Bumble Bee Free Crochet Pattern

Oh, hey! Things have been a little quieter than usual here on the blog for the last week or two. I’ve been trying to soak up whatever is left of summer before the cool weather hits, so I took another weekend trip. This time we headed to a small coastal community in my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador called Port Rexton. It’s about a three-hour drive from where I live. We stayed in a sweet little inn called the Fisher’s Loft. We hit up a local brewery there, did some hiking (see the pics below…totally breathtaking!), did some guided tours and museums and, all in all, had a wonderful time!

Anyway, I’m back to crocheting again after an eventful weekend! I have another cute little critter to bring you…a sweet little Bumble Bee! 🐝 I decided to go with soft, pastel colours for this bee, which I think would make it a perfect fit for a nursery, either as a cuddle buddy or as wall decor.  Maybe pair her with a beautiful soft grey baby blanket to match? Perfect baby shower gift!

As usual, this Bumble Bee pattern is made in the same style as our Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. This lady has 18 separate pieces. Please note that, while this pattern is not difficult, there is a fair amount of sewing, attaching and assembling involved.

Her finished measurement is approximately 32 cm/12 inches from top to bottom.

If this Bumble Bee looks a little familiar to you, you won’t be surprised to learn that I adapted the pattern from the Ragdoll Lion to make her! With some minor changes, I was able to use the pattern for the body panels as the base to transform a fearsome lion into a buzzing bee.

Let’s get started. Here’s what I used:

**If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE.**

• 3.5mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
• Bernat Handicrafter in Pale Yellow (100g);
• Bernat Handicrafter in Overcast (100g);
• Bernat Handicrafter in White (50g);
• Light weight cotton yarn in pink for the cheeks;
• Black crochet thread for mouth and eyebrows (I use THIS kind!);
• 12mm Safety Eyes (or black crochet thread if you prefer to stitch on sleepy eyes);
• Stuffing;
• Tapestry needle

*Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row*

Keep an eye out for the colour changes!

Body (make 2 panels). Start with Overcast:

Row 1: Ch 17, sc along (16 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 14, inc (18 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 16, inc (20 sts)

Row 4: Sc along (20 sts)

Switch to Pale Yellow.

*When switching colours at the end of a row, I prefer to work the last stitch as normal and simply ch 1 in the new colour and continue with the new colour from there. This is different from when I switch colours in the middle of a row, where only part of the last stitch is worked.*

Row 5: Inc, sc 18, inc (22 sts)

Row 6: Inc, sc 20, inc (24 sts)

Row 7: Sc along (24 sts)

Row 8: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts)

Rows 9-10: Sc along (26 sts)

Switch to Overcast.

Rows 11- 16: Sc along (26 sts)

Switch to Pale Yellow.

Rows 17-18: Sc along (26 sts)

Row 19: Dec, sc 22, dec (24 sts)

Rows 20-21: Sc along (24 sts)

Row 22: Dec, sc 20, dec (22 sts)

Switch to Overcast.

Rows 23-24: Sc along (22 sts)

Row 25: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts)

Row 26: Dec, sc 16, dec (18 sts)

Switch to Pale Yellow. Now we will start the head.

Row 27: Inc, sc 16, inc (20 sts)

Row 28: Inc, sc 18, inc (22 sts)

Row 29: Inc, sc 20, inc (24 sts)

Row 30: Inc, sc 22, inc (26 sts)

Row 31: Sc along (26 sts)

Row 32: Inc, sc 24, inc (28 sts)

Row 33: Sc along (28 sts)

Row 34: Inc, sc 26, inc (30 sts)

Row 35: Inc, sc 28, inc (32 sts)

Rows 36-40: Sc along (32 sts)

Row 41: Dec, sc 28, dec (30 sts)

Rows 42: Sc along (30 sts)

Row 43: Dec, sc 26, dec (28 sts)

Row 44: Sc along (28 sts)

Row 45: Dec, sc 24, dec (26 sts)

Row 46: Sc along (26 sts)

Row 47: Dec, sc 22, dec (24 sts)

Row 48: Dec, sc 20, dec (22 sts)

Row 49: Dec, sc 18, dec (20 sts)

Row 50: Dec, sc, hdc 3, dc 8, hdc 3, sc, dec (18 sts)

Tie off. Repeat all of the above for the second panel. Put these aside for assembly later.

Legs (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Overcast:

Row 1: Ch 6, sc along (5 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 3, inc (7 sts)

Row 3: Sc along (7 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts)

Row 5: Dec, sc 5, dec (7 sts)

Rows 6-7: Sc along (7 sts)

Row 8: Dec, sc 3, dec (5 sts)

Rows 9-10: Sc along (5 sts)

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-10 for the second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Ch 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, Sc) into each corner of row 10. Stuff when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds of the way around. Slst to first st and tie off. Repeat for second leg. Set aside for assembly later.

Arms (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Overcast:

Row 1: Ch 4, sc along (3 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc, inc (5 sts)

Row 3: Sc along (5 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc 3, inc (7 sts)

Row 5: Dec, sc 3, dec (5 sts)

Rows 6-8: Sc along (5 sts)

Row 9: Dec, sc, dec (3 sts)

Rows 10-12: Sc along (3 sts)

Tie off. Repeat rows 1-12 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides. Chain 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, Sc) into each corner of row 12. Stuff when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds of the way around. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off. Repeat for second arm.  Set these aside for assembly later.

