Bee Geez Knitted Bees

Cast on 10 stitches, leaving a yarn tail about 40cm/16” long. (You will use this later for sewing up your bee.)
2. Work 2 rows in stocking stitch.
3. Knit 2 stitches. *Increase 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch*, repeat the section inside the stars until you have a single stitch left of your row. Knit the last stitch. (17 stitches.)
4. Purl 1 row.
5. Repeat step 3. (31 stitches.)
6. Work a further 29 rows in stocking stitch (ending with a purl row). Work this section in stripes.
7. Knit 1 stitch. *Knit 2 stitches together*, repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the row. (16 stitches.)
8. Purl 1 row.
9. *Knit 2 stitches together.* Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the row. (8 stitches.)
10. Cut the yarn, leaving a 40cm/16” yarn tail. Thread your sewing needle with the yarn tail, and insert it through each of the stitches on your knitting needle - starting with the one the farthest away from the tip of the needle. Pull on the yarn tail to close up the last row of stitches.
11. With the same yarn tail, use the vertical invisible seam technique to sew the side edges together about halfway along. Fasten the yarn to the wrong side of your knitting and trim the end.
12. Thread your sewing needle with the yarn tail from your cast on. Insert the needle through each of the stitches along the cast on edge, and pull to close up the row as before.
13. Continue seaming the edges as before, until you have an opening approx.10cm/4” long.
14. Stuff your bee, then sew of the side seam.
CREATE THE WINGS
1. Cast on 9 stitches.
2. Slip the first stitch knit-wise. *Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the row.
3. Slip the first stitch knit-wise. Knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.
4. Slip 1 stitch, increase 1 stitch, *knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars until you have 2 stitches left of your row. Knit 1 stitch, increase 1 stitch, purl the last stitch. You now have 11 stitches.
5. Slip 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches.
6. Slip 1 stitch, increase 1 stitch, *purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars until you have 2 stitches left of your row. Purl 1 stitch, increase 1 stitch, purl the last stitch. (13 stitches.)
7. Slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.
8. Slip 1 stitch *knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the row.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 twice more.
10. Slip 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches together, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches together, purl the last stitch. (11 stitches.)
11. Slip 1 stitch, *purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars until you have 2 stitches left of your row. Purl the last 2 stitches.
12. Slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit 2 stitches together, purl 1 stitch, knit 3 stitches, purl 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, purl the last stitch. (9 stitches.)
13. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
14. Cast off.
MAKING THE EYES
The eyes are made in single crochet and then sewn on.
1. With black yarn, use the magic loop technique, create a set-up round of 8 stitches. Join the round with a slip stitch into the first stitch.
2. Make 1 chain stitch. *Work 2 stitches into the next stitch, then work 1 regular stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars a further 3 times. Join your round with a slip stitch, using white yarn.
3. Make 1 chain stitch. *Work 2 stitches into each of the next 2 stitches, then work 1 regular stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the round. Join with a slip stitch.
4. Make 1 chain stitch. *Work 2 stitches into the next stitch, then work 1 regular stitch.* Repeat the section inside the stars to the end of the round. Join with a slip stitch using black yarn.
5. Work 1 round in single crochet, and join with a slip stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail 15cm/6” long. Pull on the last loop until the end pops through at the last stitch is secured.