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Today, we’re going to make an adorable felt bee that’s perfect for kids ages 6 and up (with a little help from an adult!) or anyone who wants a fun starter level hand sewing project. This bee is a fantastic way to introduce hand sewing and have fun without being too complicated for beginners.

What You’ll Need:

• Felt
• Free Bee pattern (link below)
• Markers (or similar) for tracing
• Embroidery floss (try to match the colors to your felt)
• Needle with the big eye / Embroidery Needle
• Scissors
• Stuffing (polyester filler, scrap felt, or even ripped-up plastic grocery bags)
• Pom-poms (for the bee’s feet)

Before we begin, make sure you grab the free pattern, print it out, and let’s get tracing! This pattern includes the bee’s body, wings, and stripes.

(Two pattern options below, one with an image of the finished project, one without)

Click Image To Download and Print

Click Image to Download and Print

Step 1: Trace and Cut

Start by laying the pattern pieces on your felt and tracing around them with your marker. A sharpie works great on felt! Remember to flip the pattern for the pieces that need to be traced twice, such as the body, to ensure they line up correctly. Once you’ve traced everything, carefully cut out your felt pieces, trimming away any visible marker lines. Save your scraps – they’re perfect for stuffing!

Step 2: Add the Eyes

To sew on the eyes, start by knotting one end of your embroidery floss. Push the needle from the back of the bee’s body to the front where you want the eye. Secure it with a “knot stitch” by pulling the thread tight and tying a small knot. If you prefer larger eyes, you can stitch a few more times—three stitches usually do the trick. Repeat for the second eye, ensuring that the knots are hidden inside the bee’s body.

Step 3: Add Stripes

Now let’s add some stylish stripes to the bee! Position the stripes on the bee’s body and use a running stitch to attach them securely to the black felt body.

Do a knot stitch to start each stripe, sew all the way around it and tie it off with a knot stitch at the end.  Repeat for all four stripes.

How to Do a Running Stitch: Start by bringing your needle up through the fabric from the back to the front and pull it all the way through. Move the needle a little forward and push it back down through the fabric, leaving a small gap. Pull the thread tight. Then, bring the needle back up through the same spot where it just came down, creating a small stitch. Continue this back-and-forth motion, moving slightly forward each time until you reach the desired end point of your stitching.

Step 4: Add Pom-Pom Feet

Next, let’s give our bee some adorable feet! Before assembling the body, take your pom-poms and a length of your black thread.  Tie a knot in the end of your threat, then sew on a single pompom, pushing it to the end of the thread where your knot is.  Then sew that thread into the bottom of your bee, knotting it at the back of bee’s body.  Repeat with all six legs.

Step 5: Start Sewing the Body

Take the top and bottom pieces of the bee’s body and line them up. Starting at the bottom, near the back leg, and use a blanket stitch to sew the edges of felt together, making sure not to catch the legs in your stitches.

How to Blanket Stitch:

1. To create a blanket stitch, insert your needle through both pieces of fabric and pause before pulling it all the way through.
2. Pull the thread end (from your last stitch) around the top of your needle, then pull the needle fully through the fabric.
3. Move down your felt slightly, poke the needle back through on the same side as your previous stitch, and again loop the tail end of the thread over the top of the needle before pulling it all the way out.
4. Keep repeating this process, ensuring your stitches are evenly spaced and snug, until you reach the end of your stitching line.

Step 6: Add Wings

Continue with your blanket stitch around the bottom and stinger off the bee and when you get halfway up it’s back pause, and insert the wings between your two pieces of bee felt. Use a running stitch, like we did to attach the stripes, and sew together the front and back of the bee, with the wings in the middle.  Continue with the running stitch until the wings have been sewn into the bee.

Step 7: Add Stuffing

Once the wings have been added, continue with a blanket stitch around the bee’s head, and until you reach the front set of legs. Once there, it’s time to add your stuffing. Add your stuffing using small pieces and stuffing the furthers away parts first, like the bee’s head and stinger.  If you need help getting it into the head area, use the back of a pencil or a similar tool to push it in. When you’re satisfied with how fluffy it is, finish sewing the opening closed with a blanket stitch, being careful not to get any of the feet tangled with your thread, and tie a secure knot at the end.

And There You Go!

You’ve created your very own cuddly felt bee! This fun and simple project helps kids learn basic sewing skills while allowing for creativity and imagination. Enjoy showing off your little buzzing friend and happy sewing! 🐝❤️