Bluebell Curtain Tieback Crochet Pattern: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

There is something quietly magical about a handmade home. When you walk into a room where the curtains are held back with delicate crocheted tiebacks shaped like bluebells, you feel the difference immediately — a warmth, a personality, a story. This bluebell curtain tieback crochet pattern is one of those projects that looks far more impressive than it actually is to make, which means it is perfect for intermediate beginners who want a project that photographs beautifully and adds a botanical charm to any living space, bedroom, or kitchen.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to make a pair of bluebell curtain tiebacks from scratch. We will cover the materials, abbreviations, special stitches, the full written pattern, and plenty of tips along the way to help you get a professional finish even if this is only your second or third crochet project. Whether you are decorating a cottage-style bedroom or adding a soft floral touch to a living room, these tiebacks are a wonderful weekend project that produces lasting results.

Why Crochet Curtain Tiebacks?

Before we dive into the pattern itself, it is worth taking a moment to think about why crocheted tiebacks are such a satisfying project to make and own. Unlike knitted or sewn alternatives, crocheted tiebacks have a natural structure and firmness that means they hold their shape beautifully even after years of use. Crochet also allows you to work in three dimensions very easily, which is how we create the bell-shaped flowers in this design — each bluebell is worked in the round and has a realistic, slightly cupped form.

From a practical standpoint, crocheted tiebacks are also incredibly cost-effective. A single skein of cotton yarn is often all you need to make a complete pair, which makes this one of the most affordable home décor projects you can take on. And because they are handmade, you can customize the color to match any room. The classic choice is a soft cornflower blue paired with a cream or sage green stem, but the pattern works equally well in lilac, white, dusty rose, or any soft floral shade you love.

Materials You Will Need

Getting your materials together before you start is always a good idea. Here is what you need for this bluebell curtain tieback crochet pattern.

Yarn: DK weight (light worsted) cotton yarn in three colors. You will need approximately 50 grams of your main blue or purple color (Color A), 30 grams of cream or white (Color B) for the bell interior detail, and 40 grams of green (Color C) for the stems and leaves. Cotton is strongly recommended over acrylic for this project because it gives the bluebells a beautiful drape and a clean stitch definition that really makes the flower shapes pop.

Hook: A 3.5mm crochet hook. If you find your gauge is tighter than the pattern requires, move up to a 4mm hook. If your stitches are looser, try a 3mm hook.

Notions: Stitch markers, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a small amount of polyester fiberfill or cotton stuffing for the bluebell bodies, and two small curtain tieback hooks or rings that you can attach to the wall. You will also need a tape measure and a few pins for blocking if you wish to block your finished tiebacks.

Gauge: 18 stitches and 20 rows in single crochet to a 4-inch (10cm) square. Gauge is not critical for this pattern in terms of fit, since tiebacks are adjustable, but it will affect the final size and appearance of your bluebells.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Throughout this pattern, the following standard crochet abbreviations are used. If you are a newer crocheter, take a moment to familiarize yourself with each one before you begin.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
inc — increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — invisible decrease (insert hook through the front loops only of the next two stitches, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops)
MR — magic ring
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rnd — round
rep — repeat
sp — space
st(s) — stitch(es)

Special Stitches

This pattern uses two special stitches that are worth practicing before you begin the main project.

Shell Stitch: Work five double crochets into the same stitch or space. This is used to create the flared bell opening of each bluebell.

Picot: Chain 3, then slip stitch into the first chain you made. This creates a small loop and is used at the tips of the leaves for a natural, pointed appearance.

Understanding the Design

Each completed tieback consists of three main components: a braided or twisted cord base that wraps around the curtain, a cluster of three to five bluebell flowers in varying sizes, and a pair of green leaves that nestle among the flowers. The cord is worked first and forms the structural backbone of the tieback. The flowers are made separately and then sewn onto the cord in a natural-looking cluster. Finally, the leaves are attached, and the ends of the cord are finished with a loop or hook to fasten to the wall.

