Buttercup Lemon-Picnic Bunny – Knitting

This soft bunny is designed as a sweet heirloom knitted rabbit doll with a lemon-cream spring outfit and tiny picnic accessories. The finished set has the look of a boutique handmade bunny toy, perfect for nursery decor, a baby shower gift, Easter display, or a collectible shelf piece. The shaping is gentle and classic, with a rounded face, long floppy ears, a pale yellow bonnet, cardigan, skirt, shoes, a tiny flower bouquet, knitted lemon slices, and a small bird companion. Every part is written to match the picture as closely as possible while staying clear for everyday knitters.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Design Overview

This bunny has a calm, balanced shape. The head is large and softly rounded, the body is hidden under a dress, the legs are long and straight, and the arms are slim with slightly rounded paws. The ears hang down from under the bonnet and sit close to the face.

The clothing is the main visual feature. The outfit includes a pale yellow ruffled bonnet, a short cardigan tied at the neck, a full cream skirt with yellow bobble trim, and matching soft shoes with ribbon bows. The extras complete the picnic mood without crowding the design.

For the closest look, knit on a firm gauge. The stitches in the photo are fine and even, so avoid loose fabric. Stuff the head firmly, the body moderately, and the limbs lightly to medium so the bunny stays soft but still holds its shape when seated.

Finished Size

• Main bunny: about 13 to 14 inches tall from top of bonnet to soles, or about 11.5 to 12 inches without the bonnet ruffle.
• Seated body length: about 8 inches.
• Bird companion: about 2.5 inches tall.
• Lemon slice props: one large slice about 3.25 inches wide and one small slice about 1.75 inches wide.
• Mini bouquet: about 2.5 inches long including stems.

Materials

• Sport or light DK yarn in soft cream for head, ears, body, arms, legs, and skirt.
• Sport or light DK yarn in butter yellow for bonnet, cardigan, shoe tops, skirt trim, flower centers, and lemon rind details.
• Small amounts of sage green for stems, leaves, and tiny embroidered tulip leaves.
• Small amounts of golden yellow for small flowers and floral embroidery accents.
• Small amounts of brown, tan, and ivory for the bird.
• Very small amount of dark brown or black yarn for facial embroidery if preferred, though the sample uses tiny black eyes and a brown stitched nose-mouth shape.
• Pair of 2.25 mm needles for most pieces.
• Pair of 2.75 mm needles for clothing if you prefer a touch more softness.
• Double-pointed needles in matching sizes for narrow pieces, optional.
• Toy stuffing.
• Two small black safety eyes or black French knots, about 4 mm.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers, row counter, and pins.
• Thin cream or pale yellow ribbon for shoe bows.
• Very small piece of soft plaid fabric or ribbon for bouquet wrap.

Gauge

On 2.25 mm needles in stockinette stitch, 32 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches. Exact gauge matters most for the face, ears, limbs, and cardigan proportions. If your fabric looks open, go down a needle size. The sample should look dense and smooth.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• k = knit
• p = purl
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• inc = increase 1 stitch
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• p2tog = purl 2 together
• rep = repeat
• sl = slip
• yo = yarn over

Notes Before You Begin

The main bunny is worked in separate pieces and seamed. That gives better control over the rounded head, the gentle paw shaping, and the soft fall of the long ears. The skirt and cardigan are separate so the finished doll keeps the layered clothing seen in the image.

The face is very simple. The eyes are placed low enough to make the expression gentle, with a small brown Y-shaped nose and mouth set in the center of the muzzle area. Keep the features tiny. A large face detail will change the whole personality.

The dress skirt is not heavily gathered. It hangs in a neat bell shape. The hem has eyelet-style openings and rounded yellow bobbles along the lower edge. The cardigan is cropped, neat, and slightly open at the front, tied with a short cord.

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Head

Make 2 in cream.

1. CO 18 sts.
2. Beg with a p row, work 6 rows in stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of next 8 RS rows. 34 sts.
4. Work 14 rows even.
5. Shape crown: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 on every RS row 8 times. 18 sts.
6. Work 1 WS row.
7. K2tog across. 9 sts. Break yarn, thread through sts, and pull tight.

Sew the two head pieces together around the edge, leaving the lower neck edge open. Stuff very firmly, especially through the forehead and cheeks. Shape the face with your fingers while filling so it becomes round, not oval.

To define the muzzle slightly, run a short length of cream yarn horizontally through the lower center of the face and pull just enough to create a subtle shallow dip. Do not over-sculpt. The photo shows only the faintest muzzle definition.

Body

Make 2 in cream.

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of next 6 RS rows. 28 sts.
4. Work 12 rows even.
5. Dec 1 st at each end of next 4 RS rows. 20 sts.
6. Work 8 rows even.
7. BO.

Sew body pieces together, leaving neck and lower edge open. Stuff moderately. The body is not a large round tummy. It is a soft inner core that sits beneath the skirt and supports the head and legs.

Legs

Make 4 in cream, working two pieces for each leg if knitting flat.

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Work 24 rows in stockinette.
3. For the foot transition, work 2 rows in garter stitch.
4. Continue 6 more rows in stockinette.
5. BO.

