Introduction

Meet Beekeeper Pup—a curious puppy in pale-honey overalls, a crisp white tee, spotty slip-ons, and a bucket hat with a removable mesh veil. He carries a tiny honey-jar crossbody and stands beside a mini hive while two plush bees keep him company.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Materials Needed

• Yarn (DK/Light Worsted, non-fuzzy, solid colors):
  1. Pup main: light camel/tan, 80 g
  2. Inner ear & nose: warm brown, 10 g
  3. Tee: soft cream/white, 15 g
  4. Overalls & hat: honey yellow, 60 g
  5. Shoes trim & dots: black, 10 g
  6. Shoes vamp: white, 10 g
  7. Honey jar: medium brown 10 g; lid honey yellow 8 g
  8. Bee/hive details: yellow 6 g; black 4 g; tiny white for wings 2 g
• Needles: 3.0 mm (US 2.5–3) DPNs or 32–40 cm circular for magic loop; 2.75 mm for tight edgings/I-cords.
• Notions: 18 mm black safety eyes (2); polyester stuffing; tapestry needle; stitch markers; scrap yarn; 2 small wooden buttons (straps); 1 small bee button (bag flap); 2 tiny snaps (veil); ~20×60 cm piece of soft tulle/net for veil; small piece of cardboard for shoe soles (optional).
• Optional embroidery: black/buttercream for pocket bee (French knots + satin stitch).

Abbreviations (US Terms)

K – knit; P – purl; St(s) – stitch(es); Rnd – round; Rep – repeat; Inc – knit front and back (kfb) unless noted; Dec – k2tog; M1 – make one; PM/SM – place/slip marker; BO – bind off; CO – cast on; I-cord – knit cord on 2 needles.

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: 28 sts × 38 rnds = 10 cm/4″ in stockinette in the round after light steam-block.
• Finished size: Standing height ~28 cm (11″); seated ~21 cm. Head width ~10.5 cm; body (hip) width ~9.5 cm; shoe length ~6.2 cm; hat brim Ø ~11.5 cm.

Pattern Notes

• Work in the round unless indicated.
• Stuff firmly but evenly; add small amounts often.
• Safety eyes placement and facial embroidery are given by round counts and centimeter distances to match the image.
• All accessories are removable. The hat’s mesh veil attaches with snaps.
• Polka dots and pocket bee are added with duplicate stitch/embroidery after knitting.

Form & Proportion Analysis (Step 1)

• Silhouette: Classic toy proportions with slightly taller body than head for a tidy, upright stance. Head:Body ≈ 0.9:1.
• Head: Gentle sphere/oval; widest at mid-head. Muzzle implied by nose embroidery rather than a separate snout; lower jaw rounded.
• Ears: Two-layer floppy ovals, crease at the base; inner layer slightly darker.
• Body: Joined legs create straight front, modest belly; shoulders narrow to a short neck.
• Arms: Cylindrical with soft taper, joined at shoulder seam line.
• Feet/Shoes: Flat slip-on profile with black binding and white vamp covered in black dots; soles slightly thicker.
• Clothing: Overalls with hip facings, pocket on the left thigh/hip embroidered with a bee; rolled hems at shorts. T-shirt sits smooth (waistcoat-like look) with tight gauge. Bucket hat has a stitched ring near the crown seam and removable tulle veil tucked under the brim. Crossbody honey jar bag with round flap and “drip” lip; thin brown I-cord strap crossing from right shoulder to left hip.

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Step-by-Step Instructions (Step 2)

Pup – Legs (make 2, tan)

CO 10 sts. Join to work in rnd, PM.
Rnd 1: Kfb around – 20.
Rnd 2: K.
Rnd 3: (K1, kfb) around – 30.
Rnd 4–7: K.
Foot shaping
Rnd 8: (K3, kfb) ×6 – 36.
Rnd 9–14: K.
Rnd 15 (toe): (K4, k2tog) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 16: (K3, k2tog) ×6 – 24.
Rnd 17: K.
Rnd 18 (ankle): (K2, k2tog) ×6 – 18.
Stuff foot firmly; keep ankle flexible.
Rnd 19–28: K straight for leg cylinder (~6 cm).
Cut yarn; hold live sts of first leg. Work second leg to same point. Do not cut.

