Ladybug Crochet Pattern
This ladybug crochet pattern is a great project for confident beginners, as well as seasoned crocheters! You could also use it to make different kinds of bugs.
If using the recommended yarn and hook size, your ladybug with closed wings will be about 5cm/2” long and 4cm/1.5“ wide and the one
with open wings will be about 7.5cm/3” long and 7cm/2.75“ wide.
If you would like them to be larger or smaller, you can use a different yarn weight and adjust the hook size accordingly.
Below you can find the free written crochet instructions for the ladybird amigurumi, accompanied by a free video tutorial in which I guide you through the whole process.
If you prefer an ad-free, downloadable pattern that can be accessed offline or printed, I offer a pdf pattern for these ladybugs with many step-by-step images and detailed written instructions that can be purchased for a small fee on Etsy or Ravelry.
Or go for the ad-free interactive pattern on Ribblr.
I would love to see your ladybug amigurumi! Share your creation on Instagram and tag me @stellasyarnuniverse for the monthly chance to win a pdf pattern of your choice from my Etsy shop! Winners are announced on my Instagram page @stellasyarnuniverse every other 1st of the month!
Watch the full free video tutorial here
Materials and tools you need for the ladybug crochet pattern
Cotton yarn in 4-Ply/Sport or DK/light worsted weight in red, black, and white [I used Scheepjes Catona in Poppy Rose, Jet Black and Bridal White]
2.5mm / C-2 or B-1 crochet hook depending on how tightly you crochet
Fiberfill
Craft wire (optional)
Glue (optional)
Small flat pliers (optional)
Abbreviations
Rnd(s) = round(s)
St(s) = stitch(es)
Ch(s) = chain(s)
Sl st = slip stitch
Sc = single crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
Dc = double crochet
Tr = triple crochet
Inc = sc increase: sc 2 in same st
Dec = sc invisible decrease
BLO = back loops only
[…] = series of stitches to be repeated
(…) = number of stitches once rnd is completed
*… = amount of times […] needs to be repeated
img = image
Ladybug crochet pattern
Crochet the ladybug with closed elytra
Ch 4 in black (I used brown instead of black for the images)
Rnd 1: Sc 2 (starting in 2nd ch from hook) sc 4 in same st, sc 1, sc 3 in same st (10)
Rnd 2: Inc 1, sc 1, inc 4, sc 1, inc 3 (18)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc 1, sc 1, [sc 1, inc 1]*4, sc 1, [sc 1, inc 1]*3 (26)
Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc 1, sc 1, [sc 2, inc 1]*4, sc 1, [sc 2, inc 1]*3 (34)
Sl st in next st. This is now the last st of the round. Join red yarn. [img 1 and 2]
In rnd 5, you will crochet an opening for the pronotum in the center front of the bug.
If it doesn’t fall in the center front, you may need to adjust the placement of skipped
stitches in rnd 5 and adjust rnd 6 accordingly.
Rnd 5: In BLO: Sc 9, ch 6, sk 6, sc 19 (34) [img 3 and 4]
Rnd 6: Sc 34 (sc in next 9 st, sc in BLO of next 6 ch, sc in next 19 st) (34)
Rnd 7: Sc 34 (34)
Rnd 8: [sc 7, dec, sc 6, dec]*2 (30)
Rnd 9: Sc 30 (30)
Rnd 10: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)
Rnd 11: Sc 1, [dec, sc 2]*5, dec, sc 1 (18)
Fill the body with fiberfill.
Rnd 12: [sc 1, dec]*6 (12)
Rnd 13: Dec 6 (6)
Fasten off and close the round.
Crochet the pronotum in black
Rnd 1 (see detailed steps below): Sc 16 out of the opening (16)
Join the black yarn in the gap to the right of the 6 skipped sts of rnd 5. [img 1 and 2]
Sc in next 6 sts. Sc in the gap to the left of the 6 sc sts. [img 3 and 4]
Sc in the gap between rnd 5 and 6. [img 5 to 7]
Sc in the other side of the 6 chains. [img 8 and 9]
Sc in the gap between rnd 5 and 6. [img 10]
Sc in the gap you first joined the yarn in. [img 11 and 12]
Rnd 2: Sc 16 (16)
Fill the pronotum with fiberfill.
Rnd 3: [sc 2, dec]*4 (12)
Fill with more fiberfill if necessary.
