Crochet Bee Pattern (Cute Amigurumi Bee, Free)

Few amigurumi are as instantly lovable as a little bee. A round striped body, tiny white wings, and a sweet smile make a toy that children adore and adults keep on their desks. This free crochet bee pattern makes a plump bumblebee about 4 inches tall, worked in one piece with simple rounds, so you can finish it in a single evening.

This is an original Little Loop Finds design, written in US terms and completely free. The body is a simple sphere with yellow and black stripes worked in by changing colors, so there is no sewing of separate stripes and no fiddly colorwork. The wings are two small ovals, the antennae are two short chains, and the face is a pair of safety eyes and an embroidered smile. If you can work a magic ring, single crochet, and increases, you can make this bee.

A quick note on scope: this post is about a classic bee amigurumi, a round striped bee toy. It is not a bee toilet paper holder, which is a different project, and it is not a bee hat or a bee blanket. If you want a bee themed holder for your bathroom shelf, you will find a link to it below.

Key Takeaways

• Free original pattern: this crochet bee pattern is a Little Loop Finds original design, written in US terms, and completely free.
• Classic bumblebee: round yellow and black striped body, tiny white wings, and a sweet embroidered smile.
• Beginner friendly amigurumi: simple rounds, easy increases and decreases, and stripes worked in by changing colors.
• Quick evening project: about 2 to 3 hours from first stitch to finished bee, including the wings and face.
• Wonderfully giftable: perfect for spring birthdays, baby showers, garden lovers, and anyone who needs a little sunshine.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Bee
• Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time
• Materials You Need
• Abbreviations (US Terms)
• Gauge and Sizing Notes
• Part 1: The Striped Body
• Part 2: Wings, Antennae, Stinger, and Legs
• Part 3: Face and Assembly
• Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Bee Friends
• Troubleshooting Bees That Lean or Lose Their Stripes
• Care Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Will Love This Bee

Bees are the happiest symbol of spring and summer, and a crochet bee captures all of that sunshine in a toy that fits in the palm of your hand. The yellow and black stripes are instantly recognizable, the white wings add a touch of sweetness, and the little smile makes it impossible not to pick it up. It is the perfect project for using up leftover yellow and black yarn, and it makes a wonderful gift for gardeners, teachers, and children.

This design is also a great first amigurumi with color changes. The stripes are worked simply by switching yarn every two rounds, so you learn clean color changes without any complicated intarsia or stranded work. The body is one piece from top to bottom, which means fewer seams and a smoother shape.

A crochet bee is also a lovely decoration. Perch one on a bookshelf, hang one from a baby mobile, or tuck one into a gift basket with a jar of honey.

Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time

• Finished size: about 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide, in worsted weight yarn, not counting the wings.
• Skill level: Easy. You need a magic ring, chains, slip stitches, single crochet, and simple increases and decreases, plus changing colors at the end of a round.
• Time: about 2 to 3 hours total: roughly 1 hour for the body, 30 minutes for the wings and antennae, and 30 minutes for the face and assembly.

Materials You Need

Acrylic yarn is a great choice here because it is soft, washable, and comes in a bright sunny yellow. Whichever you choose, work with a hook one size smaller than usual, because a firm fabric keeps the stuffing hidden and the stripes crisp.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec = decrease (sc 2 together)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd(s) = round(s)
• rep = repeat
• MR = magic ring

Gauge and Sizing Notes

Gauge for this bee is more about firmness than exact numbers. Work 4 inches of single crochet in the round and check that you cannot easily see stuffing through the fabric. If you can, go down a hook size. If your fabric feels stiff like cardboard, go up a hook size, because you still need to be able to push a needle through for assembly and face embroidery.

To make a smaller bee, use DK yarn and a 3.5 mm hook for a palm sized friend about 3 inches tall. For a larger one, use chunky yarn and a 5.5 mm hook for a cuddly version about 6 inches tall. The proportions matter most: the body round and plump, the stripes even, and the wings small enough to look delicate against the body.

Part 1: The Striped Body

The body is worked in one piece from the top of the head to the bottom, in continuous rounds. Do not join at the end of each round; use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. The stripes are made by changing color every two rounds, and the color change instructions are written into the rounds below so you never have to guess where a stripe starts.

