Crochet A Bellflower Bag Charm (Free Pattern) | The LILI Path
There is something deeply satisfying about a small handmade detail that transforms an everyday accessory into something personal and beautiful. A crocheted bag charm does exactly that. It hangs from your zipper pull, your tote handle, or your backpack clip, and it quietly announces that someone made this by hand, with intention, with care. Today we are going to walk through how to crochet a bellflower bag charm — a delicate, dimensional little flower that looks far more complicated than it actually is. This is a free pattern, and it is beginner-friendly with just a few intermediate techniques that you will pick up along the way.
Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a quick afternoon project or a newer crafter wanting to practice working in the round, this bellflower bag charm is going to become one of your favorite go-to makes. It uses very little yarn, finishes in under two hours, and makes an incredibly thoughtful handmade gift. Let’s dive in.
Why a Bellflower?
The bellflower, known botanically as campanula, is one of the most graceful flowers in nature. Its gently flared, bell-shaped petals have inspired artists, embroiderers, and textile artists for centuries. In crochet form, it translates beautifully because the natural structure of the bell shape lends itself so well to increasing and decreasing rounds. The dimensional quality you can achieve with just a hook and some thread makes this design especially rewarding.
Beyond its visual appeal, the bellflower carries a lot of symbolism. In the language of flowers, it represents gratitude, humility, and constancy. Gifting someone a handmade bellflower charm is a quiet way of saying you appreciate them. It is a small gesture, but handmade gifts always carry weight that their size does not suggest.
Materials You Will Need
Before we get started, let us gather everything together. One of the best parts of this project is that the materials list is very short and very affordable. You likely already have most of what you need in your stash.
Yarn: You will need a small amount of fingering weight or size 10 crochet thread in your main color for the flower petals. For the best definition, look for a cotton yarn or thread. Cotton holds the petal structure beautifully and gives you that crisp, clean look. You will also want a small amount in a contrasting color for the center of the flower and optionally for a small leaf detail. If you want a softer, slightly more textured look, a fine merino or bamboo blend in fingering weight works wonderfully too.
Hook: A 1.5mm to 2.0mm steel crochet hook pairs perfectly with size 10 thread. If you are using fingering weight yarn, a 2.25mm to 2.75mm hook is ideal. Go up or down a hook size depending on your personal tension.
Notions: You will need a swivel lobster clasp or key ring finding (available at any craft store or online), a short length of chain or a jump ring to attach your finished flower to the clasp, scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and optionally a drop of fabric stiffener or starch spray if you want the petals to hold their shape even more firmly.
Stitch Markers: Optional but helpful, especially for keeping track of your rounds.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge is not critical for this project since we are making a decorative item rather than a wearable garment. That said, as a general reference, using size 10 crochet thread with a 1.5mm hook, the finished bellflower measures approximately 2.5 to 3 inches across at its widest point and about 1.5 inches in depth. With fingering weight yarn and a 2.5mm hook, you will get a slightly larger flower, around 3.5 inches across. Either size makes a beautiful bag charm.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
inc — increase (two stitches into the same stitch)
MR — magic ring
yo — yarn over
st(s) — stitch(es)
rep — repeat
pm — place marker
Pattern Notes Before You Begin
This bellflower is worked in joined rounds rather than a continuous spiral. At the end of each round, you will slip stitch to the first stitch and then chain up before beginning the next round. This gives your flower a clean, structured look.
The petals are worked outward from a center ring, and then the bell shape is created by working back toward the base of the flower in decreasing rounds. Think of it as building the flower from the inside out and then gently cupping it into a bell.
You can work the flower in a single color for a clean, modern look, or use two or three colors for a more realistic, variegated floral effect. The instructions below walk you through the two-color version, but it is easy to adapt.
The Bellflower Bag Charm: Free Crochet Pattern
Part One: The Flower Center
Start with your contrasting color, which will be the center and stamen area of the flower.
Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring, pull the ring closed snugly, join with a sl st to the first sc. (6 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, inc in each st around, join with a sl st to the first sc. (12 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next st, inc in next st, rep around, join with a sl st to the first sc. (18 sts)
Fasten off your contrasting color, leaving a short tail for weaving in. Join your main color in any stitch of Round 3.
Part Two: Building the Petal Base
This section creates the ring of increases that will fan outward into the petals.
Round 4 (Main Color): Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in the same st, ch 1, 2 dc in next st, rep around to last st, ch 1, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (18 dc clusters, 18 ch-1 spaces)
Round 5: Sl st into ch-1 space, ch 3, dc in same space, ch 2, 2 dc in same space (first petal foundation), 2 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, 2 dc in same space, rep around, join with sl st to top of ch-3. (18 petal foundations)
At this point, your piece will naturally begin to ruffle outward. That is exactly what you want. The ruffling will become the petal flare of your bellflower.
Part Three: Forming the Petals
The bellflower has a classic five-petal structure, so we are going to group our stitches into five petal sections. Since you have 18 petal foundation clusters from Round 5, you will work petal sections across three foundation clusters each, plus a small adjustment stitch on the last petal to balance the count.
Petal 1: Sl st into the ch-2 space of the first cluster. Ch 4, tr in same space. Working into the ch-2 spaces of the foundation clusters, 2 dc in next ch-2 sp, hdc in next ch-2 sp, sl st into the gap between petal foundation clusters. Turn work, sl st back along the row, working sl st into each stitch back to the starting point of petal 1 to stabilize the base. (This creates a closed petal shape.)
Repeat this petal construction 4 more times until all 5 petals are complete.
If the counting feels a little tricky the first time, do not worry. Part of the charm of crochet flowers is that slight variations between petals make them look more natural, just like real flowers. No two petals on a real bellflower are exactly identical either.
Part Four: Creating the Bell Shape
This is where the magic happens and where your flat flower becomes a three-dimensional bellflower. We are going to work back inward along the base of the petals, pulling the structure up and inward to form the signature bell or cup shape.
With your main color and starting at the back of the flower (the wrong side of the center piece), join yarn at the base of Round 3.
Round A: Working into the back loops only of Round 3, ch 1, sc in each st around. (18 sts) Join with sl st.
Round B: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog, rep around. (13-14 sts, approximately) Join with sl st.
Round C: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.
Round D: Ch 1, sc in next st, sc2tog, rep around. (Approximately 9 sts) Join with sl st.
You can stuff the bell cavity with a tiny amount of fiberfill or a bead at this point if you want the charm to have a little weight and a more rounded, dimensional feel. This is entirely optional.
Round E: Ch 1, sc2tog around until the opening is closed. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Use the yarn needle to close any remaining gap and weave in the end.
Part Five: The Sepal Detail (Optional but Recommended)
Traditional bellflowers have a small star of pointed sepals at the base where the stem meets the flower. Adding this detail takes only a few extra minutes and really elevates the realism of your finished charm.
Join your green yarn (or a darker shade of your main color) at the base of the bell.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc 8 evenly spaced around the base, join with sl st.
Round 2: Ch 4, sl st back down the chain to create a small spike, sl st in next sc, rep around. (8 small spike points)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Part Six: Attaching the Charm Finding
Fold a short length of chain in half and loop it through the base of your sepal detail or directly through the base of the bell. Attach both ends of the chain to a jump ring, and then attach the jump ring to your swivel lobster clasp or key ring finding.
Alternatively, you can crochet a small loop directly into the top of the bell before closing it up, working a chain of 8 to 10 stitches and slip stitching it closed to form a sturdy loop. Thread your jump ring through this loop before attaching the clasp.
Either method works well. The crocheted loop tends to feel more handmade and organic, while the chain gives a slightly more polished, jewelry-like finish.
Finishing Tips for a Professional Look
Even the smallest finishing details make a significant difference in how your bellflower bag charm looks when it is complete.
