Chubby Crochet Bee Plushie – Free Chenille Amigurumi Pattern

Meet your new favorite emotional support insect: a squishy, huggable bee crocheted in velvety chenille yarn that works up surprisingly fast. This chubby crochet bee plushie features bold yellow and black stripes, darling little antennae, and two white textured wings that give it plenty of personality. Measuring about fourteen centimeters long, it makes a wonderful handmade gift for kids and adults alike, whether you are decorating a nursery or looking for a comforting desk companion.

Chubby Crochet Bee Plushie – Free Chenille Amigurumi Pattern

Quick Facts

• Skill level: Easy / Advanced Beginner
• Finished size: Approximately 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) wide
• Yarn: Super bulky chenille velvet yarn (Weight 6) in Mustard, Black, and White
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook
• Stitches used: Magic ring, chain, single crochet, increase, invisible decrease
• Time to make: 3 to 4 hours

Detailed size customization tips and gauge notes are included further down in this guide.

What Makes This Chubby Crochet Bee Special

The magic of this amigurumi lies in its super soft velvet texture and rounded egg-shaped body. Working in continuous spiral rounds with bulky chenille creates a plush, seamless fabric that hides minor tension inconsistencies and naturally holds its chubby shape. Clean color changes every three rounds build the classic bumblebee stripes, while the simple flat-oval wings and tightly curled antennae attach securely during assembly.

Skill Level

• Basic understanding of amigurumi and working in the round
• Familiarity with magic ring, single crochet, increases, and decreases
• Ability to work with fluffy chenille yarn and locate stitches by feel

Don’t worry if chenille yarn feels unfamiliar at first—taking your time and using stitch markers in the first stitch of every round will make it a breeze!

Finished Measurements

Materials You Will Need

Yarn Suggestions

| Brand | Line Name | Yardage per Skein | Notes |
| :— | :— | :— |
| YarnBee | Sweet Delight | 90 yds / 100g | Excellent velvety drape and shine |
| Premier Yarns | Parfait Chunky | 120 yds / 100g | Super soft, wide range of colors |
| Himalaya | Dolphin Baby | 131 yds / 100g | Very plush, holds shape well |

⚠️ Note: Avoid novelty eyelash yarns or scrubby yarns for this project, as they make it impossible to see your stitches and count accurately. Stick to smooth plush chenille velvet.

Gauge

• Amigurumi Gauge: Rnds 1 to 6 of the body circle = 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) across using a 5.0 mm hook.
• Exact gauge is not critical for amigurumi, but maintaining firm, even tension ensures the fiberfill stuffing will not peek through the stitches.

Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• ch: chain
• inc: increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
• inv-dec: invisible decrease (insert hook into front loops of next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops)
• rep: repeat
• rnd(s): round(s)
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• [ ] / ( ): work instructions inside parentheses the given number of times

UK Conversion Note: UK: sc = dc, hdc = htr, dc = tr.

Special Stitches Explained

1. Magic Ring: Form a loop with your yarn tail, insert hook through the center, yarn over and pull up a loop, ch 1, and work the required number of single crochets into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the center hole.
2. Invisible Decrease (inv-dec): Essential for amigurumi in chenille yarn. Insert hook only into the front loop of the first stitch, then immediately insert hook into the front loop of the next stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.

Pattern Instructions

Pattern Notes:
– The body is worked in continuous spiral rounds without joining. Do not slip stitch at the end of rounds unless specified. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go.
– Chenille yarn can shed slightly when pulled tight; pull gently and steadily when adjusting your magic ring and stitches.

Section 1: Body

Start with Black yarn.

• Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sc)
• Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sc)
• Rnd 3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18 sc)
• Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24 sc)
• Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30 sc)
• Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36 sc)
• Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42 sc)
• Rnds 8 to 10: sc in each st around (42 sc)
  Change to Mustard yarn.
• Rnds 11 to 13: sc in each st around (42 sc)
  Change to Black yarn.
• Rnds 14 to 16: sc in each st around (42 sc)
  Change to Mustard yarn.
• Rnds 17 to 19: sc in each st around (42 sc)
  Change to Black yarn.
• Rnds 20 to 22: sc in each st around (42 sc)
  Change to Mustard yarn.
• Rnds 23 to 25: sc in each st around (42 sc)

✅ Checkpoint: At Rnd 25, your bee body cylinder should measure about 4.5 inches long. Now is the time to insert safety eyes and begin stuffing.

• Placement for Safety Eyes: Insert the 12 mm safety eyes between Rnds 20 and 21, approximately 7 stitches apart, centered on the front Mustard section. Secure the backing washers firmly.
• Rnd 26: [5 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (36 sc)
• Rnd 27: [4 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (30 sc)
• Rnd 28: [3 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (24 sc)
  Stuff the body firmly with fiberfill, shaping it into a plump egg.
• Rnd 29: [2 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (18 sc)
• Rnd 30: [1 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (12 sc)
• Rnd 31: [inv-dec] x 6 (6 sc)
  Fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches using a tapestry needle and pull tight to close the back completely. Weave in the end.

Section 2: Wings (Make 2)

Using White yarn.

• Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a magic ring (6 sc)
• Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sc)
• Rnd 3: [1 sc, inc] x 6 (18 sc)
• Rnds 4 to 6: sc in each st around (18 sc)
• Rnd 7: [1 sc, inv-dec] x 6 (12 sc)
  Fasten off, leaving an 8-inch tail for sewing. Do not stuff the wings; flatten them gently.

Section 3: Antennae (Make 2)

Using Black yarn.

• Row 1: Ch 6, starting in 2nd ch from hook, work 5 sl st back down the chain (5 sl st)
  Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail for sewing. The chain will naturally curl into a cute little antenna shape.

Assembly

1. Antennae Placement: Sew the two antennae securely to the top of the head between Rnds 3 and 4, spaced about 2 stitches apart.
2. Wings Placement: Position the two white wings flat against the top of the body, spanning across the first black stripe and mustard stripe (covering Rnds 8 through 13). Secure with firm whip stitches around the base of each wing.
3. Face Details (Optional): Using a short length of black yarn or embroidery floss, stitch a tiny smiling mouth centered two rounds below the safety eyes.

Finishing

• Inspect your bee to ensure all yarn tails are securely woven inside the body.
• Give the plushie a gentle squeeze to evenly distribute the internal fiberfill stuffing.

Size Customization Tips

• To make a larger bee, use Super Bulky Blanket yarn (Weight 7) with an 8.0 mm hook. Each extra increase round added to the body start will increase the maximum width by approximately 1.5 inches.
• To make a mini pocket bee, drop down to Sport weight yarn (Weight 2) and a 2.5 mm crochet hook, working the exact same pattern count.

Care Instructions

• Spot clean gently with a damp cloth and mild soap.
• If machine washing is necessary, place the plushie inside a mesh laundry bag on a delicate, cold cycle. Lay flat to air dry completely. Do not tumble dry or iron chenille yarn.

FAQ

Can I use regular acrylic yarn instead of chenille velvet?

Yes! You can use worsted weight acrylic yarn with a 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm hook. The bee will turn out smaller (about half the size) with a smoother texture, but the pattern counts remain identical.

Are safety eyes safe for babies and toddlers?

Safety eyes have small plastic backings that can pose a choking hazard for children under 3 years old. For baby gifts, embroider the eyes using black yarn or embroidery floss with French knots or satin stitch instead.

Why is chenille yarn tricky to work with?

Chenille yarn consists of soft plush fibers wrapped around a central core thread. If you pull too tightly, the plush can thin out. To find your stitches easily, feel for the “V” shape on top of each stitch with your fingers rather than relying solely on sight.

Happy Crocheting!

I hope you adore making your chubby little velvet bee as much as I did designing it! Be sure to save this pin on Pinterest so you can find it later, and leave a comment below sharing what color combination you used for your hive. Happy stitching!