Beehive Plushie

Every year the Lexington Public Library chooses a book for the community to read together. This year's title is A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. My department created a woodsy display to promote the book that included a big black bear. For some reason, possibly because of all the Winnie the Pooh books I read as a child, I can't picture a bear without honey so I made this beehive plushie for our black bear to rob (though he might be a little disappointed to find it full of fiberfill instead of honey.) I made up the pattern as I went, but I made sure to write it down so I could share. Enjoy!!

Gauge:
22 sts = 4” in Stockinette stitch
Finished Size:
5” tall and 4” in diameter at widest part

Materials:
Yarn: Plymouth Tweed or any worsted
Needles: 1 set US6 dpns or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: fiberfill for stuffing and tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Definitions:
pfb: purl through the front loop and then purl through the back loop
sl1p: slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn held to back

Pattern:
CO 6sts, pm, join to knit in the round
rnd 1: p
rnd 2: pfb all stitches to end (12 sts)
rnds 3-4: p
rnd 5: *p1, pfb, rep from * to end (18 sts)
rnds 6-7: k
rnd 8: *p1, pfb, p2, pfb, sl1p, rep from * to end (24 sts)
rnds 9-10: *p7, sl1p, rep from * to end
rnd 11: p3, pfb, p3, sl1p, rep from * to end (27 sts)
rnds 12-13: k
rnd 14: *p3, sl1p, p4, pfb, rep from * to end (30 sts)
rnds 15-16: *p3, sl1p, p6, rep from * to end
rnd 17: *p3, sl1p, p4, pfb, p1, rep from * to end (33 sts)
rnds 18-19: k
rnd 20: sl1p, p8, *sl1p, p3, pfb, p3, rep from * to end (36 sts)
rnds 21-22: *sl1p, p8, rep from * to end
rnd 23: *sl1p, p3, pfb, p4, rep from * to end (40 sts)
rnds 24-25: k
rnd 26: *pfb, p4, sl1p, p4, rep from * to end (44 sts)
rnds 27-28: *p6, sl1p, p3, rep from * to end
rnd 29: *p1, pfb, p4, sl1p, p4, rep from * to end (48 sts)
rnds 30-31: k
rnds 32-35: *p1, sl1p, p10, rep from * to end
rnds 36-37: k
rnds 38-41: *p7,sl1p, p4, rep from * to end
rnd 42: p
rnd 43: *p6, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 44: p
rnd 45: *p5, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 46: p
rnd 47: *p4, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 48: p
At this point you will want to pull the tail from the cast on to the inside of the hive and weave it in. Next, add stuffing and shape the hive.
rnd 49: *p3, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 50: *p2, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 51: *p1, p2tog, rep from * to end
rnd 52: *p2tog, rep from * to end
Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. If you choose to weight the bottom with beans, add them just before you pull the final stitches together.
Weave in end and shape.