Join Legs & Body (tan)

Setup: K 18 of second leg, CO 4, K 18 of first leg, CO 4 – 44 sts around hips. PM at center back.
Rnd 1–4: K.
Rnd 5: (K10, kfb, K10, kfb) twice, distribute so increases sit at side seams – 48.
Rnd 6–10: K. Stuff lower body as you go.
Rnd 11 (belly): (K6, k2tog) ×6 – 42.
Rnd 12–14: K.
Rnd 15 (waist): (K5, k2tog) ×6 – 36.
Rnd 16: K.
Rnd 17 (rib to support clothes, optional): (K2, P1) around – 36.
Rnd 18: K plain – 36.
Rnd 19 (shoulders): (K4, k2tog) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 20: (K3, k2tog) ×6 – 24.
Add more stuffing; shape waist with fingers.
Rnd 21: (K2, k2tog) ×6 – 18.
Rnd 22: K – forms short neck. Leave sts on hold for head join.

Head (tan)

Pick up from neck OR start separately and sew; below uses continuous method.
Rnd 1 (from 18 neck sts): (K2, kfb) ×6 – 24.
Rnd 2: (K3, kfb) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 3: (K4, kfb) ×6 – 36.
Rnd 4: (K5, kfb) ×6 – 42.
Rnd 5: (K6, kfb) ×6 – 48.
Rnd 6–12: K.
Eye placement map: Insert 18 mm safety eyes between Rnds 9–10, centered, 16 sts apart (~4.2–4.5 cm).
Nose/Mouth guide: Duplicate-stitch or felt/embroider a rounded triangle in brown at Rnd 12, centered; width ~7 sts (≈3 cm). From the nose’s bottom point, embroider a short vertical line (2 rnds), split into a shallow “Y” smile.
Rnd 13 (shape crown): (K6, k2tog) ×6 – 42.
Rnd 14: K.
Rnd 15: (K5, k2tog) ×6 – 36.
Rnd 16: (K4, k2tog) ×6 – 30.
Stuff head very firmly, smoothing sides.
Rnd 17: (K3, k2tog) ×6 – 24.
Rnd 18: (K2, k2tog) ×6 – 18.
Rnd 19: (K1, k2tog) ×6 – 12.
Rnd 20: (K2tog) ×6 – 6. Cut yarn, draw through, fasten.

Ears (make 2 outer tan, 2 inner brown; sew as pairs)

CO 12. Work flat in st st.
Row 1: K.
Row 2 (inc): Kfb, K to last st, Kfb – 14.
Row 3–5: K.
Row 6: Rep inc – 16.
Row 7–17: K.
Row 18 (taper): K2tog, K to last 2, K2tog – 14.
Row 19: K.
Row 20: Rep taper – 12.
Row 21: K.
Row 22: Rep taper – 10. BO leaving long tails.
Layer one tan with one brown (brown inside), seam around edges with mattress stitch, lightly steam, fold base to form a soft crease.

Arms (make 2, tan)

CO 8.
Rnd 1: Kfb around – 16.
Rnd 2–6: K.
Rnd 7: (K3, kfb) ×4 – 20.
Rnd 8–16: K.
Rnd 17 (taper): (K3, k2tog) ×4 – 16.
Rnd 18–22: K. Stuff lightly, keeping shoulder soft.
Rnd 23: (K2, k2tog) ×4 – 12.
Rnd 24: K.
BO leaving long tails for sewing.

Clothing & Accessories

White T-Shirt (cream/white)

Work flat, seamed at back and underarms; slim fit to sit flat.
Front & Back (make 2 alike)
CO 28 with 3.0 mm.
Row 1–4: K (garter hem).
Row 5–20: St st.
Row 21–24 (shoulder shaping): BO 2 at beg of next 4 rows; rem 20 sts per piece.
Neckline: BO center 8 on each piece; shape shoulders by BO 2 more at neck edges once.
Sleeves (pick up): With RS, PU 22 sts evenly along each armhole; work 6 rows st st; BO.
Join shoulders, side seams, sleeve seams. Turn hems under 1 row at sleeve edges and tack.

