Yesterday was Earth Day, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by creating these cute little crochet bees 🐝🌼
These bee appliques are a wonderful addition to a crochet blanket, bag, hat, or children’s project. With this free crochet pattern, you’ll be able to make the cutest little bees in two sizes. It’s a fun and creative project that uses only small amounts of yarn!

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I hope you enjoy this free pattern and find it easy to follow. If you have any questions, feel free to write to me—I’ll be happy to help.

Free Crochet Bee Pattern

Size

Big bee: approx. 5” / 12.5 cm tall
Small bee: approx. 4” / 10 cm tall

Sizes are based on the indicated yarn and hook sizes. You can use a smaller or larger hook to adjust the size of your applique.

Materials

Yarn calling for a 5.5 mm (US I-9) hook in three colors: Yellow. Black, White (plus a small amount of pink yarn for the female cheeks)
3.5 mm crochet hook
4 mm crochet hook
7.5 mm black safety eyes
Tapestry needle

Yarn Used

Light worsted cotton yarn in yellow, black, and white
Brand: I Love This Cotton! (Hobby Lobby)
Colors used: Curry (326), Black (02), White (06), Pink (74)

Abbreviations

ch = chain
mr = magic ring
sc = single crochet
inc = increase
dec = invisible decrease
sl st = slip stitch
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet

How to crochet a bee applique?

PART 1 – The Head

Big Bee Head

Worked in rounds. Do not turn unless stated.
Use a stitch marker if needed.

With yellow yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

Round 1: 6 sc in a magic circle. (6)
Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)
Round 5: [1 sc in next 3 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (30)

Switch to black yarn and a 4 mm hook:

Round 6:
sc 6
Change to 3.5 mm hook
1 sc in next st (place stitch marker), ch 6 for the first antenna
Turn; 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 4 ch
Sl st in marked stitch
sc 2
1 sc in next st (place stitch marker), ch 6 for second antenna
Turn; 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next 4 ch
Sl st in marked stitch
Change back to 4 mm hook, sc 20

Small Bee Head

With yellow yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
Round 2: 6 inc. (12)
Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)

Switch to black yarn and a 4 mm hook:

Round 5:
sc 6
Change to 3.5 mm hook
1 sc (place stitch marker), ch 4 for antenna
Turn; 2 sc in 2nd ch, sl st in next 2 ch
Sl st in marked stitch
sc 2
Repeat for second antenna
Change back to 4 mm hook, sc 14

PART 2 – The Body

Big Bee Body

Worked in rows using a 3.5 mm hook.

Start with yellow yarn:

Row 1: ch2
Row 2: turn; 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Place stitch marker (1)
Row 3: ch1, turn; 1 inc. (2)
Row 4: ch1, turn; inc in all. (4)
Row 5: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (4)
Row 6: ch1, turn; 1 inc, sc in next 2, 1 inc. (6)
Row 7: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)

Change to black yarn:

Row 8: ch1, turn; 1 inc, sc in next 4, 1 inc. (8)
Row 9: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)

Change to yellow yarn:

Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 inc, sc in next 6, 1 inc. (10)
Row 11: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (10)
Row 12: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (10)

Change to black yarn:

Row 13: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (10)
Row 14: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (10)

Change to yellow yarn:

Row 15: ch1, turn; 1 dec, sc in next 6, 1 dec. (8)
Row 16: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)
Row 17: ch1, turn; 1 dec, sc in next 4, 1 dec. (6)

Change to black yarn:

Row 18: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
Row 19: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)

Do not turn.
Switch to a 4 mm hook and work 16 sc evenly along the edge to the stitch marker.
Switch back to 3.5 mm hook, 1 sc in marked stitch, ch 3, turn; starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in next 2 ch, 1 sc in marked stitch.
Switch to 4 mm hook, work 16 sc evenly along the opposite edge.

Leave a long tail for sewing.

Small Bee Body

Worked in rows using a 3.5 mm hook.

Start with yellow yarn:

Row 1: ch2
Row 2: turn; 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Place stitch marker (1)
Row 3: ch1, turn; 1 inc. (2)
Row 4: ch1, turn; inc in all. (4)
Row 5: ch1, turn; 1 inc, sc in next 2, 1 inc. (6)

Change to black yarn:

Row 6: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
Row 7: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)

Change to yellow yarn:

Row 8: ch1, turn; 1 inc, sc in next 4, 1 inc. (8)
Row 9: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)

Change to black yarn:

Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)
Row 11: ch1, turn; 1 dec, sc in next 4, 1 dec. (6)

Change to yellow yarn:

Row 12: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
Row 13: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)

Change to black yarn:

Row 14: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)

Do not turn.
Switch to a 4 mm hook and work 10 sc evenly along the edge to the stitch marker.
Switch back to 3.5 mm hook, 1 sc in marked stitch, ch 2, turn; starting in 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in next ch, 1 sc in marked stitch.
Switch to 4 mm hook, work 10 sc evenly along the opposite edge.

Leave a long tail for sewing.

PART 3 – The Wings

Big Bee Wings (Make 2)

With white yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

ch 11
From 2nd ch from hook:

sc 4
hdc 3
dc 2
4 dc in last ch

Continue on the opposite side of the chain:

dc 2
hdc 3
sc 4
sl st

Leave a long tail for sewing.

Small Bee Wings (Make 4)

With white yarn:

ch 8
From 2nd ch from the hook:

sl st 2
sc 3
hdc 1
4 hdc in last ch

Continue on the opposite side of the chain:

hdc 1
sc 3
sl st 2
sl st

Leave a long tail.

PART 4 – Faces

Male bee: Eyes between Rounds 2–3, spaced 3 stitches apart. Embroider eyebrows and mouth.
Female bee: Add eyelashes before inserting eyes. Embroider mouth and pink cheeks.
Small bee: Eyes between Rounds 2–3, embroider a simple mouth.

PART 5 – Assembly

Sew the head to the body (centered or offset—your choice).
Attach wings on the inside of the body.
- Big bee: wings attached at the top
- Small bee: wings attached on each side

Hide approx. 0.8” / 1.5 cm of the wings inside the body for a neat finish.

🐝 Congratulations! Your crochet bee appliques are complete!
This project uses very little yarn and makes the sweetest little bumble bees. My official tester absolutely loved them—and even introduced them to the crochet avocado family! 🥑💛

Copyright Notice

All rights reserved. This pattern and all accompanying photographs are the property of Natalina Craft and are protected by copyright law. This pattern is for personal use only. Any unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or publication of this pattern, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern in small quantities. While crediting Natalina Craft as the designer is not required, it is always greatly appreciated—especially when selling online—so others can find the original pattern.
Thank you for respecting these guidelines.

Bee Applique Crochet Pattern

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