The finished tieback is approximately 18 to 22 inches long when slightly stretched, which suits most standard curtain panels. If you need a longer tieback for very full curtains, simply add additional chain stitches at the beginning of the cord as noted in the pattern instructions.

The Full Bluebell Curtain Tieback Crochet Pattern

Part One: The Cord

The cord is the backbone of the tieback. It is worked in a simple twisted rope style using Color C (green).

Foundation: Using Color C and your 3.5mm hook, chain 80. If you need a longer tieback, chain 90 or 100, keeping in mind that each additional 10 chains adds approximately 2 inches to the finished length.

Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, work one sc in each chain to the end. (79 sc)

Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Working in BLO across the entire row, work one sc in each stitch. (79 sc)

Repeat Row 2 until your cord measures approximately 0.75 inches (2cm) in width. This will take about four to six rows depending on your gauge. Fasten off and weave in ends. The cord should have a slight natural curl to it, which is part of its charm.

Finishing the cord ends: At each end of the cord, use Color C to create a small loop by chaining 8 and slip stitching back to the same end stitch to form a ring. This loop will hook over your wall-mounted tieback hook. Alternatively, you can sew a small metal ring to each end using your yarn needle and a length of Color C.

Part Two: The Bluebell Flowers

You will make five bluebell flowers in total for each tieback — three larger bells and two smaller buds. Each tieback therefore requires ten flowers altogether (five per side). The flowers are worked in rounds, beginning with a magic ring.

Large Bluebell (Make 6 total, 3 per tieback)

Using Color A:

Rnd 1: Start with a MR. Work 6 sc into the ring and pull the ring closed. (6 sc). Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round.

Rnd 2: Inc in each sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (18 sc) This creates a ridge on the outside of the flower that mimics the natural seam of a bluebell petal.

Rnd 5: Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st around. (24 sc)

Rnd 6: Sc in each st around. (24 sc)

Rnd 7: Switch to Color B. Working in FLO only, chain 3, sl st in the next st around, repeating all the way around to create a lacy, scalloped edge at the opening of the bell. This represents the delicate frilled mouth of the bluebell flower. Fasten off Color B.

Rnd 8: Rejoin Color A in the back loops left from Rnd 7. Sc in each of the 24 back loops around. (24 sc)

Rnd 9: Sc in next 2 sts, dec over next 2 sts around. (18 sc)

Before continuing, lightly stuff the bluebell with a small pinch of fiberfill. You do not want the flower to be hard — just gently padded so it holds its rounded bell shape.

Rnd 10: Sc in next st, dec over next 2 sts around. (12 sc)

Rnd 11: Dec around. (6 sc)

Leave a long tail for sewing, and close the remaining 6 stitches by cutting the yarn and running it through each stitch, pulling gently to close. Do not pull too tightly — leave the bottom of the bell slightly open so it has a natural hanging shape.

Small Bluebell Bud (Make 4 total, 2 per tieback)

Using Color A:

Rnd 1: MR, work 4 sc into the ring. Pull closed. (4 sc)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (8 sc)

Rnd 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st around. (12 sc)

Rnd 4: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Rnd 5: Switch to Color B. Chain 3, sl st in next st around. Fasten off Color B.

Rnd 6: Rejoin Color A in the back loops from Rnd 5. Sc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 7: Sc in next st, dec over next 2 sts around, then sc in any remaining sts. (8 sc)

Lightly stuff, close the bottom as with the large bluebell, and leave a sewing tail.

Part Three: The Leaves

Each tieback has four leaves — two larger and two smaller. Leaves are worked flat in Color C.

Large Leaf (Make 4 total, 2 per tieback)

Foundation: Chain 14.

Row 1: Starting in the second ch from the hook, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts, work 5 dc in the last st (this is the tip of the leaf). Now work down the other side of the foundation chain: dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 5 sts, and sl st into the first stitch to close the leaf.

Edging round: Without turning your work, work a single round of sc evenly around the entire leaf edge, placing a picot at the tip (the 5-dc point). The picot is worked as follows: when you reach the center stitch at the tip, chain 3, then sl st into the first of those 3 chains, then continue sc-ing around. Fasten off and weave in ends, leaving a long tail at the base for sewing.

