DIY Small Embroidery Hoop Bumble Bee

Add a line of hot glue across the screw on the back then glue down the end of the 4ply jute.  Wrap the jute twice around the top of the screws then add a line of hot glue across the screw on the front and glue the jute down.  Wrap the jute twice under the screws ending at the backside.  Add hot glue and glue down jute and trim off excess.

Make and Attach the Bow

I am not a good bow maker so I like making the bow that Brook from re-fabbed shows how to make, you can see how on her blog.  I cut 7” strips to make my bow, layer them and tie them together in the middle with a thin ribbon.  To attach the bow add hot glue to the jute between the head and body on the front of the bee and glue on the bow.

Making the Wings

To make the petal wings use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove 4 of the flower petals.  Hold two petals and place the two wires at the end of one petal behind the other petal so all four wires are at the back of the petals.  Now staple the top of the two petals making sure you catch the two wires in the staple.  Repeat this step to the bottom.  I squeeze the staples closed with the needle nose pliers just to make sure the are closed tight.  Repeat these steps to the other two petals.

To make the wings using ribbon you will need to cut two 12” pieces of your 2 ½” wired ribbon.  Trim the ends of the two pieces of ribbon so they are rounded.  Pinch the center of each ribbon so they are pleated.  Using the two 4” zip ties tie the two ribbon pieces of ribbon together in the middle.

Attaching the Wings

To attach the petal wings place one set of petal in the back of the bee at the neck.  See if this is where you like the wings.  Flip the bee over add glue to the jute on the back of the bee and glue on the wings.  Look from the front and make sure they are placed correctly you can adjust them while the glue is still hot.  Place the second set of petal wings on the back overlaying them on top of the first set of wings.  Check to see if they are where you like them.  Add hot glue to the bottom of each petal on the first set of wings then glue the second set in place.

To attach with wings you made with ribbon apply hot glue to the jute on the back of the bee and glue the ribbon wings in place.

Adding the Eyes, Antennae’s and Stinger

Place the two black buttons onto the face.  I off set one of the buttons to give him character.  Once you have the eyes the way you want them lift one button at a time, add hot glue to the back of the button and glue into place.  Take one pipe cleaner bend in half then cut at bend.  Wrap one piece of pipe cleaner around a pencil about four times.  Remove from pencil.

Insert the uncurled end through the fabric above one eye just under the ring bringing the end to the back. Bend the end up. You only want enough of the pipe cleaner to bend up to the top of the hoop. Bend the end back add hot glue then glue down. Add hot glue to the tip of the curled end and glue on a 2” black pom pom.   Repeat these steps with the second piece of pipe cleaner going over the second eye.

To make the stinger cut a 2” piece of pipe cleaner bend in half.  Add a drop of hot glue to the back of the body hoop at the bottom middle and glue the stinger in place.

I gave the bee rosy cheeks using blush and a stencil brush.  Add blush to the stencil brush then apply to the face.

Adding a Hanger

Thread a needle with a piece of thin twine.  Insert at the top of the head between the antennae’s just under the hoop.  Bring one end to the back, form a loop tie a double knot trim off the excess.

You are now finished making your bumble bee.  I hope you enjoyed making him and find him as adorable as I did.  You can use any fabrics you choose for the head and body.  I love the honeycomb fabric I got from Hobby Lobby that I used for one of the bee’s body.  I love these bee’s so much I am going to make a larger one.