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Spring has definitely arrived! We have been enjoying temperatures in the upper 70’s and low 80’s and I am so happy to have warmer weather again. We had a very mild winter in Middle TN which was a nice change, but I am so ready to be outside again. Our family loves to be outside and to go hiking, camping, enjoying the nearby playgrounds, being in our garden, etc. so it’s no surprise that this is one of our favorite times of the year. With three little boys you know we are outside every chance we get!
I designed this Ladybug Onesie for I Like Crochet magazine. If you’ve checked out the pattern offerings on this blog, you know that I love, love, love to design baby things. This is true for the blog as well as for publication. Any time I see a call for submissions that includes baby things I am super excited!!
This is a quick project that would make a great gift or super cute Halloween costume. This pattern has a button front and crotch opening (gotta be practical!) for easy dressing and changing, a hood with antennae, ladybug spots, and cute little ladybug buttons.
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Spring Ladybug Onesie
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Red Heart Anne Geddes Baby Yarn (80% acrylic, 20% nylon; 340 yards [310 meters]/100 grams): #902 Ladybug (MC), 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) balls; #112 Night-Night (CC), 1 ball
Hook: H/8 (5.0mm)
Notions: Six 1/2″ (12mm) ladybug buttons, four 1/2″ (12mm) black buttons, yarn needle
Skill Level: Easy
Size: Chest size 16 (17, 18, 19, 20)” for baby size 3 (6, 12, 18, 24) months
Gauge: 16 sts and 13 rows – 4″ in hdc
Pattern
Back
With MC, ch 12 (14, 16, 18, 20).
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across row, turn – 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first st, hdc in each st across row to last st, 2 hdc in last st, turn – 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts.
Row 3: Ch 2, work even in hdc across row.
Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 2 – 16 (18, 20, 22, 24) sts.
Rows 6-7: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 8: Rep Row 2 – 18 (20, 22, 24, 26) sts.
Row 9: Rep Row 2 – 20 (22, 24, 26, 28) sts.
Row 10: Rep Row 2 – 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts.
Row 11: Rep Row 2 – 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) sts.
Row 12: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 13: Rep Row 2 – 26 (28, 30, 32, 34) sts.
Row 14: Rep Row 2 – 28 (30, 32, 34, 36) sts.
Rows 15-16: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 17: Rep Row 2 – 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts.
Rows 18-19: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 20: Rep Row 2 – 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts.
Rows 21-22: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 23: Rep Row 2 – 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts.
Rows 24-25: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 26: Rep Row 2 – 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) sts.
Sizes – (6, 12, 18, 24) only
Work – (2, 4, 6, 8) rows even in hdc across row.
All sizes
Row 27: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts.
Rows 28-29: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 30: Rep Row 27 – 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts.
Row 31: Work even in hdc across row.
Change to CC.
Rows 32-33: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 34: Sl st in first 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, ch 2, hdc to last 2 sts, leave last 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) unworked, turn – 28 (30, 32, 32, 34) sts.
Row 35: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 36: Rep Row 27 – 26 (28, 30, 30, 32) sts.
Row 37: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 38: Rep Row 27 – 24 (26, 28, 28, 30) sts.
Rows 39-45: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 46: Ch 2, hdc in first 6 (6, 8, 8, 10) sts, leaving rem sts unworked.
Fasten off.
Join yarn at opposite edge, ch 2, hdc in first 6 (6, 8, 8, 10) sts, leaving rem sts unworked. Fasten off.
Right Front
Ch 8 (9, 10, 11, 12).
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across row, turn – 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first st, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts.
Row 3: Ch 2, work even in hdc across row.
Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts.
Row 5: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last st, 2 hdc in last st, turn – 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) sts.
Rows 6-7: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 8: Rep Row 2 – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts.
Row 9: Rep Row 5 – 11 (12, 13, 14, 15) sts.
Row 10: Rep Row 2 – 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
Row 11: Rep Row 5 – 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) sts.
Row 12: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 13: Rep Row 5 – 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.
Row 14: Rep Row 2 – 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) sts.
