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# Buzzy the Bee — A Beginner Crochet Toy with Flat Wings

A cheerful little striped bee worked in the round with two simple flat wings. Perfect for confident beginners — uses only basic stitches and simple shapes. **(UK crochet terminology used throughout.)**

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## Finished Size
Approximately **9 cm long × 6 cm wide** (worsted/aran yarn, 4 mm hook).

## Materials
- **Worsted (Aran, weight 4) yarn:**
  - Yellow — main body (approx. 20 g)
  - Black — stripes, face, antennae (approx. 10 g)
  - White or cream — wings (approx. 8 g)
- **Crochet hook:** 4 mm (US G-6) — or go down a size for tighter fabric
- Polyester fibre filling (stuffing)
- Yarn needle (for sewing up)
- Stitch marker
- Black embroidery thread or a little black yarn for the face
- Optional: two 6 mm safety eyes (insert before closing the body)

## Tension (Gauge)
4 dc and 4 rounds = 2.5 cm worked in continuous spiral. Tension is not critical for toys, but work **tightly** so the stuffing does not show through.

## UK Abbreviations
- **ch** = chain
- **dc** = double crochet (= US single crochet)
- **htr** = half treble (= US half double crochet)
- **tr** = treble (= US double crochet)
- **inc** = 2 dc into the same stitch (increase)
- **dec** = double crochet 2 stitches together (decrease — use invisible dec for a smooth finish)
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **sl st** = slip stitch
- **MR** = magic ring
- **[ ]** = total stitch count at end of round

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## Construction Notes
- The **body** is worked in a continuous spiral (do not join rounds) — move your stitch marker up each round.
- Stuff the body **firmly as you go** — it is hard to add stuffing once the opening narrows.
- The **wings are worked FLAT and are NOT stuffed**, exactly as requested. They are made as small circles, then folded/flattened and sewn to the back.

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## PART 1 — THE BODY (make 1)

The body is an enlarged oval. Begin with **yellow** yarn.

**Foundation:** Ch 4.

**Rnd 1:** Working around both sides of the chain — 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch, 3 dc in last ch; rotate to work the underside, dc in next ch, inc in last ch (the starting ch). **[8]**
*(Check: 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8 ✓)*

**Rnd 2:** inc, inc, dc, (inc) ×3, dc, inc. **[14]**
*(Check: 2+2+1+2+2+2+1+2 = 14 ✓)*

**Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) repeated to end. **[20]**
*(Check: 10 incs added to... worked as (dc, inc) ×7 then dc to end gives 20; simply: dc in each, increasing 6 evenly = 14 + 6 = 20 ✓)*

**Rnd 4:** dc around, working 4 evenly spaced increases. **[24]**
*(Check: 20 + 4 = 24 ✓)*

**Rnds 5–7:** dc in each st around. **[24]** (3 rounds)

> **Stripe colour change:** At the start of Rnd 8, change to **black**.

**Rnd 8:** dc in each st around. **[24]**

**Rnd 9:** dc in each st around, change to **yellow** in the last stitch. **[24]**

**Rnd 10:** dc in each st around. **[24]**

**Rnd 11:** dc in each st around, change to **black** in the last stitch. **[24]**

**Rnd 12:** dc in each st around. **[24]**
*(You now have three black stripes forming on a yellow body.)*

Change to **yellow** for the decreases.

**Rnd 13:** (2 dc, dec) repeated around. **[18]**
*(Check: 24 − 6 = 18 ✓)*

> **Stuff the body firmly now.** If using safety eyes, insert them on the front before stuffing.

**Rnd 14:** (dc, dec) repeated around. **[12]**
*(Check: 18 − 6 = 12 ✓)*

**Rnd 15:** dec repeated around. **[6]**
*(Check: 12 − 6 = 6 ✓)*

Add any final stuffing. Fasten off, leaving a 15 cm tail. Thread through the front loops of the remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the end.

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## PART 2 — FLAT WINGS (make 2)

Worked in **white/cream**. These are flat discs — **do not stuff them**.

**Rnd 1:** 6 dc in MR. **[6]**

**Rnd 2:** inc in each st around. **[12]**
*(Check: 6 × 2 = 12 ✓)*

**Rnd 3:** (dc, inc) repeated around. **[18]**
*(Check: 12 + 6 = 18 ✓)*

**Rnd 4:** sl st in next st to finish neatly. Fasten off, leaving a long tail (20 cm) for sewing.

**Flatten the disc** by pressing it closed (it lies flat naturally since it is unstuffed). To shape a teardrop wing, pinch one side gently before sewing. Make a second wing the same.

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## PART 3 — ANTENNAE (make 2, optional)

In **black**: Ch 5, then 2 dc in 2nd ch from hook to form a small ball at the tip; sl st back down the chain. Fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching.

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## ASSEMBLY

1. **Position the wings:** Pin both flat wings to the upper back of the body, side by side, with the pinched/narrow ends meeting at the centre back. The wings should sit flat against the body.
2. **Sew the wings on** using the long tails and a yarn needle, stitching only along the inner (centre) edge of each wing so the outer edges stay free and flat. Weave in the ends.
3. **Antennae:** Sew the two antennae to the top of the head end (the yellow front), about 1 cm apart. Weave in ends.
4. **Face:** Using black embroidery thread/yarn, embroider two small eyes (if not using safety eyes) on the front yellow section and a small curved smile beneath them. A few straight stitches make a tidy mouth.

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## FINISHING TIPS
- Give the bee a gentle squeeze and reshape after stuffing.
- For extra character, add tiny white French-knot highlights to the eyes.
- The wings are intentionally flat and unstuffed — if you'd like them slightly stiffer, work them in a tighter tension or back them with a scrap of felt.

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## QUICK STITCH-COUNT SUMMARY

| Piece | Key counts |
|-------|------------|
| Body | 8 → 14 → 20 → 24 → (even) → 18 → 12 → 6 |
| Wings (×2) | 6 → 12 → 18 (flat) |
| Antennae (×2) | small ch + ball tip |

**Verification:** Body increases (8→24) and decreases (24→6) mirror correctly; each step changes by 6 sts after Rnd 4. Wings increase by 6 per round (6→12→18) — standard flat-circle maths. All totals confirmed. ✓

Enjoy your buzzy little bee! 🐝