Antennae (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Overcast:

Row 1: Ch 4, sc along (3 sts)

Rows 2-6: Sc along (3 sts)

Row 7: Inc, dec (3 sts)

Row 8: Dec, inc (3 sts)

Row 9: Inc, dec (3)

Row 10: Dec, inc (3 sts)

Row 11: Inc, dec (3 sts)

Row 12: Sc along (3 sts)

Tie off.

Tie off first panel. Repeat rows 1-12 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides. Chain 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, sc) into each corner. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off. Repeat for second antenna, however, for the second antenna, you will crochet around the piece in the opposite direction as you did for the first. This ensures the antennae are pointing in opposite directions and that all your beautiful edging stitches are facing out on both. Set these aside for assembly later.

Wings (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in White:

Row 1: Ch 7, sc along (6 sts)

Row 2: Inc, sc 4, inc (8 sts)

Row 3: Inc, sc 6, inc (10 sts)

Row 4: Inc, sc 8, inc (12 sts)

Rows 5-7: Sc along (12 sts)

Row 8: Dec, sc 8, dec (10 sts)

Row 9: Dec, sc 6, dec (8 sts)

Row 10: Dec, sc 4, dec (6 sts)

Rows 11-12: Sc along (6 sts)

Tie off.

Repeat rows 1-12 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides. Chain 1 and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, Sc) into each corner of row 12. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off. Repeat for second wing.  Set these aside for assembly later.

Assembly:

Step 1: Eyes, Mouth, Cheeks, Eyebrows, and Wings

First thing’s first! We need to attach all of our facial features to the front panel.

The first thing I did was insert 12mm safety eyes about 8-9 rows up from the bottom of the head.

Stitch on cheeks below each eye.

Stitch on the mouth.

Stitch on two little eyebrows above each eye.

Finally, attach the wings to the back body panel by sewing along the centre of each one. Tie a knot on the back to secure.

Step 2: Body, Arms, Legs and Anntenae

Okay, here are all the pieces you should now have at this step.

Cut off two lengths of Pale Yellow yarn and four lengths of Overcast yarn about 30 cms (12 inches) long each. Put them aside for later.

Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides and colours.

**Make sure the front of your Bumble Bee is facing you as you crochet around the outside of the piece.**

Starting on the left side of the head, in the middle begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels in Pale Yellow.

Stop before you get to the body. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now.

Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of Overcast yarn that you set aside earlier, place the first arm between the panels and attach it by sewing through all three pieces; the top panel, the arm, and the bottom panel. When finished, tie a knot to secure and hide the yarn tails between the panels of the body.

Continue single crocheting down the side of the body. When you get to the arm, simply sc in the stitches of the front panel only, since this part is already sewn shut. Once you are past the arm, continue single crocheting both panels together as normal.

As you crochet along the outside, you will need to switch colours where appropriate. When switching colours, insert your hook into the last stitch of Colour A. Pull up a loop in Colour A. Then Yarn over in Colour B to complete the stitch. Continue with Colour B until you need to switch again.

Stop before you reach the bottom of the body. Pull up a long loop.

Next, you will attach the first leg. With your tapestry needle and a length of Overcast yarn that you set aside earlier, place the leg between the panels and attach it by sewing through all three pieces; the top panel, the leg, and the bottom panel. When finished, tie a knot to secure and hide the yarn tails between the panels of the body.

Now, picking up where you left off, continue single crocheting around the outside of the body and across the bottom. Remember, when you get to the leg, simply sc in the stitches of the front panel only.

Stop when you’ve crocheted across most of the bottom of the body. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now. Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of Overcast yarn that you set aside earlier, place the second leg between the panels and attach the same way you did for the first.

Continue crocheting around. Place the second arm the same way you did for the first.

Continue crocheting up the body and stop a few stitches from the top of the head.

Stuff the body.

Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of Pale Yellow yarn that you set aside earlier, place the first antenna between the panels and attach it by sewing through all three pieces; the top panel, the antenna, and the bottom panel. When finished, tie a knot to secure and hide the tails between the panels of the head.

Now, picking up where you left off, continue single crocheting around the outside of the body. Remember, when you get to the antenna, simply sc in the stitches of the front panel only.

Stop when you get about halfway across the head. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now. Top up stuffing.

When stuffed, place the second antenna between the panels and attach it the same way you did for the first.

Continue crocheting around. Top up stuffing. Close with a slst to first st. Tie off. With your tapestry needle, poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.

Step 3: Finishing Touches

Lastly, I did some needle sculpting to indent the eyes a little bit to add a bit of character. With a length of Pale Yellow yarn, you can do this by doing the following steps:

• Insert your tapestry needle behind Eye A (I started with the right eye, but it doesn’t matter);
• Exit the needle from behind Eye B ;
• Reinsert the needle into a different stitch behind Eye B;
• Exit the needle out the back of your Bee’s head;
• Thread the yarn tail from Eye A into your needle. Reinsert your needle into a different stitch behind Eye A.
• Exit your needle out the same stitch in the back of your Bee’s head.
• Gently tug on both yarn tails to create the sculpting.
• Tie a knot in the yarn tails and poke back inside the piece.

Whew! You made it! Enjoy your boisterous Bumble Bee!

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