Small Leaf (Make 4 total, 2 per tieback)

Work exactly as the large leaf but starting with a foundation chain of 10 instead of 14, adjusting the stitch distribution accordingly (sc in 3, hdc in 2, dc in 2, 5 dc in the tip, then mirror back).

Assembling the Tieback

Assembly is where the project truly comes to life, and taking your time here makes a real difference to the finished look.

Lay your cord flat on your work surface. The cluster of flowers will be positioned roughly in the center of the cord, slightly off to one side so the arrangement looks natural rather than perfectly symmetrical. Begin by pinning the large bluebells into position — they should hang downward like real bluebells, with the opening of the bell facing down. The three large bells form the heart of the cluster, arranged at slightly different heights so no two are at exactly the same level.

Tuck the two small buds in between and slightly above the large bells, as if they are newer flowers not yet fully open. Pin these in place as well. Now arrange the four leaves so they frame the flowers from below and to the sides, with the leaf tips pointing gently outward. The leaves should sit behind the flower cluster, providing a backdrop of green that makes the blue flowers stand out.

Once everything is pinned to your satisfaction, use your yarn needle and matching yarn lengths to sew each piece firmly to the cord. For the flowers, stitch through the base of each bell and through the cord two or three times, finishing with a secure knot on the wrong side. For the leaves, stitch through the base of each leaf and again through the cord. When everything is attached, gently tug each flower and leaf to make sure it is secure.

Finishing Touches and Blocking

Once your tieback is assembled, you have the option to wet block it for a polished, professional look. Wet blocking is particularly effective with cotton yarn and will relax any uneven stitches and help the leaves lie flat. To block, submerge the finished tieback in cool water for a few minutes, gently squeeze out the excess water (do not wring), and then pin the tieback flat on a blocking mat or a folded towel. Shape the flowers and leaves with your fingers, and leave to dry completely overnight.

If you prefer not to wet block, you can steam block lightly by hovering a steam iron a few inches above the tieback without touching it. The steam will relax the stitches without compressing the texture of the flowers.

Once dry, your tieback is ready to hang. Mount your tieback hooks on the wall at an appropriate height — typically around two-thirds of the way down from the curtain rod works well — and loop the cord ends over the hooks. Drape your curtain into the tieback and adjust the flower cluster so it sits front and center.

Tips, Troubleshooting, and Customizations

If your bluebells are coming out too flat rather than rounded, try increasing the amount of stuffing slightly, or tightening your tension during the decreasing rounds. A rounder bell shape will make the final cluster look more three-dimensional and realistic.

If your cord is too stiff and does not drape gracefully around the curtain, try working the cord with a slightly larger hook, or substituting a linen-cotton blend yarn, which has a wonderful natural softness and drape.

For a more luxurious look, consider working the cord in a cream or white and the flowers in deep violet or midnight blue. This color combination photographs beautifully and looks stunning against dark curtain fabrics.

If you want to make this pattern as a gift, consider attaching a small handwritten tag to the finished tieback with your name, the fiber content, and basic care instructions. Cotton crochet tiebacks can generally be hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry — a good note to include for the recipient.

For those who want to take this pattern further, you could extend the concept to a full garland by making a longer cord and adding more flower clusters spaced evenly along its length. This would make a beautiful piece of wall art, a mantelpiece decoration, or a garland for a nursery.

A Few Words About Yarn Choices

The choice between cotton and acrylic yarn is worth discussing in a little more detail, because it genuinely affects the finished result. Cotton yarn has a natural stiffness that helps the bluebell flowers hold their shape without additional stiffening spray. It also has a beautiful matte finish that looks elegant and handcrafted. The slight weight of cotton gives the flowers a satisfying drape when they hang from the tieback cord.

Acrylic yarn will work perfectly well if that is what you have available, and it does have the advantage of being machine washable, which is a practical bonus for curtain tiebacks that might occasionally need freshening up. If you use acrylic, choose a DK weight with a smooth, non-textured finish for the best stitch definition.

Wool is not generally recommended for this project, as it may be affected by sunlight over time and can also