Rows 15-16: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 17: Rep Row 5 – 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts.
Rows 18-19: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 20: Rep Row 2 – 17 (18, 19, 20, 21) sts.
Rows 21-22: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 23: Rep Row 5 – 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts.
Rows 24-25: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 26: Rep Row 2 – 19 (20, 21, 22, 23) sts.
Sizes – (6, 12, 18, 24) months only
Work – (2, 4, 6, 8) rows even in hdc across row.
All Sizes
Row 27: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts.
Rows 28-29: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 30: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 17 (18, 19, 20, 21) sts.
Row 31: Work even in hdc across row.
Change to CC.
Rows 32-33: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 34: Sl st in first 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, ch 2, hdc to end of row, turn – 15 (16, 17, 17, 18) sts.
Row 35: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 36: Rep Row 30 – 14 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts.
Row 37: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 38: Rep Row 30 – 13 (14, 15, 15, 16) sts.
Row 39: Sl st in first 3 sts, ch 2, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 10 (11, 12, 12, 13) sts.
Row 40: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 9 (10, 11, 11, 12) sts.
Row 41: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 42: Rep Row 40 – 8 (9, 10, 10, 11) sts.
Row 43: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 44: Rep Row 40 – 7 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts.
Sizes 3 (12, 18, 24) months only
Row 45: Work even in hdc across to end of row.
Size 6 month only
Row 45: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across to end of row – 7 sts.
Sizes 3 (6, 12, 18) month only
Row 46: Rep Row 40 – 6 (6, 8, 8) sts.
Size 24 month only
Row 46: Work even in hdc across row.
Left Front
Ch 8 (9, 10, 11, 12).
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across row, turn – 6 (7, 8, 9, 10) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc across row to last st, 2 hdc in last st, turn – 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) sts.
Row 3: Ch 2, work even in hdc across row.
Row 4: Rep Row 2 – 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) sts.
Row 5: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first st, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 9 (10, 11, 12, 13) sts.
Rows 6-7: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 8: Rep Row 2 – 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) sts.
Row 9: Rep Row 5 – 11 (12, 13, 14, 15) sts.
Row 10: Rep Row 2 – 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) sts.
Row 11: Rep Row 5 – 13 (14, 15, 16, 17) sts.
Row 12: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 13: Rep Row 5 – 14 (15, 16, 17, 18) sts.
Row 14: Rep Row 2 – 15 (16, 17, 18, 19) sts.
Row 15-16: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 17: Rep Row 5 – 16 (17, 18, 19, 20) sts.
Rows 18-19: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 20: Rep Row 2 – 17 (18, 19, 20, 21) sts.
Rows 21-22: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 23: Rep Row 5 – 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts.
Rows 24-25: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 26: Rep Row 2 – 19 (20, 21, 22, 23) sts.
Sizes – (6, 12, 18, 24) months only
Work – (2, 4, 6, 8) rows even in hdc across row.
All Sizes
Row 27: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) sts.
Rows 28-29: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 30: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 17 (18, 19, 20, 21) sts.
Row 31: Work even in hdc across row.
Change to CC.
Rows 32-33: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 34: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts, leave remaining 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) sts unworked, turn – 15 (16, 17, 17, 18) sts.
Row 35: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 36: Rep Row 30 – 14 (15, 16, 16, 17) sts.
Row 37: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 38: Rep Row 30 – 13 (14, 15, 15, 16) sts.
Row 39: Ch 2, hdc in each across row to last 3 sts, leave remaining sts unworked, turn – 10 (11, 12, 12, 13) sts.
Row 40: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across to end of row, turn – 9 (10, 11, 11, 12) sts.
Row 41: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 42: Rep Row 40 – 8 (9, 10, 10, 11) sts.
Row 43: Work even in hdc across row.
Row 44: Rep Row 40 – 7 (8, 9, 9, 10) sts.
Sizes 3 (12, 18, 24) months only
Row 45: Work even in hdc across row.
Size 6 months only
Row 45: Ch 2, hdc in each st across row to last 2 sts, hdc2tog – 7 sts.
