If you are anything like me, you run at the sight of a bee; the fear of being stung leads us to try to create as much distance between us and the bee. What we often overlook is that the honey bee is simply trying to go about its job of collecting food for the hive, and is probably screaming in fear at the sight of a giant flailing its arms at it. While both parties would love to have never run into each other, it’s also becoming more and more important and crucial that we “giants” don’t kill the bee or its hive.
The Honey Bee population worldwide is decreasing at an alarming rate!
“They found that, between 2008 and 2013, “bee abundance declined across 23% of US land area” (Koh et al. 2016). Furthermore, their research indicated that farmers in the US may experience increased costs and destabilization in crop production in accordance with the decline of pollinators (Koh et al. 2016).” (LINK)
It is still unclear what is the largest cause for concern is, but rather a few reasons. This TED talk by Maria Spivak called “Why Bees are Disappearing” gives an excellent, and easy to understand” break down on how, why, and since when the decline in the Honey Bee population began in the United States and how it is now spreading across the world. She also provides ways that you can help without having to join an organization or sign a petition….simply PLANT MORE FLOWERS! Plant flowering plants WITHOUT pesticides, so that honey bees can safely hunt for food. Most people are more concerned with how manicured their lawn looks that they forget that dandelions are a food source for our starving bees! (Obviously still mow your lawn haha, but maybe plant a small section with flowers for bees to visit you.)
Here are some interesting Links about Honey Bees!
My personal fav, tons of interesting facts!
Honey Bee Waggle Dance! Truly fascinating.
Another Great TED talk on Bees in Urban Areas
Materials
Yarn:
- Paintbox Simply DK – Coffee Bean (110)
- Paintbox Simply DK – Buttercup Yellow (122)
- Paintbox Simply DK – Light Caramel (108)
Tools:
- 3.25mm Crochet Hook (D) (a 3.00mm or a 3.50mm can be used also depending on tension)
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker
- Brown Chenille Stick (Pipe Cleaner)
- Polyfil
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in Same Stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two Together(Decrease) |
| HDC | Half Double Crochet |
| DC | Double Crochet |
| TC | Treble Crochet |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | A comma is used to indicate when to move on to the next step in the round/row. |
Special Techniques Used
Abdomen Piece
ODD rounds will be done in BROWN
EVEN rounds will be done in YELLOW
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 6 scinc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3-5: | Ch 1, 12 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat * to * 2 more times, join. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 7: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 sc2tog* repeat * to * 2 more time. Join. | (6 stitches) |
Stuff with polyfill.
| Round 8: | Ch 1, 3 sc2tog, join. | (3 stitches) |
Fasten off and use the Amigurumi Close Method, leave a tail for sewing to Thorax Piece.Set aside.
Thorax Piece
ODD rounds will be done in BROWN
EVEN rounds will be done in YELLOW
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 4 sc, join. | (4 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 4 scinc, join. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 3: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 scinc* repeat * to * 3 more times, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 4: | Ch 1, 12 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 5: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 sc2tog* repeat * to * 3 more times, join. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, 4 sc2tog, join. | (4 stitches) |
Stuff and fasten off and use the Amigurumi Close Method, leave a tail for sewing to HEAD. Use the pet slicker brush and fuzz the yarn as much as you can while keeping the integrity of the piece. Set aside.
Head
ODD rounds AND Round 6 will be done in BROWN
EVEN rounds, EXCEPT Round 6, will be done in YELLOW
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 4 sc, join. | (4 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 4 scinc, join. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 3-4: | Ch 1, 8 sc, join. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 5: | Ch 1, * 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat * to * once more, join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, *1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat * to * once more, join. | (4 stitches) |
Stuff so that the piece can still lay somewhat flat and is not a ball. Insert a small piece of pipe cleaner about 4 cm long into the opening as you sew it closed using the Amigurumi Close Method.
Eyes
Using brown
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , 3 sc. | (3 stitches) |
Do NOT pull magic circle all the way closed, the piece should be closed only enough to give a teardrop shape. Sew to sides of the head so that the pointed end is facing the “mouth”
Body Assembly
- Pick up the abdomen and attach a sewing needle to the tail left for sewing, insert it thru the hole you just closed and out thru the original Magic Circle. Sew to the THORAX PIECE with the starting magic circle of the thorax piece facing the abdomen piece.
- Sew the Head to Thorax Piece so that the beginning magic circle of the head points skyward and the chenille stick in the last round points towards the ground.
- Add 2 chenille sticks to the Abdomen Piece and 1 to the Thorax Piece, bend the very ends of each end of the stick to act as the feet. (See Picture)
- Cut a piece of brown yarn about 3 inches long, add your brown yarn to the yarn needle and go under a few stitches on the top of the head, cut the yarn and tie a knot at each end of the yarn to act as antennae.
Wings
Make x2
Using White yarn
| Row 1: | Ch 10, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 2 tc, 2 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, sl st. | (8 stitches) |
Sew onto the thorax section so that they tilt slightly towards the abdomen piece of the body.
Thank you for Choosing my Pattern!
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