Here is a beehive, 
but where are the bees?

Hidden inside where nobody sees.
Watch them come creeping out of the hive,

1 2 3 4 5

bzzzzzzz!

This pattern was inspired by the above cited nursery rhyme. A youtube video shows the finger play in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMYE4AG8-iA. See how this works like a charm with toddlers?! Now imagine the child not only watching your fingers, but ‘real’ bees….

Here’s what you can do with the rhyme and this toy:
First you show the hive while reciting the poem.
With the countdown you turn the hive inside out slowly, counting the bees one by one.
At the end of the rhyme your hand is in the hive, and when you wiggle your fingers, the bees move!

What do you need to create this toy? Scraps of any yarn, DK or Worsted, merino or cotton will work. Since it is a toy for a toddler, you might like to use a washable yarn. At least three colors are needed to make this toy. You will need less than 50 yards of yarn altogether: A brighter and a darker color for the bees, and a color of your choice for the hive. You can use any color for the bees’ wings. A striped hive is an option, but don’t use the color brown unless you want to make a gag gift of dog doodoo - with flies.

What skills are required to knit this toy? You need to be comfortable using double pointed needles. Otherwise the making of this toy requires knitting skills like knit, purl, decrease, change of color, and i-cord, as well as very basic crocheting skills, since the tiny bees’ antennae and wings are created with a simple chain stitch. The embroidery is optional.