Overalls – Shorts with Pocket & Strap Tabs (honey yellow)

Leg tubes (make 2)
CO 24. Rnd 1–2: K.
Rnd 3: K2, P1 rib – gives the fine vertical channels visible. Work 10 rnds.
Rnd 13–18: K st st.
BO both legs temporarily.
Join & body
With RS, PU 24 around leg 1 and 24 around leg 2, CO 4 between – 52 sts.
Rnd 1–6: K2, P1 rib.
Rnd 7–10: K st st.
Rnd 11 (hip facings start): On each side, work [K2, P1]* patterns lining with leg ribs; add a P1 column at side seams for fold line.
Rnd 12–18: Continue straight.
Rnd 19 (front rise): K 20, k2tog, K8, ssk, K to end – 50.
Rnd 20: K.
Rnd 21: Rep dec at same spots – 48.
Rnd 22–24: K straight.
Front bib
Work flat on 24 front sts.
Row 1–2: K2, P1 rib.
Row 3–14: St st.
Row 15: BO.
Back waistband
On remaining 24 back sts, work 4 rows in K2, P1 rib; BO.
Straps (2)
CO 6, work I-cord rib: K4, P2 flat for 20 rows; BO. Sew buttons at bib; cross straps at back and sew to waistband.
Pocket (left hip)
CO 12, work 8 rows st st; BO; sew at left hip with slight curve; embroider bee: body in satin stitch (yellow), stripes/eye/wing outline black, wing fill white.
Rolled cuffs: Gently roll leg hems outward 2–3 rows; tack at seams.

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Bucket Hat with Removable Mesh Veil (honey yellow + tulle)

Crown
CO 6.
Rnd 1: Kfb around – 12.
Rnd 2: (K1, kfb) ×6 – 18.
Rnd 3: (K2, kfb) ×6 – 24.
Rnd 4: (K3, kfb) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 5: (K4, kfb) ×6 – 36.
Rnd 6: (K5, kfb) ×6 – 42.
Rnd 7–10: K.
Rnd 11 (decor seam ring as in photo): K1, P1 around – 42.
Rnd 12–16: K.
Brim
Rnd 17: (K6, kfb) ×6 – 48.
Rnd 18: (K7, kfb) ×6 – 54.
Rnd 19: (K8, kfb) ×6 – 60.
Rnd 20–22: K.
Rnd 23: P one rnd to make a crisp turn.
Rnd 24–26: K. BO loosely.
Veil
Cut tulle 60×9 cm. Hem short edges. Hand-sew veil’s top edge to the inside brim with three small stitches only at center back and sides; attach two tiny snaps so it can be removed (one snap on brim underside, mate on veil).

Slip-On Shoes (2) – tan soles, white vamp, black trim/dots)

Sole (tan)
CO 6.
Row 1: K.
Row 2: Kfb, K4, Kfb – 8.
Row 3: K.
Row 4: Kfb, K6, Kfb – 10.
Row 5: K.
Row 6: Kfb, K8, Kfb – 12.
Row 7: BO loosely; PU 36 sts evenly around sole edge to work in rnd.
Sidewall (black)
Rnd 1–3: K.
Upper (white)
Rnd 4: Switch to white; K.
Rnd 5: Begin vamp decreases at toe center: PM toe; (to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker, ssk, K to end) every other rnd 5 times, knitting plain rnds between – reduces to 24.
Rnd 16: Switch to black; work applied I-cord or K1, P1 rolled edge for 3 rnds; BO.
Add black dots with duplicate stitch; ladder-stitch shoe to foot. Insert thin cardboard inside before closing sole for firmness (optional).

