Red Lily of the Valley Crochet Pattern: Free Crochet Bag Charm
There is something deeply satisfying about a small crochet project that you can finish in an evening and immediately attach to something you love. Bag charms sit right at that perfect intersection of quick, rewarding, and genuinely beautiful — and this Red Lily of the Valley Crochet Pattern delivers all three. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter looking for a meditative side project or a beginner ready to tackle your first decorative accessory, this free pattern is designed to guide you through every step with clarity and ease.
The lily of the valley is one of the most beloved flowers in the botanical world. Its delicate, bell-shaped blooms hanging from a single arching stem have inspired embroidery, jewelry, wedding bouquets, and now — crochet. Reimagining this classic flower in rich, vibrant red gives the traditional design a bold new personality. Red symbolizes passion, confidence, and energy, and a red lily of the valley bag charm carries all of that meaning right alongside you wherever you go.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know to create this charming little accessory.
Why Make a Crochet Bag Charm?
Bag charms are one of the most underrated projects in the crochet world. They are small enough to complete in a single sitting, require minimal yarn, and the results are immediately wearable and giftable. A handmade bag charm attached to a tote, handbag, or backpack instantly elevates the accessory and makes it feel uniquely yours.
For those of you who always seem to have a few yards of leftover yarn from a bigger project, bag charms are the perfect way to use those scraps. A single skein of thread or a small amount of fine yarn is more than enough to make several of these red lily of the valley charms, which also makes them ideal for crafting in batches when you need thoughtful, handmade gifts.
Teachers, bridesmaids, friends celebrating milestones, new mothers — this little charm works beautifully as a token of affection for almost anyone. And because it photographs so well against the contrast of a bag or purse, it has become a popular item for crochet sellers on Etsy and craft markets alike.
Materials You Will Need
Before you get started, gather your materials. One of the best things about this pattern is how minimal the supply list is.
Yarn: You will need a small amount of red thread or fingering weight yarn for the flowers, and green fingering weight yarn for the leaves and stem. Approximately 15 to 20 yards of red and 10 yards of green will be more than enough for one charm. DMC Cebelia size 10 crochet thread in red and green works beautifully, but any comparable thread or fine yarn will do. If you prefer a slightly chunkier result, you can use sport weight yarn and adjust your hook size accordingly.
Crochet Hook: A size 1.75mm steel crochet hook is ideal for thread weight, or a 2.25mm hook if you prefer a slightly looser tension. If you are using sport weight yarn, a 3.25mm to 3.5mm hook will work well.
Other Supplies: You will also need a key ring or lobster clasp finding (available at any craft or jewelry supply store), a small amount of polyfill stuffing if you want to lightly stuff the bells, scissors, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a small stitch marker.
Understanding the Stitches
This pattern uses basic crochet stitches, making it accessible to beginners while still producing a result that looks impressively intricate. Here is a quick reference for the stitches used.
Magic ring (MR): A technique for beginning a round without leaving a hole in the center. If you are unfamiliar with it, you can substitute a chain 4 joined with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Chain (ch): The foundational crochet stitch.
Slip stitch (sl st): Used to join rounds and move across stitches without adding height.
Single crochet (sc): A short, tight stitch.
Half double crochet (hdc): A medium-height stitch that creates a slightly looser, more draping fabric than single crochet.
Double crochet (dc): A taller stitch that creates open, lacy-looking fabric when worked in certain combinations.
Treble crochet (tr): An even taller stitch, used for the petal shaping in this pattern.
All instructions are written in US terminology.
The Pattern
Lily of the Valley Bell Flowers (Make 5)
The bells are worked in the round from the top down, which means you begin at the narrow opening of the bell and flare outward toward the open bottom edge.
Round 1: Using red yarn and a 1.75mm hook, make a magic ring. Chain 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull ring tight. Do not join; place a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. (6 sts)
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts)
Round 5: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (24 sts)
Round 6: This round creates the decorative scalloped edge of the bell. (Sl st in next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, sl st in next st) repeat around until you reach the beginning of the round. Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail for attaching to the stem.
If you want a slightly three-dimensional bell, use a toothpick or the blunt end of your hook to push a tiny pinch of polyfill stuffing into each completed bell before attaching it to the stem. This step is optional but gives the finished charm a lovely rounded shape.
Leaves (Make 2)
The leaves are worked back and forth in rows to create an elongated, pointed shape with a natural curve.
Setup: Using green yarn, chain 12.
Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 3 ch, dc in next 3 ch, tr in last 2 ch. Chain 1, turn. (11 sts)
Row 2: Working back along the other side of the foundation chain, tr in first 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in last 3 sts. Sl st into the first stitch of Row 1 to close the leaf shape. (11 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for attaching. The finished leaf should have a natural, slightly curved shape with a pointed tip. You can steam block the leaves lightly to flatten and shape them before assembling.
Stem
The stem ties the whole piece together and is worked as a simple chain with single crochets worked back along it — this creates a firm, cord-like structure that holds its shape well.
Setup: Using green yarn, chain 25.
Row 1: Starting in the second chain from the hook, sc in each chain across. (24 sc)
Fasten off. This creates the main hanging stem of the charm. You can adjust the length of the stem by working more or fewer chains depending on how long you want the charm to hang. A 25-chain stem creates a charm that hangs approximately 3 to 3.5 inches from the attachment point, which is an elegant length for most bags.
