BEGINNER’S BUNNY

YARN 1/4 50g ball any type DK or 4-ply yarn, I used Drops Sky for the grey bunny a
cotton mix sock yarn from my stash for the brown and various rainbow shades of alpaca
and alpaca mix 4-ply for Rainbow Rabbit
NEEDLES Pair straight knitting needles - 3.25mm-3.50mm/ size 3 or 4 for 4-ply,
fingering and sock weight yarns or 3.75mm-4.00 size 5 or 6 for DK/ light worsted or
aran/ worsted yarns
TENSION not really necessary for such a small project
EXTRAS Toy filling; 2 pairs locking type stitch markers; black sewing thread or thin
black yarn and sewing needle for nose; 12-15mm toy eyes with plastic or
metal washer backs

PLEASE NOTE: It is suggested that toy eyes make any knitted toy NOT SUITABLE for
very young children

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
W+Tk bring working yarn to the front of the work, slip next stitch knit-wise
onto the RH needle, take working yarn to the back, slip the slipped stitch back
onto the LH needle, turn the knitting = W+Tk (wrap and turn knit)

W+Tp take working yarn to the back of the work, slip next stitch purl-wise
onto the RH needle, bring working yarn to the front, slip the slipped stitch
back onto the LH needle, turn the knitting = W+Tp (wrap and turn purl)

All other abbreviations can be found at the end of the pattern

knitting pattern
by Claire Garland aka Dot Pebbles© I have used Cable Cast On Throughout
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HEAD Join Nose Seam

Beginning at the Nose cast on 10 sts Fold the cast-on edge for Nose Seam in half, RS (knit-side) together, and
Rows 1-2 Work two rows stocking stitch (that’s one row knit and one row back stitch or running stitch to join both halves of the cast-on edge from the
purl) corners to the fold, then work back stitch to join the row ends to create the
Row 3 inc) K3, kfb, k2, kfb, knit to end - 12sts Chin Seam from that seam along row ends to the Chin Markers. Turn out to
Rows 4, 6, 8 & 10 Purl RS and remove both chin markers (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3).
Row 5 inc) K4, kfb, k2, kfb, knit to end - 14sts To shape this nose seam, with your thumb on the wrong side of the nose,
Row 7 inc) Kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb - 18sts behind the seam, rub and smooth out the seam to create a rounded nose.
Row 9 inc) Kfb, k6, kfb, k2, kfb, k6, kfb - 22sts
HEAD BACK STITCHES
Row 11 inc) Kfb, k8, kfb, k2, kfb, k8, kfb - 26sts
PM (place marker) at each end of last row for left and right Chin Markers NECK MARKER

Row 12 Purl BUNNY’S

Row 13 inc) Kfb, k10, kfb, k2, kfb, k10, kfb - 30sts LEFT SIDE

Row 14 Purl
Row 15 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 28sts
CHIN MARKER
Rows 16-19 dec) Repeat last 2 rows twice - 24sts
CAST-ON EDGE
Row 20 Purl Fig. 1 CORNERS
PM at each end of last row for left and right Neck Markers
CHIN MARKERS
Row 21 dec) K2tog, k7, skpo, k2, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 20sts
Row 22 dec) P2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog - 18sts
CHIN SEAM
Cast off all 18 Head Back sts.

NOSE SEAM

Fig.2 Fig. 3
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Join Head Back Seam

Fold the cast-off edge for Head Back Seam in half, RS (knit-side) together, and back
stitch or running stitch to join both halves of the cast-off edge from the corners to the
fold. Turn out to RS (see Figs. 4 & 5).
If using - insert and secure the eyes in place at each side of the head.
Stuff the head a little with either spare yarn or toy filling.
Thread up a sewing needle with doubled-up black sewing thread or a length black yarn
NECK MARKERS
and work a ‘Y’ over and either side of the nose seam to create the nose detail (see Fig. 6).

