Welcome to this heartwarming crafting project that combines the rustic charm of a woodland bear with the sweet, vibrant aesthetic of a summer apiary. This project is a celebration of texture and detail, featuring a cuddly brown bear adorned in a beautifully crafted mustard yellow dress with intricate honeycomb embroidery. The ensemble is completed with a classic Peter Pan collar shirt, a sun-shielding hat embellished with a bright sunflower, and a tiny honey pot accessory. To further enhance the scene, we include a miniature bee companion, complete with its own tiny royal crown. This project is ideal for those who appreciate fine detail in amigurumi and wish to create a keepsake that tells a story of sun-drenched gardens and nature’s golden treasures.

If you are looking to bring this character to life, the journey begins with selecting the finest fibers. You can conveniently buy yarn and high-quality stuffing on Amazon or from your favorite local craft supplier to ensure your stitches are crisp and your bear is huggable. The estimated cost for the materials required for this set is approximately $18, making it an affordable luxury for any crafter. Once completed, a high-detail set such as this can easily command a selling price of $75 to $110 on artisan marketplaces, reflecting the intensive labor and artistic skill involved in the embroidery and assembly. Prepare your hooks for a truly rewarding experience as we weave together honey-colored dreams and brown-sugar fur.

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

Materials and Tools Preparation

Before beginning your work, it is essential to ensure that your workspace is prepared with all the necessary components. For this project, a consistent tension is paramount, particularly when switching between the body of the bear and the layered clothing. Using a smaller hook than recommended on the yarn label will help create a dense fabric that keeps the fiberfill securely hidden inside, providing a professional and durable finish to your amigurumi.

• Yarn Selection: You will need a high-quality Sport or DK weight mercerized cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend. The colors required include Medium Brown (for the bear’s fur), Tan (for the muzzle and hat), Mustard Yellow (for the dress and honey drips), White (for the shirt and bee wings), Black (for the shoes, bee stripes, and facial details), and Gold (for the bee’s crown).
• Hooks: A 2.25mm or 2.5mm crochet hook is recommended for the main components to ensure tight stitches. You may wish to use a 3.0mm hook for the hat to give it a slightly more relaxed drape.
• Safety Eyes: Use 10mm black safety eyes for the bear and 5mm safety eyes for the mini bee companion.
• Stuffing: Premium polyester fiberfill that maintains its shape over time.
• Embroidery Floss: Dark brown for the nose and mouth, yellow for the sunflower petals, and black for the tiny bee embroidery on the skirt.
• Notions: Two small 6mm buttons for the overalls/dress straps, a tapestry needle for assembly, sharp scissors, and stitch markers to keep track of your rounds in continuous spirals.

Project Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions

This pattern is written using standard United States terminology. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with these terms to ensure a smooth progression through the complex sections of the garment and accessory construction.

• MR: Magic Ring (The essential foundation for circular amigurumi).
• sc: Single crochet.
• inc: Increase (Work two single crochets into the same stitch).
• dec: Invisible decrease (Work through the front loops of two stitches to reduce bulk).
• hdc: Half double crochet.
• dc: Double crochet.
• sl st: Slip stitch.
• ch: Chain.
• BLO: Back loops only.
• FLO: Front loops only.
• fpsc: Front post single crochet (Used for texturing the honeycomb).
• st(s): Stitch or stitches.

The Sculpted Bear Head

The head of the Honey Bee Bear is designed to be a soft, rounded oval that provides a friendly and approachable expression. We use a series of staggered increases to prevent the formation of “corners,” resulting in a perfectly smooth sphere. Use the Medium Brown yarn and a 2.5mm hook for this section.

Building the Foundation

1. Round 1: Start by creating a MR and placing 6 sc into it. (6)
2. Round 2: Work an inc into every stitch around. (12)
3. Round 3: *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around the circle. (18)
4. Round 4: *1 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc* repeat around. This staggering prevents hexagonal shaping. (24)
5. Round 5: *3 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (30)
6. Round 6: *2 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc* repeat around. (36)
7. Round 7: *5 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (42)
8. Round 8: *3 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc* repeat around. (48)
9. Round 9: *7 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (54)
10. Round 10: *4 sc, 1 inc, 4 sc* repeat around. (60)

Defining the Facial Height

1. Rounds 11-20: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. This phase builds the verticality of the face. (60)
2. Round 21: *8 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (54)
3. Round 22: *7 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (48)
4. Round 23: *6 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (42)
5. Placement: Insert the 10mm safety eyes between rounds 16 and 17, leaving 10 stitches between them. Ensure they are centered relative to the planned muzzle position.
6. Round 24: *5 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (36)
7. Round 25: *4 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (30)
8. Stuffing: Begin stuffing the head firmly. Focus on pushing the stuffing toward the sides to define the cheeks.
9. Round 26: *3 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (24)
10. Round 27: *2 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (18)
11. Round 28: *1 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (12)
12. Round 29: 6 dec. (6) Fasten off and use a needle to close the remaining gap securely.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

The Muzzle and Ears

The muzzle and ears are what truly define the bear’s character. The muzzle should be an oval shape, while the ears are small, rounded additions that sit atop the head.

