No Mow May Bee

This little bee was made to raise awareness of 'no mow may' - a project that aims to encourage people to leave their lawns to grow long over the month of May, in order to encourage the growth and diversity of plant and animal populations.

Difficulty:

Easy

You will need:

• dk yarn in yellow, black, and light blue
• A white piece of felt
• White sewing cotton
• A barbecue skewer
• Green embroidery thread
• Polyester toy stuffing
• A darning needle
• A regular sewing needle
• A pair of scissors

Note:

• 'fasten off neatly' refers to a special way of fastening off which is neater and makes it easier to see where you should be crocheting on the next round (also known as invisible fastening off). This involves pulling up your yarn through your stitch, threading the yarn underneath the second stitch from where you pulled your yarn up, then threading your yarn back through the top of this stitch and down through the back of the work. There is a very helpful site that explains it clearly found here. Just make sure when you do this that you thread your needle through the SECOND stitch after the last stitch you made, otherwise you will end up with an extra stitch which may mean that all of the following rounds are out of line with each other.

For the body:

with black dk yarn make a magic loop with 4sc
Round 1: make 2sc in each st (8sc)
Round 2: (sc, make 2sc in the next st)  4 times (12sc)
Round 3: (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times (16sc)
Fasten off neatly

Fasten on to one of these sts with yellow dk yarn

Round 4: sc in this same st and the next 2sts, make 2sc in the next st, (sc3, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times (20sc)
Round 4: sc2, make 2sc in the next st, (sc4, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2
Round 5: (sc5, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times (28sc)
Fasten off neatly

Rejoin to one of these sts with black yarn
Round 6: sc in this same st and the next 27sts

Rounds 7 - 8: (2 rounds) sc in each st

Fasten off neatly

Rejoin to one of these sts with yellow yarn
Round 9: sc in this same st and the next 27sts

Rounds 10 - 11: (2 rounds) sc in each st

Fasten off neatly

Rejoin to one of these sts with black yarn
Round 12: sc in this same st and the next 27sts

Fasten off

Stuff

For the head:
With yellow yarn ch10

Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 7 chain sts. Make 3sc in the last chain st, then sc in the back of each of the previous 7 chain sts you crocheted into in turn. Make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you crocheted into (20sc)
Round 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc7, make 2sc in each of the next 3 chain sts, sc7, make 2sc in each of the last 2 chain sts (26sc)
Round 3: sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc7, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc7, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) twice (32sc)
Round 4: sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc7, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc7, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) twice (38sc)
Rounds 5 - 9: (5 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 10: Sc, sc2tog, sc11, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc12, sc2tog, sc2 (34sc)

These next rounds are slightly more than 1 round. In this case the start of the following rounds are shifted slightly (if you are using stitch markers to make each row you should place them after the last sc2tog st of the row in question)

Round 11: (Over 1 round) Sc2, sc2tog, sc8, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc7, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog (28sc)
Round 12: (Over 1 round) sc2, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog (22sc)
Round 13: Sc, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (16sc)
Round 14: (Over 1 round) (Sc, sc2tog) 5 times, sc2tog (10sc)

Stuff
Round 15: Sc2tog 5 times (5sc)
Fasten off

Sew this to the top of the body

For the eyes:
Use black yarn to embroider eyes to the front of the head

For the arms (make 2):
With black dk yarn make a magic loop with 6sc
Rounds 1 - 5: (5 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten  off

Stuff and sew these to the sides of the body

For the antennae (make 2):
With black dk yarn make a magic loop with 6sc
Round 1: (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times (9sc)
Rounds 2 - 3: (2 rounds) sc in each st
Round 4: Sc2tog 3 times (6sc)
Rounds 5 - 7: (3 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off

Stuff and sew these to the top of the head

For the wings (make 2):
With light blue yarn ch4
Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in the next chain st. Make 3sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the back loop of each of the previous chain sts you crocheted into. ch1, turn (7sc)
Round 2: sc2, make 2sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc2. ch1, turn (10sc)
Round 3: sc2, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2. ch1, turn (13sc)
Round 4: sc2, (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2. ch1, turn(16sc)
Round 5: sc2, (sc3, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2. ch1, turn (19sc)

Fasten off

Sew these to the sides of the body, as shown in the image below.

