Bugs, bugs, bugs! This just happens to be the title to one of our favourite books around our house right now (by Bob Barner). Its the sweetest little bug book filled with fun facts about each bug and whimsical illustrations. My kids absolutely love it.
Inspired by the adorable little bugs in the book the Pocket Pal Bugs were born.
The first of three Pocket Pal Bugs to release is the Bee crochet pattern.
Like the other Pocket Pals (see Bunny, Chick, Flamingo) this Bee has been designed using a combination of Bernat Baby Velvet and Bernat Baby Crushed Velvet yarn lines. This chenille style worsted weight (4) yarn makes some of the most soft, squishy lovable animals. The yarn can be found at most local Michaels and Walmart stores as well as online at www.yarnspirations.com. Feel free to experiment with your favourite Amigurumi yarns as well! Check out this post for some guidelines on how. The pattern is shown using 12mm safety eyes Suncatcher Craft Eyes (Danielle is fantastic and I highly recommend her eyes). For those of you wanting to sell or gift to kids under 3, the bee crochet pattern also includes a video link for embroidering sleepy eyes.
All the patterns in the Pocket Pal Series work up quickly and easily with minimal sewing required. The head and body are worked in one piece with the option to crochet the limbs in as you go. The patterns also include video tutorials to assist if you need it. Since they work up so quickly the Pocket Pal Animals are perfect to take to your next craft market or make as a last minute gift.
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Interested in more cute crochet patterns? Check these out!
What you will need for your Pocket Pal Bee Crochet Pattern
Materials:
Hook size 4.0 mm (G)
Main Colour – 75 yards (shown in Bernat Baby Velvet – Vapour Gray)
Accent Colours – 30 yards (Bernat Baby Crushed Velvet – Soft Scramble)
30 yards (Bernat Baby Velvet White)
- Polyester filling – small amount
- 2 – 12mm black safety eyes (not suitable for children under 3): As an alternative see video for embroidering sleepy eye.
- Stitch Markers or Safety pins to help with sewing placement
- Yarn needle to weave in the ends
Gauge:
4 Rounds of Gauge Pattern = 1.75 inch diameter
Gauge Pattern:
Create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: 2sc in each st (12)
Round 3: *sc, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)
Abbreviations:
| ch | chain |
| sc | single crochet |
| scdec | single crochet decrease |
| ss | slip stitch |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| *to* | repeat the sequence between the ** the number of times indicated |
| YO | Yarn Over |
Special Stitches & Techniques:
Magic ring – https://youtu.be/s3xHu-fmQ6k
No Sew Limbs Method Attaching Feet: https://youtu.be/z7T84joKz9I
No Sew Limbs Method Attaching Wings: https://youtu.be/cmbukMkqCO8
Sleepy Eyes – https://youtu.be/4kO0XAkXMGo
End off pieces – flatten and sc two sides together – https://youtu.be/5mQdATj1XvA
Notes:
- #sc, eg. (2sc, 3sc, etc) shows the number of scs to be completed in the indicated st
- Sts listed between brackets are all worked in the same st, eg. (hdc, dc)
- I highly recommend using a stitch marker to help keep track of the rounds for the body/head
- The pattern has both a ‘sew’ and no sew option for the limbs shown in the Body/Head section.
Recommended Sequence:
It is highly recommended to complete the Pocket Pal patterns in the order they are written (especially if you are using the no-sew option for the limbs).
Start your Pocket Pal Bee Crochet Pattern
Legs (make 6):
The legs are worked in continuous rounds.
Using Main Colour, create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *2sc* 6 times (12)
Rounds 3-5: sc in each st (12)
Round 6: *sc in the next st, scdec* 4 times (8)
Stuff lightly, ss to the next st, Flatten and sc through both sides (4 sts).
End off, leaving a 12 inch tail if sewing, weave end for no sew option.
Body/Head:
The body and head are worked in one piece from front to back in continuous rounds.
Option 1: Sewing the Legs to the body
If you are sewing your legs onto your body then follow Option 1 instructions for Round 15 and Round 20 and Round 25.
Option 2: Crochet the Legs to the body
If you are crocheting your legs onto your body please follow the pattern as written for the Body/Head.For assistance in crocheting the limbs on see Videos:
Attaching Front Legs: https://youtu.be/z7T84joKz9I
Attaching Middle and Back Legs: https://youtu.be/cmbukMkqCO8
Using Main Colour, create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *2sc* 6 times (12)
Round 3: *sc, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)
Round 5: *sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc* 6 times (30)
Rounds 6-10: sc in each st (30)
Round 11: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 6 times (24)
Round 12: *sc in the next 2 sts, scdec* 6 times (18)
Round 13: sc in each st (18)
Round 14: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)
Round 15 Option 1: sc in the next 12 sts, *2sc, sc in the next 3sts* 3 times (27), change to Soft Scramble
Option 2: Hold your first leg in front of your work (body). Working through both pieces, sc in the next 4 sts, working through the body only, sc in the next 2 sts, Hold the second leg in front of your work (body). Working through both pieces, sc in the next 4 sts, working through the body only for the rest of the round, sc in the next 2 sts, *2sc, sc in the next 3 sts* 3 times (27). Change to Soft Scramble
Round 16: sc in the next 13 sts, *2sc, sc in the next 4 sts* twice, 2sc, sc in the next 3 sts (30)
Rounds 17-19: sc in each st (30), change to Main Colour after Round 18, Option 1: sew legs – continue to Round 20, Option 2: crochet legs, end off after Round 19 and continue to Round 20
Round 20 Option 1: sc in each st (30)
Option 2: Place the animal down on a hard surface with the legs face ‘up’ and the head facing you. Locate the 4 centre front sts and mark them with a stitch marker (the middle/back legs will be placed on either side of these sts). Locate the far right marked st. Count over 4 sts to the right of it and attach your yarn (main colour) to the body. (If left handed you will locate the left st and count over 4 sts to the left).
