Beehive Banner Crochet Pattern

Level: Intermediate Designed By Stephanie Lewis

© 2019

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hello The Beehive Banner is an idea I’ve had in my mind (and sketched in my idea book) FOR. EV.ER. I’m not quite sure what took me so long to get this idea off paper and onto the crochet hook, but here it is, and I am so excited to share it with you. Simple crochet hexagons, paired with a bit of appliqué work will bring this adorable banner to life. The Beehive Banner will become the perfect addition to your playroom, nursery, or spring time décor. Let’s get BZZZZZZY, shall we?

gather your supplies Yarn: HEXAGONS – Worsted weight yarns in a variety of yellow and tan shades. I used Lily Sugar n’

Cream cotton yarn because I like the texture this yarn creates BEES – fingering weight yarns in black, yellow, and white Hook: HEXAGONS – 4mm (G) BEES – 3.25mm (D) Other: Wooden dowel, tapestry needle, scissors

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gauge & sizing Gauge is not important to this project Finished size of beehive is 15” x 18” Each bee is approximately 2.5” x 3.5”

additional sizing ideas Make additional hexagons and bees to make your banner larger than the sample shown. For a really fun twist on this project, turn it into a blanket or pillow and gift it as a set.

abbreviations ch chain st stitch sc single crochet dc double crochet sl st slip stitch sk skip 2tog two together hdc half double crochet

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hexagon pattern Make 8 hexagons. Ch 4, sl st into the first ch to form a loop. R1 - Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout the pattern), dc into the center of the loop, ch 2. *2 dc into the center of the loop, ch 2. Repeat from * 4 more times, until you have a total of 6 dc clusters separated by ch 2 spaces, join with a sl st to the top of the first ch 3. (Each side should have 2 dc’s.)

R2 - Ch 3, dc in next st, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. *Dc in next 3 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Repeat from * all the way around your hexagon, ending with your second dc into the final ch space. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch 3. (Each side should have 4 dc’s.) R3 – Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. *Dc in next 4 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Repeat from * all the way around your hexagon, end with a dc in the st just before your original ch 3. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch 3. (Each side should have 6 dc’s.) R4 – Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. *Dc in next 6 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Repeat from * all the way around your hexagon, end with a dc in the st just before your original ch 3. Join with a sl st to the top of the ch 3. (Each side should have 8 dc’s.) Cut your yarn, leave a long tail for stitching with later.

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half hexagon pattern Make 2 half hexagons. Ch 4, sl st into the first ch to form a loop. R1 - Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout the pattern), 2 dc into the center of the loop, ch 2. 2 dc into the center of the loop, ch 2. 3 dc into the center of the loop.

R2 - Ch 3, turn so you are working in the opposite direction, dc in next 2 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc in next 3 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc into next 4 sts. (Each side should have 4 dc’s) R3 - Ch 3, turn, dc in next 4 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc in next 4 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc into next 5 sts. (Each side should have 6 dc’s) R4 – Ch 3, turn, dc in next 6 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc in next 6 sts, dc into ch space, ch 2, dc into same ch space. Dc into next 6 sts. (Each side should have 8 dc’s) Cut your yarn, leave a long tail for stitching with later.

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bee body pattern Make 5 bee bodies **Note: Yarn color used for row is noted in the parentheses (BLACK) Ch 4 Sl st into the 1st ch to form a loop, ch 3 R1 - (BLACK) 6 dc’s into the center of the loop (7) R2 - (BLACK) Turn, ch 3, 1dc into the base of the ch3, 2dc’s in in all st’s from previous round (14)

*When completing your last dc, pull through your yellow yarn (see image 6A) but leave the black yarn attached.

R3 - (YELLOW) Ch2 with (counts at first sc), then pick up 7 more sc stitches across the flat side of your half circle (see image 6B) (8) R4 - (YELLOW) Turn, ch1, work sc’s across the row, in the final sc, pull through black yarn but leave yellow yarn attached. (8) R5 - (BLACK) Turn, ch1, work sc’s across the row (8) R6 - (BLACK) Turn, ch 1, work sc’s across the row, in the final sc, pull through yellow yarn, but leave black attached. (8) R7 - (YELLOW) Turn, ch1, work sc’s across the row (8) R8 - (YELLOW) Turn, ch 1, work sc’s across the row, in the final sc, pull through yellow yarn, but leave black attached. (8)

6A

6B

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bee body continued R9 - (BLACK) Turn, ch1, sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog. (6) R10 - (BLACK) Turn, ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2, sc2tog, in the final sc2tog pull through yellow yarn, but leave black attached. (4) R11 - (YELLOW) Turn, ch 1, work sc’s across (4) R12 - (YELLOW) Turn, ch 1, work sc’s across, pull through black on the final sc, this time you can cut the yellow yarn. (4) R13 - (BLACK) Turn, ch 1, sc2tog, sc2tog, (2) R14 - (BLACK) Turn, ch 1, sc, ch 3 - sl st into the first ch st you just made (this is a picot st, and forms the bee’s stinger), sc into the last st, and cut your black yarn leaving a long tail for stitching later. (2) Weave in all other ends.

small wings Make 10 small wings. **Note: Wings are worked across in one direction, around the end, and back across the same original stitches. Ch 5 Sl st in second ch from hook, sc in next st, hdc in next st, 3 dc in final stitch. Now working back across the original ch, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in last st, ch 1. Leave a long tail for stitching later.

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large wings Make 10 large wings. **Note: Wings are worked across in one direction, around the end, and back across the same original stitches. Ch 8 Sl st in second ch from hook, sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 3 dc in final stitch. Now working back across the original ch, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in last st, ch 1. Leave a long tail for stitching later.

bee assembly Place one small wing on top of one large wing. Using the long tail of the small wing, stitch the small wing to secure it in place on top of the large wing. Do this with all of the small and large wings, taking into consideration that you need a set of wings for each side of the bee. Leave one remaining long white yarn tail to be used to stitch wings onto bee body. Weave in and cut all other wing ends. Stitch a set of wings to each side of your bee body. Leave long white yarn tails in place to use when stitching your bees to the hive.

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hive assembly The hexagons are stitched together using a whip stitch into the back loops only to achieve a nice finished seam between each hexagon. Use the long tails left on your finished hexagons to stitch them together. Hexagons and half hexagons are assembled as shown below. **Hint: you can also use the drawing below to plan your color layout if using multiple colors for your hexagons.

whip stitch With right sides facing each other, insert your tapestry needle through the outer loops of one stitch from both hexagons. Pull yarn tight, and continue inserting your needle in the same direction in the next two outer loops. Repeat this stitching all the way across one side of the hexagon.

See above image for detail.

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finishing 1. Attach the bees to the hive using the long tails you left. A few

tack stitches should be enough to hold them in place. You can secure them on the back of the piece by weaving in the ends, or tying a few knots.

2. Cut your dowel to the width of your project, leaving about an

inch overhang on each side. 3. Attach your dowel to the hive with a few stitches in the point of

each hexagon, and around the dowel. 4. Attach a long string to each end of the dowel, this is to use for

hanging. 5. Hang & admire!

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The End

** Please do not edit, reproduce, or sell this pattern. You may sell items made from this pattern, a credit back to my website or instagram feed is always appreciated!

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