Free Ladybug Crochet Pattern: Make a Tiny Amigurumi Ladybug

A tiny crochet ladybug can have just as much personality as a much larger handmade toy. Bright red wings, a contrasting white belly and a little embroidered smile give this miniature amigurumi its cheerful expression.

This free ladybug crochet pattern makes a figure approximately 5.5 cm (2.2 inches) tall with the original thread and hook. Below, you will find the supply list, stitch abbreviations, complete written instructions for every piece, assembly directions and facial details. Take your time with the small stitches and use the photographs to check the overall look.

You can follow the full written pattern here on the blog. If you prefer a version without advertisements, the printable PDF brings the same instructions, step-by-step photographs and stitch diagrams together in a clean layout, so you can keep the guide beside you as you work.

Finished Ladybug Preview

Project Details

Detail	Information
Finished height	Approximately 5.5 cm / 2.2 inches with the original materials
Skill level	Beginner/intermediate
Colours	Black, white and red
Hook	0.9 mm
Yarn	Iris Gamma cotton crochet thread, 10 g / 87 m
Construction	Separate pieces, then sewn and assembled
Terminology	US crochet terms; UK equivalents listed below

The crochet is straightforward, but the miniature scale and careful sewing require patience. The original head measures approximately 2 cm (0.8 inches) high and the body approximately 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) high. Your materials and tension can affect the finished size.

Materials and Tools

• Iris Gamma cotton crochet thread: white, black and red. Original specification: 10 g / 87 m; the source also gives an approximate yarn-weight equivalent of 1 oz / 267 yd.
• Embroidery thread: white, black and red for sewing and facial details.
• 0.9 mm crochet hook.
• Sewing needle and pins.
• Tapestry needle.
• Scissors.
• Synthetic or natural stuffing.

Materials: Project Reference

Stitch Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning in this pattern
sts	Stitches
ch	Chain stitch
sl st	Slip stitch
sc	Single crochet
hdc	Half double crochet
dc	Double crochet
tr	Treble crochet
inc	Increase: 2 sc in one stitch
dec	Decrease
3-hdc cluster	3 half double crochet worked together
5-hdc cluster	5 half double crochet worked together
tr2tog	2 treble crochet worked together
R	Round

Instructions in parentheses or brackets are repeated the stated number of times. The number at the end of a round is its stitch count.

Original Crochet Symbol Key

US and UK Terminology

US term used here	UK equivalent
Single crochet	Double crochet
Half double crochet	Half treble crochet
Double crochet	Treble crochet
Treble crochet	Double treble crochet

Before You Begin

All pieces are crocheted in continuous rounds except the limbs. To begin the head, body and cap, make 2 ch, then work 6 sc into the first ch. Finish each piece as directed with a slip stitch.

How to Work the Decrease

Insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop: there are now 2 loops on the hook. Insert the hook into the following stitch, yarn over and pull up another loop: there are now 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Decrease: Photo Reference

Marking the Rounds

For circular pieces, pull the starting thread tail out between rounds 2 and 3. Use it as a marker to help locate the beginning and count your rounds.

Round Marker: Photo Reference

1. Crochet the Head

White thread.

Round	Instructions	Stitch count
R1	2 ch; 6 sc into the first ch	6
R2	inc × 6	12
R3	(1 sc, inc) × 6	18
R4	(2 sc, inc) × 6	24
R5	(3 sc, inc) × 6	30
R6–12	sc around for 7 rounds	30 each round
R13	(3 sc, dec) × 6	24
R14	(2 sc, dec) × 6	18
R15	(1 sc, dec) × 6	12
R16	dec × 6	6
R17	Decrease and close the opening with a sl st	Closed

Stuff the head firmly after round 14. The original author suggests using the ends of scissors to help push the filling inside. With the original materials, the head is approximately 2 cm / 0.8 inches high.

Head: Photo Steps

2. Crochet the Body

Black thread.