HEAD BACK SEAM

CAST OFF EDGE

FOR HEAD BACK SEAM
CAST OFF EDGE CORNER Fig. 5

NECK MARKER
Y SHAPED NOSE

Fig. 4 Fig. 6
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BACK Work short rows to create Bunny’s Right Hind Leg

With back of head facing you, knit-side up, beginning at bunny’s left Short row 1 P9, W+Tp
(your right) Neck Marker pick up and knit 8 sts from left neck marker Short row 2 K2, W+Tk
to bunny’s right Neck Marker (see Fig 7, pick up from A to B). Short row 3 P3, W+Tp
Short row 4 K4, W+Tk
Remove neck markers.
Short row 5 P5, W+Tp
Row 1 inc) Cast on 8 sts for Chin Edge, purl to the end - 16sts Short row 6 K6, W+Tk
Row 2 inc) Cast on 8 sts for Chin Edge, knit to the end - 24sts Short row 7 Purl to the end of the row
Row 3 Purl (see Fig 8).
Row 4 inc) Kfb, k9, kfb, k2, kfb, k9, kfb - 28sts
Rows 5-7 Beginning with a purl row work three rows stocking stitch B A NECK MARKER

Row 8 inc) Kfb, k11, kfb, k2, kfb, k11, kfb - 32sts
Rows 9-19 Beginning with a purl row work eleven rows stocking stitch HEAD BACK SEAM
Row 20 inc) K14, kfb, k2, kfb, knit to end - 34sts
Row 21 Purl

Work short rows to create Bunny’s Left Hind Leg

Short row 1 K9, W+Tk (Wrap and Turn knit, see page 2) Fig. 7
Short row 2 P2, W+Tp (Wrap and Turn purl)
Short row 3 K3, W+Tk
B A
Short row 4 P4, W+Tp PICKED UP STITCHES
Short row 5 K5, W+Tk
HEAD BACK SEAM
Short row 6 P6, W+Tp
Short row 7 Knit to the end of the row
Fig. 8
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Shape Back and Belly Join Tail Seam

Row 22 inc) inc) Kfb, k14, kfb, k2, kfb, knit to last st, kfb - 38sts WS (wrong side/ purl side) facing fold tail so that the row ends from
Rows 23-25 Beginning with a purl row work three rows stocking stitch either side of the fastened-off point match. Mattress stitch along the
Row 26 inc) Kfb, k16, kfb, k2, kfb, knit to last st, kfb - 42sts tail row ends from the tail point to the beginning of the tail (see Fig. 9,
Rows 27-29 Beginning with a purl row work three rows stocking stitch matching dotted lines).
Row 30 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 40sts
Rows 31, 33 & 35 Purl
Row 32 dec) K2tog, k2, k2tog, k7, skpo, k10, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k2,
k2tog - 34sts
Row 34 dec) K2tog, k2, k2tog, k5, skpo, k8, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k2,
k2tog - 28sts
Row 36 dec) Cast off 9 sts for Bottom Seam, knit next 9 sts, cast off last
9 sts for Bottom Seam - 10sts

TAIL
Rejoin yarn (if you like you can add a white yarn here) to the ten
remaining stitches, these are your tail stitches, continue as follows:
Rows 1-3 Beginning with a purl row work three rows stocking stitch
Row 4 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 8sts Fig. 9
Row 5 Purl
Rows 6-7 dec) Repeat last 2 rows once - 6sts
Row 8 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 4sts
Cut yarn and thread end through all 4 sts, pull up to close up the stitches
to a point.
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Join Bottom Seam Join Belly and Front Seam

WS (wrong side/ purl side) facing, have the cast-off edges together and WS facing, match the row ends from the Front and Belly.
work mattress stitch to join both cast-off edges for the bottom of the You may wish to place a pin to hold the front and belly row edges together
bunny (see Fig. 10). whilst you join them as follows:
Starting at the Bottom Seam, carefully work mattress seam up to the corners
NECK END of the cast on edges (see Fig. 10, A to B). Don’t cut your joining yarn yet.
B Stuff the body through the opening in the neck.

Join Front to Neck

A Match front/ belly Seam with Nose Seam and work a couple of stitches to
join (see Figs. 11, joining B to C).

