Ornament Pattern

🎥 Prefer watching? If you learn better by video, you can find the full step-by-step video tutorial embedded at the bottom of this article!

Introduction — Why You Will Love Making This

Hello, my wonderful crafty friends! The holiday season is fast approaching, and there is nothing quite like cozying up with your favorite crochet hook, a hot cup of tea, and a project that fills your home with handmade warmth. If you are looking for a delightful, quick, and utterly charming project to add to your festive decor, you are going to fall head over heels for this lovely piece. Today, we are diving deep into the Crochet Bel Christmas Ornament Pattern, a timeless little project that brings a touch of vintage elegance straight to your Christmas tree.

This darling ornament brings together a classic bell silhouette with effortless stitches, a gorgeous contrasting border, a sturdy hanging loop, and a sweet little three-dimensional clapper swinging gently underneath. The design we are working on today is wonderfully versatile because it can be customized in all your favorite holiday colorways, from traditional crimson and snow white to cozy cream and forest green. Whether you want to dress up your own evergreen branches or craft thoughtful handmade gifts for your loved ones, this project checks every single box.

Even though the final ornament looks remarkably detailed and polished, its construction is wonderfully approachable and friendly for crocheters of various skill levels. The magic happens by working flat rows that begin at the narrow top section and gradually widen as you head toward the bottom edge. Once you master the simple increase rhythm, you can whip up a whole chorus of these bells in an evening. Plus, it is a fantastic stash-busting project that lets you put those small leftover balls of yarn to the absolute best possible use while practicing your neat edges and consistent tension.

Materials & Tools You Will Need

Gathering your supplies is half the fun of any new crochet adventure! To bring your holiday bell to life, make sure you have the following items ready in your crafting basket:

Main Color Yarn: You will need a small amount of medium-weight (Aran/Worsted or DK weight) cotton or acrylic yarn for the body of the bell. Cotton gives you crisp, clean stitch definition, while acrylic is wonderfully soft and forgiving.
Contrasting Color Yarn: A matching weight yarn in a secondary color to create that gorgeous, defining border around your bell’s silhouette.
Crochet Hook: Choose a hook size that creates a nice, firm fabric so your ornament holds its shape nicely. A 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm hook generally works wonderfully with medium-weight yarns.
Yarning Needle: Essential for weaving in all your ends securely and assembling the little clapper piece.
Scissors: A sharp, reliable pair of snips for clean yarn trimming.
Toy Stuffing (Optional): A tiny pinch of washable polyester fiberfill can be used inside the clapper if you want it to feel plump and three-dimensional.

Crochet Abbreviations & Stitches Used

Before we jump into the stitches, let’s take a quick breath and review the abbreviations we will be using throughout this pattern. All instructions are written using standard US crochet terminology, so you will feel right at home:

ch: Chain stitch. Yarn over and pull through the active loop on your hook. We use chains to start our foundation and to craft the hanging loop at the top.
sc: Single crochet. Insert your hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again, and pull through both loops on the hook. This stitch creates a dense, sturdy fabric and a lovely crisp border.
dc: Double crochet. Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through two loops, then yarn over once more and pull through the final two loops. This helps your project grow quickly with a slightly more open texture.
sl st: Slip stitch. Insert your hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, and draw it straight through the loop currently on your hook.
st / sts: Stitch or stitches.
inc: Increase. Work two stitches into the very same stitch to expand the width of your fabric.

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Let’s roll up our sleeves and start creating our holiday ornament! Take your time, breathe easy, and follow these step-by-step instructions to watch your bell take shape.

The Foundation Top (Rows 1–3): Using your main color yarn, chain 12 stitches loosely. Turn your work, and starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 row of single crochet across (11 sts). For the next 2 rows, work even in single crochet or double crochet depending on your texture preference, maintaining a straight upper edge.
Beginning the Bell Flare (Rows 4–8): Time to introduce our first shaping! On row 4, work an increase at both the very beginning and the very end of the row (work 2 sc into the first st, 1 sc into each st across, and 2 sc into the final st). Work the next row completely even with no increases. Repeat this alternating rhythm of an increase row followed by a straight row twice more, allowing the bell to gently widen on both sides.
Expanding the Middle Body (Rows 9–14): As your fabric grows downward, increase the frequency of your shaping slightly. Work an increase row every two rows instead of every three rows. Periodically lay your piece flat on your table to check that both the left and right edges are flaring outward symmetrically. You should have roughly 23 to 27 stitches across by the end of this phase.
The Lower Flare and Finish (Rows 15–18): For the final few rows, give your bell its classic flared bottom edge. Work increases near the outer edges and a couple of stitches inward on the final two rows, being careful not to add too many or your edge will ripple. Fasten off your main color yarn, leaving a nice long tail, and weave in your ends neatly.
Adding the Contrasting Border: Join your contrasting yarn color near the upper corner of the bell. Work a round of single crochet evenly all the way around the outer perimeter of the bell. Distribute your stitches carefully along the row ends so the border lays flat without pulling or rippling. Work 2 to 3 single crochets into the bottom corner spaces to help the yarn turn smoothly around the curves. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Hanging Loop and Clapper: At the very top center of the bell, attach your yarn and chain 15 stitches securely, then slip stitch back into the base of the chain to form a sturdy hanging loop. To make the clapper, work a small popcorn stitch or a tiny crocheted sphere, stuff it lightly if desired, and securely sew or tie it to the lower center inside edge of the bell.

