Bumble Bee Bag Charm Crochet Pattern (Free + Easy)

I clipped this bumble bee onto my backpack zipper a week ago and three people have asked where I got it. The honest answer is the same crocheter who supplied the original bumble bee pattern, with one extra step at the end to turn it into a bag charm.

The bee itself is identical to the standalone pattern. Same yellow body, same two black stripes, same little white wings, same embroidered smile. The only difference is what happens after you close the bottom hole. Add a split ring and a small lobster clasp, and the bee swaps from “small plush” into “thing I can clip onto literally anything.”

If you only want the plush version, the full pattern walkthrough lives over on the standalone bumble bee amigurumi pattern. This page is the same pattern with the bag charm finishing baked in from the start.

Quick Info

• Skill: Easy. One step past pure beginner because of the color changes.
• Finished size: 6 to 8 cm bee plus a 25 mm split ring and lobster clasp on top.
• Time: Around 90 minutes including stuffing, embroidery, and clipping the hardware on.
• Stitches used: Magic ring, sc, inc, dec, color change.

Materials

• 3-ply milk cotton yarn in yellow (main body), black (stripes and face), white (wings)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• One 25 mm split ring
• One small lobster clasp (the kind sold for keychain making)
• Optional: fabric glue for securing the split-ring loop

Abbreviations

MR (magic ring), sc (single crochet), inc (increase, 2 sc in same stitch), dec (invisible decrease), R (round). All rounds worked continuously in spirals, not joined.

Body

Worked in yellow with two black stripes. Switch colors on the last yarn-over of the previous stitch, not at the start of the new round, so the stripes sit flat.

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
2. R2: inc in each st. [12]
3. R3: (1 sc, 1 inc) x 6. [18]
4. R4: (2 sc, 1 inc) x 6. [24]
5. R5: sc around. [24]
6. Switch to black yarn.
7. R6 to R7: sc around. [24]
8. Switch back to yellow yarn.
9. R8 to R9: sc around. [24]
10. Switch to black yarn.
11. R10 to R11: sc around. [24]
12. Start stuffing the body firmly here, before the decreases close the opening.
13. Switch back to yellow yarn.
14. R12: sc around. [24]
15. R13: (2 sc, 1 dec) x 6. [18]
16. R14: (1 sc, 1 dec) x 6. [12]
17. R15: dec around. [6]

Cut a long tail. Thread a tapestry needle, weave through the front loop of each remaining stitch, pull tight to close the bottom. Bury the tail through the body, not around the outside.

Wings (white, make 2)

1. R1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
2. R2: inc in each st. [12]
3. Fasten off, leave a long tail for sewing.

Wings are tiny. Loose tension on something this small makes them flop, so go a half-hook smaller if your edges curl.

Assembly and Face

Sit the bee upright. Pin both wings to the seam between rounds 9 and 10, side by side. Sew or fabric-glue them down. Wings sat too far back read like beetle wings, too far forward read like ears, so the seam between R9 and R10 is the sweet spot.

For the face, embroider two small black eyes and a curved smiling mouth in black yarn, slightly below the center front. Do this after the body is stuffed and the wings are on, because the front shifts shape when stuffed.

Bag Charm Finishing

This is the only part that differs from the standalone bee. Two clean ways to attach the bee to a bag.

Method 1: Split ring direct

1. After closing R15 and burying the tail, leave one short tail loop at the very top of the head where the magic ring sat.
2. Slip a 25 mm split ring through that loop.
3. Square-knot the tail to lock the loop, then weave the ends back through the body so they vanish.
4. Attach the lobster clasp to the split ring.

This is the version photographed at the top of this page. Fastest finishing, but the split ring sits flush against the bee, which some people prefer and others find too tight.

Method 2: Chain loop with split ring

1. After closing R15, use the finishing tail to ch-12.
2. Slip stitch back to the base of the chain so you have a small fabric loop sitting on top of the head.
3. Fasten off and weave the tail in.
4. Thread a split ring through the chain loop, then attach a lobster clasp.

This puts a soft yarn loop between the bee and the metal hardware, so the bee dangles instead of sitting flush. It is the version I prefer for tote bags because it sways slightly when you walk and reads more like a deliberate accessory.

For zipper attachment, both methods work but the lobster clasp lets you swap the bee between bags in two seconds. Worth the extra 50p for a clasp.

Tips for Success

• Stuff firmly so the bee holds round shape. A floppy bee on a backpack zipper looks tired after one trip out. Stuff until the body resists a thumb press but does not stretch the stitches apart.
• Lock the split-ring tail with fabric glue. Bag charms catch on things. A drop of glue on the square knot keeps the loop from working loose months later.
• Pick a lobster clasp size that matches the bag. A small clasp suits a backpack zipper or wristlet. A 30 mm clasp suits a tote handle and lets the bee actually swing visibly.
• Make a few in different colorways. Once the basic bee is comfortable, the same shape works as a ladybug, a strawberry, or a frog by swapping colors. Same finishing, different vibe.
• Beginner first time? The standalone Tiny Pocket Turtle is a good no-color-change warm-up before the bumble bee, since the bee’s only real new skill over the turtle is the stripe color change.

FAQ

Will the bee come loose from the zipper?

Not if the lobster clasp is closed properly. The split ring is the load-bearing piece. The clasp just lets you take the bee off without tools.

Can I skip the split ring and just sew the bee on directly?

You can, but then the bee is permanent on that bag. The split ring + clasp combo is what makes it portable across bags. If you want a permanent fixture, sew the chain loop directly to the bag strap with a tapestry needle and matching thread.

Does it survive rain?

Cotton yarn handles a quick drizzle fine but you do not want to leave a wet bee dangling overnight. Pop it inside the bag if you are caught out.

Can I make this without color changes?

Yes. Skip every “switch yarn” instruction and work the entire body in yellow. You lose the bumble bee stripes but you get a faster, single-color charm.

What size split ring should I buy?

25 mm is the size used in the photos. Anything from 20 mm to 30 mm works. Smaller looks daintier, larger reads more like a keychain than a charm.

Where do I buy lobster clasps?

Any craft shop sells “keychain hardware kits” with split rings and lobster clasps together. A pack of 20 costs less than a coffee and lasts you through a small army of charms.

Make One This Weekend

The bee itself is a 90-minute project. The clip-on finishing adds maybe five minutes and a couple of pieces of cheap hardware. Pick a bag that needs a small bit of personality and start with the body in yellow. By the time it stops raining, you will have a bumble bee on your zipper.