We are super excited to introduce a new pattern to our Juna Series of animals: Bubba the crochet bee! This easy crochet bee is so adorable and fun to crochet!
This amigurumi bee pattern was inspired by a little client who really wanted a matching bee and rattle set for a cousin. While we had a small bee keychain on our blog, we hadn’t considered a bee for the Juna Series. Somehow we didn’t know how a tiny creature like that would work out.
But I’m are so glad we tried it because it is adorable! It’s super simple to make, except for the black yarn but we share some tips on how to make that easier to work with. Or you can always substitute with another colour yarn and make a colourful bee. It’s actually quite quick to make. Our pattern testers said it took as little as three hours to complete! (I crochet slower so it takes me about five hours to do).
The pattern has an option to crochet in the arms so be sure to follow the instructions to do so to avoid some sewing! Now let’s get started!
This pattern has a matching crochet bee rattle (pattern coming next week!) so you can pair them for a really cute set.
Prefer an ads-free, print-friendly PDF pattern for Bubba the crochet bee? You can find it in our Ravelry Store.
Want to save this pattern for later? Pin it to your Pinterest Board.
Easy Amigurumi Bee Free Pattern
This pattern is for your personal use only and cannot be sold, copied, or reproduced in any way without permission from the designers. You may sell finished objects made from this pattern in small quantities but please give credit to chaicoffeecrochet.com as the pattern designer.
Tools and Supplies You Will Need to Crochet a Bee
- Yarn: Less than 50 grams of DK yarn in yellow, black, and white.
- 2.75mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch marker
- Polyfill stuffing
- Two 12 mm safety eyes
- Embroidery thread in black for the mouth and scrap yarn in pink for the cheeks
Stitches & Abbreviations Used
This pattern is written in US terms and crocheted in a spiral unless stated otherwise.
Sl st: slip stitch
Ch: Chain
SC: single crochet
INVDEC: invisible decrease
INC: two SC in the same stitch
BLO: Back loops only
Easy Bee Amigurumi: Pattern Notes & Tips
About the Pattern
- Difficulty level: Easy
- This pattern is written in US terms
- This pattern is crocheted in continuous rounds unless specified otherwise. Use a stitch marker on the first stitch of every round so that you don’t lose track of the start of your round.
- This bee is part of the Juna Series of adorable and easy crochet animals
Pattern Sizing & Adaptations
- Finished size: Approximately 8 inches tall, using DK yarn.
- This bee was made using DK yarn. However, you may use any yarn with the relevant hook (usually, for amigurumi you go down 2-3 sizes from that recommended on the yarn label).
Pattern Tips
- This pattern uses black yarn, which can sometimes be hard to work with for a beginner. If you’re having trouble seeing your stitches, crochet under natural light (outdoors!) or use a bright light source, like a head lamp.
- This pattern gives you an option to crochet, rather than sew, in the arms. If you would like to do so, you must crochet the arms first and follow the steps outlined.
- You can pair your bee with our matching rattle for an adorable baby set.
How to Crochet an Easy Bee Amigurumi
Arms (make 2)
Using black
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (5 SC, INC) twice (14)
Round 4-5 (2 rounds): SC around (14)
Round 6: (5 SC, INVDEC) twice (12)
Stuff the bottom of the arms lightly.
Round 7: (4 SC, INVDEC) twice (10)
Round 8-16 (9 rounds): SC around (10)
Do not stuff the rest of the arm.
If you want to crochet (instead of sew) on the arms of your bee, pinch the two ends of the arm together, chain one, and single crochet through both sides to close the arm. Weave in the ends. (See our tutorial for how to crochet arms for amigurumi.)
If you prefer to sew on the arms, fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Legs (make 2)
Stuff legs lightly as you go.
Using black
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (SC, INC) six times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC, INC) six times (24)
Round 5: SC in BLO around (24)
Round 6-12 (7 rounds): SC around (24)
Fasten off for the first leg. Leave a long tail for sewing to sew the hole between the legs when joining.
Repeat rounds 1-12 for the second leg but don’t fasten off.
Body
Now we will join the legs
Round 13: Sl st into the first unworked stitch of the first leg. SC in the remaining 23 stitches of the first leg and the 24 stitches of the second leg. (48)
Use the yarn tail from the first leg to sew closed any hole between the legs.
Round 14-16 (3 rounds): SC around (48)
Change to yellow
Round 17-20 (4 rounds): SC around (48)
Change to black
Rounds 21-22 (2 rounds): SC around (48)
Change to yellow
Rounds 23-26 (4 rounds): SC around (48)
Change to black
Rounds 27-28* (2 rounds): SC around (48)
*If you want to crochet your arms in, crochet them on during Round 28, on each side of the body. Crochet through both the body and the arm. (See the tutorial on how to crochet in the arms.)
Change to yellow
Rounds 29-41 (13 rounds): SC around (48)
Insert the eyes between rounds 35 and 36, 8 stitches apart. Embroider on the mouth and cheeks. Stuff the body.
Round 42: (6 SC, INVDEC) six times (42)
Round 43: (5 SC, INVDEC) six times (36)
Round 44: (4 SC, INVDEC) six times (30)
Round 45: (3 SC, INVDEC) six times (24)
Round 46: (2 SC, INVDEC) six times (18)
Round 47: (SC, INVDEC) six times (12)
Ensure that the body is stuffed firmly.
Round 48: INVDEC six times (6)
Fasten off. Insert needle in front loop of each stitch and pull tight to close.
If you prefer to sew on the arms, sew them on between Rounds 27 and 28.
Antennae (make 2)
Using black
Round 1: 5 SC into a magic circle (5)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (10)
Round 3-4 (2 rounds): SC around (10)
Round 5: INVDEC five times (5)
Lightly stuff the top of the antennae.
Round 6-9 (4 rounds): SC around (5)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the antennae onto the head between Rounds 5 and 6 from the top.
Wings (make 2)
Using white
Round 1: 6 SC into a magic circle (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around (12)
Round 3: (SC, INC) six times (18)
Round 4: (2 SC, INC) six times (24)
Round 5: (3 SC, INC) six times (30)
Round 6: SC around (30)
Round 7: (3 SC, INVDEC) six times (24)
Round 8: SC around (24)
Round 9: (2 SC, INVDEC) six times (18)
Round 10: SC around (18)
Round 11: (SC, INVDEC) six times (12)
Round 12: SC around (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Sew the wings onto the back of your bee, right behind the arm between Rounds 23 and 28.
Stinger
Use black
Round 1: 5 SC into a magic circle (5)
Round 2: INC, 4 SC (6)
Round 3: INC, 5 SC (7)
Round 4: INC, 6 SC (8)
Round 5: INC, 7 SC (9)
Round 6: INC, 8 SC (10)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Stuff the stinger lightly and sew it onto the back of your bee, between Rounds 17 and 20.
Your adorable bee is now ready!