Customization, Sizing & Color Ideas

One of the absolute best things about making handmade holiday decorations is letting your creativity take the wheel! Here are some fun ways to customize your crochet bell ornament:

Classic Holiday Palettes: Try traditional combinations like pillar box red with snow white, emerald green with cream, or rich burgundy with antique gold.
Metallic Sparkle Accents: Hold a strand of metallic embroidery floss or fingering-weight shimmer yarn alongside your main yarn for the contrasting border to give your ornament a magical holiday twinkle.
Poinsettia Embellishments: Stitch a tiny handmade crochet leaf or a miniature poinsettia flower near the top hanging loop for an extra pop of festive charm.
Sizing Variations: Adjust your starting chain count and hook size to make larger bells for your front door wreath or tiny miniature bells to use as gift package toppers.
Vintage Snow-Kissed Edges: Use a fluffy novelty yarn, like a boucle or faux fur yarn, for your contrasting bottom border to create a cozy snow-dusted effect.

Pro Tips for Every Crocheter

To ensure your Christmas ornaments turn out looking polished, professional, and gallery-worthy, keep these helpful tips tucked into your back pocket:

Check Your Tension: Keep your stitches slightly firmer than you normally would for a garment so your bell holds its crisp, architectural shape without flopping over.
Count Your Stitches Frequently: Symmetrical shaping relies on even increases. Take a quick moment every couple of rows to verify your stitch counts on both the left and right sides.
Block Your Finished Piece: If your cotton bell curls slightly at the edges, give it a light steam blocking or pin it flat to a blocking board while misting with water for a pristine finish.
Mind Your Edge Distribution: When working your contrasting single crochet border along the raw row ends, space your stitches evenly so the edge neither puckers nor ripples.
Weave Ends Securely: Because holiday ornaments are handled, pulled out of storage year after year, and packed away, weave your yarn tails back and forth multiple times to lock them in.
Make a Gauge Swatch: If you plan on crocheted sets for gifts, work a quick test bell first to dial in your hook size and ensure uniform proportions across all your ornaments.
Personalize with Tags: Attach a small wooden gift tag with the year written on it to the hanging loop to create a treasured family keepsake you can look back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ornament using single crochet exclusively?

You certainly can! Working the entire bell body in single crochet results in a wonderfully dense, thick fabric with a gorgeous horizontal texture. It takes a little longer to work up than double crochet, but the sturdy structure is well worth the effort.

How do I prevent my bell edges from curling up?

Curling usually happens when your tension is too tight or when your contrasting border has too few stitches pulling against the body. Make sure your border is evenly spaced and, if necessary, lightly steam block your finished ornament on a flat surface.

What is the best yarn fiber for stiff holiday ornaments?

100% mercerized cotton yarn is the absolute gold standard for ornaments because it has incredible stitch definition, maintains a firm structure, and resists fuzzing over time. Acrylic is also a wonderful, budget-friendly alternative that is soft and easy to work with.

How do I attach the hanging loop so it doesn’t snap?

Anchor your hanging loop securely into the sturdy foundation stitches at the very top center of the bell. Instead of just relying on a single strand, weave the tail ends deeply into the upper body stitches on the back side of the work.

Can I add stiffener like fabric glue or starch?

Yes, many crafters love applying a diluted fabric stiffener or craft glue solution to their cotton ornaments and pinning them flat to dry. This gives the bell a crisp, cardboard-like rigidity that lasts for many holiday seasons.

Are these bells suitable for total beginners?

They are wonderful for adventurous beginners who are comfortable making basic chains, single crochets, and simple increases. Taking it slow row by row will build your confidence in basic shaping techniques in no time!

Conclusion & Happy Crocheting

There is such a profound sense of joy that comes from adorning your home with items created by your very own two hands. We hope this Crochet Bel Christmas Ornament Pattern inspires you to pull out your yarn basket, experiment with cheerful holiday colors, and craft a whole forest of lovely bells for your tree. Remember to take your time, enjoy every relaxing stitch, and cherish the peaceful moments of creativity during this bustling time of year.

Thank you so much for crafting along with us today! If you enjoyed this pattern tutorial, be sure to share your gorgeous finished ornaments with fellow makers in our community. Until next time, keep your hooks moving, stay cozy, and have a wonderfully happy time crocheting!

Watch the Full Step-by-Step Video Tutorial

Follow along with the complete step-by-step video tutorial below and crochet at your own pace!