Honey Jar Crossbody (bag)

Pot (brown)
CO 24, join. Rnd 1–10: K.
Rnd 11: (K2, k2tog) ×6 – 18.
Rnd 12: K.
Rnd 13: (K1, k2tog) ×6 – 12.
Rnd 14: K; BO leaving wide mouth.
Lid & Drips (yellow)
CO 12. Rnd 1: Kfb ×12 – 24.
Rnd 2: K.
Rnd 3: (K3, kfb) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 4: K; BO.
Sew lid hinge on back; embroider/attach a tiny bee button to front as a clasp.
Honey “drips”: CO 3 on 2.75 mm; work 3–5 short I-cord rivulets (4–6 rows each), attach around lid’s front edge.
Strap: 2.75 mm needles, CO 3, work I-cord ~28–30 cm. Sew from right shoulder to left hip.

Tiny Bees (make 2)

Body (yellow) CO 6, knit 8 rows I-cord; change to black for 2 rows; change to yellow for 2 rows; BO and close ends to form a capsule.
Wings (white) CO 6, BO immediately; tie in the middle to make two loops; sew on top. Add French-knot eyes (black).

Mini Hive (optional prop)

CO 6 (yellow). Work in the round:
Rnd 1: Kfb ×6 – 12.
Rnd 2: (K1, kfb) ×6 – 18.
Rnd 3: (K2, kfb) ×6 – 24.
Rnd 4–6: K.
Rnd 7: (K3, kfb) ×6 – 30.
Rnd 8–10: K.
Rnd 11: (K4, k2tog) ×5 – 25.
Rnd 12: (K3, k2tog) ×5 – 20.
Stuff; close with (K2tog) around – 10 → draw closed. Duplicate-stitch a black doorway circle on row 6.

Assembly & Finishing

1. Ears: Pin edges flush with head sides so the lower edges align with Rnd 12–13, about 10 sts (≈2.7 cm) below crown line; sew bases with a slight inward tilt.
2. Arms: Stitch at shoulder line between body Rnds 19–20, arms angled slightly forward.
3. Face: After eyes are locked, embroider the nose triangle centered on Rnd 12 (~7 sts wide, 4 rnds tall). Add the short vertical line and a shallow curved “Y” smile exactly as in the photo.
4. Shoes: Fit tightly; ladder-stitch soles/edges invisibly.
5. Clothes: Dress the tee first, then slide on the overalls; fasten straps with wooden buttons. Place pocket on left hip, slightly angled, and add bee embroidery (body yellow, two white wings, black stripes/eye).
6. Hat & Veil: Pop hat on; secure snaps to allow the veil to drape behind the ears.
7. Bag: Position strap from right shoulder to left hip; seat the pot over the left front bib.
8. Bees & Hive: Stitch lightly so they can be removed for play, or leave free as props.

Color Map & Yardage Overview

• Pup: tan all body/limbs; inner ear brown; facial embroidery brown/black. (~80 g total.)
• Tee: cream/white. (~15 g.)
• Overalls & Hat: honey yellow throughout; black embroidery/duplicate stitch for bee and shoe trim. (~60 g.)
• Shoes: tan sole; black binding; white vamp with black dots. (~20 g combined.)
• Bag: brown pot; yellow lid/drips; brown strap; bee button. (~18 g.)
• Bees/Hive: yellow with black striping; white wings. (~10 g.)

Quality Check

• Stitch clarity: At 28×38 gauge, V-stitches should appear fine and even; if your fabric looks fuzzy, switch to smoother yarn or 2.75–3.0 mm needles.
• Proportions: Head width ≈ 10.5 cm; eye spacing ≈ 4.3 cm; shoe length ≈ 6.2 cm. Adjust stuffing density before closing crown/soles.
• Stability: Ensure leg join is firm; add a small safety straw of felt or scrap plastic vertically in the body core if the toy needs extra stand support.

Care & Safety

• For children under 3, replace safety eyes with embroidered eyes; secure all accessories or keep as display pieces.
• Surface clean with damp cloth; avoid machine washing due to tulle and buttons.