Busy Bumble Blanket

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I am absolutely buzzing with excitement to show you this pattern! Guest designer Emma of Stitched Up By Emma is no stranger to the Bella Coco blog. Her Linked Hearts crochet blanket pattern is hugely popular. Let me tell you, she has knocked it out of the park AGAIN with her latest design. The Busy Bumble Blanket is a beautiful tessellating design that uses honeycomb shaped squares to make a cosy blanket that’s as sweet as honey. Just look at those tiny little crochet bees! What’s not to love about a crochet bee blanket?

I promise, you’ll bee too excited to get this on your hook to wait!

As this is a guest post, Bella Coco Crochet is unable to answer any queries. If you have a question, please contact the designer directly and they will be happy to help you.

MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED

Yarn: This blanket uses baby DK. The original is made in:

200g of Deramores Studio Baby Soft DK in Primrose (Colour A).

100g of Deramores Studio Baby Soft DK in Sand (Colour B)

40g of Deramores Studio DK in Frost

20g of Deramores Studio DK in Ebony

You could also use: Paintbox Baby DK or Stylecraft Special DK.

Hook: 3.5mm

Scissors

Tapestry needle

White thread

Embroidery needle

GAUGE

Finished crochet bee blanket is approximately 33 inches across the widest point.

SIZE

5 rounds of Treble crochet, from edge to edge is 4 inches.

PIN FOR LATER

PATTERN NOTES

This crochet bee blanket pattern is made from individual hexagons crocheted together with a continuous join which makes up the last round of the hexagon. If you choose to use a different joining method such as sewing them together, you will need to crochet an extra round of the hexagon (instructions will be included) before joining.

You are able to amend the size of the crochet bee blanket by making more or less hexagons.

The blanket has bee appliques that are sewn on at the end. You can add as many as you like and arrange them as you wish.

The hexagons are made like a granny square using treble crochet stitches to create clusters.

The corners are made by CH1 in between 2 sets of clusters.

The sides of the hexagon are worked into the space between the clusters of the previous row.

The hexagons can be made following the written instructions or using the chart provided.

The pattern is written in UK terminology.

CROCHET TERMS

Slip Stitch(s): ss(s): Insert hook, yarn over pull through stitch and loop on hook

Chain (ch): Yarn over, pull through one loop on hook.

Chain space (Ch-sp): The space found between two stitches or in foundation chain

Double Crochet (dc): Insert into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, you will have two loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops.

Treble Crochet (tr): Yarn over, insert into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, you will have three loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.

Half Treble Crochet (htr): Yarn over and insert your hook into the chain or stitch, yarn over and pull through (you will have three loops on the hook) yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.

Half Treble Crochet 2 Together (htrc2tog): Leaving last loop of each htrc on hook, work 2 htrc  in same space or stitch, yarn over and draw through all loops.

Sk: Skip

Inc: Increase

Rep: Repeat

Rnd: Round

Sp: Space

St(s): Stitches

[…] – repeat pattern stated number of times

*…* repeat pattern stated number of times.

(…) – instructions to be worked into the same stitch or space

Unsure of the differences between UK and US terms? Need a refresher on how to do your stitches? In my ‘How to crochet: A handy reference guide’ EBook I help you with all of these terms and you can always have them to hand! You will also get exclusive access to free video instructions. You can find my EBook HERE.

BUSY BUMBLE BLANKET

Hexagons – Make 37

With Colour A start with a magic ring (alternatively you can CH4 and join to the first CH with a SLST).

Rnd 1: CH2 (counts as the first st here and through out the hexagon), working into the magic ring, TR, *CH1, 2 TR* rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP.

Rnd 2: CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the next CHSP* rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP.

Rnd 3: CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, 2 TR in the SP between the clusters from previous row, *(2TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, 2 TR in the next SP * rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP.

Rnd 4: CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, [2 TR in the next space] twice, *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, [2 TR in the  next SP] twice* rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP.

Rnd 5: CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, [2 TR in the next space] 3 times, *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, [2 TR in the  next SP] 3 times* rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP. Fasten off

If you are joining your hexagons with a continuous join do not work the next rnd.

If you wish to sew your hexagons together:

Attach colour B to any corner CHSP.

Rnd 6:  CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, [2 TR in the next space] 4 times, *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, [2 TR in the  next SP] 4 times* rep 5 times, join to the top of the CH2 with a SLST. SLST into the next st and again into the CHSP. Fasten off

Weave in your ends.

Joining

1) Take your first hexagon and attach colour B to any corner CHSP.

2) CH2, (TR, CH1, 2 TR) into the CHSP, [2 TR in the next space] 4 times, *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, [2 TR in the  next SP] 4 times* rep twice.

You will have worked along 3 sides of your hexagon.

3) 2 TR into the CHSP, CH1.

4) Take your next hexagon and 2 TR in any CHSP.

5) SLST in the SP between the clusters, next to the CHSP on your first hexagon.

