A shell stitch crochet bell gets its character from the spaces between the fans: light passes through the body while the wider scalloped rim gives the ornament its familiar bell outline. The white reference pairs that open texture with a simple loop and warm Christmas greenery.
This free pattern is an original interpretation of those features, worked as a hollow ornament in joined rounds. It is not the exact pattern used for the photograph. The instructions and repeat counts have been reviewed for internal consistency, but the design has not been physically crocheted or tested.
The construction has three distinct parts: a small crown, six repeating lace panels and a flared twelve-shell rim. A separate crocheted loop finishes the top. Shaping over a covered form helps the lace hold a rounded bell silhouette rather than collapsing when it hangs.
Planning the lace and the finished shape
Choose a smooth cotton that lets you see the middle stitch of each shell. That stitch is the anchor for the next mesh round, so a fuzzy yarn can make the repeat harder to follow. Sport-weight cotton and a 3 mm hook are a starting combination; adjust the hook to your yarn and tension.
- White or cream sport-weight cotton; allow roughly 60–90 yards as a planning estimate, not measured sample usage.
- A 3 mm crochet hook, or an appropriate size for your yarn.
- Scissors, yarn needle and a removable stitch marker.
- A smooth, tapered shaping form covered with plastic, plus a drying surface.
- Optional fabric stiffener suitable for the chosen fiber.
This is an intermediate project: the stitches are familiar, but the joins, shell centers and change from six to twelve repeats need attention. All terminology is U.S. Gauge is not prescribed for this decorative piece. A tentative size target is 4–6 inches tall excluding the loop, with the rim wider than the body; actual measurements must come from your first completed sample.
The open shell fabric distinguishes this design from our crochet Christmas bell ornament with a contrasting band. For an ornament that lies against a gift or card, the flat crochet bell pattern is a different construction worth considering.
Reading the shells before you begin
For a reference to the U.S. stitch names used here, consult the Craft Yarn Council crochet abbreviations guide. Special stitches are explained in this pattern.
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- st/sts: stitch/stitches
- sp: space
- rnd: round
- Shell: 5 dc in the same indicated space.
The third dc is the center of a five-dc shell. Count only the five dc, not the separating chain, when finding it. Beginning ch 3 counts as one dc wherever used; beginning ch 1 never counts as a stitch. Joining and positioning slip stitches are not included in the round totals. Do not turn.
A mesh round places one sc in each shell center and chains across to the next center. The following shell round fills those chain spaces. The shell placement shifts around the body as you alternate the two rounds; do not add extra stitches to make the shells line up vertically.
Shell Stitch Crochet Bell: Crown and Body
Rounds 1–3: A small rounded crown
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Close the ring and sl st in the first sc. Count: 6 sc.
Round 2: Ch 3 and dc in the same stitch as the join. Work 2 dc in each of the next 5 sc. Sl st in the top of the beginning ch 3. Count: 12 dc.
Round 3:Ch 3 and dc in the same stitch, then dc in the next stitch. Repeat 5 times. Sl st in the top of the beginning ch 3.Count: 18 dc.
Rounds 4–5: Establish six lace panels
Round 4:Ch 1, sc in the same stitch as the join. Ch 3, skip the next 2 dc. Repeat 5 times. Sl st in the first sc.Count: 6 sc and 6 ch-3 spaces. Each repeat uses three of the eighteen dc below.
Round 5:Sl st into the first ch-3 space. Ch 3 and work 4 dc in that space, then ch 1. Repeat 5 times. Sl st in the top of the beginning ch 3.Count: 6 shells (30 dc) and 6 ch-1 spaces.