Round	Instructions	Stitch count
R1	2 ch; 6 sc into the first ch	6
R2	inc × 6	12
R3	(1 sc, inc) × 6	18
R4	(2 sc, inc) × 6	24
R5	(3 sc, inc) × 6	30
R6	(4 sc, inc) × 6	36
R7	(5 sc, inc) × 6	42
R8–24	sc around for 17 rounds	42 each round
R25	(5 sc, dec) × 6	36
R26	(4 sc, dec) × 6	30
R27	(3 sc, dec) × 6	24
R28	(2 sc, dec) × 6	18
R29	(1 sc, dec) × 6	12
R30	dec × 6	6
R31	Decrease and close the opening with a sl st	Closed

Stuff the body firmly after R28. With the original materials, the body is approximately 3.5 cm / 1.4 inches high.

Body: Photo Reference

3. Crochet the Cap

Black thread. The cap frames the white face.

Round	Instructions	Stitch count
R1	2 ch; 6 sc into the first ch	6
R2	inc × 6	12
R3	(1 sc, inc) × 6	18
R4	(2 sc, inc) × 6	24
R5	(3 sc, inc) × 6	30
R6–13	sc around for 8 rounds	30 each round
R14	10 sc, (1 dc, tr2tog worked into the same stitch and the next stitch, 1 dc in the same stitch), 10 sc, 3 sl st	26

The shaped front edge is shown in the cap stitch diagram below. The written sequence and count above follow the original pattern.

Cap: Original Stitch Diagram

4. Crochet the Belly

White thread. Work an oval around the starting chain.

Round	Instructions	Stitch count
R1	Make 4 ch; 3 sc in the 3rd ch from the beginning, 1 sc, 5 sc in the 1st ch, 1 sc	10
R2	[3 inc, 2 sc] × 2	16
R3	[(inc, sc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	22
R4	[(2 sc, inc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	28
R5	[(inc, 3 sc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	34
R6	[(4 sc, inc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	40
R7	[(inc, 5 sc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	46
R8	[(6 sc, inc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	52
R9	[(inc, 7 sc) × 3, 2 sc] × 2	58
R10	sc around	58

Make 3 additional sl st, then cut the thread.

Belly: Chart and Source Detail Photos

5. Crochet the Red Wing Cases

Red thread. Make 2.

Crochet each wing case, or elytron, exactly as the belly: follow R1–10 with the same stitch counts. Finish each one with 3 additional sl st and cut the thread.

Wing Cases: Photo References

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6. Crochet the Black Dots

Black thread. Make 6.

1. Make 2 ch.
2. Work 7 sc into the first ch.
3. Join into a ring with a sl st.

Repeat until you have six dots. The sewing instructions below explain how to attach them and hide their thread ends.

Black Dots: Diagram and Photo

7. Crochet the Antennae

Black thread. Make 2.

1. Make 5 ch.
2. Work a 5-hdc cluster into the 4th ch.
3. Work 1 sc into the same ch.
4. Make 6 sc around the starting chain, not into its individual stitches.
5. Push the stitches closer to the cluster.
6. Thread both the starting and finishing tails through the final loop.

Antennae: Diagram and Photo

8. Crochet the Arms

Black thread. Make 2. The original pattern calls these pieces paws.

Work as for an antenna, with these changes:

1. Begin with 7 ch.
2. Work a 3-hdc cluster into the 6th ch.
3. Work 1 sc into the same ch.
4. Make 9 sc around the starting chain.

Arms: Diagram and Photo

9. Crochet the Legs

Black thread. Make 2.

1. Make 11 ch.
2. Work hdc into the 10th, 9th, 8th and 7th ch.
3. Work 1 sl st into the 4th ch.
4. Make 7 sc around the starting chain.
5. Push the stitches close together.

The original stitch diagrams above let you follow the antennae, arms and legs visually.

Legs: Diagram and Photo

10. Assemble the Head and Body

Use thin sewing thread, such as embroidery thread, because it slides well through the crochet. Choose your needle carefully: a needle that is too thin may not create a large enough opening, causing the thread to catch and tangle. A needle that is too thick may get stuck in the crochet. Test several needles before beginning so the sewing feels comfortable.

Attach the Cap

The last-crocheted, less even end of the head forms its top and will be covered by the cap. Place the black cap over the white head, tilting it slightly forward so it sits over the forehead.

Pin the pointed edge in place. Sew the cap around its edge with tiny stitches into each loop.

Attaching the Cap: Photo Steps

Attach the Belly

The last-crocheted, less even end of the body forms the neck. Position the white belly 3 mm below the centre of the neck.