Rnd 4: Dec 6 (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn end and close the round. [img 13]
Use the long yarn end to make a vertical line on top of the body to divide it into two halves that define the two elytra. [img 14]
Weave the yarn end in thoroughly on the bottom side of the ladybug to secure this stitch. [img 15]
Crochet the small circles in black (make 8)
Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)
Fasten off and thread the yarn end on a yarn needle. Insert it in the first stitch of the
round. [img 1]
Then, insert it in the BLO of the last stitch of the rounds. [img 2 and 3]
Sew on the black spots
Sew 7 of the 8 black circles on the body as spots. The 8th one will be the head.
Start with the spot that goes on the center line, right behind the pronotum. [img 4]
Sew the circle on without a seam showing. You can do that by inserting the long yarn end of the circle in the body, as close as possible to the circle. [img 5]
Then insert the needle upwards in the next closest stitch of the circle [img 6]
Now insert it downward in the next stitch of the circle. [img 7]
Repeat the last three steps until the circle is sewn on all around. [img 8]
Then bring the yarn ends to the same spot on the bottom side and tie them together.
[img 9]
Cut the ends short and pull them inside the amigurumi, using a crochet hook. [img 10]
Pin the remaining 6 circles on the body and sew them on in the same way. [img 11]
Embroider the white markings
Embroider the white markings on each side of the pronotum across rounds 1 and 2 of the pronotum, using white yarn.
Make 4 stitches on one side of the pronotum. The lower edge of the marking should be in alignment with the lower edge of the red part (elytra). [img 1 to 4]
Then insert the needle one stitch higher and make 3 stitches from here in the same front spot you already embroidered in. With the 3rd stitch bring the needle to the other side of the pronotum. [img 5 to 7]
Repeat these steps to embroider the other white spot. [img 8]
Hide the yarn ends the same way you did with the black spots. [img 9]
Sew the head on
Pin the 8th circle that shapes the head centered front on the pronotum. [img 10]
Sew it on all around and hide the yarn ends as shown above and on page 4. [img 11]
Attach the legs and antennae
Please don’t use wire, if the ladybug is meant to be played with by children. Below, I explain how to crochet them instead.
Cut 1 x 7cm/2.75”, 1 x 6cm/2.4”, 1 x 5cm/2”, and 1 x 3cm/1.2” long pieces of craft wire and 3 x 40cm/16”, and 1 x 20cm/8” long pieces of black yarn.
Insert the longest piece of craft wire in between rounds 2 and 3 of the body, slightly below the horizontal center of the body. Both wire ends on each side should be equally long. [img 1]
Bend the first wire end upward and apply glue it. Then wrap half of one of the long yarn ends around the wire until it is covered in yarn, except the last few millimeters at the end. [img 2]
Bend the last few millimeters of craft wire 180 degrees over to secure the yarn end that is wrapped around it. Using flat pliers is helpful if you have them. Alternatively, you could try using tweezers, if it doesn’t work with bare fingers.
Apply a drop of glue to the tip of the leg to secure the yarn end further. Once the glue has dried, cut the yarn short.
Thread the other half of the piece of yarn on a yarn needle and bring it to the other wire end. [img 3] Then repeat the same steps to cover this side with yarn.
Insert the second longest piece of craft wire in between rounds 2 and 3 of the body, slightly above the horizontal center of the body. [img 4]
Repeat the above steps to cover this set of legs with yarn. [img 5]
Now insert the second shortest piece of craft wire in front of the second set of legs, in between rounds 3 and 4 of the body with about 2 sts space in between. [img 6]
Repeat the previous steps to cover the third set of legs. [img 7]
Insert the short piece of wire sideways in the head and repeat the previous steps to cover the antennae with yarn. [img 8]
Bend all the legs outward, then slightly inward at the center, and again slightly outward at the last few milllimeters to shape little feet. [img 9]
Crochet the legs
Join black yarn between rnd 2 and 3 of the body.
Ch 5 for front legs
Sl st 4 (starting in 2nd ch)
Fasten off and weave in the yarn ends.
Ch 6 for middle legs
Sl st 5 (starting in 2nd ch)
Fasten off and weave in the yarn ends.
Ch 7 for hindlegs
Sl st 6 (starting in 2nd ch)
Fasten off and weave in the yarn ends.
