The Benevolent Bumble Bee is big, sweet, and ready for a cuddle - no stings, I promise! Make one for someone special with this free crochet pattern on Moogly!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Fairfield, Red Heart, and Brittany.
I designed the Benevolent Bumble Bee with the design help of my daughter - even at 17, she has some firm opinions on what's cute in a softie! ♥
This pattern is also part of the CAL Central 2019 Softie Crochet Along, hosted on Underground Crafter! To share your projects be sure to use #CALCentral and #fairfieldworld! And there are prizes too, from Fairfield, Search Press North America, Clover USA, and MorgansMane!
The Benevolent Bumble Bee is made with Red Heart With Love and stuffed with Fairfield Poly-fil. By holding the yarn doubled, and using a small hook, the fabric is tight enough to stuff without needing any sort of fabric lining.
This pattern is also made amigurumi style (but so big!) - the rounds are worked in spirals, with no joins. This prevents that tell-tale seem, but you'll also want to have stitch markers on hand to mark the first stitch of each round. Believe me, you don't want to skip it, especially when working with black yarn!
The Benevolent Bumble Bee does feature appliqued on facial features and feet - so if you make it for a child under age 3, you may want to skip the feet altogether and embroider on the facial features instead. Of course, this product has not been legally or officially child safety tested, so though it won't fit through a toilet paper tube, please use all appropriate caution.
Benevolent Bumble Bee
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US-I, 5.5mm hook – Brittany Hooks
650 yds Red Heart With Love (100% Acrylic; “4”/Medium/Worsted/Aran/UK: 10-12 ply)
Color A: Daffodil (1 skein)
Color B: Black (1 skein)
Color C: White (just a few yards)
Color D: Holly Berry (just a few yards)
Fairfield Poly-fil, 20oz (1 bag)
Gauge: Rnd 7 of Body = 4"/10cm across
Note that gauge is not important for this pattern, just make sure your stitches are very tight so stuffing won't escape.
Finished Size: approximately 12" long x 11" wide x 12" tall including wings
Helpful Links & Tutorials:
Benevolent Bumble Bee Tutorial
NOTES:
For portions of this pattern, the yarn is held doubled. You can pull from both ends of a skein, or use 2 skeins at once.
This pattern is worked in a spiral - do not join at the end of each round, and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
All decreases were made using the invisible decrease - see the tutorial above.
It's easiest to make the "add-ons" first, but if you choose not to do so, then make them after Rnd 42 of the body.
Do not forget to start firmly stuffing the bee before the hole gets too small!
INSTRUCTIONS:
EYES (Make 2, use 1 strand of Color B):
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, work 6 sc in the ring; pull end to close the ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (18 sc) Break yarn and seamless join to first st, leaving long tails for sewing.
With Color C and a yarn needle, sew on white "glimmer" as shown. Set eyes aside.
HEARTS (Make 2, use 1 strand of Color D):
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, work into the ring 3 dc, 4 hdc, dc, 4 hdc, 3 dc, ch 1, sl st in ring and break yarn, leaving long tails for sewing. Set hearts aside.
WINGS (Make 2, use 2 strands of Color C):
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, work into the ring 3 dc, 4 hdc, dc, 4 hdc, 3 dc, ch 1, sl st in ring.
Rnd 2: ch 1, hdc in first st, 2 hdc in each of next 3 sts, hdc 7, 2 hdc in each of next 3 sts, hdc in last st, ch 2, sl st in sl st, break yarn, leaving long tails for sewing.
Assembly: Sew wings together at the base. Set wings aside.
FEET (Make 4, use 2 strands of Color B):
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, work 6 sc in the ring; pull end to close the ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3 - 5: Sc in each st around. (12 sc) Break yarn and seamless join to first st, leaving long tails for sewing. Set feet aside.
BODY (Begin with 2 strands of Color A):
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, work 6 sc in the ring; pull end to close the ring. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: *Sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st; rep from * around. (30 sc)
Rnd 6: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 5 sts; rep from * around. (35 sc)
Rnd 7: [Sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 2 sts] 5 times, sc in the next 3 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st. (41 sc)
Rnd 8: Sc in the next 5 sts, 2 sc in the next st, *sc in the next 6 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * around. (47 sc)
Rnd 9: [Sc in the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 4 sts] 5 times, sc in the next 2 sts. (52 sc)
Rnd 10: Sc in the next st, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 9 sts] twice, sc in the next st, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 9 sts] thrice. (57 sc)
Rnd 11: [Sc in the next 9 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 8 sts, 2 sc in the next st] thrice. (63 sc)
Rnd 12: Sc in the next 5 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 11 sts] 4 times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 9 sts. (68 sc)
Rnd 13: *Sc in the next 16 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * around. (72 sc)
Rnd 14: Sc in the next 7 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 13 sts, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 14 sts] twice, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 6 sts. (77 sc)
Rnd 15: Sc in the next st, *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 18 sts; rep from * around. (81 sc)
Rnd 16: Sc in the next 10 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 15 sts] four times, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 6 sts. (86 sc)
Rnd 17: Sc in the next 17 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 20 sts] thrice, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 5 sts. (90 sc)
Rnd 18: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 29 sts, rep from * around, break yarn and seamless finish. (93 sc)
Rnd 19: With Color B, join to a st near the last st of the previous rnd, *sc in the next 22 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * until 1 st rem, sc in next st. (97 sc)
Rnd 20: Sc in the next st, *sc in the next 31 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from * around. (100 sc)
Rnd 21: Sc in the next 10 sts, [2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 32 sts] twice, 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 23 sts. (103 sc)
Rnd 22: *2 sc in the next st, sc in the next 33 sts; rep from * until 1 st rem, sc in the next st. (106 sc)
Rnd 23 - 30: Sc in each st around; at the end of Rnd 30, break yarn and seamless join.
