Love Bug Crochet Pattern
This little love bug crochet pattern is the perfect size for keychains, magnets or brooches.
About the Pattern
The pattern is made up of two parts, the head and the body.
To make our love bug extra cute, we’ll be embroidery little hearts on the body in place of regular spots.
Yarn Choice
I used DK weight cotton yarn as that’s mostly what I have on hand plus I wanted to keep the finished love bug pocket sized.
However, feel free to experiment with different yarns but don’t forget to adjust your hook size accordingly.
Please note that this will yield differences in size and the overall finished look.
Embroidery Tips
- Use a sharp needle.
- Use finer thread/yarn and build up definition through layering stitches (less is more).
- Don’t pull your stitches too tight.
Making Them For Valentine Gifts?
If you’re making this crochet love bug for Valentine’s Day, grab your coordinating gift tags from the Stitch by Fay freebie library.
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Easy Gifting
Simply pop in a cellophane bag, tie with some ribbon or twine and add your gift tag.
You can also attach the gift tag directly to your love bug.
Love Bug Crochet Pattern
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Materials
- DK weight yarn in red and black (I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Pillar Red and Pure Black)
- 2.5mm crochet hook
- 4 ply yarn in black or black embroidery floss
- White embroidery floss
- Polyester fiberfill
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase
- invdec – invisible decrease
- FLO – front loop only
- sl st – slip stitch
- st/s – stitch/es
- […] – repeat the instructions in brackets
- (…) – indicates stitch count at end of round
Special Stitches
3inc: 3 single crochet in the same stitch
Useful Links
Finished Size
The finished love bug measures approximately 1.5″ wide x 1.75″ long (4cm x 4.5cm). Size may vary depending on tension and materials used.
Gauge
Gauge is not important in this pattern. Use a hook size to match your chosen yarn. Make sure that your stitches are tight enough to prevent stuffing showing through and adjust hook size if necessary.
Notes
- Pieces are worked in a continuous spiral starting with a magic ring unless otherwise specified. Mark the first stitch of each round with a removable stitch marker.
Pattern Instructions
Body (starting with red)
R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
R2: [Inc] x6 (12)
R3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18)
R4: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, sc (24)
R5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
R6: 2 sc, inc, [4 sc, inc] x5, 2 sc (36)
R7-10: [Sc] x36 (36) 4 rounds – change to black in last st
R11: FLO sc, invdec, [2 sc, invdec] x8, sc (27)
R12: [Sc, invdec] x9 (18)
Start stuffing and continue to stuff as you go.
R13: [Invdec] x9 (9)
Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the front loop only of the final round and pull to close. Hide the end inside the body.
Head (black)
R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
R2: [3inc] x2, sc, [3inc] x2, sc (14)
R3: [Sc, inc] x2, 3 sc, [sc, inc] x2, 3 sc (18)
R4: [Sc] x18 (18)
Fasten off invisibly leaving a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
- Using black 4 ply yarn or embroidery floss, sew a line going from back to front across the centre of the body.
- Sew the head to the body over R6 and R10 with the line on the body in the centre. Add some stuffing to the head when you’re 3/4 of the way around.
- Sew 3 hearts on each side of the centre line by layering stitches in a ‘V’ shape over a single stitch. Try to place the stitches side by side rather than on top of each other. I went over each line 4-5 times.
- Using a single strand of white embroidery floss doubled, sew eyes on either side of the head between R3 and R4, with 4 sts in between (use the centre line as a guide).
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I love all of your little cute patterns!