Pin it in place, then sew around the edge with white thread and small stitches into each loop.

Attaching the Belly: Photo Steps

Join the Head to the Body

Pin the head onto the body. First sew the white face to the belly using white thread. Then sew the black cap to the body using black thread.

Joining the Head: Photo Steps

Attach the Wings

Pin the two red wing cases to the body. Sew around each edge with red thread, using the same small stitches into each loop as for the belly.

Attaching the Wings: Photo Steps

11. Attach the Antennae, Dots, Arms and Legs

Antennae

Mark the antenna positions on the head. Insert a tapestry needle through one marked hole and bring it out at the centre of the back of the head.

Thread one antenna tail through the needle and pull it through until the antenna sits snugly in place. Repeat for the second antenna. Both tails now emerge from the central hole at the back of the head.

Tie the tails securely together. Insert the tapestry needle into the same hole, thread the tails through it and bring them out at the bottom of the head. Pull the tails and trim them.

Attaching the Antennae: Photo Steps

Black Dots

For each dot, thread the finishing tail through the needle and bring it out at the centre of the wrong side.

Sew the dot to a wing case with black thread and tiny stitches. When you have sewn halfway around, trim any protruding tails to 3 mm, push the ends underneath the dot and finish sewing.

Repeat for all six dots. Arrange them as on a real ladybug, using the finished photographs to check their positions.

Attaching the Dots: Photo Steps

Arms

Attach the arms in the same way as the antennae. Find a suitable hole on each side of the body. Insert the tapestry needle and bring it out in the upper black triangle between the wings.

Insert both arms, tie their tails together, pass the tails through the body with the tapestry needle and trim them.

Attaching the Arms: Photo Steps

Legs

Attach the legs using the same method. Bring the tapestry needle out in the lower black triangle between the wing cases, then secure and hide the tails.

Attaching the Legs: Photo Steps

12. Flatten the Base So the Ladybug Can Sit

To make the base flatter, pass a needle with black thread through the body from top to bottom. Catch one stitch at the bottom, then pass the needle back up through the body.

Tie the tails firmly. This pulls the bottom inward and creates a flatter sitting surface. Hide the tails with the needle.

Flattening the Base: Photo Steps

13. Add the Face

Make and Attach the Red Nose

Use doubled red thread. Begin an ordinary knot, but wrap the thread seven times instead of once. Carefully tighten the tails to create a firm red knot.

Making the Nose: Photo Steps

Mark the nose position on the face. Thread one red tail through the needle and bring it out at the central hole in the back of the head. Repeat with the other tail.

Pull the red knot snugly against the face, tie the red tails firmly and hide them with the tapestry needle.

Attaching the Nose: Photo Steps

Embroider the Eyes

Mark the eye positions. Use black crochet thread to embroider each eye with five stitches, approximately one single crochet stitch wide.

Embroider the Mouth

Use one strand of black embroidery thread and three stitches to create the mouth.

Finishing the Face: Photo Steps

Your cheerful little ladybug is complete!

Finished Ladybug: Final Views

Keep the Pattern in an Ad-Free Printable PDF

Enjoyed the free pattern? Keep every step close at hand with the ad-free PDF edition. The 19-page guide brings the complete instructions, original photos and stitch diagrams together in a tidy layout you can print or follow on your tablet.

Print the pages you need or keep the guide on your tablet for a calmer crochet session.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the full ladybug crochet pattern free on this page?

Yes. The materials, written instructions for every piece, assembly steps and facial details are all available here. The original photographs and diagrams are also included on this page. The optional PDF provides an ad-free, printable layout to keep beside your work.

Is it suitable for a beginner?

The original pattern is rated beginner/intermediate. Its small hook, tiny pieces and careful sewing are easier if you already have some basic crochet experience.

How big is the finished ladybug?

Approximately 5.5 cm / 2.2 inches tall with the original cotton thread and 0.9 mm hook. Materials and tension can change the finished dimensions.

Does it use safety eyes?

No. The eyes and mouth are embroidered, and the red nose is made from a knotted thread.

Why choose the PDF if the written pattern is free?

For convenience: no advertisements, a printable layout and all the instructions, step-by-step photographs and stitch diagrams in one organized file, all together in one guide you can keep beside your crochet work.