The Tan Muzzle

1. Round 1: Using Tan yarn, ch 6. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work: 4 sc, 3 sc in the last chain. Turning to the other side of the foundation chain: 3 sc, 1 inc. (12)
2. Round 2: 1 inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc. (18)
3. Round 3: 1 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc) x 3, 3 sc, (1 sc, 1 inc) x 2. (24)
4. Round 4: 1 sc in each stitch around. (24)
5. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Use Dark Brown yarn to embroider a wide, triangular nose at the top center of the muzzle, followed by a vertical line extending downward to create the mouth.

The Rounded Ears (Make 2)

1. Round 1: Using Medium Brown, work 6 sc in a MR. (6)
2. Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
3. Round 3: *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (18)
4. Rounds 4-6: sc in each stitch around. (18)
5. Flatten the ear and work 9 sc through both layers to close. Do not stuff. Sew these to the head between rounds 6 and 11, slightly tilted forward.

The Sturdy Bear Body

The body is worked from the bottom up. We will begin with the legs and join them together to form the torso, ensuring the bear can stand with minimal support. Use Medium Brown yarn.

The Legs and Joining

1. Legs (Make 2): Start with a MR, 6 sc. R2: 6 inc (12). R3: *1 sc, inc* (18). R4: BLO 18 sc. R5-10: 18 sc. Fasten off the first leg, but keep the second leg on your hook.
2. Joining: Ch 3 from the second leg and join to the first leg with a sc. This marks the beginning of your body rounds.
3. Round 11: Work 17 more sc around the first leg, 3 sc along the chain, 18 sc around the second leg, and 3 sc on the other side of the chain. (42)
4. Round 12: *6 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (48)
5. Rounds 13-20: sc in each stitch around. (48)
6. Round 21: *6 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (42)
7. Round 22: sc in each stitch around. (42)
8. Round 23: *5 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (36)
9. Rounds 24-28: sc in each stitch around. (36)
10. Round 29: *4 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (30)
11. Round 30: sc in each stitch around. (30)
12. Round 31: *3 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (24)
13. Round 32: *2 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (18) Stuff the body firmly, especially the neck area.
14. Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the head to the body.

The Arms (Make 2)

1. Round 1: 6 sc in a MR. (6)
2. Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
3. Rounds 3-20: sc in each stitch around. (12)
4. Stuff only the bottom half of the arm. Flatten the top and sew to the sides of the body at round 30.

The Honeycomb Dress and White Shirt

The clothing provides the bear with its distinctive look. We start with the white shirt and then create the mustard yellow pinafore dress that features the three-dimensional honeycomb texture.

The Peter Pan Collar Shirt

1. Row 1: Using White yarn, ch 25. Starting in the second ch from hook, work 24 sc. Ch 1, turn.
2. Rows 2-8: Work 24 sc across. This forms the bodice.
3. Sleeves: Reattach yarn to the armholes (Rows 4-6). Work 12 sc in a circle for 5 rounds. Fasten off.
4. Collar: Reattach white yarn to the neckline. *ch 3, 3 dc in next st, ch 3, sl st in next* repeat to create the rounded collar effect seen in the image.

The Mustard Yellow Pinafore

1. Round 1: Ch 36. Join with a sl st to form a ring. sc in each stitch around. (36)
2. Round 2: *5 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (42)
3. Round 3: BLO 42 sc. This creates a ridge for the skirt.
4. Round 4: *6 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (48)
5. Rounds 5-15: sc in each stitch around. (48)
6. Honeycomb Texture: To create the honeycomb look, we will use surface crochet. With a tapestry needle and Mustard Yellow yarn, embroider hexagonal shapes onto the front center of the dress. Each hexagon should be approximately 3 stitches wide. Fill in the center of these hexagons with a slightly darker gold thread if you want more depth.
7. Hem Bees: Use black embroidery thread and yellow floss to stitch three tiny bees near the bottom hem of the dress. Use yellow for the body (a simple horizontal stitch) and black for the stripes and tiny wings.
8. Straps: Ch 15, work 14 sc back down the chain. Sew to the back of the dress, cross them over the shoulders, and secure to the front with small 6mm buttons.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

Creating the Accessories

The accessories are what elevate this bear into a storybook character. The honey pot and the sunflower hat are essential components of the final look.