Changing Colors at the End of a Round

To change color cleanly, work the last single crochet of the round until you have two loops left on the hook, then drop the old color, yarn over with the new color, and pull it through both loops. The first stitch of the next round is worked in the new color, and the stripe starts exactly at the round change. Carry the unused color up the inside of the body rather than cutting it, because the stripes repeat every few rounds and carrying saves you a dozen tails to weave in.

Body

With yellow yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) rep around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) rep around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) rep around. (30 sts)
• Rnds 6 to 7: sc around in yellow. (30 sts)
• Rnds 8 to 9: change to black, sc around. (30 sts) This is the first black stripe.
• Rnds 10 to 11: change to yellow, sc around. (30 sts)
• Rnds 12 to 13: change to black, sc around. (30 sts) This is the second black stripe.

This is a good moment to place the safety eyes. Put them between Rnds 5 and 6, about 7 stitches apart, with the washers secured firmly inside. If this bee is for a baby or a toddler, skip the safety eyes and embroider two small black ovals instead, because embroidered eyes can never come loose. Stuff the body lightly now, and keep adding small amounts of stuffing as you work the decreases, so the shape stays round and even.

• Rnd 14: change to yellow, (3 sc, dec) rep around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 15: (2 sc, dec) rep around. (18 sts) Stuff the body firmly now, shaping it into a round little ball with your hands.
• Rnd 16: (sc, dec) rep around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 17: dec around. (6 sts) Fasten off and weave in the end, closing the small hole with a tapestry needle.

Look at your bee: the yellow top, two black stripes, and the yellow bottom should read clearly as a bumblebee, even before the wings go on.

Part 2: Wings, Antennae, Stinger, and Legs

Wings (make 2)

The wings are small flat ovals worked in rows in white yarn. They should look delicate, so keep your tension relaxed and do not stuff them.

With white yarn, ch 6.

• Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (5 sts)
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 3 sts, inc. (7 sts)
• Rows 3 to 4: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (7 sts)
• Row 5: ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 3 sts, dec. (5 sts)
• Row 6: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (5 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Make a second wing the same way.

Antennae (make 2)

The antennae are short chains with a tiny bobble at the end, and they give the bee its friendly face. They are the quickest part of the whole pattern.

With black yarn, ch 8. Work a slip stitch in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across back to the start, then fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. For the bobble, wrap the tail around your finger three times, tie it in a small knot at the tip of the antenna, and trim it to a tiny ball. Make a second antenna the same way.

Stinger

The stinger is a tiny black cone sewn to the back of the body, low down. It is optional, but it makes the bee look complete from every angle.

With black yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR. (4 sts)
• Rnds 2 to 3: sc around. (4 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the stinger; it is too small to need it.

Legs (make 6, optional)

Six tiny legs make the bee look extra cute on a shelf, but they are optional and you can skip them if you prefer a simpler toy.

With black yarn, ch 5. Work a slip stitch in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across back to the start, then fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Make six legs the same way. Three legs go on each side of the body, spaced evenly along the bottom half.

Part 3: Face and Assembly

Assembly is where a striped ball becomes a bee, so take your time and pin everything before you sew.

1. Sew the wings to the top of the body, one on each side of the center, angled slightly outward like open wings. Pin first, check that both wings sit at the same height, then sew along the bottom edge of each wing only, so the wings lift slightly away from the body.
2. Sew the antennae to the top front of the head, about two stitches apart, with the bobbles pointing up. Keep them short and upright, because long floppy antennae look sad.
3. Sew the stinger to the back of the body, low down and centered, pointing slightly downward.
4. Sew three legs to each side of the body, spaced evenly along the bottom half, angled slightly downward so they look like the bee is standing.
5. Embroider the smile below and between the eyes with black yarn: a small curved line, like a little smile, worked in backstitch. Add two tiny pink cheeks with a few stitches of pink yarn if you like, one on each side of the smile.
6. Weave in all ends, then fluff the bee with your fingers and check that the stripes sit straight.