Rnd 31: With Color A, join to a st near the last st of the previous rnd, ch 1, sc in each st around. (106 sc)
Rnd 32 - 39: Rep Rnd 23, do not break yarn.
Rnd 40: Sc in the next st, *sc in the next 33 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (103 sc)
Rnd 41: Sc in the next 10 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 32 sts] twice, sc2tog, sc in the next 23 sts. (100 sc)
Rnd 42: *Sc2tog, sc in the next 31 sts; rep from * until 1 st rem, sc in next st; break yarn and seamless join. (97 sc)
SEW on the Eyes, Hearts, and Wings as shown or as desired. And don't forget to stuff!
Rnd 43: With Color B, join to a st near the last st of the previous rnd, sc in the next st, *sc in the next 22 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (93 sc)
Rnd 44: *Sc2tog, sc in the next 29 sts; rep from * around. (90 sc)
Rnd 45: *Sc in the next 13 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (84 sc)
Rnd 46: Sc in the next 6 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 12 sts] 5 times, sc2tog, sc in the next 6 sts. (78 sc)
Rnd 47: Sc in the next 2 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 11 sts] 5 times, sc2tog, sc in the next 9 sts. (72 sc)
Rnd 48: Sc in the next 8 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 10 sts] 5 times, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts. (66 sc)
Rnd 49: Sc in the next 4 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 9 sts] 5 times, sc2tog, sc in the next 5 sts. (60 sc)
Rnd 50: *Sc2tog, sc in the next 8 sts; rep from * around. (54 sc)
Rnd 51: Sc in the next 6 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 7 sts] 5 times, sc2tog, sc in the next st. (48 sc)
Rnd 52: *Sc in the next 10 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (44 sts)
Rnd 53: Sc in the next 4 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 9 sts] thrice, sc2tog, sc in the next 5 sts. (40 sc)
Rnd 54: *Sc in the next 8 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (36 sts)
Rnd 55: Sc in the next 5 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 7 sts] thrice, sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sts. (32 sc)
Rnd 56: *Sc2tog, sc in the next 6 sts; rep from * around. (28 sts)
Rnd 57: Sc in the next 2 sts, [sc2tog, sc in the next 5 sts] thrice, sc2tog, sc in the next 3 sts. (24 sc)
Rnd 58: *Sc in the next 4 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (20 sts)
Rnd 59: *Sc2tog, sc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around. (16 sts)
Rnd 60: *Sc in the next 2 sts, sc2tog; rep from * around. (12 sts)
Rnd 58: *Sc in the next st, sc2tog; rep from * around; break yarn and gather last rnd closed. (8 sts)
STUFF AND SEW on feet as shown or as desired.
And that's the Benevolent Bumble Bee! My favorite kind, as I have a mild allergy to the real thing. This one is much more cuddly!
Ready to make your own Benevolent Bumble Bee? If this free amigurumi bee pattern does inspire you, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too! I love seeing what you make!
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr! Thank you to Red Heart Yarns and Brittany for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2019, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
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softly Cynical
This is adorable! I've tried amigarumi but my old eyes have trouble with the super small stitches. This I think I can handle and can't wait to try it! Thanks for creating and sharing this!
crafty_Ms
I love this, but mine is turning out much bigger than I'd expected. Is it 2 strands for all of the body rounds?
Tamara Kelly
Yes, it's 2 strands the whole body - are your stitches super tight? (They should be!) You may need to go down a hook size if they are loose. But it IS a big bee - nearly a foot wide and a foot tall and a foot long!
Colleen Fonkalsrud
I am using a jumbo bulky yarn, and mine is going to be really big, I can't wait until it's done! Would love your e-mail for additional questions I have 😊
Thank you,
Colleen Fonkalsrud
Tamara Kelly
Hi Colleen! You can always send a message with the Contact Me button in the menu! It goes right to my email! 🙂
Jules
Had so much fun making this little guy. I wish I could add a pic, the pattern was perfect and so easy to follow.
I've stitched a name across the black stripe as a christening present. I also added a smile which just adds to its cuteness
Tamara Kelly
Hi Jules! Thank you so much! If you'd like to share a photo to tamarakelly@mooglyblog.com I'd love to see it, and even share it in the Moogly email newsletter if you don't mind! ♥
Nancy Lins de Carvalho
Amei tudo. Vou tentar fazer. Pois adoro abelhas.
Deborah A McConnell
made this for our church arts and crafts fair. A little girl about 4 yrs old walked in spotted it and wouldn't leave without. I just made the octopus for the next sale. All money made goes to helping families at Christmas.
Tamara Kelly
♥ Thank you so much Deborah!
Courtney
Thank you SO much for your wonderful patterns! I'd love to turn this bumble bee into a ladybug. I think I can do it, but I'd love suggestions if you have them! (I have a little 4 year old niece that NEEDS a ladybug!)
Thank you!
Tamara Kelly
What a cute idea! I might have to ponder that one a bit!
Courtney
I was thinking of using the front part of this pattern in black, for the face, then red for the remainder. The circles for the eyes could be made different sizes and placed all over the body, with a black line down the back to indicate wings..What do you think?
Tamara Kelly
I think that sounds perfect!