Crochet a Bike Appliqué

Come on everyone - it's time to get on your bike! Your crocheted bike appliqué, that is:

crochet bike applique

This version is crocheted in sports weight cotton with a 3 mm hook and is 2 inches/4.5 cm wide.

I use two stitch markers in this pattern so that you know exactly where to crochet.

Bike Pattern

The pattern is crocheted in one piece, following steps 1 - 5 below:

US Terms:

1. Front wheel

Starting with a magic ring, ch 2.

Work 12 hdc into ring.

Slip stitch into top of 1st hdc. Put a stitch marker into the top two loops of the next stitch so you can easily see where to join in later.

2. Back wheel

Ch 9, ss into 5th chain from hook to make a ring.

Ch 2. Putting a stitch marker into the top two loops of your first hdc, make 12 hdc into ring.

Join with a sc into the space between your ch 2 and first hdc.

3. Seat

Ch 2. Work 1 dc and 1 hdc into the top two loops of the first hdc of the last round - which is where your stitch marker is :)

4. Crossbar

Hold the two wheels so that both right sides are facing. Work 1 hdc and 5 sc around the chain between the two wheels. Do not work into the chain, just around it.

Then work 1 sc into the top of the front wheel where your stitch marker is.

5. Handlebars

First handlebar: ch 5, ss into fifth chain from hook. (We will work our final ss into the same chain stitch, so keep your eye on it!)

Second handlebar: ch 4, ss into fourth chain from hook.

Ss into the bottom of the five chain you made - the final ss.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Weave around the front "spokes" of the wheels in a contrasting color to add a nice touch - pix below!

UK Terms

1. Front wheel

Starting with a magic ring, ch 2.

Work 12 htr into ring.

Slip stitch into top of 1st htr. Put a stitch marker into the top two loops of the next stitch so you can easily see where to join in later.

2. Back wheel

Ch 9, ss into 5th chain from hook to make a ring.

Ch 2. Putting a stitch marker into the top two loops of your first hdc, make 12 hdc into ring.

Join with a dc into the space between your ch 2 and first htr.

3. Seat

Ch 2. Work 1 tr and 1 htr into the top two loops of the first htr of the last round - which is where your stitch marker is :)

4. Crossbar

Hold the two wheels so that both right sides are facing. Work 1 htr and 5 dc around the chain between the two wheels. Do not work into the chain, just around it.

Then work 1 dc into the top of the front wheel where your stitch marker is.

5. Handlebars

First handlebar: ch 5, ss into fifth chain from hook. (We will work our final ss into the same chain stitch, so keep your eye on it!)

Second handlebar: ch 4, ss into fourth chain from hook.

Ss into the bottom of the five chain you made - the final ss.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Weave around the front "spokes" of the wheels in a contrasting color to add a nice touch - pix below!

The Crochet Bike Appliqué: some pictures to show you how it's made!

Not the detailed pattern here, but with enough info I hope to show you what's supposed to be happening as you go along.

Here's the front wheel, with 12 stitches into your magic ring, joining with a ss into the first hdc (UK htr.)

The stitch marker goes into the top two loops of the next stitch so that you can join in easily when you come back here later!

Front wheel completed

The back wheel: stitch marker inserted into the top two loops of the first hdc (Uk htr) worked - and joining the ring with a sc (UK dc) into the space between your 2 ch and that first hdc (UK htr.)


Two wheels crocheted, joined by a chain

Now we work into those top two loops where your stitch marker was. Ch 2 and crochet 1 dc (UK tr) and 1 hdc (UK htr) into those top two loops.

Working two stitches for the seat

The crossbar is great fun! Hold the two wheels so that their right sides are facing towards you. Then work another hdc (UK htr) around the chain that joins the wheels together and snuggle it in neatly just behind the back wheel.

Then continue, working 5 sc (UK dc) around the length of the chain.

We've crocheted around the crossbar back to the front wheel

Join with a sc (UK dc) into the top two loops of the stitch where you placed a stitch marker.

Work the handlebars, one with five chain, the other with four, then join with a ss into the bottom of the five chain handlebar.

Your bike is ready to ride!

But... one more thing! Two, actually. You have to weave your ends in neatly, and, if you like, add a little customization.

The handlebars are crocheted with chains and slip stitches

Weaving in the ends

I weave both ends along the back of the crossbar:

Weaving first end in along wrong side of crossbarWeave through stitches behind crossbar
The bike is finished, apart from a little decorationThe finished article - almost!

If you want a kind of "3D" effect, with the handlebars perpendicular to the crossbar: hold your bike so that the right side is facing you. Then weave the handlebar yarn end down to the right of the handlebars and through to the back, pulling the handlebars round into position.

If you want flat handlebars: weave your handlebar yarn end down through to the left of the handlebars then through to the back.

Then weave your end through the back of the stitches running along the back of the crossbar, and weave the end in from your front wheel - I run it around the back of the inner stitches of the ring.

A pink and a gray crocheted bikeTwo bikes crocheted in cotton thread with handlebars laying (fairly) flat!

A little customization

Use a contrasting yarn to weave around the wheel spokes - which are, of course, the front legs of your half double crochets, or half trebles for us UK-ers.

Working on the wrong side of the piece, I thread my second color around the back of the front wheel.

Joining contrasting color

Then I bring the yarn out to the front of the wheel:

Crimson yarn contrasting with the gray bike

Under and over, under and over, all around:

Crimson yarn woven under and over wheel stitches

Then, working on the wrong side again, guide your yarn along the back of the crossbar to the back wheel.

Bringing contrasting yarn across wrong side to next wheel

Then bring your yarn out to the front and work around the back wheel.

Pop your yarn back to the wrong side and weave in the end!


The two wheels are now customized!

I do hope you enjoyed crocheting this fun little bike. It gave me an idea for a related appliqué.

So, as you do, I just went with the flow. The result?

The Penny Farthing Appliqué!

Penny Farthing Appliqué

And I'm so glad I had a real English penny and farthing to go with my design. I did spruce them up for my photo, although I do understand that valuable old coins should never be polished.

But they look so lovely and shiny, don't you agree?  ;)

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