Sweet Honey Bee Bear-knitted toy

Sweet Honey Bee Bear-knitted toy

Sweet Honey Bee Bear

Materials:

1 ball black double knitting

1 ball yellow double knitting

1 ball cream double knitting

Small amount of safety stuffing

2 small silk flowers and a leaf

Materials for basic bear, including yellow and black double knitting

Needles:

1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10; US 3) knitting needles

Instructions:

Make the basic bear (see Basic patterns) using black for the body, legs and arms and yellow for the head.

Bee body

The two body parts are worked in black and yellow yarn. Make two pieces the same, each beginning at the base, working in SS. Start with 6 rows yellow, then 4 rows black. Repeat until the third black stripe is completed, then continue in yellow only. Using yellow, cast on 8 sts.

Rows 1–2: SS.

Rows 3–7: continuing in SS, inc 1 st at each end of rows 3, 5 and 7 [14 sts].

Row 8: purl.

Rows 9–10: cast on 2 sts at beg of each row.

Rows 11–12: cast on 3 sts at beg of each row [24 sts].

Rows 13–15: inc 1 st at each end of rows 13 and 15 [28 sts].

Rows 16–21: SS, beg with a purl row.

Rows 22–28: dec 1 st at each end of rows 22, 24, 26 and 28 [20 sts].

Rows 29–30: SS, ending with a purl row.

Rows 31–32: cast off 2 sts at beg of each row.

Row 33: dec 1 st at each end of row [14 sts].

Rows 34–36: SS.

Cast off.

Wings

Large (make two):

Using cream, cast on 8 sts.

Rows 1–2: knit.

Rows 3–9: inc 1 st at each end of rows 3, 5, 7 and 9 [16 sts].

Rows 10–17: GS.

Rows 18–28: dec 1 st at each end of rows 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 [4 sts].

Cast off.

Small (make two):

Using cream, cast on 6 sts.

Rows 1–2: knit.

Rows 3–9: inc 1 st at each end of rows 3, 5, 7 and 9 [14 sts].

Rows 10–15: GS.

Dec 1 st at each end of next and every alt row until 4 sts remain.

Cast off.

Making up

Sew the base and side seams of the body pieces, matching the stripes. Slip the body on to the bear, stuff lightly to give a rounded shape, and sew the shoulder seams. Now catch the body pieces to the bear around the legs, arms and neck edge to secure. Sew the wings together in pairs, with the small wing on top of the large wing, and secure them to the bear at the back of the neck. Make the antennae using a piece of black yarn. Thread it through the top of the head. Roll each end into a tight circle and stitch to secure. Thread the flower stems through the paw and secure the paw to the body.