CAST-OFF EDGES FROM Leave spaces at the chin edges so that you can place the forelegs.
BOTTOM

NOSE SEAM

Fig. 10 C SPACE FOR

FORELEGS
CHIN EDGES

FRONT/ BELLY
SEAM
B

Fig. 11 Fig. 12
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FORELEGS make 2 alike

Cast on 10 sts
Rows 1-12 Work 12 rows stocking stitch
Row 13 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 8sts
Row 14 Purl
Rows 15-18 dec) Repeat last 2 rows twice - 4sts
Cut yarn and thread end through all 4 sts, pull up to close up the stitches
at paw end.

Join Foreleg Seam

WS facing, mattress stitch along the row ends to join the under-foreleg
seam at the same time stuff the foreleg with some spare yarn before closing
the seam at the top/ cast-on edge completely with mattress stitch (see Fig.
13).

Shape the foreleg with your fingers to sculpt into the desired ‘paw’ shape Fig. 13
then slip the top of the foreleg into the gap at the neck between the side
of the body and chin edge and carefully whip stitch or oversew to join the
foreleg and close the gap, adding more stuffing to the head and body if
need be before completing the sewing in place of the second foreleg (see
Fig. 14, matching dotted lines).

Fig. 14
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HIND LEG FEET make 2 alike

Cast on 12 sts
Rows 1-14 Work 14 rows stocking stitch
Row 15 dec) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog - 10sts
Row 16 Purl
Rows 17-18 dec) Repeat last 2 rows once - 8sts HEEL SEAM
Cut yarn and thread end through all 8 sts, pull up to close up the
stitches at claw end.
SOLE SEAM

Join hind Leg Foot Seam

Fig. 15
WS facing, mattress stitch along the row ends to join the foot sole
seam at the same time stuff the really well with some spare yarn
before closing the seam at the heel/ cast-on edge completely with
mattress stitch - the cast-on edge, in this case, should be sewn together
perpendicular to the seam that runs along the bottom of the foot (see
Fig. 15).
Shape the foot with your fingers to sculpt into desired shape then BOTTOM SEAM
Work whip stitch or oversew to join the foot near near the bottom
seam - one foot either side of the seam (see Fig. 16).
SOLE SEAM

Fig. 16
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EARS make 2 alike

Cast on 8 sts
Rows 1-8 Work eight rows stocking stitch

Work short rows to shape bunny’s lop ear

Short row 1 K7, W+Tk
Short row 2 P6, W+Tp
Short row 3 K5, W+Tk
Short row 4 P4, W+Tp
Short row 5 K3, W+Tk
Short row 6 P2, W+Tp
Short row 7 Knit to the end of the row

Row 9 dec) P2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog - 6sts

Cast off all 6 Ear Edge sts.

Join Ear to Head Fig. 17

Weave tail end from cast-off along the side of the ear.
WS facing, fold the ear in half at the cast-on edge and join the folded
end securely to the side of the head by working whip stitch - the folded
part of the ears lies to the back of the head (see Fig. 17).
 BEGINNER’S BUNNY page 18

To Finish
Bring the tail up a little to touch the back and sew in place with a few
small stitches (see Fig. 18).

To make the face squish up a little, bend a length of yarn in half and pass
the cut ends through a yarn sewing needle.
Pass the threaded needle through one side of the head, just under the
eye, and out the other side of the head, at the other eye, then back in to
emerge back out where you started - pull up to squish the face a little
and secure the thread (see Fig. 19).

Optional - With black sewing thread work 4 straight stitches over each
each claw end of hind leg foot and/or paw end of foreleg.

Fig. 19

Fig. 18
ABBREVIATIONS note:
K = knit if you want to make Rainbow Rabbit just

P = purl add a new colour eveytime there is a new

inc = increase part to knit.

In other words the back colour changes at

dec = decrease
the point where you pick up for the neck.
K2tog = knit two stitches together
The face changes colour at after you've
RH = right hand
added 'chin markers'...
LH = left hand
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
st/ sts = stitch/ stitches
Skpo = slip one stitch, knit next stitch, pass slipped stitch over knit
stitch
Kfb = knit into front then into back of stitch to increase by one stitch To see more patterns and details on how
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The End