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Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern

Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern
4.0★Rating
5-7 HoursTime Needed
3.1KMade This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crocheting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

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Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

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Charming Critter

Delightful animal designs with sweet details that capture the essence of your favorite woodland and farmyard friends.

About This Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern

Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view

This educational set makes the ultimate handmade gift for toddlers, perfect for teaching color matching and coordination while looking absolutely adorable on any playroom shelf.

Why You'll Love This Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern

I love this project because it is incredibly rewarding to watch a child interact with something you hand-crafted. The construction is clever but straightforward, and the hexagonal bowls are satisfyingly sturdy. Plus, getting to play with a full rainbow of yarn colors makes the entire crafting process feel like a happy escape.

Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern step 1 Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern step 2 Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern step 3 Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern step 4

Switch Things Up

I still remember the first time I made a sorting toy for a friend's toddler—the look of pure concentration and joy on their face as they matched each little bee to its home was absolutely priceless. That's exactly why I fell in love with this pattern, and I know you will too!

When you're choosing your yarn, I highly recommend going with a sturdy, washable cotton like DROPS Paris. It gives the bowls fantastic structure so they don't collapse during play, and it holds up beautifully to lots of little hands. For the magnets, safety is always our top priority as crafters. Make sure to sew those little magnet pockets extra securely inside the bees and onto the backs of the flowers. If you're making this for very young kids who still like to put toys in their mouths, you can easily skip the magnets entirely and just let them nestle the bees into the bowls. It's just as fun and gives you complete peace of mind!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Inserting the magnets with mismatched polarities will cause the bees to repel the flowers instead of clinging to them.✗ Using a loose stitch tension on the bowls will make them floppy and unable to hold their hexagonal shape properly.✗ Forgetting to work the bowl edges into the front loops of Round 8 will result in weak, unstructured side seams.✗ Stuffing the bee body too lightly before closing will leave the head looking flat and make the embroidered eyes look distorted.

Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern

Create a beautiful, interactive learning game for the little ones in your life. This pattern guides you through making seven adorable magnetic bees, matching nesting bowls, and sweet matching flowers. It is a wonderful way to combine your love for crochet with a functional, educational toy that helps toddlers practice color matching and fine motor skills.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Rainbow Bee Sorting Toy Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Approximately 35g of 10-ply cotton yarn in 7 different rainbow colors of your choice
  • 02
    Around 20g of white 10-ply cotton yarn for the wings and flower centers
  • 03
    About 15g of black 10-ply cotton yarn for the body stripes

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Size 2.5 mm (US C/2) crochet hook
  • 02
    Polyester fiberfill stuffing
  • 03
    14 to 28 small disc magnets (approximately 2 cm / 0.8 inches in diameter)
  • 04
    Stitch markers
  • 05
    Yarn needle
  • 06
    Scissors
  • 07
    Optional: 5mm safety eyes if you prefer not to embroider them

Progress Tracker

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— 1. Nesting Bowls (Make 7) :

Round 1 :

Start with your chosen rainbow color. Work 6 sc into a MR, then sl st to the first sc to join (6)

Round 2 :

Work 1 inc into each of the next 6 stitches (12)

Round 3 :

Repeat 6 times: (1 sc, 1 spInc) (18)

Round 4 :

Repeat 6 times: (2 sc, 1 spInc) (24)

Round 5 :

Repeat 6 times: (3 sc, 1 spInc) (30)

Round 6 :

Repeat 6 times: (4 sc, 1 spInc) (36)

Round 7 :

Repeat 6 times: (5 sc, 1 spInc) (42)

Round 8 :

Work in BLO: sc in each stitch around, including the extra chain from the spInc steps (48)

Round 9-16 :

Work 1 sc in each of the 48 stitches around (48)

Bowl Edges :

Repeat 6 times to form the structural edges: sl st in next 8 stitches, work 9 sc down the side over rounds 16 to 8 (ensuring the final sc lands in the front loop of round 8), then work 10 sl st back up the back of those single crochets to return to the top edge.

— 2. Magnet Pockets (Make 14) :

Round 1 :

Using your main color, work 6 sc into a MR, sl st to the first sc to join, and leave a long tail for sewing (6)

Info :

If your magnets are larger than 2 cm, add an extra round: work 1 inc in each of the 6 stitches (12)

— 3. Wings (Make 2 per bee) :

Round 1 :

Using white yarn, work 6 sc into a MR (6)

Round 2 :

Work 1 inc in each of the next 6 stitches, sl st to the first sc to join, and leave a sewing tail (12)

Info :

Sew the two wings together at their bases, leaving a tail to attach them to the bee body later.

