Crochet Bumble Bee Rattle

 Introducing the adorable Crochet Bumble Bee Rattle! This charming little toy is perfect for keeping your little one entertained and engaged. Handcrafted with love and care, this rattle features a delightful bumble bee design that is sure to capture your baby's attention. This crochet rattle is not only a fun toy but also a great tool for developing your baby's motor skills. The easy-to-grasp design allows your little one to hold and shake the rattle, helping them improve their hand-eye coordination. The soft texture of the yarn provides a soothing sensation for your baby's gums, making it a perfect teething toy as well. Whether you're looking for a unique baby shower gift or a special toy for your own little one, the Crochet Bumble Bee Rattle is a wonderful choice. Its handmade charm and attention to detail make it a truly special and memorable keepsake. Give your baby the joy of playing with this adorable crochet rattle and watch their face light up with delight!

Skills required

• Crocheting in spiral
• Crocheting in rounds (optional, see below)
• Magic ring
• Single crochet stitch (double crochet stitch in UK and Australia)
• Increasing
• Decreasing
• Finishing an open piece
• Finishing a closed piece
• Sewing an open piece to a closed piece
• • Sewing a flat piece to a closed piece

You will need

• Yarn
• 1,75 — 2,25 mm crochet hook or according to the yarn.
• Plastic egg from a Kinder Surprise chocolate egg and glass beads, rice etc to make a rattle. 
• Or polyester fiberfill, wool etc. for stuffing, if you do not plan to make a rattle.
• Small piece of batting / wadding.
• Cotton embroidery floss.
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker.

Abbreviations

• mr, scn=magic ring– crochet n single crochet stitches into the adjustable loop.
• sc= single crochet stitch (double crochet stitch in UK and Australia).
• scn= crochet n single crochet stitches, one in each stitch.
• inc=increase– crochet two single crochet stitches in the same stitch.
• dec= decrease – crochet two stitches together using the invisible decrease method.
• (sc 4, inc) xn= repeat the pattern between parentheses n times.
• [36]= number of stitches in a round after finishing round.

Notes

• Use a stitch marker or a piece of yarn to mark the end or the beginning of a round. Move the marker up after completing each round.

• If you plan to stuff the body with fiberfill, join all rounds using the invisible join method to get perfect stripes.

Head & Body

With yellow yarn:

1:mr, sc 6 = [6]
2: inc x 6 = [12]
3:(sc 1, inc) x 6 = [18]
4:(inc, sc 2) x 6 = [24]
5:(sc 5, inc) x 4 = [28]
6-8:sc in each stitch = [28]

Insert the rattle inside the body and make sure it is a snug fit. You may need to increase or decrease the number of increases on round 5. Make the same number of decreases on round 17.

Add a thin piece of batting/wadding inside the body and embroider the face. Knot the yarn ends together inside the body.

Change yarn, leaving both yarns attached to the body, this way you can just pick up the «new» yarn whenever you need to change colors. Crochet rounds 9, 12, 15 and 18 with black yarn.

9-16: sc in each stitch = [28]

Insert the plastic egg inside the body and make sure it fits perfectly. You may need to add or skip a row single crochet stitches.

17:(sc 5, dec) x 4 = [24]

Make the last stripe on round 18, cut the yarn and knot the yarns together.

18:(dec, sc 2) x 6 = [18]
19:(sc 1, dec) x 6 = [12]
20:dec x 6 = [6]

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and fasten off. Pick up all the remaining stitches and close the opening.

Wings (make 2)

1:mr, sc 6 = [6]
2:inc x 6 = [12]
3:(sc 1, inc) x 6 = [18]
4-7: sc in each stitch = [18]
8:(sc 1, dec) x 6 = [12]
9:(sc 1, dec) x 4 = [8]

Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off. Do not stuff the wings. Flatten the wings and sew them to the body

Antennae (make 2)

1:mr, sc 6 = [6]
2: (inc, sc 1) x 3 = [9]
3: sc in each stitch = [9]
4: (sc 1, dec) x 3 = [6]

Stuff the tips of the antennae firmly with batting. Do not stuff the stems.

5: dec, sc 4 = [5]
6-8:sc in each stitch = [5]

Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off. Sew the antennae to the head. 

Fasten and hide all yarn tails. And done!