It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… Honey Bear? This little bear LOVES honey, but is having a heck of a time getting any out of the hive with all those bees around! He’s going incognito with this bee costume to get at the sweet stuff. Complete with a honey pot, this buzzy bear is ready to collect his honey, and go trick or treating!
Want an ad free version of this pattern? Purchase the PDF on Ravelry or Etsy!
Check out these cute Honey Bears made by testers!!
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
U.S. Terminology
Size: 5 inches seated from the top of the head down
Materials
Hook: 3.5 mm
Yarn: Worsted Weight: Approx. 100 yards- Fur Colour, Black, Yellow (one or two shades), Brown, White (I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads)
10 mm Safety Eyes or Embroidered Eyes
Polyfill
Needle
Optional: Stitch Markers and pins, embroidery thread for nose and mouth
Other Notes:
Magic Ring alternative- if you do not feel comfortable doing a magic ring, you can also chain 2 and work the indicated number of stitches into the first chain
Continuous Rounds– each row is completed in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated
Uneven back of costume- when you crochet the costume for your bear, due to the nature of SC stitches in both loops, the colour changes will appear angled. This will be disguised by the wings
Stuffing– it is important to stuff the head and body of your bear firmly, so that the cap and costume fit properly. If under-stuffed, your bear’s outfit may be too big!
Colour Change– When changing from one colour to another, in your final SC stitch after you have 2 loops on your hook, pull through with your new colour. In the next stitch of the next row, a SL ST is worked as it creates a more seamless colour change that is not as obvious.
Click here to make a Ladybug Bear friend as well!
Pattern:
Muzzle:
In white colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR, SL ST to first stitch (6 st)
R2: INC SC around, SL ST to first stitch (12 st)
FO, leaving a long tail for weaving. Stitch on nose and mouth in shape that you prefer. See full body below for nose and mouth stitching.
Head:
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)
R7-R13: SC around (36 st)
R14: (4 SC, INV DEC) x6 (30 st)
Insert safety eyes between rows 10 and 11, 8 stitches apart. Before attaching backings, check that the muzzle you made previously will fit between the eyes. Adjust eye placement accordingly and add washers to the back.
R15: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
Start stuffing and continue stuffing for subsequent rounds, making sure it is firm so the cap fits properly.
R16: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)
R17: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
FO and weave in yarn ends.
Pin muzzle between safety eyes, with the top of the muzzle in line with the top of the eyes. Sew to the head and weave in ends.
Head Cap:
In yellow colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)
R7-R17: SC around (36 st)
note: depending on your yarn and stuffing, you may find that you need to add or take away a row on the headcap so that it is not too long/short across the head.
R18: SL ST around (36 st)
FO, leaving a very long tail for sewing. Place cap on head with opening at the front of the face and covering the opening of the head, and pin in place. With a needle and leftover yarn, sew the cap to the head, weaving in and out every few stitches, repeating several times around the head. Weave in ends.
Ears: (make 2)
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3-4: SC around (12 st)
FO, leaving tail of yarn for sewing. Flatten ears and pin to the head cap around R11/12, giving them a bit of a curve. Sew ears to head cap, making sure to go through both the cap and head so that they are firmly secured.
Antennae: (make 2)
In black colour yarn:
R1: 4SC into MR (4 st)
R2-4 SC around (4 st)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing to the head. Pin antennae to the head in front of the ears, around R16 of the hair cap. Sew in place and weave in ends.
Body:
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6-10: SC around (30 st)
R11: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
R12: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18st)
Start stuffing, making sure to stuff firmly as you finish subsequent rounds, otherwise your bee costume will be too big.
R13: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
R 14: SC around (12 st)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.
Arms: (make 2)
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 5 SC in MR (5 st)
R2: INC SC around (10 st)
R3-R4: SC around (10 st)
R5: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)
Stuff tip of hand lightly
R6- R9: SC around (8 st)
To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn. Pin arms to either side of body, 2-3 rows down from where the body meets the neck and sew on. Weave in ends.
You can now attach the body and head together. Pin the head to the body, with 1-2 rows of the bottom of the cap in front of the neck. Sew on the head and weave in ends.