6) 2 TR in the next SP on your second hexagon. Followed by SLST in the next SP on your first hexagon.

7) Continue this until you reach your corner CHSP. Work *(2 TR, CH1, 2 TR) in the CHSP, [2 TR in the  next SP] 4 times* rep 3 times.

8) 2 TR into the CHSP, CH1.

9) Rep steps 4 – 8 twice more.

You should now have 4 hexagons joined.

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10) Continue working around your last hexagon working 2 TR in each SP and 2 TR, CH1, 2 TR in each corner CHSP on all the sides until you reach the last corner CHSP that already has 2 TR in it from when you attached the hexagon.

11) Work 2 TR into the last CHSP, SLST into the CH1 SP from attaching the hexagons, CH1, then 2 TR in the corner CHSP in the next hexagon.

12) Continue working like this along the bottom of the hexagons until you reach the end.

The first hexagon will have 1 side that has not been worked yet, all the other hexagons will have a full rnd of colour B.

13) Carry on adding hexagons in the same manner as the first row following the path outline on the next page.

14) When working the second row and you come to a corner  work your SLST into the CHSP made by the CH1.

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Start at the blue dot and follow the line to join ending at the red dot.

Border

Rnd 1: CH1 (does not count as st here and through out) DC in every st all the way around the blanket, join with a SLST to the first st.

Rnd 2: CH1, work a DC into the st on the right and continue working clockwise instead of counter clockwise, This is know as the crab stitch or reverse double crochet stitch. Continue all the way around your blanket.

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Bee Applique

The Body – make 5:

With Primrose:

Row 1:  CH7, HTR into the 2nd CH from the hook and in each CH (6)

Row 2: CH1 (does not count as a st from here and throughout the body) 2 HTR into the first st, HTR in each st, 2 HTR in the last st and turn. (8)

Row 3: CH1 (does not count as a st from here and throughout the body) 2 HTR into the first st, HTR in each st, 2 HTR in the last st and turn. (10)

Row 4: CH1 (does not count as a st from here and throughout the body) 2 HTR into the first st, HTR in each st, 2 HTR in the last st and turn. (12)

Change to Black

Row 5 – 6: CH1, HTR in every st and turn. (12)

Change to Yellow

Row 7 – 8: CH1, HTR in every st and turn. (12)

Change to Black

Row 9 – 10: CH1, HTR in every st and turn. (12)

Change to Yellow

Row 11: CH1, HTR in every st and turn. (12)

Row 12: HTR2tog, HTR in each st to the last 2 sts, HTR2tog and turn (10)

Row 13: HTR2tog, HTR in each st to the last 2 sts, HTR2tog and turn (8)

Row 14: HTR2tog, HTR in each st to the last 2 sts, HTR2tog and turn (6)

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Wings – Make 10:

With Frost make a magic ring.

Rnd 1: CH1 (does not count as a st here and through out), working into the magic ring, work 8 HTR, join with a SLST to the first st. (8)

Rnd 2: CH1, work 2 HTR into every st, join with a SLST to the first st. (16)

Rnd 3: CH1, *Inc in the next st, HTR in the next* rep 8 times, join with a SLST to the first st. (24)

Rnd 4: CH1, *Inc in the next st, HTR in the next 2 sts* rep 8 times, join with a SLST to the first st. (32)

Rnd 5: CH1, *Inc in the next st, HTR in the next 3 sts* rep 8 times, join with a SLST to the first st. (40)

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Arrange you bees how you would like them to be. Below is an example. Sew them to the crochet bee blanket.

This crochet bee blanket pattern has been tested and should not contain any mistakes. I am more than happy to help should you find any problems.

You can contact me by:

Email : stitchedupbyemma@hotmail.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/stitchedupbyemma

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stitchedupbyemma

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern and I cant wait to see your makes!

ABOUT EMMA

Hi! My name is Emma and I am the designer and maker behind Stitched Up By Emma. I live in a small village in Derbyshire with my family. I have tried so many different crafts from quilling, cross stitch, quilting, polymer clay work, jewellery making, 3D beading and drawing, you name it, I’ve probably tried it. Out of all of them crochet stole my heart. 

I was taught to knit and crochet by my Nan when I was about 12. I took to knitting but it wasn’t until about 5 years ago that I really found my love for crochet and since then I have become obsessed. I decided to jump straight in the deep end and Tunisian crocheted a Pokémon blanket for my son who I was pregnant with at the time. It was massive. It took me 9 months to make!

I then thought that I would try designing my own patterns and this was how Stitched Up By Emma was born. I started to design and crochet baby comforters, then a few hats. I then started pattern testing for other designers and I have now moved onto designing my own blankets.

I would love to see your creations and versions of the Busy Bumble Blanket. You can find and tag me on Instagram @stitchedupbyemma and use the hash tags #busybumbleblanket and #stitchedupbyemma. I cant wait to see them.