Crochet Valentines Love Hearts Ladybird/Ladybug Pattern

I needed a quick make for a little love themed gift and had the idea of making a ladybird/ladybug but instead of having the dots on its back to make them hearts instead!. Half way through making it I realised that these little hearts ladybirds/ladybugs would also be perfect valentines makes.

You could always make the hearts in different colours rather than just having the black hearts on the back, and could use buttons or plastic safety eyes for the eyes.

I have another idea for one of these with a slight twist – keep a look out for it over the next few weeks!.

Crochet Valentines Love Hearts Ladybird/Ladybug Pattern

Materials:

• 4mm crochet hook.

• 50g ball red DK wool.

• 25g ball black DK wool.

• Stitch marker.

• Darning needle.

• Toy Stuffing.

• Small amount of white DK wool.

Ladybird/Ladybug body:

4mm hook and using 2 strands of red wool at the same time:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 5sc into ring (5).

Round 1: 2sc into each stitch (10).

Round 2: *2sc into the next sc, sc into next stitch. Repeat from * around (15).

Round 3: *2sc into the next sc, sc into next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around (20).

Round 4: *2sc into the next sc, sc into next 3 stitches. Repeat from * around (25).

Round 5: *2sc into the next sc, sc into next 4 stitches. Repeat from * around (30).

Round 6: sc around.

Round 7: 2sc into the next 3 stitches, 12sc, 2sc into the next 3 stitches, 12sc (36).

Rounds 8-17: sc around.

Change to black – using 1 strand:

Round 18: sc around in the back loops only.

Change to black – using 2 strands at the same time:

Round 19: sc2tog 3 times, 12sc, sc2tog 3times, 12sc (30).

Round 20: sc around.

Round 21: *sc2tog, sc into next 4 stitches. Repeat from * around (25).

Add stuffing.

Round 22: *sc2tog, sc into next 3 stitches. Repeat from * around (20).

Round 23: *sc2tog, sc into next 2 stitches. Repeat from * around (15).

Round 24: *sc2tog, sc into next stitch. Repeat from * around (10).

Round 25: *sc2tog. Repeat from * around (5).

Fasten off, leaving a long thread to weave around the final 5 stitches and pull tight to close, fasten off.

Ladybird/Ladybug Eyes:

4mm hook, white wool:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 4sc into ring.

Fasten off.

Large Hearts – Make 2:

4mm hook, black wool:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 6sc into ring.

Round 1: sc, (sc, htr/hdc, tr/dc, htr/hdc, sc) into next stitch, ss, (sc, htr/hdc, tr/dc, htr/hdc, sc) into next stitch, sc, 3sc into next stitch.

Fasten off, leaving long thread to attach.

Small Hearts – Make 4:

4mm hook, black wool:

Make a magic ring, ch1, into the ring:

sc, htr/hdc, 2tr/dc, htr/hdc, ss, htr/hdc, 2tr/dc, htr/hdc, 4sc.

Fasten off, leaving long thread to attach.

Feet – Make 4:

4mm hook, black wool:

Make a magic ring, ch1, 4sc into ring.

Round 1: 2sc into each stitch (8).

Round 2: sc around.

Round 3: sc2tog 4 times.

Fasten off, leaving long thread to attach.

Antenna – Make 2:

4mm hook, black wool:

ch15, htr/hdc into 3rd ch from hook, htr/hdc along rest of the row.

Fasten off, leaving long thread to attach.

Ladybird/Ladybug Assembly:

• Using black wool cast on at the bottom of the ladybird/ladybug and sew a line up the middle of the back of the ladybird/ladybug.

• Sew the feet onto the bottom of the ladybird/ladybug.

• Sew the hearts onto the back of the ladybird/ladybug either side of the line.

• Sew the eyes onto the front of the head, then using black wool, cast on and sew on the pupils.

• Sew the antenna onto the top of the head.