Bee Sweet Honeybee

This sweet little bee is the perfect soft toy for your little one! His happy face and cuddly body make him a huggable friend.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

8 inches tall x 4 inches wide

MATERIALS

• Red Heart Super Saver medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn (7 oz/ 364 yds/198g per skein): 1 skein each in #311 white, #312 black and #324 bright yellow

• Size G/6/4mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

• Tapestry needle

• Fiberfill

• 1/4-inch black buttons: 2

• Stitch marker

GAUGE

5 sc = 1 inch; 4 rows = 1 inch Take time to check gauge.

PATTERN NOTES

Honeybee is worked in continuous rounds from the bottom up; do not join unless instructed to do so.

Place marker in first stitch of round and move up as work progresses.

Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated.

Stuff firmly, but not so the stuffing shows through the stitches. This toy is not intended for children under 3 years old.

SPECIAL STITCH

Increase (inc): 2 sc in indicated st.

HONEYBEE

Rnd 1: With black, ch 5, join (see Pattern Notes) in first ch to make a ring, 9 sc in ring. Place marker (see Pattern Notes) in first st. (9 sc) Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. Rnd 3: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc (see Special Stitch) in next st] around. (12 sc)

Rnd 4: Sc in each st around. Rnd 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st] around. (15 sc)

Rnd 6: Inc in each st around. (30 sc)

Rnd 7: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 8: [Sc in next st, inc in next st]. (45 sc) Rnd 9: Sc in each st around. Rnd 10: [Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st]. (54 sc)

Rnds 12–14: Sc in each st around. Change to black in last st of rnd 14.

Rnds 15–17: Sc in each st around. Change to bright yellow in last st of rnd 17.

Rnd 18: Sc in each st around. Rnd 19: [Sc in next 4 sts, sc dec (see Stitch Guide) in next 2 sts]. (45 sc)

Rnd 20: Sc in each st around, changing to black in last st. Rnd 21: Sc in each st around. Rnd 22: [Sc in next 3 sts, sc dec in next 2 sts]. (36 sc)

Rnd 23: [Sc dec in next 2 sts] 18 times. (18 sc)

Rnd 24: Sc in each st around. Rnd 25: Inc in each st around. (36 sc) Rnd 26: Sc in each st around. Rnd 27: [Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st] around. (45 sc)

Stuff body, shaping as you go. Rnds 28–32: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 33: [Sc in next 3 sts, sc dec in next 2 sts]. (36 sc)

Rnd 34: [Sc in next 2 sts, sc dec in next 2 sts]. (27 sc)

Rnd 35: [Sc in next st, sc dec in next 2 sts]. (18 sc)

Rnd 36: Sc in each st around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Finish stuffing. Working in

front lps (see Stitch Guide) and with tapestry needle, weave tail through last rnd, pull gently to close, and secure. If there is still a hole at the top, sew several sts back and forth to close.

ANTENNA

Make 2.

Rnd 1: With black, ch 5, join in first ch to make a ring, 9 sc in ring. Place marker in first st. (9 sc)

Rnds 2–5: Sc in each st around. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly. Sew evenly to either side of top of Head between rnds 30 and 32.

WING Circle Make 4.

Rnd 1: With white, ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to make a ring, 9 sc in ring. Place marker in first st. (9 sc)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (18 sc) Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc in next st] around. (27 sc)

Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st] around. (36 sc)

Fasten off.

After finishing all 4 circles, hold 2 of them with WS tog.

Rnd 5: Join black through both pieces at the same time in any st, ch 1, sc around, working through both pieces at the same time, join in first sc. (36 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Rep for 2nd set of circles.

Sew wings to back of bee between rnds 13–19, leaving

3/4- inch gap between them. Use antennae to determine where Wings should be placed (keep everything parallel).

FINISHING

Eyes: Sew buttons to rnd 30, leaving 6 sts between them.

Mouth: With white and using photograph as a guide, embroider 2 small sts diagonally at rnd 28, evenly sp between eyes.