Welcome! 🐝 What We’re Making

This beginner-friendly tutorial shows you how to crochet a flat, cheerful bee appliqué like the one in the photo—complete with soft blue wings, rosy cheeks, and perky antennae. The finished bee can be sewn onto bags, hats, blankets, pencil cases, baby bibs, or turned into fridge magnets and bookmarks. Everything is worked flat with simple stitches, so it’s perfect for first-timers who want a quick, adorable win.

The pattern uses US crochet terms and is written step by step with round-by-round stitch counts. You’ll make five small pieces (head, body, 2 wings, 2 antennae) and then assemble them with a little embroidery for the face.

Materials & Tools

• Yarn (DK / Light Worsted, Category 3)
  1. Yellow: head and stripes
  2. Black: stripes, tail/stinger, antennae, smile
  3. Light blue (or mint): wings
  4. Small scrap of pink (optional): cheeks/blush
     Acrylic or cotton both work. Choose cotton for crisp edges; acrylic for a softer look.
• Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4) or 4.0 mm (G-6) depending on your tension. Use the smaller size for a firm, tidy appliqué.
• Notions
  1. 2 safety eyes or small black buttons (6–8 mm) OR black yarn for embroidered eyes
  2. Yarn needle for sewing and embroidery
  3. Scissors
  4. A tiny bit of fabric glue (optional) for securing ends on the back
• Size (approx.)
  With DK yarn and a 3.5–4.0 mm hook: 9–11 cm (3.5–4.25 in) tall. Size varies with yarn and hook.
• Gauge
  Not crucial. Aim for a neat, non-gappy fabric.
• Skill Level
  Absolute beginner to easy.

Safety note: If the appliqué will be used for babies or young children, embroider the eyes instead of using buttons/safety eyes.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR = magic ring
• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec = invisible decrease (single crochet two stitches together)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd = round
• RS/WS = right side/wrong side (not critical for this project)

Counts at the end of rounds are in ( ).

Notes Before You Start

• Work in joined rounds for the head and in continuous rounds for the body oval. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round if you like.
• Change colors by completing the last yarn-over of the last stitch of the old color with the new color. Carry or tidy tails neatly on the back—this is a flat piece, so keep the back smooth.
• For crisp edges on the wings, keep your tension even. Blocking at the end helps them sit flat.

📌Thank you for reading the article.

Part 1 — Head (Yellow)

1. Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into ring, pull tight, sl st to first sc. (6)
2. Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12)
3. Rnd 3: (sc, inc) repeat 6×. (18)
4. Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat 6×. (24)
5. Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) repeat 6×. (30)
6. Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) repeat 6×. (36)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Weave the short beginning tail to the back so it doesn’t peek through.

Optional edge: If you like a crisp outline, work one extra rnd of sc in each st (36), then fasten off.

Part 2 — Striped Body (Oval)

Work from the top of the body downward. The color order in the photo is a thin black “neck,” yellow, black, yellow, and a black stinger. We’ll build that with an easy oval.

With black, ch 9.

• Rnd 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 6 ch, 3 sc in last ch; rotate to work along the underside of the chain, sc 6, 2 sc in the last ch (same hole as the first sc). (18)
• Rnd 2 (black): 2 sc in first st, sc 6, (2 sc) 3×, sc 6, (2 sc) 2×. (24)
  Change to yellow on the last y.o. of the final stitch.
• Rnd 3 (yellow): sc 1, inc, sc 6, (sc 1, inc) 3×, sc 6, (sc 1, inc) 2×. (30)
• Rnd 4 (yellow): sc 2, inc, sc 6, (sc 2, inc) 3×, sc 6, (sc 2, inc) 2×. (36)
  Change to black at the end of the round.
• Rnd 5 (black): sc 3, inc, sc 6, (sc 3, inc) 3×, sc 6, (sc 3, inc) 2×. (42)

Fasten off black. The oval should now be slightly wider than the head. If you prefer a chunkier yellow belly, add one more yellow round even (sc in each st—42) before the stinger. Otherwise continue to the stinger.

Stinger (worked onto the body)

Join black at the center bottom stitch of the oval (look for the most central stitch at the rounded end).

• Row 1: ch 1, sc 7 centered across the bottom (pick 7 adjacent sts), ch 1, turn. (7)
• Row 2: dec, sc 3, dec, ch 1, turn. (5)
• Row 3: dec, sc 1, dec, ch 1, turn. (3)
• Row 4: dec, sc 1, turn. (2)
• Row 5: dec. (1)

Fasten off and weave the tail toward the point to sharpen the tip. If you want the tail slightly longer, add one extra dec row before fastening off.

Part 3 — Wings (Make 2 in Light Blue)

You’ll make two small ovals; each is one piece.

With light blue, ch 7.

