How to Make a Pony Bead Bumble Bee (Free Pattern!)

This step-by-step tutorial will show you all the tricks and tips to make busy pony bead bumblebees!

Pony bead critters are officially back, and this little bumble bee is one of the cutest ones yet. With bright stripes, tiny wings, and plenty of retro charm, it’s the kind of craft that’s hard not to smile at while you’re making it.

As a full-fledged 90s kid, I’ve spent more hours than I can count making pony bead animals, keychains, and backpack clips, so I’ve picked up all the little tricks along the way. This bee pattern is simple, fun, and perfect whether you’re reliving your childhood or teaching a whole new generation how to make these classic bead critters.

How to Make a Pony Bead Bee

Materials

Bumblebee Printable Bead Pattern
19 main color pony beads
12 stripe color pony beads
16 wing color pony beads
2 eye color pony beads
2 feet of ribbon, string, or yarn
keyring (optional)
scissors

Step-by-Step Tutorial with Pictures

Bee, step 1 — Thread three main color beads one eye bead onto your string. Push them to the center.
Next, thread one eye color bead, two main color bead, and one more eye color bead onto one end of the string and leave them near the end.

Bee, step 2 — Take the other end of the string, and thread it through the beads from the opposite direction. You can imagine that the string is making a little X inside the beads. Pull on both ends of the string to tighten the bead row. It should lay snugly against the first row. You may need to tighten, loosen, and wiggle the beads to get them to lay flat. That’s normal!

Wing, step 1 — Follow the pattern to do two more rows of the body and then it’s time for the first set of wings! To make the wings, take 8 wing beads and thread them onto one side. Press them down next to the bee’s body

Wing, step 2 — Using the same end of the string, thread it back through the first wing bead.

Bee, step 3 — Repeat the wings steps to make a wing on the other side. After you’ve got wings on both sides, you can follow the pattern to complete the body.

Finished pony bead bumblebee — Tie your dragonfly off with a double square knot when you’re finished!

Optional Keychain Start

If you’re using a key chain, you will have a different start. Instead of simply sliding the first beads to the center, you will tie the keychain in the center of the ribbon. Your first row will then be done like the other rows, with the ends of the ribbon going through it from opposite sides. From there, it’s just the same as the non-keychain version!

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