Love Bug

 In today's pattern, the delight is in the details.  From minor shaping in the head to tiny hearts stitched on the shell, little touches add a lot of character to a very simple pattern. I've even included a Love Bug Birth Certificate printable in case you want to give them as Valentines.

Love Bug

Finished size:
Approx. 2” wide by 3 ½ “ tall
Materials:
Crochet hook, size F/3.75mm
Cotton yarn, 4 ply
< 1 oz. black, Color A, and Color B (Your choice)
Scissors
Yarn or tapestry needle
Stuffing

Head/Body
Start at the top of the head with Color A yarn
Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring OR Ch 2, Sc 6 in the second ch from the hook (6 sts)
Rnd 2: [Inc in the first st, Sc in the next st] repeat 3 times around (9 sts)
Rnd 3: [Inc, Sc 2] rep 3 (12 sts)
Rnd 4: [Inc, Sc 3] rep 3 (15 sts)
Rnd 5: [Inc, Sc 4] rep 3 (18 sts)
Rnd 6: [Inc, Sc 5] rep 3 (21 sts)
Rnd 7: Sc 21 (21 sts)
Rnd 8: [Inc, Sc 6] rep 3 (24 sts)
Rnd 9: [Dec, Sc 2] rep 6 (18 sts)
Rnd 10: [Inc, Sc] rep 6 (12 sts)
Stuff.
Rnd 11: Dec 6 (6 sts)
Rnd 12: Sc 6 (6 sts)
Rnd 13: [Inc, Sc] rep 3 (9 sts)
Rnd 14: [Inc, Sc 2] rep 3 (12 sts)
Rnd 15: Sc 12 (12 sts)
Rnd 16: [Inc, Sc 3] rep 3 (15 sts)
Rnd 17: [Dec, Sc 3] rep 3 (12 sts)
Rnd 18: [Dec, Sc] rep 4 (8 sts)
Stuff.
Rnd 19: Dec 4 (4 sts)
Finish off.  Weave in ends. 

Shell
Use Color B. 
Rnd 1: Sc 6 in magic ring OR Ch 2, Sc 6 in the second ch from the hook.  (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Inc 6 (12 sts)
 Rnd 3: [Inc, Sc] rep 6 (18 sts)
Rnds 4-5: Sc 18 (18 sts)
Finish off; weave in ends  

Assembly:   
First, we need to add stitching to the shell.  I used black yarn to work a back stitch across the shell from bottom to top.  To work a backstitch, bring your needle up from the back at the very bottom edge of the shell. (You can either knot the loose end of the yarn or work it under some of your stitches).  Bring it back down several stitches higher.  This is point B.  Next go up at point C, several stitches higher still.  Bring it down at point B.  Each time, you will bring your needle up at a new point and down at the previous point until your line extends across the shell.

Now for the hearts.  Since the pattern is very small, I found stitching tiny “v”s worked well to form hearts.  I went over each stitch or stroke of the v twice to make it thicker.  You can stitch as many or as few hearts as you would like.  To finish the shell, use a length of yarn in Color B to sew it to the back of the Lovebug’s body. 

I liked the way the Lovebug’s head looked with some minor shaping.  Knot a length of black yarn and draw it through the bug’s head, bringing it out where you want his left eye.  Now, insert the needle again in almost the same spot, but catching a stitch of the head, and bring it out where you want the right eye. Pull hard, causing the stitch you caught to pull in and make a small indent where the left eye will be.  Repeat in reverse, inserting your needle from the right to the left and catching a stitch to make an indent on the opposite side.  Bring the needle back out the left eye indent.  I work each shaping stitch twice to hold it firm.  Then, work a French knot for each eye.  Work a small mouth and then tie off and work in your yarn.

For the antenna, triple knot a strand of black yarn, leaving a long tail on BOTH sides of the knot.  Insert your needle through the top of the bug’s head, drawing the knot into the center of the head.  It may take a hard pull to get the knot inside, but this is what keeps the antenna in the head.  Decide what length you want the antenna.  Tie a small knot where you want them to end and cut off the excess yarn.  Repeat for each set of legs, and then you’re finished! 

Find more free patterns at sheepofdelight.blogspot.com

Download the PDF of the pattern here.
Download the Lovebug Valentines here.

One of the blogs I follow, Winding Road Crochet, posted about using embroidery in crochet this week. If you'd like to learn more about how details can enhance your crochet, read her post here.