Place the first back leg in front of the body to the right of the marked sts (left if you’re left handed). With Main Colour, working through both pieces (beginning with the first st of the back leg and the stitch on the body you attached your yarn to), sc in the next 4 sts.
Working through the body only, sc in the next 4 sts (these are your marked sts). Place the second back leg in front of your work (body). Working through both pieces, sc in the next 4 sts, working through the body only, sc in the last 18 sts (30).
Round 21: Sc in each st (30), change to soft scramble
Rounds 22-25: Repeat Rounds 17-20, After Round 24, change to Main Colour
Using the Legs as a guide, add safety eyes to Round 4 (the side facing away from the legs) of the head approximately 5 sts apart, begin stuffing.
Round 26: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 6 times (24)
Round 27: *sc in the next 2 sts, scdec* 6 times (18)
Finish stuffing
Round 28: *sc, scdec* 6 times (12)
Round 29: *sc in the next 2 sts, scdec* 3 times (9)
Round 30: sc in each st (9)
Round 31: *sc, scdec* 3 times (6)
Round 32: sc in each st (6)
Round 33: *scdec* 3 times (3)
Round 34: sc in each st (3)
End off leaving a 6 inch tail, cinch the last 3 sts together and weave in the end.
Antennae: (make 2)
Made in continuous rounds beginning at the tip of the antennae.
Using Main Colour, create a Magic Ring
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *sc, 2sc* 3 times (9)
Round 3: sc in each st (9)
Round 4: *sc, scdec* 3 times (6)
Round 5: *sc, scdec* twice (4)
Rounds 6-8: sc in each st (4)
Do not stuff,
End off leaving a 6 inch tail for sewing to the head.
Wings (make 2):
Each wing begins with 2 pieces that are crocheted together. Once completed, the 2 wings will be slip stitched together.
Using White, create a Magic Ring
Pieces:
Note: You will need 4 pieces total (2 for each wing)
Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *sc, 2sc* 3 times (9)
Rounds 3-4: sc in each st (9), after Round 4, end off Piece 1, after Piece 2 continue to ‘attaching pieces together’.
Attaching Pieces together:
Round 5: continuing from Round 4 of Piece 2, join with a sc onto Piece 1, sc in the next 8 sts of piece 1, join with a sc to the next unworked stitch of Piece 2, sc in the next 8 sts of piece 2 (18)
Round 6: *sc in the next 4 sts, scdec* 3 times (15)
Round 7: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 3 times (12)
Flatten so that the wing pieces sit side by side. Sc in the next 4 sts to reach ‘right side’ of wing, you may need to add or remove sts to make sure you are at the far right st (of far left st if you’re left handed). Ss to the next st and sc the two sides together (6 sts).
First Wing: end off
Second Wing: ch1, turn, with the ‘sc rows’ for both wings together. Place the first wing behind the second, working through ‘sc rows’ of both wings, ss in the next 6 sts, end off leaving a 12” tail for sewing.
How to assemble your Pocket Pal Bee Crochet Pattern
Sewing Placement – I highly recommend pinning ALL parts in place BEFORE sewing to make sure everything sits properly and is to your liking 🙂
| Note: Disregard sewing the legs if you’ve already crocheted them on. Front Legs: Place the front legs on the underside of the body (opposite side to the eyes) at approx Round 17 of the body about 2 sts apart. Sew in place. When sewing the front legs in place I sewed the top of the last FULL ROUND DOWN instead of just the sts from crocheting the round together. |
| Middle and Back Legs: Using the front legs as a guide. Place the Middle Legs at Round 20 of the body and the Back Legs at Round 25, approx 4 sts apart. Sew in place. When sewing the back leg in place I sewed the top of the last FULL ROUND DOWN instead of just the sts from crocheting the round together. |
| Antennae: Place the antennae between Rounds 7 and 9 of the head approx 2 sts apart, the back bottom corner angles back 2 rounds. Sew in place. Eyes (optional): Using White, embroider around the outer half of each eye. |
| Wing: Centre the slip stitch row linking the wings together down the back of the body between Rounds 14 and 19. Sew in place along the slip stitch row. |
Congratulations!
You have now completed your Pocket Pal Bee Crochet Pattern.
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