Bee Costume:
You will be working back and forth between black and yellow to create the stripes for the costume. Due to the nature of the colour changes, they may look slightly uneven on the back, but this will be hidden later when the wings are attached!
*In the first stitch of the next round after a colour change, you can replace the first SC with a SL ST. This will make the change more seamless*
In Black colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6, switching to Yellow in the last stitch (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6, switching to Black in the last stitch (30 st)
R6-7: SC around, switching to Yellow in last stitch of R7 (30 st)
R8-9: SC around, switching to Black in last stitch of R9 (30 st)
R10-11: SC around, switching to Yellow in last stitch of R11 (30 st)
R12: SC around (30 st)
The next round will create the shoulder straps for the costume
R13: 5 SC, CH 13, SC in 2nd CH from hook and next 11 st. SC into same st as where you started the CH. 25 SC. CH 13, SC in 2nd CH from hook and next 11 st. SC in same st as where you started the CH. (56 st)
SL ST to next stitch and FO, leaving a long tail. Pin the costume to the body, with the attached side of the shoulder straps at the back. Pull the straps over the shoulders of the arms and pin to the front of the costume. With a needle, sew the top row of the costume in place, placing several stitches into the front of each strap to hold them in place. Finish sewing and weave in ends.
Legs: (make 2)
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC in MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3-5: SC around (12 st)
R6: (4 SC, INV DEC) x2 (10 st)
Stuff at base of foot, and continue to lightly stuff up to halfway up the leg
R7: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)
R8-R11: SC around (8 st)
To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn.
Pin the legs to the base of the body and sew on. Make sure when sewing to go through both the costume and actual body so it is well secured. Weave in ends.
Wings: (make 2)
For each wing, you will make two rounded tips separately then connect them together. Each tip will be referred to as Wing Tip 1 and Wing Tip 2.
In white colour yarn:
Wing Tip 1
R1: 5 SC into MR (5 st)
R2: INC SC around (10 st)
R3: SC around (10 st)
FO, and place to the side.
Wing Tip 2
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (5 SC, INC SC) x2 (14 st)
R4: SC around (14 st)
You will now connect the two wing tips together. See pictures to help with construction.
R5: SC into a stitch from Wing Tip 1, as well as the remaining 9 stitches around. Next, SC back into Wing Tip 2, into the first stitch after R4 and SC all the way around (24 st)
When you attach the two wing tips together, a small hole may appear between them. When the wing is later flattened, this hole is not noticeable, but if it bothers you, you can stitch it closed.
R6: SC around (24)
R7: (4 SC, INV DEC) x4 (20 st)
R8: (3 SC, INV DEC) x4 (16 st)
R9: SC around (16 st)
R10: (2 SC, INV DEC) x4 (12 st)
R11: SC around (12 st)
R12: (SC, INV DEC) x4 (8 st)
R13-14: SC around (8 st)
FO, leaving a long tail. With a needle and yarn tail, sew the two wings together. Next, pin the wings to the top of the back of the costume and sew on. Weave in ends.
Stinger:
In black colour yarn:
R1: 3 SC into MR (3 st)
R2: INC SC, 2 SC (4 st)
R3: SC around (4 st)
R4: INC SC, 3 SC (5 st)
R5: SC, INC SC, SC, INC SC, SC (7 st)
FO, and leave a long end for sewing. Pin to the back of the body below the wings at the base to help hold the body upright. Sew to back and weave in ends.
Honey Pot:
In brown colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: In BLO, SC around (18 st)
R5-9: SC around (18 st)
R10: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
R11: In FLO, INC SC around, CH 12, SL ST to next stitch (24st + SL ST)
FO and weave in ends. Stuff pot.
In yellow yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
FO, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew the yellow honey to the pot, using the exposed back loops of the pot to connect the two together. After sewing most of the way around, add more stuffing so that it is firm and finish sewing. Weave in ends.
Thank you so much for making this pattern! If you run into any problems or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through Facebook or Instagram! Please remember to tag me @thecozychipmunk #thecozychipmunk so I can see your completed creation!
