Step 1
METHOD: The ladybird’s head, pronotum (part of thorax), and abdomen are crocheted in one piece, continuous rounds of double crochet. A line of stitches crocheted into unworked loops of a previous round forms an edge over the top of the pronotum. The wing cases are worked in rows of double crochet and joined to unworked loops of a previous round on the body by crocheting into each stitch of both pieces at the same time. The spots and other markings are embroidered. The legs are made of craft wire wrapped in yarn and bent into shape. The antennae are made in the same way and wrapped in embroidery thread so they are finer than the legs. The ladybird is finished with glass eyes or beads. 1 ch at beg of the row/round does not count as a st throughout.
Step 2
BODY: Head With 1.75mm hook and A, make a magic loop. Round 1: 1 ch, 6 dc into a loop (6 sts). Round 2 (inc): (Dc2inc) 6 times (12 sts). Pull tightly on the short end of the yarn to close the loop.
Step 3
Pronotum Round 3: 1 dc in back loop only of each dc. Round 4 (inc): (Dc2inc) 6 times, 1 dc in next 6 dc (18 sts). Round 5: 1 dc in back loop only of next 12 dc, 1 dc in both loops of next 6 dc. Round 6: 1 dc in each dc.
Step 4
Key: Magic loop Chain (ch) Slip stitch (slst) Double crochet (dc) dc2inc dc3inc dc2tog work into the back loop only work into the front loop only
Step 5
Abdomen: Round 7 (inc): (Dc2inc, 2 dc) 4 times in back loops only, (dc2inc, 2 dc) twice in both loops (24 sts). Rounds 8—11: 1 dc in each dc. Round 12 (dec): (Dc2tog, 2 dc) 6 times (18 sts). Rounds 13—14: 1 dc in each dc. Round 15 (dec): (Dc2tog, 1 dc) 6 times (12 sts). Rounds 16—17: 1 dc in each dc. Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn. (abdomen Rounds 7–11)
Step 7
Pronotum edging: Next: With head facing upwards, 1.75mm hook and A, slst in first of 12 unworked front loops of round 4 of pronotum, behind the head; beg in same st as slst, 1 dc in next 12 sts. Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.
Step 8
ELYTRA: Rows 1–4 (wing cases) (make 2) With 1.75mm hook and B, make 8 ch. Row 1 (WS): 1 dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc in next 5 ch, 3 dc in end ch, 1 dc in reverse side of next 6 ch, turn (15 sts). Row 2 (RS) (inc): 1 ch, 1 dc in next 7 dc, dc3inc, 1 dc in next 7 dc, turn (17 sts). Row 3 (inc): 1 ch, 1 dc in next 8 dc, dc3inc, 1 dc in next 8 dc, turn (19 sts). Row 4 (inc): 1 ch, 1 dc in next 9 dc, dc3inc, 1 dc in next 9 dc (21 sts). Fasten off. Do not fasten off the second elytra. Next (RS): Rotate the elytra and work 6 dc evenly along the edge of rows, with RS of the remaining elytra facing, work 6 dc evenly along the edge to join. Do not fasten off.
Step 9
Join elytra to the body: Next: With head facing downwards and tips of elytra pointing up, place WS of elytra on RS of body, aligning the 12 sts at the edge with the 12 unworked front loops of round 6 of pronotum. Inserting hook into each st of unworked loops of pronotum first, and then the corresponding st of the elytra, work 1 dc in next 12 sts at the same time to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn.
Step 10
MAKING UP: Body Stuff the body, keeping the base flat. Thread the tail of yarn through the last round of the body and pull up tightly to close. Use the tail of yarn left after joining the elytra to the body to sew them to the surface of the abdomen. Use the tail of yarn to sew each corner of the pronotum edging to the abdomen. Embroider the spots and other markings in satin stitch with A and C.
Step 11
Antennae: Follow instructions to make and attach the antennae as seen on page 135, wrapping the wire in two strands of black embroidery thread. Sew to the head using two strands of embroidery thread.
Step 12
Legs: Follow the instructions for the antennae on page 135 to make three pairs of legs, wrapping the wire with A. Make two bends on each side of the covered wire to shape the legs and sew to the base of the body using A.
Step 13
Eyes: Attach the glass eyes or beads using invisible nylon thread. Weave in all the yarn ends. Excerpted with permission from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Bees-Butterflies-Vanessa-Mooncie/dp/1784946354/ref=sr_1_1?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=craftfocom-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=cfae37a33a0c2c944a7dcc8cdc35c05e&camp=1789&creative=9325">Crocheted Bees, Bugs and Butterflies</a>.
