Looking for the perfect crochet bee pattern? I’ve got you covered! In this guide, you’ll find a complete step-by-step tutorial, supply list, and creative ideas to make adorable bees.
Are you struggling to find a crochet bee pattern that’s actually easy to follow? I faced the same problem, which is why I created this beginner-friendly guide.
As a crochet teacher with 5+ years of experience, I’ve helped hundreds of crafters create their first amigurumi. The crochet bee pattern I’m sharing today is tested by beginners just like you.
This article includes:
- A free, detailed crochet bee pattern with images
- Simple instructions anyone can follow
- Creative variations to try
- Tips for customizing your bees
If you want to make gifts, decorations, or just craft for fun, these sweet little bees work up in just a few hours. Let’s get buzzing!
Crochet Bee Supplies Checklist
Before we start, let’s gather our supplies:
- Worsted weight yarn (black and yellow)
- White yarn (small amount for wings)
- 3.5mm crochet hook (E/4)
- Polyester stuffing
- Black embroidery thread
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch markers
- Safety eyes (6mm) or black yarn for eyes
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything. You can always substitute with what you have on hand!
Beginner-Friendly Crochet Bee Pattern (Free Tutorial)
Time to Complete: 2-3 hours
Let’s break this down into simple steps. I remember how tricky patterns seemed when I first started!
Head
- With black yarn, create a magic ring
- Round 1: 6 single crochet (sc) in magic ring (6)
- Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around (12)
- Round 3: 1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch repeat around (18)
- Rounds 4-5: sc in each stitch around (18)
- Round 6: 1 sc in next stitch, sc2tog repeat around (12)
- Add safety eyes between rounds 4 and 5, about 3-4 stitches apart
- Stuff the head firmly
- Round 7: sc2tog around (6)
- Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing
Body
- With yellow yarn, create a magic ring
- Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
- Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around (12)
- Round 3: 1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch repeat around (18)
- Round 4: 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches repeat around (24)
- Round 5: sc in each stitch around (24)
- Round 6: Change to black yarn, sc in each stitch around (24)
- Round 7: Change to yellow yarn, sc in each stitch around (24)
- Round 8: Change to black yarn, sc in each stitch around (24)
- Round 9: Change to yellow yarn, sc in each stitch around (24)
- Round 10: 1 sc in next 2 stitches, sc2tog repeat around (18)
- Round 11: 1 sc in next stitch, sc2tog repeat around (12)
- Stuff the body firmly
- Round 12: sc2tog around (6)
- Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing
Wings (make 2)
- With white yarn, chain 8
- Row 1: Starting from second chain from hook, 1 sc in each chain (7)
- Row 2: Chain 1, turn, 1 sc in each stitch (7)
- Row 3: Chain 1, turn, 1 sc in each stitch (7)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing
Assembly
- Sew the head to the body
- Attach wings to the back of the body
- With black embroidery thread, add a smile under the eyes
- Use black yarn to add antennae: insert hook through top of head, pull through a loop of black yarn, chain 5-6, and fasten off
And there you have it! Your very own crochet bumble bee is complete.
Want the printable PDF version of this pattern? Drop a comment below and I’ll send it your way!
Creative Crochet Bee Pattern Ideas to Try Next
Once you’ve mastered the basic bee, try these fun projects:
1. Queen Bee
Add a tiny gold crown to your bee! Make a simple crown by crocheting 6 chain stitches, then work 2 double crochets in each stitch. Fold it into a circle, sew the ends together, and attach tiny seed beads as “jewels” if you want extra sparkle.
2. Baby Bees
Create a mama bee with her little ones! Use a 2.5mm hook with fingering weight yarn to make mini bees that are about half the size. Make 3-5 baby bees in different sizes for an adorable bee family, perfect for mobiles or as toys.
3. Bee Mobile
Make a sweet nursery mobile with 5-7 bees! Hang the bees at different heights from an embroidery hoop using invisible thread. Add small felt clouds and a yellow sun for a complete sky scene that will delight any baby.
4. Bee Keychain
Turn your bee into a useful accessory! Create a smaller bee (about 2 inches) with a tighter stitch tension, then add a metal keyring through a reinforced loop at the top. Coat it with fabric stiffener for extra durability.
5. Bee Garland
String together 7-9 bees on a black and yellow twisted cord! Space them about 5 inches apart and add small felt flowers between each bee. This makes a perfect decoration for a garden party or a child’s bedroom.
6. Honey Pot Friend
Create a cute honey pot companion! Using yellow-orange yarn, crochet a small pot shape (basically a bowl), then add a rim on top. Add a few stitches in a darker yellow to look like honey drips. Your bee will now have a sweet home!
7. Bee Bookmark
Make a flat, functional bee! Work only half the increases for the body, creating a semi-circle shape instead of a full round. Add a 6-inch tail of black yarn that extends past the body to mark your page. Add wings only on the top side.
Customizing Your Crochet Bees
Want to make your bee unique? Here are some simple ways to change things up:
- Change the stripes – Make thin or thick stripes or try a different pattern
- Add extras – Like tiny flowers, hats, or scarves
- Try different yarns – Fuzzy yarn makes super fluffy bees!
- Play with size – Use different hook sizes for big or tiny bees
- Mix up colors – Try fun colors for fantasy bees
Remember, crochet is all about having fun! There are no strict rules.
Share Your Buzz-Worthy Bees!
I love seeing your creations! Tag me on social media with #CrochetBeePattern or send me a photo through email.
Each week, I feature reader creations in my newsletter. Your bee might be next!
Final Stitch
This crochet bee pattern has a special magic to it. The round bodies, cute faces, and bright stripes make these bees hard to resist! They’re quick to make, use basic stitches, and need just a small amount of yarn.
I started making bees with this crochet bee pattern as gifts last year, and now I can’t keep up with requests from friends and family. Kids love them as toys, plant lovers enjoy them as pot buddies, and bee fans collect them in all sizes.
The best part? This crochet bee pattern only requires a few basic stitches to create something truly special. Even if you’re new to crochet, you can finish this project and feel proud of what you made.
Ready to try this crochet bee pattern? Grab your hook and let’s create something sweet together!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skeins of yarn will I need for this bee?
You’ll need very little yarn for this project. Just a small amount of black and yellow (about 20 yards each) and even less white for the wings. One skein of each color will make many bees!
Can I make a larger bee with this same pattern?
Yes! Simply use a thicker yarn and larger hook size. For example, using chunky yarn with a 5mm hook will create a bee about twice the size of the original pattern.
What’s the best way to attach the safety eyes?
Add safety eyes before closing the head, between rounds 4-5. Push the backs on firmly until they click. If making for small children, use yarn to stitch eyes instead for safety.
My stripes look messy when changing colors. Any tips?
When changing colors, complete the last stitch of the previous round with the new color. This creates a cleaner color change and keeps your stripes looking neat and tidy.
How do I keep the stuffing from showing through?
Use a smaller hook than recommended for your yarn weight. This creates tighter stitches that hold the stuffing in better. You can also use white stuffing for light-colored sections of your bee.
