This pattern uses 4 ply wool and a 2 mm hook. It is written in American crochet notation. The finished ladybird is 10 cm long.
Body
With black wool
Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)
Round 2: increase in every stitch (12 stitches)
Round 3: sc in each stitch (12 stitches)
Round 4: sc in the first stitch, increase in the next stitch – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 5: sc in each stitch (18 stitches)
Round 6: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (24 stitches)
Round 7: sc in each stitch (24 stitches)
Round 8: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (30 stitches)
Round 9: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)
Round 10: sc in the first four stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (36 stitches)
Rounds 11 – 16: sc in each stitch (36 stitches) (6 rounds)
Round 17: sc in the first four stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (30 stitches)
Round 18: sc in each stitch (30 stitches)
Round 19: sc in the first three stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (24 stitches)
Round 20: sc in each stitch (24 stitches)
Round 21: sc in the first two stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 22: sc in each stitch (18 stitches)
Round 23: sc in the first stitch, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (12 stitches)
Stuff the body
Head
Round 24: sc in the first stitch, increase in the next stitch – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 25: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next stitch – repeat (24 stitches)
Rounds 26 – 27: sc in each stitch (24 stitches) (2 rounds)
Round 28: sc in the first two stitches, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (18 stitches)
Round 29: sc in the first stitch, decrease the next two stitches together – repeat (12 stitches)
Stuff the head
Round 30: decrease until the hole closes.
Fasten off, weave in end.
Legs (make 6)
With black wool
Round 1: 4 sc in a magic ring (4 stitches)
Rounds 2 – 6: sc in each stitch (4 stitches) (5 rounds)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Right wing case (looking at the ladybird from the back)
With red wool
Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)
Round 2: sc in each stitch (6 stitches)
Round 3: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last two stitches (8 stitches)
Round 4: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last three stitches (10 stitches)
Round 5: sc in the first four stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last four stitches (12 stitches)
Round 6: sc in the first five stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last five stitches (14 stitches)
Round 7: sc in the first six stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last six stitches (16 stitches) (12 red, 2 black, 2 red)
Round 8: sc in the first seven stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last seven stitches (18 stitches) (14 red, 2 black, 2 red)
Round 9: sc in the first eight stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last eight stitches (20 stitches)
Round 10: sc in the first nine stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last nine stitches (22 stitches)
Round 11: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 12: sc in each stitch (22 stitches) (15 red, 2 black, 5 red)
Round 13: sc in each stitch (22 stitches) (15 red, 2 black, 5 red)
Round 14: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 15: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 16: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 17: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 18: sc in the first nine stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last nine stitches (20 stitches) (17 red, 2 black, 1 red)
Round 19: sc in the first eight stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last eight stitches (18 stitches) (15 red, 2 black, 1 red)
Round 20: sc in the first seven stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last seven stitches (16 stitches)
Round 21: sc in the first six stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last six stitches (14 stitches)
Round 22: sc in the first five stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last five stitches (12 stitches)
Round 23: sc in the first four stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last four stitches (10 stitches)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Left wing case (looking at the ladybird from the back)
With red wool
Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6 stitches)
Round 2: sc in each stitch (6 stitches)
Round 3: sc in the first two stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last two stitches (8 stitches)
Round 4: sc in the first three stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last three stitches (10 stitches)
Round 5: sc in the first four stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last four stitches (12 stitches)
Round 6: sc in the first five stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last five stitches (14 stitches)
Round 7: sc in the first six stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last six stitches (16 stitches)
Round 8: sc in the first seven stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last seven stitches (18 stitches)
Round 9: sc in the first eight stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last eight stitches (20 stitches)
Round 10: sc in the first nine stitches, increase in the next two stitches, sc in the last nine stitches (22 stitches) (2 red, 2 black, 18 red)
Round 11: sc in each stitch (22 stitches) (2 red, 2 black, 18 red)
Round 12: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 13: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 14: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 15: sc in each stitch (22 stitches) (7 red, 2 black, 13 red)
Round 16: sc in each stitch (22 stitches) (7 red, 2 black, 13 red)
Round 17: sc in each stitch (22 stitches)
Round 18: sc in the first nine stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last nine stitches (20 stitches)
Round 19: sc in the first eight stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last eight stitches (18 stitches)
Round 20: sc in the first seven stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last seven stitches (16 stitches) (5 red, 2 black, 9 red)
Round 21: sc in the first six stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last six stitches (14 stitches) (5 red, 2 black, 7 red)
Round 22: sc in the first five stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last five stitches (12 stitches)
Round 23: sc in the first four stitches, (decrease the next two stitches together) x 2, sc in the last four stitches (10 stitches)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Antennae
Insert the hook into an appropriate spot in the head and chain 3. Weave in ends.
Assembly
Sew the legs and wing cases onto the body and embroider the eyes.
