This crochet bee and honeycomb table runner begins as thirty separate solid hexagons, not a plain base with decorations. Three staggered columns lock together into a recognizable honeycomb field, and eight small striped bees travel across the joined cells.
Make thirty five-round hexagons in three honey colors, block them evenly, and join them as three staggered columns of ten. Add a charcoal corded outline around the stepped silhouette, then crochet and attach eight compact bee motifs.
Why You’ll Love This Project
The geometric cell structure carries the theme before any bee is added. Portable hexagons make progress easy to count, while the staggered join and dark outline create strong visual contrast for table styling and Pinterest images.
Materials
- Approximately 330 yards honey-gold worsted-weight cotton yarn
- Approximately 250 yards amber cotton yarn
- Approximately 260 yards cream cotton yarn
- Approximately 110 yards charcoal cotton yarn
- Approximately 35 yards white cotton yarn
- 4 mm crochet hook
- Thirty locking stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Blocking mats and rustproof pins
Gauge, Measurements, and Planning
Each five-round solid hexagon must block to 5.25 inches from flat side to flat side. Three staggered columns determine the width and ten cells determine the finished length.
Make and wash a gauge swatch before beginning. Measure only after the swatch is completely dry. If the stitch width differs, change hook size rather than pulling the working yarn tighter. Keep a written count at the end of every section so the finished edges remain balanced and the assembly points line up.
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- sc: single crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- BLO: back loop only
- yo: yarn over
Special stitch guidance: Hexagon corner: work 2 double crochet, chain 2, and 2 double crochet in the marked corner space. Corded single crochet: work each single crochet over a second charcoal strand. Bee wing: chain 5, work slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, single crochet back along the chain.
Before You Begin
- Beginning chain 3 counts as the first double crochet in hexagon rounds.
- Make ten hexagons in each of the three honey colors.
- Block all thirty cells to the same 5.25-inch width.
- Join in staggered columns before making the bees.
Instructions
Crochet Thirty Honeycomb Cells
Make ten gold, ten amber, and ten cream hexagons.
- Hexagon Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 dc into it. Join. (6 sts)
- Round 2: Work 2 dc in each stitch around. Join. (12 sts)
- Round 3: Repeat [dc in next stitch, hexagon corner in next stitch] six times. Join. (six sides)
- Rounds 4–5: Dc across each side and work a hexagon corner in every corner space.
- Block each cell to 5.25 inches across.
Assemble the Staggered Honeycomb
Arrange colors so no identical cells share a full edge.
- Lay out three staggered columns of ten hexagons, offsetting the center column by half a cell.
- Join neighboring flat edges through matching back loops with cream.
- Close every three-cell junction before tightening the surrounding seams.
- Steam the honeycomb from the wrong side and confirm all thirty cells lie flat.
Add the Charcoal Cell Outline
Follow the stepped outer silhouette without filling its points.
- Join charcoal at one outer valley and work corded sc around the complete honeycomb edge.
- Place 2 sc at outer points and sc2tog across inner valleys.
- Work a second round of ordinary sc, repeating the point and valley shaping.
- Join invisibly and block the outlined runner to 17 by 50 inches.
Crochet and Place Eight Bees
Keep the bee bodies small enough to reveal the cells beneath.
- For each bee body, ch 9 in charcoal and sc across; work four rows while alternating charcoal and gold. (8 sts)
- Round both short ends with 4 sc and embroider two small charcoal eyes.
- Make two white wings per bee using the bee-wing stitch and sew them behind the upper body.
- Attach eight bees across separate cells, alternating their flight direction.
Assembly and Shaping
Build the center column first and add outer cells one full edge at a time. Keep all cell points aligned, distribute the three colors evenly, and place no more than one bee on a single hexagon.
Lay every component on a flat surface before joining. Match the marked centers first, then divide each remaining edge into equal sections. Work through both layers with consistent tension and pause after each section to check that the fabric lies flat. This measured approach prevents twisting and keeps decorative details facing the intended direction.
Finishing
- Weave hexagon tails into matching color rounds.
- Reinforce all three-cell junctions.
- Secure bee bodies at both ends while leaving wings slightly raised.
- Final-block to 17 by 50 inches without flattening the wings.
For a polished result, weave each tail through several same-color stitches, reverse direction once, and trim only after the fabric has been gently stretched. Block to the listed dimensions without flattening textured stitches. Inspect joins, borders, straps, and decorative pieces before the project is used or gifted.
Helpful Tips
- Use a numbered layout photo before joining.
- Block cells before measuring the runner.
- Carry the second charcoal strand loosely around points.
- Place bees only after the complete border lies flat.
Good lighting and a contrasting stitch marker make counting much easier. If a section looks uneven, compare the current count with the previous checkpoint before continuing. Fixing one missed stitch early is faster than compensating later, and it preserves the measurements used by the assembly instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I omit the bees?
Yes. The thirty-cell honeycomb construction is complete on its own.
Why does my honeycomb twist?
One or more hexagons are joined point-to-flat-side instead of matching full flat edges.
Can I add more cells?
Add one staggered row of three cells for approximately 4.5 inches of extra length.
Conclusion
The finished bee and honeycomb runner is defined by its structure: thirty joined hexagons form the entire table surface, charcoal edging sharpens the cell silhouette, and eight small bees add movement without hiding the geometry.
Printable Crochet Pattern Card
Project: Crochet Bee and Honeycomb Table Runner
Skill level: Intermediate Hook: 4 mm Yarn: Worsted
Finished size: Approximately 17 inches wide by 50 inches long
Card Materials
- Approximately 330 yards honey-gold worsted-weight cotton yarn
- Approximately 250 yards amber cotton yarn
- Approximately 260 yards cream cotton yarn
- Approximately 110 yards charcoal cotton yarn
- Approximately 35 yards white cotton yarn
- 4 mm crochet hook
- Thirty locking stitch markers
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Blocking mats and rustproof pins
Card Instructions
- Crochet Thirty Honeycomb Cells: Make thirty five-round solid hexagons in equal groups of gold, amber, and cream.
- Assemble the Staggered Honeycomb: Join thirty cells into three staggered columns of ten to form the runner itself.
- Add the Charcoal Cell Outline: Outline the stepped honeycomb with one corded and one smooth charcoal round.
- Crochet and Place Eight Bees: Make eight small charcoal-and-gold striped bees with sixteen white wings.
Finish: Check every count, weave in all ends, block to measurement, and inspect each join.