For the banner:

Use 2 strands of embroidery thread to embroider your desired message onto a piece of white felt. The message I have used is "#NoMowMay". Once this is done cut around the message to create a small banner. The size will depend on the size of your letters and the message you have chosen.

You then need to cut a bamboo skewer down to about 12cm long. Use white sewing cotton to sew the bamboo skewer to the back of your banner. This can be done by making small repeated stitches through the felt and then over the top of the skewers, as shown in the image below. This should hold the banner in place securely, but you may wish to add a dab of PVA glue to ensure it stays attached.

Finally you need to attach the banner to the bee by pushing the end into the hand. This should keep the banner  in place, but depending on how tightly you have attached the wings you may wish to add a small amount of PVA glue to ensure it stays in place.

That's all from this pattern. I encourage you to place your bee in a place where its going to be visible, to help spread awareness of this movement! I placed mine in my local park- just make sure if you leave it in a public place that you check on it every so often to make sure it hasn't become loose (which may result in damage to wildlife)

If you'd like to keep up to date with the projects I'm currently working on including a few more craftivism projects related to this one), you can follow me on my Instagram. If you have any questions you can message me there, or else leave a comment below or on my Ravelry page.

You are very welcome to sell finished products, but please don't re-post this pattern or claim it as your own. Thank you!

Free crocheted canary pattern for #CanaryCraftivists

Note: If you would prefer to follow a video tutorial of this pattern, you can find one here

This pattern is part of a 'Gentle protest' movement organised by Craftivist Collective. It aims to make a positive impact on the climate crisis by encouraging MPs to take more action faster to tackle this problem.

photo credit: Liz Seabrook, Craftivist Collective

The goal of this movement is to appeal to the UK government to lead the way at COP26, helping to show their commitment to making the world a cleaner, more sustainable place. It aims to prove to politicians that climate change is a concern for the quiet majority, whose political viewpoints may be diverse but who are united by their care for the future of our world.

In the past canaries were used by coal miners to warn them when the air was becoming too toxic to work. In a similar way, our gentle protest will aim to be a warning signal to MPs, encouraging them to act before its too late to help nature and wildlife to flourish.

There are 2 branches to this activism:

1. The creation of these canaries, that you are encouraged to send to your local MP at the start of Semptember, along with a letter voicing your climate - related concerns. A cover letter can be found on the Craftivists Collective site, and you can find out who your MP is here. You can alternatively place your Canaries in a public place to raise awareness of the campaign.

2. You can also get involved by arranging a small group of individuals to dress up as yellow canaries and assemble in a local public landmark, or other recognisable space. You can then share photos of your 'flock' with local media using this template press release form. Whilst you're there you may like to spend an afternoon together doing some crafting.

photo credit: Liz Seabrook, Craftivist Collective

photo credit: Liz Seabrook, Craftivist Collective

 

For more information visit the Craftivists Collective site. You can also tag @Craftivists using #CanaryCraftivists to share your craftivism with the wider community.

Difficulty:

Easy - medium

You will need:

Please try to use recycled or earth-friendly materials wherever possible.

For the canary:

• A 2.5mm crochet hook
• dk yarn in bright yellow and light brown
• 4ply yarn in black
• White sewing cotton.
• An embroidery needle
• A regular sewing needle
• Toy stuffing
• A pair of scissors

For the banner:

• A barbecue skewer
• A small piece of white felt
• Embroidery silk in green

For the canaries (make 2):

For the body:
Make a magic loop with 6sc

Round 1: make 2sc in each st (12sc)

Round 2: (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (18sc)

Round 3: (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (24sc)

Rounds 4 - 8: (5 rounds) sc in each st

Round 9: (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times, sc4, (make 2sc in the following st, sc2) 3 times, sc3 (31sc)

Round 10: sc, (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc9, make 2sc in the following st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc7 (36sc)