The Sun Hat with Sunflower

1. Round 1: Using Tan yarn, work 6 sc in a MR. (6)
2. Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
3. Round 3: *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (18)
4. Round 4: *2 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (24)
5. Round 5: *3 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (30)
6. Round 6: *4 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (36)
7. Round 7: *5 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (42)
8. Round 8: *6 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (48)
9. Rounds 9-14: sc in each stitch around. (48)
10. Round 15 (Brim): FLO. *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (72)
11. Round 16-18: sc in each stitch around. (72) Fasten off.
12. Sunflower: Using Brown yarn, MR, 6 sc. Switch to Yellow yarn: *ch 3, 2 dc in same st, ch 3, sl st in next* repeat 6 times. Sew this flower to the side of the hat.

The Dripping Honey Pot

1. Round 1: Using Brown yarn, MR, 6 sc. (6)
2. Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
3. Round 3: *1 sc, 1 inc* repeat around. (18)
4. Round 4: BLO 18 sc.
5. Rounds 5-10: 18 sc. (18)
6. Round 11: *1 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (12) Stuff lightly.
7. Honey Drip: Reattach Mustard Yellow yarn to the top edge. Work *sc, ch 4, sl st back down, sc in next 2 sts* repeat to create the appearance of overflowing honey dripping down the sides of the pot. Sew this to the bear’s right arm.

The Royal Mini Bee Companion

This tiny bee is the bear’s constant companion. It is worked in simple stripes and features a very small crown.

Bee Body

1. Round 1: Using Yellow yarn, 6 sc in a MR. (6)
2. Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
3. Round 3-4: Switch to Black yarn. 12 sc.
4. Round 5-6: Switch to Yellow yarn. 12 sc.
5. Round 7: Switch to Black yarn. *2 sc, 1 dec* repeat around. (9)
6. Round 8: dec around. Fasten off. Insert 5mm eyes before closing.
7. Wings: Using White yarn, Ch 4, work 3 dc in the first ch. Fasten off and sew to the top of the bee.
8. Crown: Using Gold yarn, ch 6. Join to form a ring. *ch 2, sl st in next st* repeat to create points. Sew to the top of the bee’s head.

Final Assembly Walkthrough

The assembly is where you must exercise the most patience. The alignment of the parts is crucial for capturing the specific aesthetic of the Honey Bee Bear. Start by pinning all your pieces in place before making any permanent stitches. This allows you to adjust the expression and posture until it perfectly matches your vision.

Head and Face Assembly

1. Sew the head to the neck of the body using the mattress stitch for a seamless join. Ensure the head is looking straight forward and is not tilted.
2. Position the muzzle on the lower center of the face. The top of the muzzle should sit just below the safety eyes. Sew it down, stuffing lightly as you close the gap to give it a 3D effect.
3. Embroider the eyebrows using a single strand of black embroidery floss. Place them about two rounds above the eyes, slanting slightly downward toward the sides to give the bear a gentle, soulful look.
4. Add a touch of pink blush to the cheeks just below the eyes to give the bear a healthy, sun-kissed appearance.

Garment Finishing

1. Dress the bear in the white shirt first. Ensure the collar is sitting flat against the neck.
2. Slide the honeycomb dress over the legs and torso. Adjust the skirt so it flares out evenly.
3. Pull the straps over the shoulders and sew them into place behind the collar, using the small buttons as decorative anchors on the front bib of the dress.
4. Place the black Mary Jane shoes on the feet. If they feel loose, you can add a single stitch to secure them to the bottom of the bear’s feet.

Placing the Accessories

1. The hat should be placed atop the head, between the ears. You may wish to use a few hidden stitches to secure it in place so it does not fall off during handling.
2. The honey pot should be tucked under the bear’s right arm. Use the long tail of the pot to sew it firmly to both the arm and the torso for stability.
3. The mini bee companion can be placed next to the bear or even sewn onto the brim of the hat for an extra touch of whimsy.

Conclusion and Care

Congratulations on completing the Honey Bee Bear and Mini Hive set! This project is a testament to your skill and dedication to the art of crochet. Because this item contains small parts like safety eyes and buttons, it is intended primarily as a decorative keepsake or for use by older children who can handle delicate handmade items with care. To keep your bear looking its best, avoid machine washing. If the bear becomes dusty, a gentle spot cleaning with a damp cloth and mild soap is all that is required. Store your creation in a place away from direct sunlight to prevent the vibrant mustard yellow and honey gold colors from fading over time.

We hope this project has brought a sense of summer warmth and creative satisfaction to your crafting table. Each stitch you have made has contributed to a character that is full of personality and charm. Whether you keep this bear for your own collection or gift it to someone special, it is sure to be a cherished piece for years to come. Your attention to detail, particularly in the honeycomb embroidery and the tiny bee companion, makes this a truly unique work of art. May your hooks always find sweet paths and your yarn never tangle!

Would you like me to provide further guidance on creating alternative seasonal accessories for this bear, such as a winter scarf or a spring basket?