Blocking is your best friend with thread crochet. Once your flower is finished, give it a light misting of water and gently shape the petals with your fingers, coaxing each one open to its fullest. Pin the petals down on a foam blocking mat and let them dry completely. This one step will transform the look of your flower from amateur to professional.
Stiffening is optional, but if you want your petals to really hold their shape beautifully over time, a light application of fabric stiffener is worth considering. Dilute it slightly with water, apply with a small brush, shape the flower, and let it dry. The petals will be firm and structured, almost sculptural.
Weaving in ends carefully and thoroughly is essential for a charm that will be handled frequently. Use your yarn needle to weave in each tail through several stitches in different directions before trimming it close. A tiny dot of fabric glue on each woven tail will ensure nothing unravels over time.
Color Inspiration
Part of the joy of this pattern is how beautifully it translates across different color palettes.
A classic pale purple or lavender is the most botanically accurate color for bellflowers and gives your charm a romantic, whimsical feel. Paired with a deep green sepal and a pale yellow center, it looks almost like a real flower.
Navy blue with a white center and silver chain hardware has a sophisticated, almost nautical quality that would look stunning on a structured leather bag.
Pale pink with a blush center and a rose gold lobster clasp is soft, feminine, and perfect as a gift for a friend’s birthday or for a bridal shower favor.
Cream or ecru with a honey yellow center and antique gold hardware feels vintage and artisanal, like something you might find at a French flea market.
Rich burgundy or deep wine with a dark emerald sepal and oxidized brass hardware makes a moody, autumnal charm that pairs beautifully with fall and winter accessories.
Do not limit yourself to one flower per charm either. You can cluster two or three bellflowers of different sizes together on a single jump ring for a more abundant, bouquet-like effect. Use a range of purples and blues, or go monochromatic in a gradient from pale to deep.
Making Multiples as Gifts
Because this project uses such a small amount of material and works up so quickly, it is a natural fit for making in batches. If you have a stack of yarn scraps, an afternoon, and a few dozen lobster clasps, you can produce a lovely collection of bag charms in one sitting.
They are wonderful party favors for a crafting event, thoughtful add-ons for wrapped gifts during the holidays, stocking stuffers, or sweet teacher appreciation tokens. If you sell handmade goods at markets or on Etsy, a small basket of crocheted flower bag charms at an accessible price point is a consistent seller.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your petals are curling inward more than you expect, your tension is likely too tight. Try going up half a hook size and see if that makes a difference.
If the bell shape is not forming cleanly and your flower is staying flat, make sure you are working the back-of-flower decreasing rounds into the back loops only. Back loop only work is what creates that cupped, dimensional structure.
If your magic ring has a visible hole in the center, try pulling the ring tighter after Round 1. You can also add an extra slip stitch through the center of the magic ring before beginning Round 2 to close any gap.
If your finished flower looks slightly lopsided, blocking will almost always solve this. It is remarkable how much a good blocking session can even out an imperfect tension.
A Note on Making This Your Own
Patterns are starting points. Once you have made this bellflower charm once or twice and understand how the structure works, please feel free to experiment. Add a small crocheted leaf worked in a slip stitch I-cord stem. Sew a tiny seed bead or pearl button in the center for sparkle. Use metallic thread for a fairy-light, ethereal version. Try the sepal technique to add texture to a second, outer layer of petals.
Crochet is endlessly adaptable, and the bellflower shape is a surprisingly versatile structure. Once you understand how the rounds work together to create that bell form, you will start to see how the same principles apply to amigurumi, hat brims, basket bases, and so many other projects.
Share Your Makes
If you crochet this bellflower bag charm, I would genuinely love to see it. Tag your photos with #TheLILIPath so the whole community can find and enjoy your version. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing how different crocheters interpret the same pattern, and every colorway, every yarn choice, every tiny variation tells something about the person who made it.
Save this pattern to your favorites, pin it for later, or share it with a crafty friend who might love a quick, satisfying project. It is free, it is fun, and it makes something genuinely lovely. That is what crochet is all about.
Happy hooking, and as always, keep walking your creative path.
