Bell Pattern

Carving the Bell and Bow.  

By Ernest T. Basswood  

These thoughts and instructions are for the beginning carver and I hope they will be helpful. There are not a lot of instructions for a carving like this. Mostly just take it easy and try not to remove too much wood at a time. After you’ve carved a while it will be 2nd nature to remember that you can always take more wood off but it is tough to put it back on. I tried to write this just like I was sitting and talking to you.  

I saw a Christmas ornament with a metal bell and cloth bow and thought that it would make a nice carved ornament. The pattern I finally came up with is a lot different than the original. The bell is shaped like a church bell instead of a sleigh bell and the bow is smaller.  

You can easily change this pattern to suit your own ideas. I enjoy making my own patterns instead of copying something and this will give you a chance to do that to. Change the size and shape until you get what you like.  

I carved my ornament out of a piece of Eastern White Pine about 7/8” thick. That is thicker than you need but it gives you the chance to carve an ornament with more depth.  

I only needed a few tools for this project. A knife with a pointed blade about 2 inches long, a 5/16” V tool, a 3/8” #5 or #6 sweep gouge, a ¼” #9 sweep gouge, and a 1/8” #9 sweep gouge. These are the tools I use for most of my carving and there is nothing special about the sizes – just use what you have and are comfortable with. I used a small detail knife to clean up some of the cuts when I was finishing up but only because I like that knife and wanted to carve with it.  

Step 1. Cut out the pattern and trace it on your piece of wood, or use a transfer tool. The 2nd option is nice because you’ll have all the lines and won’t need to draw them in.  

Step 2. Go over all the lines with your V tool. At this stage there is no need to make them particularly deep, but don’t just scratch the surface either. The carved line won’t rub off and with care you can use it as a stop cut. Making those Vee cuts is a good way to tell if your Vee tool is as sharp as it should be.  

Step 3. Starting at the two bottom corners of the bell, use your knife to start rounding the bell. With wood this thick you won’t be able to make the bell half round, but you do want to have it rounded up nicely. Carve up to the bottom of the bow, working to make both sides symetrical. When you feel you are getting close to what you want, switch to the #6 gouge and begin rounding the top of the bell, between the two ends of the ribbon. You want this part of the bell to curve across the width as well as down at the top. As you remove shavings, use your V tool to make the cuts deeper. At the very top of the bell, right below the center of the bow, use the point of your knife to make a deep cut for a stop cut.  

 On this step don’t try to completely finish the bell. Leave some extra wood to carve away just in case you make any nicks or slips. The last step will be to go over the entire ornaments and shape and smooth.  

Step 4. Starting at the outside of the loops of the bow, CAREFULLY use your knife to remove very thin slices from the outside of the bow to the V cut that defines the outside of the center part. Watch the point of your knife so you aren’t the lower end of the bow. You shouldn’t try to cut across the entire width of the bow all at once, do it in several passes. Cut deep enough to make the bow look realistic. When you get close to what you want, stop and do the other side, then round over the end and top of the loop. Then round over the edges.  

Step 5. Round off the center of the bow. I made mine so that it curves a little from the center to the top and bottom and also from side to side. You can use the edges of your Vee tool like a small straight chisel for some of the cuts here and it will make carving easier.   

Step 6. You now have the top of the bow and the bell in pretty good shape. Go back over all the original Vee cuts and make them as deep as you want. Look at a real bow and see how the ribbon folds under and copy that.   

Step 7. Now ready to carve the two free ends of the ribbon between the bow and bell. I made mine so they are barely higher than the bell but at the top edge the bottom of the bow looks like it goes under them. Start by using your knife and/or #6 gouge and carefully carve from the outside to the center of the knot. Try not to make it too flat. A real ribbon would curve a little. The way I laid mine out these are cross grain cuts without much support to take it easy.  

Step 8. Go over the entire carving and made sure it is smooth, that the parts come together the way you want, and that all the curves are right. No fuzzy cuts.  

Step 9. Carve the grooves in the bow using the #9 gouges.  

Step 10. Sand if you feel compelled to do so. You can carve the clapper at the bottom of the bell round or don’t even include it.   

Step 11. You can paint or chip carve a letter or design on the bell and make it look a lot nicer.  

Step 12. Add an eye screw and paint.