Repeat on the other side to make the other row of legs.
Crochet the antennae
Join black yarn on the side of the head
Ch 3
Sl st 2 (starting in 2nd ch)
Fasten off and weave in the yarn end.
Repeat on the other side.
Crochet the ladybug with open wings
Ch 4 in black
Rnd 1: Sc 2 (starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4 in same st, sc 1, sc 3 in same st (10)
Rnd 2: Inc 1, sc 1, inc 4, sc 1, inc 3 (18)
Rnd 3: Sc 1, inc 1, sc 1, [sc 1, inc 1]*4, sc 1, [sc 1, inc 1]*3 (26)
Rnd 4: Sc 2, inc 1, sc 1, [sc 2, inc 1]*4, sc 1, [sc 2, inc 1]*3 (34)
Rnd 5: In BLO: Sc 10, ch 6, sk 6, sc 18 (34)
Rnd 6: Sc 34 (sc in next 10 st, sc in next 6 ch, sc in next 18 st) (34)
Rnd 7: Sc 34 (34)
Rnd 8: [sc 7, dec, sc 6, dec]*2 (30)
Rnd 9: Sc 30 (30)
Rnd 10: [sc 3, dec]*6 (24)
Rnd 11: Sc 1, [dec, sc 2]*5, dec, sc 1 (18)
Fill the body with fiberfill.
Rnd 12: [sc 1, dec]*6 (12)
Rnd 13: Dec 6 (6)
Fasten off and close the round.
Crochet the pronotum as explained previously for the other ladybug, without using the yarn end to embroider a long, vertical line on the body. Simply weave in the yarn end after closing the round.
Crochet 8 black circles as explained previously.
Embroider the white markings on the pronotum and sew the head on as explained previously.
Crochet the elytra in red (make 2)
Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: Inc 6 (12)
Rnd 3: [sc 1, inc 1]*6 (18)
Rnd 4: [sc 2, inc 1]*6 (24)
Rnd 5: [sc 3, inc 1]*6 (30)
Rnd 6: [sc 4, inc 1]*6 (36)
Rnd 7 and 8 (2 rounds): Sc 36 (36)
Secure the last stitch with a stitch marker.
With the working yarn end marking the tip/end of the elytron, sew 3 circles on the right half of the right elytron. [img 1]
Tie the yarn ends together on the wrong side and cut them short. [img 2]
Fold the elytron along the centre line with the spots facing you. [img 3]
Sc in the next 18 stitches together with the corresponding stitches on the opposite side to crochet both layers together. [img 4 to 7]
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing. [img 8]
With the working yarn end marking the tip/end of the other elytron, sew 3 circles on the left half to make the left elytron. [img 9]
Fold the elytron along the centre line, this time with the spots facing away from you.
Crochet both layers together as described above.
Fasten off, leaving a long yarn end for sewing. [img 10]
Crochet the wings in white (make 2)
The wings are crocheted in rows.
Ch 20, leaving a long tail end for sewing.
R 1: Hdc 18 (starting in 3rd ch from hook), ch 1, turn (18)
For the right wing: R 2: Sl st 3, sc 3, ch 1, dc 1, tr 3, dc 1, ch 1, tr 4, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1 (20)
For the left wing: R 2: Sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, tr 4, ch 1, dc 1, tr 3, dc 1, ch 1, sc 3, sl st 3 (20)
Fasten off with an invisible finish and weave in the yarn end.
Assembly
Sew the base of the wings on the body, right behind the pronotum. They form an upside-down V-shape. [img 1]
Sew the base of the elytra on the body and the base of the wings, right behind the pronotum.
They should be open so that the wings are still visible. [img 2 and 3]
Now sew the 7th black spot centered on the base of the elytra, also right behind the pronotum. [img 4]
Your ladybugs are now complete!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting them as much as I did. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at stellasyarnuniverse@outlook.com.
I would love to see your ladybugs! Share your creation on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #stellasyarnuniverse and tag me with @stellasyarnuniverse!
You will automatically be entered in my monthly giveaway of a paid pattern of your choice from my shop!
Winners are announced on my Instagram page @stellasyarnuniverse at the beginning of every month!
Thank you for your support! It means a lot to me.
Happy creating!
One Comment
Sabine Matuschka
Thank you for your wonderful patterns, Stella.