Round 11: sc4, make 2sc in the next st, sc5, make 2sc in the following st, sc25 (38sc)

Rounds 12 - 19: (8 rounds) sc in each st

Round 20: sc4, (sc3, sc2tog) 3 times, sc19 (35sc)

Round 21: sc3, (sc2, sc2tog) 3 times, sc20 (32sc)

Round 22: sc3, (sc, sc2tog) 3 times, sc20 (29sc)

Round 23: sc2, sc2tog 5 times, sc17 (24sc)

Round 24: sc2tog 4 times, sc14, sc2tog (19sc)

Round 25: sc2tog 3 times, sc11, sc2tog (15sc)

Stuff

Round 26:(over 1 round) sc3tog, sc2tog, sc9, sc2tog

Row 27: sc2tog, sc6. ch1, turn

Rows 28 - 30: (3 rows) hdc4. ch1, turn

Row 31: hdc, hdc2tog, hdc. ch1, turn (3sts)

Row 32: hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 33: hdc2tog, hdc. ch1, turn (2sts)

Row 34: hdc2. ch1, turn

Row 35: hdc2tog

Fasten off

For the wings (make 2):
Make a magic loop with 3sc. ch1, turn

Row 1: make 2sc in each st. ch1, turn (6sc)

Row 2: (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times. ch1, turn (9sc)

Rounds 3 - 7: (5 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 8: sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog. ch1, turn (7sc)

Row 9: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 10: sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog. ch1, turn (5sc)

Row 11: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 12: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog. ch1, turn (3sc)

Row 13: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 14: sc2tog, sc. ch1, turn (2sc)

Row 15: sc2tog. ch1, turn (1sc)

Row 16: sc in this st

Fasten off

Sew these to the sides of the body, as shown in the images below

For the beak:
make a magic loop with 3sc. ch1, turn

Round 1: make 2sc in each st (6sc)

Fasten off

Sew this to the head

For the feet (make 2):
ch4, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts, ch4 (image 1), sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts (image 2), ch4, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts (image 3), sc in the first chain st you made (image 4), ch5, sc in teh 2nd chain st from hook and the next 3 chain sts (image 5), slip the first st you made (image 6).

Fasten off

Sew these to the base of the body

For the eyes:

Embroider the eyes onto the sides of the head using black 4ply yarn

For the banner:

Use 2 strands of embroidery thread to embroider your desired message onto a piece of white felt. The message I have used is "Join #CanaryCraftivists flying towards cleaner air". Once this is done cut around the message to create a small banner. Mine was about 12 x 5cm large, but yours may be larger or smaller depending on the size of your letters and the message you have chosen.

You then need to cut out 2 sections of bamboo skewers around 12cm long. You may wish to increase their length if your banner is particularly tall (eg. if you have more than 3 rows of letters on it).

Use white sewing cotton to sew the bamboo skewers to the sides of your banner. This can be done by making small repeated stitches through the felt and then over the top of the skewers, as shown in the image below. This should hold the banner in place securely, though you may want to add a few extra stitches if you're worried about it slipping.

Finally you need to attach the banner to the birds by pushing the ends into the gap between the body and the wings. This should keep the banner  in place, but depending on how tightly you have attached the wings you may wish to add a small amount of PVA glue to ensure it stays in place.

That's all from this pattern! Once you've finished your little canaries feel free to place them in your local park to spread awareness of this cause.

You can also send your bird to your local MP at the start of September. (If you're not sure who they are you can find out here). A template letter can be found on the Craftivist Collective website - this is a great way for you to compassionately outline your climate concerns, encouraging them to do more faster.

There are also lots of other great ways you can get involved, such as organising a local group of activists to dress up as canaries and flock to a local area. You can share any of your gentle craftivist activities on social media by tagging @Craftivists and using #CanaryCraftivists.

Additionally, if you know of anyone who'd like to get involved using another craft form, you can find all of the free patterns and templates at craftivist-collective.com/canarycraftivists

photo credit: Liz Seabrook, Craftivist Collective

photo credit: Liz Seabrook, Craftivist Collective