If you want a matching project for your bee, the crochet bee toilet paper holder pattern puts a bee on a useful bathroom accessory, and the crochet mushroom pattern makes a garden friend that looks perfect next to a bee on a shelf. For more small animals in the same size, the crochet frog pattern free and the crochet octopus plush are quick evening projects, and our mini amigurumi patterns free collection has more tiny toys to build a whole shelf of friends.

Variations: Colors, Sizes, and Bee Friends

• Pastel bee: work the body in soft pastel yellow with cream stripes instead of black, for a gentle nursery bee. White wings and a pink smile suit a baby gift.
• Queen bee: make the body one size larger with chunky yarn, add a tiny crochet crown in gold yarn, and give her longer wings. A queen bee is a fun gift for a teacher or a team leader.
• Honeybee with a flower: pair the bee with a small crochet flower in yellow and white, and sew the bee onto the flower so it looks like it is collecting nectar. Our crochet flower pattern free has a simple flower that works well.
• A whole hive: make five or six bees in slightly different sizes, using DK yarn for the smallest and chunky yarn for the largest, and display them together in a bowl or a basket. A hive of bees makes a cheerful spring centerpiece.

Troubleshooting Bees That Lean or Lose Their Stripes

• My bee will not sit up. The bottom of the body needs to be flat and firmly stuffed. Press the bee on a table, add a little more stuffing to the thin side, and reshape the bottom with your fingers until it sits flat.
• My stripes look wobbly. The color change must happen exactly at the round marker. Work the last stitch of the round until two loops remain, then pull the new color through. If a stripe jogs sideways, it is because the change landed a stitch early or late.
• I can see stuffing through the stitches. Go down a hook size for the next piece, and for the finished bee, add a thin inner lining of yellow felt inside the worst spot if needed.
• One wing sits higher than the other. Unpick the higher wing, re-pin it while looking at the bee from the front, and sew again. Wings look best when their bottom edges line up exactly.
• The antennae flop over. Keep them short, no longer than 8 chains, and sew them firmly at the base.
• The body looks like an egg, not a ball. You may be stuffing too much at the top and too little at the bottom. Stuff in small amounts, a little at a time, and shape the body with your hands as you go, so the stuffing spreads evenly.

Care Instructions

Dust your bee with a soft dry cloth. If it gets grubby, hand wash it gently in cool water with a tiny amount of mild soap, squeeze it gently without wringing, and let it air dry completely. Do not machine wash a bee with safety eyes, because the agitation can loosen them, and do not put it in the dryer. Reshape the wings with your fingers while the bee is still damp, and store it away from direct sunlight so the yellow stays bright.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this crochet bee pattern good for beginners?

Yes, as a second or third amigurumi project. You should be comfortable with a magic ring, single crochet, and increases. If those feel familiar, the body is just the same increase rhythm you already know, and the stripes are simple color changes at the end of a round.

How big is the finished bee?

About 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide in worsted weight yarn with a 4.0 mm hook, not counting the wings. Chunky yarn gives a bee closer to 6 inches tall, while DK yarn gives a palm sized friend around 3 inches tall.

Are safety eyes safe for a baby gift?

Safety eyes are not recommended for children under three, because any plastic part can come loose with enough chewing and pulling. For a baby gift, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, using small ovals of satin stitch.

How do I keep the stripes straight?

Change color exactly at the round marker, working the last stitch of the round until two loops remain and pulling the new color through both loops. Carry the unused color up the inside of the body instead of cutting it, so the stripe starts in the same place every time.

What yarn is best for a crochet bee?

Soft acrylic is the most popular choice because it is washable, comes in a bright sunny yellow, and is gentle enough for cuddling. Cotton gives crisper stitch definition and a firmer toy. Avoid fuzzy yarn for your first bee, because it hides your stitches and blurs the stripes.

Can I sell bees made from this pattern?

Yes, you may sell finished bees made from this free pattern, with credit to Little Loop Finds. Please do not sell or republish the pattern text itself.

Can I make the bee without the legs?

Yes, the legs are optional. A bee without legs looks just as sweet, and it sits more neatly on a shelf. Skip the legs if you want a quicker project or a cleaner look, and keep the wings, antennae, and smile, which are what make it a bee.

Happy stitching, and may your home be full of sunshine, sweet smiles, and one very busy little bee.