Baby Bumblebee Poncho Free Crochet Pattern

I have been looking for a baby outfit that doubles as the cutest costume, and this bumblebee poncho is my absolute favourite! A cosy hooded poncho in golden yellow and black stripes, complete with striped bobble antennae, four delicate wings and a sweet scalloped hem.

We will work the hood first as a striped rectangle, then the antenna bobbles, the poncho body with its black centre stripe, the scallop border, and finally the four wings. The poncho slips easily over baby’s head, and the front opening with a button or snap closure makes dressing simple.

The pattern fits infants of approximately 6 to 18 months, and sits at intermediate level — plan for 12 to 18 hours, because those wings and antennae are worth taking your time over!

Materials

• Approximately 350 yards / 320 m worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4) in Colour A: golden yellow
• Approximately 150 yards / 137 m worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4) in Colour B: black
• Approximately 120 yards / 110 m worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4) in Colour C: cream / off-white
• US J / 6.0mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• At least 6 stitch markers
• Scissors
• Two 12 inch / 30 cm lengths of black craft wire or pipe cleaners (optional, for posable antennae)
• Small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing for the antenna bobbles
• 0.75 inch / 2 cm button or snap closure, or ribbon ties
• Sewing needle and thread if using a button or snap

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• inc: single crochet increase, 2 sc in the same stitch
• sc2tog: single crochet decrease (worked in the front loops)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sk: skip
• pm: place marker
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• MR: magic ring
• rnd: round

Special Stitches

• Scallop Stitch (for hem border): skip 2 stitches, work 5 dc in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, slip stitch in the next stitch. This creates one scallop shell over 6 stitches total, which is why the stitch count before the border needs to be divisible by 6.
• Bobble Stitch (for antenna tips): yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Repeat this process 4 more times in the same stitch so that you have 6 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops. Ch 1 to close.

Gauge & Size

• Finished size: fits infants approximately 6 to 18 months; poncho body width (shoulder to shoulder, laid flat) approximately 14 inches; body length (neck to hem, back) approximately 10 inches; hood height approximately 6 inches; hood width at opening approximately 8 inches
• Gauge: 16 sc x 18 rows = 4 inches in single crochet worked in the round, blocked
• Construction: hood worked flat and seamed, antennae and wings made separately, poncho body worked flat with increases and a centre stripe
• Skill level: Intermediate

Hood Pattern

The hood is worked flat as a rectangle, then folded and seamed. With Colour A and the 6.0mm hook, ch 33.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 2 to 3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (32 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Change to Colour B in last st. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 5 to 6: Ch 1 with Colour B, sc in each st across. Change to Colour A in last st of Row 6. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 7 to 9: Ch 1 with Colour A, sc in each st across. Turn. (32 sc)

Row 10: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Change to Colour B in last st. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 11 to 12: Ch 1 with Colour B, sc in each st across. Change to Colour A in last st of Row 12. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 13 to 16: Ch 1 with Colour A, sc in each st across. Turn. (32 sc)

Row 17: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Change to Colour B in last st. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 18 to 19: Ch 1 with Colour B, sc in each st across. Change to Colour A in last st of Row 19. Turn. (32 sc)

Rows 20 to 22: Ch 1 with Colour A, sc in each st across. Do not turn after Row 22. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming. (32 sc)

To assemble the hood: fold the rectangle in half so Rows 1 and 22 align — this fold becomes the top of the hood. Whipstitch the top edge together for approximately 3 inches from the centre fold toward the back, leaving the front portion open for the face opening. Seam the back of the hood by stitching the two back side edges together for approximately 2 inches from the bottom edge upward.

Hood face border: rejoin Colour A at one corner of the face opening and work 1 round of sc evenly around the face opening edge, working approximately 1 sc per row end. Join with sl st and fasten off. (Approximately 44 sc around face opening) Set the hood aside.

Antenna Bobbles (Make 2)

With Colour B and the 6.0mm hook, make a MR.