• Rnd 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 4 ch, 3 sc in last ch; rotate to work underside, sc 4, 2 sc in last ch. (12)
• Rnd 2: 2 sc in first st, sc 4, (2 sc) 3×, sc 4, (2 sc) 2×. (18)
• Rnd 3 (optional for larger wings): (sc, inc) around the curve only—do 6 increases spaced across the rounded end, working sc along the straight side. End with sl st into next st. (About 24—count will vary slightly depending on how you space them. That’s fine for wings.)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly tug the starting tail to smooth the oval. Make a second wing.

Tip: If you prefer a teardrop wing, start with MR, work (ch 2, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st) into the ring, tighten, and sew.

Part 4 — Antennae (Make 2 in Black)

You can crochet tiny bobbles at the tips or keep them simple.

Option A: Bobble Tips

• Ch 10.
• 3-dc bobble in 2nd ch from hook (yo, insert, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2) ×3, yo, pull through all loops.
• Sl st in each remaining ch back to the first ch. Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.

Option B: Tiny Circles

• MR, 5 sc, sl st to close, fasten off leaving a tail.
• Ch 6 with another strand, sl st back to form a stem. Sew the circle to the end of the stem when assembling.

Either version looks adorable on this flat appliqué.

Face Details

• Place eyes on the head about between Rnds 4–5, spaced 5–6 stitches apart. Insert safety eyes and secure on the back (or embroider small French knots if making for small children).
• With black yarn, embroider a smile between the eyes—one soft curve works best.
• With pink yarn, embroider 2 tiny blush dashes or sew small felt circles for cheeks.

Do the embroidery now while the head is separate; it’s easier than after assembly.

Assembly & Finishing

1. Position the body. Lay the head so it slightly overlaps the top of the body oval (the black “neck” sits just under the head). Pin or clip in place.
2. Sew the head to the body. Using the long yellow tail from the head, sew through both layers around the lower half of the head so the top remains neat and round. Take small, even stitches; keep all tails to the back.
3. Attach wings. Place one wing on each side of the body so they peek out from behind, with the longer, rounded edge facing outward. Stitch them down along the inner edge only so they “lift” slightly.
4. Add antennae. Stitch the two antennae to the top of the head about 2–3 sts in from each side. Angle them outward a little and secure well on the back.
5. Tidy up. Weave all ends to the back and trim. If the appliqué will be washed or handled a lot, add a dot of fabric glue to ends after weaving.
6. Block (optional). Light steam or pin flat and mist with water. Shape the wings and head until everything lies nicely flat. Let dry.

Now you have a happy little bee ready to brighten anything!

Round-By-Round Summary (Quick Reference)

Head (yellow):
R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
R2: inc around (12)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (18)
R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)

Body (oval):
Ch 9
R1: sc in 2nd ch, sc 6, 3 sc in last; opposite side sc 6, 2 sc in last (18, black)
R2: 2 sc in first, sc 6, (2 sc) ×3, sc 6, (2 sc) ×2 (24, black)
R3: sc 1, inc; sc 6; (sc 1, inc) ×3; sc 6; (sc 1, inc) ×2 (30, yellow)
R4: sc 2, inc; sc 6; (sc 2, inc) ×3; sc 6; (sc 2, inc) ×2 (36, yellow)
R5: sc 3, inc; sc 6; (sc 3, inc) ×3; sc 6; (sc 3, inc) ×2 (42, black)
(Optional R6 even 42 in yellow for a bigger belly.)

Stinger: Join black at center bottom;
Row 1: sc 7, ch 1, turn (7)
Row 2: dec, sc 3, dec, ch 1, turn (5)
Row 3: dec, sc 1, dec, ch 1, turn (3)
Row 4: dec, sc 1 (2)
Row 5: dec (1)

Wings (make 2, light blue):
Ch 7
R1: sc in 2nd ch, sc 4, 3 sc in last; opposite side sc 4, 2 sc in last (12)
R2: 2 sc in first, sc 4, (2 sc) ×3, sc 4, (2 sc) ×2 (18)
R3 (optional): distribute 6 increases around the curved end, sc along straight side, sl st to join (~24).

Antennae (make 2, black):
Ch 10; 3-dc bobble in 2nd ch from hook; sl st back to base; fasten off.

Helpful Tips for Beginners

• Tension: If your fabric looks gappy, go down a hook size. For appliqués, a slightly tighter fabric looks neat and holds its shape on garments.
• Neat Color Changes: Change color on the final yarn-over of the last stitch of the old color. Then, on the next stitch, give both tails a gentle tug to lock the change.
• Sewing Invisible Seams: Match your sewing yarn to the piece you’re attaching (yellow for head, blue for wings). Insert the needle under the front loop of the piece on top and into a horizontal bar on the piece below—this keeps stitches almost invisible.
• Use Markers: Mark the start of each round so counting is easier.
• Keep the Back Flat: Since this is an appliqué, weave ends in one direction (horizontal or vertical) and trim close. Optional fabric glue keeps them secure.