As promised, here is the Mamma4earth Ladybug / Ladybird knitting pattern:) She is a sweet little bug that will be perfect as a stocking filler at Christmas time or for a Waldorf nature table creature etc… I have knitted her in the round using the Magic Loop technique. Picked up stitches to knit her wings and then picked stitches again and knitted her antennae with I-cords.
Materials:
Circular needles, I used size 4 mm needles
Black and red Merino yarn, I used left over bits and pieces.
Fleece for stuffing.
Felting needle
Black and white fleece.
Wool needle for sewing up.
Knitted Ladybug / Ladybird Pattern:
Cast on 6 stitches and join in the round using the Magic Loop technique.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: Knit into the front and back of each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: Knit into the front and back of every alternate stitch. (18 stitches)
Rounds 5 to 8: Knit
Round 9: Knit 1, increase into next stitch, knit 5, increase into next stitch, finish round (20 stitches)
Rounds 10 and 11: Knit
Round 12: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 5 stitches, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the round (18 stitches)
Rounds 13 and 14: Knit
Round 15: (Knit 1, knit 2 together) across the round
Rounds 16 and 17: Change to black yarn, knit 2 rounds
Round 18: Knit 2 together across the round
Take your wool sewing needle and thread it through the remaining stitches and pull tight once you have stuffed your ladybug.
Wings:
With the ladybug’s face facing you, pick up 6 stitches just behind the black yarn to the left side for the first wing, (see photo further down)
Knit in stocking stitch for the first wing for 10 rows, on the purl rows, knit the first and the last stitch to stop curling.
Row 11: Cast off 1 stitch at the end of the knit row.
Row 12: Cast off 1 stitch at the beginning of the purl row.
Cast off.
For the right wing, do the same making sure your shaping is on the outside of the wing to make it rounded.
Finishing Off:
First left wing.
Pick up stitches for the right wing.
Sew both wings onto the body.
With a felting needle and some black fleece, add your ladybug’s spots.
Sweet!
Whith white fleece, needlefelt a white circle for each eye and then with black fleece, needlefelt the pupil of each eye.
Pick up 2 stitches and attach your black yarn to knit your I-cords for your antennas.
Knit both of your I-cords and sew in your ends.
Sew up any openings and finish off.
Enjoy:)
Take care
Linda
Please note, this pattern is for personal use only, and not for resale, items knitted from this pattern may not be sold for commercial purposes, thank you.
How cute! Thank you for the pattern!
Oh my this is just lovely. I have never knit using the magic loop method, but I may havve to five this a try. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings, Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
You are going to love the Magic Loop, it really does open up whole new worlds to knitting:)
Warmly
Linda
sweet indeed ~ your cleverness just goes on and on!
adorable!! thanks for sharing another lovely tutorial! 😉
so sweet!
Thank you Linda! This looks like so much fun to try. Such a cute ladybug!
SO cute! I can’t wait to get home and give it a try!
The ladybug is so sweet and thank you for sharing the pattern.
Warm wishes,
Tonya
I am totally trying this. I called my twin nieces the LadyBugs so I have too.
thank you for sharing.
Now I know where the expression “as cute as a bug” comes from…Sweet!
This is cool, cheers Marie
Adorable!
So lovely. You make the best knit critters!
So lovely. You make the best knit critters!
Thanks for that great tutorial. That lady bug is the cutest! Now let me go look for some red yarn…
I agree. Soooo cute.
I haven’t tried any knitted toys yet. So, maybe… I’ll have to think about it. 🙂
Oh my God, SO adorable, hahah!
Wow! So cute. I love all of your animals!! DO you by chance have a sheep pattern? I want to knit one for my daughter.
The bluebird a few weeks ago was a big hit too!
Thanks for linking up today!
Clever girl. Now I’m going to have to go back and review my magic loop. It’s too hot here to want to do much but hide in the house and read – or brave the bright and play with horses. I love the scale of this tiny creature – the needle point looked gigantic!
LOL! I love it! Soo cute! I know my kids will love having one of these and Kristen has shown me how to do the needle felting. I’ve not tried it yet, I’ve just watched. I think this will be a good project to try and see if I watched carefully enough! 😀
Thanks so much for sharing this cute pattern!
“With a felting needle and some black fleece, add your ladybug’s spots” – how do you do this? I have never used a felting needle before. Thanks for sharing your patterns – so generous.
I love this little guy and wanted to let you know that I will be featuring your pattern in a roundup that will be on my blog this wednesday. If this is not alright with you, please let me know. I will, of course, give full credit to you.
Thanks so much!
Hi! This is the best ladybug pattern I’ve found. Thank you! I’m putting it on my little nephew’s mobile.
Just wondering if you start with the red or the black yarn?
Hi!
Thanks so much!
You will start with the red yarn.
Happy knitting
Kind regards
Linda
thank you!!