Sizes 3 (6, 12, 18) months only
Row 46: Rep Row 40 – 6 (6, 8, 8) sts.
Size 24 months only
Row 46: Work even in hdc across row.
Hood
With MC, ch 82 (84, 86, 86, 88).
Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across row, turn – 80 (82, 84, 84, 86) sts.
Row 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in each st across to last 2 sts, hdc2tog, turn – 78 (80, 82, 82, 84) sts.
Row 3: Work even in hdc across row.
Change to CC.
Rows 4-5: Rep Rows 2-3 – 76 (78, 80, 80, 82) sts.
Rows 6-7: Rep Rows 2-3 – 74 (76, 78, 78, 80) sts.
Rows 8-9: Rep Rows 2-3 – 72 (74, 76, 76, 78) sts.
Rows 10-11: Rep Rows 2-3 – 70 (72, 74, 74, 76) sts.
Rows 12-13: Rep Rows 2-3 – 68 (70, 72, 72, 74) sts.
Rows 14-15: Rep Rows 2-3 – 66 (68, 70, 70, 72) sts.
Fasten off.
Spots (make 13)
Ch 4.
Rnd 1: Work 9 dc in 4th ch from hook, join with sl st in tch.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
With 2 of the spots, create the tops of the antennae. To do this, weave the tail through the tops of the 9 dc and top of tch. Pull tight to form a ball.
Antennae
With RS facing and CC, join yarn to Hood, using photo as guide.
Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 2 ch, sc2tog last ch and same st as join – 4 sts.
Fasten off.
To make top of Antennae, sew gathered spot to top of stem.
Repeat on opposite side for second Antennae.
Finishing
Block all pieces.
Sew spots in place using photo as a guide. Sew front to back at shoulder seams. Sew back seam of hood. Sew hood to neck edge. Sew buttons on bottom and front, slipping through hdc openings. Sew side seams, leaving armholes and leg openings open.
Border
With RS facing, join CC at bottom Left Front corner.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work sc evenly spaced around left leg opening, across bottom of Back, around right leg opening, across bottom right, up right front, around Hood, down Left Front, and across left bottom, working 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.
Armhole
With RS facing, join CC at bottom of armhole.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work sc evenly spaced around armhole opening, join with sl st in first sc.
Fasten off.
Repeat for other armhole.
Weave in ends.
Wow, that was a long pattern, but it has to be for all the different sizes. 🙂 I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern – be sure to check out my other baby patterns! I’m working on a pair of ladybug baby booties to go with this, too!
Happy Crocheting!
Amanda
This is adorable!! I hope I get a grandchild, so I can make one.
Hi there thank you for this great pattern I couldn’t wait to make it, I have purchased the pdf and printed it off.
I made the 3 month size in double knit wool and size 4 hook, I am in UK so I used trebles instead of hdc I am really pleased with it, but it has turned out 25 ” 63.5 cm. Where did I go wrong please? Can’t wait to make more in different colours. Thanks
Hi Jean! I am not that familiar with UK crochet terms, but from my research it looks like a hdc would be a half treble. Does this sound right? It sounds like you used a different stitch than I did, which would be the difference. 🙂
Hi Amanda, thank you for your very helpful reply.
I have made another one and it looks so cute thank you.
Hi Amanda,
I loved your pattern and made the 3 month size but made a bee pattern instead of lady bug. I used black for the first 7 rows for the back, left, and right pieces then alternated black and yellow every 2 rows for the remaining rows. Then for the hood I used yellow for the MC and black for the CC. Lastly, I made basic flat circles in 2 sizes to create the wings. I’d be happy to send you pictures if you’re interested!
Hi Kimberly!
I’d love to see pictures! That sounds adorable! When I first designed this pattern I wanted to make it in two versions – a girl in a ladybug and a boy in a bee costume but I never got around to doing a bee. I think it would be so cute (and, of course, a girl can be a bumblebee, too!). That’s one great thing about having a basic onesie pattern to play around with because you can make it into other cute designs. 🙂 I bet your baby bee is adorable!