— 4. Bee Body (Make 7) :

Round 1 :

Using the matching rainbow color, work 6 sc into a MR (6)

Round 2 :

Work 1 inc in each of the next 6 stitches (12)

Round 3 :

Repeat 6 times: (1 sc, 1 inc) (18)

Info :

Place a magnet inside one of your pocket supports. Sew this support securely to the inside of the bee head over rounds 1 and 2. Double-check that the polarities of all magnets match before sewing.

Round 4-5 :

Work 1 sc in each of the 18 stitches around (18)

Info :

Embroider the eyes using black yarn between the increases of Round 2, or install 5mm safety eyes if using them.

Round 6 :

Switch to black yarn. Work 1 sc in each of the 18 stitches around (18)

Round 7 :

Switch back to the main color. Work 1 sc in each of the 18 stitches around (18)

Round 8 :

Switch to black yarn. Work 1 sc in each of the 18 stitches around (18)

Round 9 :

Switch back to the main color. Work 1 sc in each of the 18 stitches around (18)

Round 10 :

Switch to black yarn. Repeat 3 times: (4 sc, 1 dec) (15)

Info :

Sew the pair of wings securely between rounds 7 and 9, making sure they are perfectly centered relative to the eyes. Begin stuffing the body firmly with fiberfill.

Round 11 :

Switch to the main color. Repeat 3 times: (3 sc, 1 dec) (12)

Round 12 :

Switch to black yarn. Repeat 3 times: (2 sc, 1 dec) (9)

Round 13 :

Continuing with black yarn, repeat 3 times: (1 sc, 1 dec) (6)

Round 14 :

Thread your yarn tail onto a needle, pass through the front loops of all 6 stitches, pull firmly to close the opening, and weave in your end.

— 5. Magnetic Flowers (Make 7) :

Round 1 :

Using white yarn, work 13 dc into a MR, then sl st into the second dc to join. This leaves 12 active stitches for the petals (12)

Round 2 :

Switch to the matching rainbow color. Repeat 6 times around the white center: [work 2 sc in the current stitch, 3 tc in the next stitch, 2 sc in the current stitch, sl st in the next stitch]

Assembly Instructions

  • Test the magnet polarities on all pieces before sewing to ensure the bees will cling to the back of the flowers.
  • Place a magnet inside a support pocket and sew it securely to the center back of each flower.
  • Position the wings centered on the back of each bee between rounds 7 and 9, then stitch them down firmly.
  • If you did not use safety eyes, use black yarn to embroider simple eyes on round 2 of each bee.
  • Optionally, line up the flat sides of the hexagonal nesting bowls and whipstitch them together to create a beautiful honeycomb tray.

Important Notes

  • 💡To make the nesting bowls extra sturdy, use a tight tension or drop down a hook size if your stitches tend to be loose.
  • 💡Always check magnet orientation twice before sewing the pockets shut; reversing a magnet will prevent the toy from working.
  • 💡If making this toy for children under three years old, omit the magnets entirely and embroider the eyes for safety.
  • 💡Using a high-quality cotton yarn will give the pieces great definition and keep the toy looking fresh after lots of play.

I hope you have the absolute best time bringing these little bees and their colorful homes to life! Watching a child play with something you made with your own two hands is truly the most rewarding feeling in the world. Don't forget to share your finished sorting sets with our crafting community—I cannot wait to see the beautiful rainbow colors you choose for your custom set. Happy stitching, friend! 🧶✨

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FAQs

Can I make this set without the magnets?

Absolutely! If you are making this for very young toddlers, skipping the magnets is a great safety precaution. The bees will still nestle perfectly inside their matching bowls and sit nicely on top of the flowers.

What is the best yarn for this project?

A sturdy, non-splitting 10-ply cotton yarn is perfect. Cotton gives the nesting bowls the structure they need to stand upright and hold their hexagonal shape during active play.

How do I make sure the bowls are stiff enough?

If your bowls feel floppy, try dropping down to a 2.0mm hook or holding two strands of finer yarn together. Working the edge slip stitches tightly also adds a lot of structural integrity.

How do I secure the magnets safely?

Place each magnet inside a crocheted pocket support, then sew that pocket flat against the inside of the bee or the back of the flower using strong, double-stranded yarn.