This tiny bumblebee project results in a soft, squishy toy that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Its dense, uniform stitches make it a fantastic choice for those new to working in the round, as the tight construction keeps your stuffing neatly tucked away inside. You will find that the process of building the body shape and attaching the delicate wings offers a rewarding sense of progress throughout your afternoon. We focus here on gathering the right supplies, including specific yarn weights and safety eyes, to ensure your project maintains its shape and charm for years to come.

Pin for later!

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

This crochet bumblebee pattern relies on basic amigurumi techniques, making it a reliable project for building your skills with 3D shapes. You use simple single crochet stitches in continuous rounds, which creates a smooth, dense fabric that keeps fiberfill stuffing securely inside. Because the bumblebee works up quickly in just a few hours, it functions well as a last-minute gift for birthdays or baby showers. The project is also an excellent way to use up small amounts of leftover worsted weight yarn from larger afghan or garment projects.

I finished this little bee in a single afternoon while watching a movie. The instructions for the stripes were very clear and my finished toy turned out exactly like the photos.

— Sarah, amigurumi hobbyist

Pattern Overview & Skill Level

Skill Level: Beginner
Approximate Time: 2 to 3 hours
Construction: Amigurumi-style continuous rounds, starting from the tail and working toward the head with integrated color changes.
Finished Dimensions & Sizing: Approximately 4 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Materials & Supplies Needed

Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) acrylic or cotton yarn. You will need approximately 20 yards of yellow, 15 yards of black, and 10 yards of white for the wings.
Hook Size: 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook.
Notions: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, 8mm plastic safety eyes, tapestry needle, and stitch markers.
Safe yarn substitutions: You can use DK weight yarn with a 3.0 mm hook for a smaller, more delicate bee, or bulky weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook for a larger, huggable plushie. Note that changing yarn weight will require adjusting your stuffing amount and potentially the size of your safety eyes.

Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch: Chain
st/sts: Stitch/stitches
sc: Single crochet
inc: Increase (work 2 sc into the same stitch)
dec: Decrease (invisible decrease; insert hook into the front loops of the next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops)
sl st: Slip stitch
MR: Magic ring

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Bumblebee Body

Rnd 1: With yellow, work 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 5-7: Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 8: Change to black, sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 9: Change to yellow, sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 10: Change to black, sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 11: Change to yellow, sc in each st around. (24 sts)
Rnd 12: (2 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 13: (1 sc, dec) repeat 6 times. (12 sts). Insert safety eyes between Rnd 4 and Rnd 5, about 4 stitches apart. Add fiberfill stuffing.
Rnd 14: Dec around. (6 sts). Fasten off and weave in the yarn end.

Wings (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With white, work 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3-4: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 5: Dec around. (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly

Position the wings on the back of the bumblebee, centered over the second yellow stripe. Use the tapestry needle to whip stitch the base of the wings securely to the body. Weave all remaining ends into the interior of the toy before closing the final stitches.

Care & Washing Instructions

Hand wash your bumblebee in cool water using a mild wool-safe detergent to protect the fiberfill shape.
Gently squeeze out excess water, then lay the toy flat on a towel in a well-ventilated area to air dry completely.
If the stuffing shifts over time, gently massage the body with your hands to redistribute the fiberfill and reshape the toy.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Use a stitch marker at the beginning of every round to keep track of your count, as it is easy to lose your place in continuous rounds.
Maintain tight tension throughout the project; if your stitches are too loose, the fiberfill stuffing will poke through the gaps.
When changing colors, carry the unused yarn color loosely inside the piece to avoid having too many ends to weave in later.
If you choose to scale the pattern up by using thicker yarn, you will need approximately 25% more yardage than the standard amount listed to account for the larger stitch size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use buttons instead of safety eyes for a child?

Yes, however, buttons pose a choking hazard for infants. If making this for a small child, embroider the eyes using black yarn or embroidery thread instead of using plastic hardware.

Why are my stitches showing the stuffing inside?

This usually happens when your hook size is too large for your yarn weight. Try going down one hook size to create a denser fabric that keeps the stuffing contained.

Can I sell the bumblebees I make from this pattern?

You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern in small quantities. Please credit the design to this website when listing your items online.

Is it difficult to make color changes in the round?

The transition is easiest if you change colors on the last pull-through of the final stitch of the previous round. This ensures the first stitch of the new color looks uniform.

Pin for later!

Your finished bumblebee looks adorable perched on a shelf or tucked into a gift basket for a friend. You can experiment with different color combinations by swapping the yellow for bright orange or adding tiny spots to the wings for a unique look. Please consider sharing a photo of your creation with our community, as we love seeing how your bees turn out. You can find more free patterns and project guides on our blog to keep your yarn stash busy throughout the year.