Overlay Mosaic Crochet Christmas Stocking Free Pattern
Crisp winter mornings call for cozy projects that bring warmth to your home, and this festive holiday stocking fits the bill perfectly. Made using the overlay mosaic technique, the fabric gains a thick, dense texture that holds its shape well even when filled with small gifts and candy. The geometric tree design emerges clearly through simple color changes, making this a rewarding project for beginners who are ready to move beyond basic stripes. You will find that working with two contrasting yarn colors creates a sophisticated look, turning a standard functional item into a cherished piece of decor.
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
This crochet bumblebee pattern relies on basic single crochet stitches worked in a continuous spiral, making it an ideal project for those just moving beyond flat squares. Because it uses a small amount of yarn for each color section, it is a perfect way to use up leftover scraps from your stash. The assembly process is straightforward, requiring only a few simple seams to attach the wings and antennae to the main body. Once you master the simple increase and decrease sequences, you can easily produce a finished bee in under two hours.
I made this for my daughter and it worked up so quickly. The pattern is very easy to follow and the finished bee is the perfect size for little hands to hold.
— Sarah, amigurumi enthusiast
Pattern Overview & Skill Level
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Approximate Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Construction: Amigurumi-style, worked in continuous rounds with separate pieces sewn together
- Finished Dimensions: Approximately 4 inches long and 3 inches tall
Materials & Supplies Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) acrylic or cotton blend. You will need yellow, black, and white. Each bee uses approximately 30 yards of yellow, 20 yards of black, and 10 yards of white.
- Hook Size: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Notions: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, 8mm safety eyes, yarn needle, stitch marker, and scissors
- Safe yarn substitutions: You can use DK weight yarn with a 3.0 mm hook for a smaller, more delicate bee, or bulky weight yarn with a 5.0 mm hook for a larger, plush version. Changing weight will adjust the total yardage needed.
Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR: Magic ring
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single crochet
- inc: Increase (work 2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: Decrease (sc 2 stitches together using the invisible decrease method by working into front loops only)
- sl st: Slip stitch
- st(s): Stitch(es)
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
Bee Body
- Rnd 1: Using yellow, work 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st] 6 times. (24 sts)
- Rnd 5-7: Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 8: Switch to black. Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 9: Switch to yellow. Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 10: Switch to black. Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 11: Switch to yellow. Sc in each st around. (24 sts)
- Rnd 12: [Sc in next 2 sts, dec] 6 times. (18 sts)
- Rnd 13: [Sc in next st, dec] 6 times. (12 sts)
- Attach safety eyes between Rnd 4 and 5, about 3 stitches apart. Stuff the body firmly.
- Rnd 14: Dec 6 times. (6 sts)
- Fasten off, weave the yarn tail through the remaining front loops, pull to close, and hide the end inside the body.
Wings
- Rnd 1: Using white, work 6 sc into a MR. (6 sts)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
- Rnd 3: [Sc in next st, inc in next st] 6 times. (18 sts)
- Rnd 4-5: Sc in each st around. (18 sts)
- Rnd 6: [Sc in next st, dec] 6 times. (12 sts)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Flatten the wing and sew to the top of the body. Repeat for a second wing.
Assembly
Use the remaining white yarn tail from the wings to secure them to the top of the body, centering them over the back. For antennae, cut two small lengths of black yarn, tie a knot at one end, and pull them through the top of the head near the magic ring, securing them with a knot inside the head before finishing the body stuffing.
Care & Washing Instructions
- Hand wash gently in cool water using mild detergent to avoid damaging the safety eyes or compressing the fiberfill.
- Lay flat on a clean towel to air dry, turning the bee occasionally to ensure even evaporation.
- Do not iron or bleach; if the stuffing shifts, gently massage the body to reshape the bee.
Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Tension is essential for amigurumi to keep the stuffing from showing; use a hook one size smaller than the yarn label recommends to create a tight, dense fabric.
- Always place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round to keep track of your count, as it is easy to lose your place in a continuous spiral.
- When weaving in ends, bring the yarn needle through the inside of the piece and knot it against the inner stuffing before snipping the thread to keep the knot hidden.
- If you choose to use a thicker yarn, increase your stitch counts in the early rounds (e.g., up to 30 or 36 stitches) to maintain the round shape, keeping in mind that this will require more yardage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use cotton yarn instead of acrylic?
Yes, cotton yarn works beautifully for this project and provides more stitch definition. Note that cotton has less stretch than acrylic, so your tension might feel tighter.
Is this pattern suitable for complete beginners?
Absolutely. If you know how to make a magic ring, single crochet, increase, and decrease, you have all the skills required to finish this bee.
How do I adjust the size of the bee?
To make a larger bee, use a thicker weight yarn and a corresponding larger hook. To make it smaller, use thinner yarn and a smaller hook. You do not need to change the stitch counts to scale the toy.
Can I sell the bees I make from this pattern?
You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern, provided you credit the designer. Please use your own photos for your listings rather than copying my images.
Seeing your handmade stocking hanging by the fireplace brings a unique sense of accomplishment to your holiday preparations. You can adjust the size by simply adding more rows to the main body or by choosing a heavier wool blend for an even chunkier finish. Please share a photo of your finished work on social media so others can see your color choices. I encourage you to browse my archives for more free patterns to build your collection of seasonal decorations and handmade gifts for your loved ones.