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into MR, pull ring tight. Do not join; work in a continuous spiral and pm in first st. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, inc in next st) 6 times. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st) 6 times. (24 sc)

Rnds 5 to 9: Continue in pattern, changing colours every 2 rounds (Colour B for Rnds 5, 8 and 9; Colour A for Rnds 6 and 7, and Rnds 10 and 11). Work sc in each st around. (24 sc)

Rnd 12: (Sc2tog over next 2 sts) 12 times. (12 sc)

Rnd 13: Sc in each st around. (12 sc)

Insert the pipe cleaner now if using, bending both ends to prevent sharp points, and fill the bobble portion with fiberfill.

Rnd 14: (Sc2tog over next 2 sts) 6 times. (6 sc)

Rnds 15 to 18: Sc in each st around. (6 sc)

Sl st in next st. Fasten off, leaving an 8 inch tail. Make 2. Sew the base of each antenna stem to the top of the hood, spaced approximately 2.5 inches apart, centered across the hood top.

Poncho Body Pattern

The body is worked flat with a 4 stitch wide black centre stripe. Increases on alternate rows create the flared poncho shape. With Colour A, ch 49.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (48 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first 22 sts with Colour A, change to Colour B for next 4 sts, change to Colour A for last 22 sts. Turn. (48 sts: 22 A, 4 B, 22 A)

The centre 4 stitches will always be worked in Colour B from this point forward.

Row 3 (Increase Row): Ch 1, inc in first st, sc in next 20 sts (Colour A), inc in next st (Colour A), sc in 4 sts (Colour B), inc in first Colour A st after stripe, sc in next 20 sts, inc in last st. Turn. (52 sts: 24 A, 4 B, 24 A)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc across maintaining colour pattern. Turn. (52 sts)

Continue this pattern of increase rows on odd numbered rows and plain rows on even numbered rows, adding 4 stitches per increase row (2 at each outer edge, 2 flanking the black stripe), through Row 32, ending with 108 stitches (52 A, 4 B, 52 A).

Hem Border

Border Row 1: With Colour A, ch 1, work 1 sc in each of the 108 sts across. Turn. (108 sc)

Border Row 2 (Scallop): Ch 1, sl st in first st, (sk 2 sts, work 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sl st in next st) 18 times. Fasten off. (18 scallops)

Wings (Make 4)

Upper wings (make 2): with Colour C, make a MR.

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into MR. Pm. (6 sc)

Rnds 2 to 10: Continue the increasing pattern (inc evenly spaced each round) through 60 sc.

Rnds 11 to 12: With Colour A, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. Fasten off. (60 sc)

Lower wings (make 2): work the same as the upper wings through Rnd 8 (48 sc), then work 2 rounds with a Colour A border. (48 sc)

Attach the wings: position the wings on the back of the poncho, approximately 3 to 4 inches down from the neck edge. Whipstitch each wing along the inner edge only, leaving the outer edges free for dimension.

Finishing & Assembly

Fold the poncho body in half. Whipstitch the top 2 to 3 inches of each side edge together to form shoulder seams, leaving approximately 3.5 inches open for armholes. Work 1 round of sc around the neck opening (approximately 56 sc) and join with sl st. Attach the hood to the neckline, aligning the centre back seam of the hood with the centre back of the neck opening, and whipstitch all around.

Front edge border: rejoin Colour A at the top right front corner and work sc evenly down the right front edge (approximately 32 sc). Repeat for the left front edge. Attach your button or snap closure at the front neck opening.

Weave in all ends securely. Block the wings by dampening lightly and pinning flat, and steam block the poncho body and hood gently if using acrylic (never apply an iron directly to acrylic yarn). Check all wing attachment points by tugging gently to test security.

Tips

When switching colours, drop the old colour and pick up the new colour to complete the last yarn over of the stitch — this creates clean colour transitions.

If you skip the wire, the antennae will flop over, which is totally fine and actually quite cute! But if you want them perky and upright, the pipe cleaner makes all the difference.

Blocking really transforms the wings from rumpled circles into smooth, professional-looking bee wings — please do not skip this step.

The turn chain (ch 1) at the end of each row does not count as a stitch unless otherwise noted, which keeps your stitch counts accurate.