Assembly
Assembly is where the magic happens. Take your time with this step — the way you position the bells and leaves will determine how polished and lifelike your finished charm looks.
Begin by folding the stem in half and threading both tails through the key ring or lobster clasp. Tie the tails securely to the ring and weave them down into the stem itself using your tapestry needle. This creates a tidy loop from which the charm will hang.
Next, attach the two leaves near the top of the stem, one on each side. Use the long tails left on each leaf to sew them firmly to the stem, wrapping the yarn around the attachment point several times before knotting. Position the leaves so they fan outward at a slight angle — this mimics the way lily of the valley leaves grow and gives the charm a natural look.
Now attach the bell flowers. Space them evenly along the lower half of the stem, alternating sides slightly as a real lily of the valley would. Thread the tail of each bell through the tapestry needle and stitch it to the stem, drawing the thread through the stem a couple of times before knotting. Try to position each bell so its open end faces downward, like a real flower.
Once all five bells are attached, weave in any remaining ends and give the finished charm a gentle tug at each attachment point to make sure everything is secure. If you steam blocked your leaves earlier, now is a good time to give the whole piece a light steam to help everything settle into shape.
Tips for the Best Results
Working with fine thread can feel intimidating if you are used to bulkier yarns, but the results are worth the adjustment period. A few tips that make a real difference.
Use good lighting. Thread work is detailed, and working in dim light makes it easy to miscount stitches or accidentally split the yarn. Natural daylight is ideal, but a good crafting lamp works equally well.
Keep your tension consistent. Bell flowers especially benefit from even tension — too tight and they will not open properly, too loose and they will lack structure. If your first bell does not look right, rip it back and try again. With such small projects, frogging (undoing your work) takes only seconds and is always worth it for a better result.
Block your finished pieces. Even a quick spritz with water and a gentle reshaping on a foam mat makes a significant difference to the final look of both the leaves and the bells. Red yarn can sometimes look stiff or clumped straight off the hook, but after blocking it takes on a much more finished, professional appearance.
Consider your yarn fiber. Cotton thread produces a crisp, structured charm that holds its shape especially well. Wool or wool-blend thread creates a softer, slightly fuzzy texture that photographs beautifully and has a luxurious feel. Acrylic thread is the most accessible option and comes in a wide range of reds — from bright fire-engine red to deep burgundy — so you can tailor the look of your charm to match your bag or your mood.
Variations and Customizations
One of the most joyful things about making your own accessories is the freedom to make them entirely your own. Here are some ways you can adapt this pattern.
Change the color palette entirely. A deep burgundy or wine-colored version of this charm is incredibly sophisticated. Pale blush pink on white creates a romantic, bridal feel. Orange lily of the valley is unusual and striking. Black thread with gold-tipped edges (achieved by switching to gold thread for the final round of each bell) creates a genuinely dramatic accessory.
Add beads. Tiny seed beads threaded onto the yarn before you crochet can be worked into the bells to create a sparkling, jeweled effect. White pearl beads inside each bell look especially stunning against the red thread.
Make a brooch instead. Sew a small pin back to the assembled piece and you have a beautiful handmade brooch for a lapel, hat, or tote bag.
Scale it up. If you use worsted weight yarn and a 4mm hook, the same pattern produces a much larger flower cluster that can be used as a decorative element on a crochet bag, a headband, or even a wreath.
Create a full bouquet charm by making more bells — seven, nine, or even twelve — for a lush, overflowing effect.
Storing and Caring for Your Bag Charm
Once your charm is finished and attached, a little care goes a long way toward keeping it looking its best.
If the charm gets dusty or dirty, a gentle hand wash in cool water with a small drop of mild dish soap is all it needs. Rinse thoroughly, press out excess water gently in a clean towel (never wring or twist it), and lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight, which can fade red yarn over time.
When you store bags that have the charm attached, try to avoid crushing or folding the charm under heavy items. The structure of the bells is resilient, but repeated compression can flatten them over time. A few seconds of gentle reshaping with your fingers after washing will restore them to their original form.
Sharing Your Makes
If you make this Red Lily of the Valley Bag Charm, please share a photo! Seeing the pattern come to life in different colors, yarn types, and combinations is one of the greatest joys of publishing free crochet patterns. Tag your photos with the pattern name so other makers can find inspiration from your work.
If you are sharing on social media, natural light photographs tend to showcase the detail in thread crochet most beautifully. A simple background — a wooden surface, a linen cloth, or the bag itself — lets the charm take center stage. And if you have made any creative adaptations, describing them in your post helps other crafters who might want to try the same thing.
Final Thoughts
This Red Lily of the Valley Crochet Bag Charm is exactly the kind of pattern that earns a permanent place in your favorites folder — the kind you return to again and again for quick gifts, personal accessories, and moments when you simply want to make something beautiful without committing to a weeks-long project.
The combination of bold red blooms, soft green leaves, and the elegantly simple stem creates a finished piece that looks far more complex than it is to make. That is the beauty of small-scale floral crochet: the detail does the work for you, and the result is something that genuinely looks like it belongs in a boutique window rather than a craft basket.
Whether this is your first crochet bag charm or your fiftieth, I hope this pattern brings you the same quiet pleasure that went into writing it. Happy crocheting.