Sew into two long narrow tubes. Stuff lightly to medium, keeping the upper part soft enough to sit naturally. Flatten the foot section slightly so the shoe can sit over it without a bulky lump. Attach the legs close together under the body so they hang straight down.

Arms

Make 4 in cream.

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of next RS row. 12 sts.
4. Work 16 rows even.
5. Dec 1 st at each end of next RS row. 10 sts.
6. Work 2 rows.
7. BO.

Sew into two slim tubes. Stuff only the lower two-thirds. Leave the top soft and flatter for easier sewing. The hands in the image are plain and rounded, with no separate thumbs or paw shaping, so keep the ends simple and smooth.

Ears

Make 4 in cream.

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Beg with p row, work 6 rows stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of every 4th row 4 times. 18 sts.
4. Work 20 rows even.
5. Shape tip by decreasing 1 st at each end of every RS row until 6 sts remain.
6. Work k2tog across. 3 sts. Draw through.

Sew in pairs and turn. Do not stuff. Press lightly with fingers only. The ears should hang long and soft, reaching below the bonnet edge and down toward the shoulders. Attach them slightly back from the face center so they frame the cheeks naturally.

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Skirt

The skirt is a separate garment in cream with a decorative yellow hem. It should look soft and full but not stiff. Work flat if you prefer, then seam at the back.

1. Using cream, CO 84 sts.
2. Work 4 rows garter stitch.
3. Change to stockinette and work 18 rows.
4. On next RS row, create gentle shaping by working k2tog evenly 12 times across. 72 sts.
5. Work 12 rows even.
6. On next RS row, k2tog evenly 12 times across. 60 sts.
7. Work 10 rows even.
8. Work eyelet row: k2, yo, k2tog across to last 2 sts, k2.
9. Work 2 rows garter.
10. Change to butter yellow and work bobble edging as follows: k2, make bobble in next st, k5, rep across, adjusting near the end so the final spacing stays even.
11. Work 1 WS row purl in yellow.
12. BO knitwise on RS.

For each bobble, knit into front, back, and front of the same stitch, turn, p3, turn, k3, turn, p3, turn, slip 2, k1, pass slipped stitches over. This makes the small rounded scalloped puffs seen along the hem.

Seam the skirt at the back. Run a gathering thread through the waist edge and draw it in to fit the bunny body snugly. The skirt should begin under the cardigan and fall to just above the ankle, leaving the lower legs and shoes visible.

Cardigan

The cardigan is short, soft, and slightly open in front. The hem curves gently, and the lower front has tiny yellow floral embroidery. The collar edge is plain, with a narrow tie at the neck.

Make 1 piece in butter yellow, worked flat from lower back edge upward, then divided for fronts.

1. CO 42 sts.
2. Work 4 rows garter stitch.
3. Next RS row: k6, p30, k6 to create garter bands at front edges and hem turn detail.
4. Continue in this arrangement for 12 rows.
5. Shape fronts and armholes: work 10 sts for first front, BO 22 sts, work 10 sts for second front.
6. Work each front separately for 8 rows, decreasing 1 st at neck edge every other RS row 3 times.
7. BO shoulder sts.
8. Return to held center-back section by picking up 22 sts across the bound-off edge line from the body section below if you prefer a joined method, or work a separate back piece from the start. For best control, many knitters will prefer making the back separately.

For a clearer approach, you may instead make the cardigan as three pieces:

• Back: CO 22 sts. Work 18 rows stockinette with 2 garter stitches at each side edge. BO.
• Left front: CO 12 sts. Work 18 rows with 3 garter stitches at front edge and stockinette elsewhere. Shape neck by decreasing 1 st at front edge every other RS row 4 times. BO shoulder.
• Right front: Make to match.

Sleeves, make 2:

1. CO 16 sts in butter yellow.
2. Work 4 rows garter stitch.
3. Work 20 rows stockinette, increasing 1 st at each end every 6th row 3 times. 22 sts.
4. BO.

Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. The cardigan should end around the upper hip and sit above most of the skirt volume. It should look neat, not oversized.

Make an I-cord tie in butter yellow, about 10 inches long. Thread it through the neckline area or stitch it at both front edges so it ties in a small bow under the chin line. Keep the bow small and delicate.

Cardigan Floral Embroidery

The lower cardigan front has tiny yellow flower motifs with green stems. Use duplicate stitch, straight stitches, and one French knot or tiny wrapped knot per flower. Place 4 small flowers across the lower front edge, keeping them low and evenly spaced.

• Stems: 2 short vertical green stitches each.
• Leaves: 1 diagonal stitch on each side in sage green.
• Flower tops: small yellow knots or tiny bullion-style wraps.

Keep these motifs miniature. They are accents, not bold decorations.

Bonnet

The bonnet is pale yellow with a rounded crown and a ruffled brim. It sits low over the forehead and covers the top of the head while allowing the long ears to fall from beneath it.

Crown, make 2 in butter yellow:

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of next 6 RS rows. 28 sts.
4. Work 10 rows even.
5. Dec 1 st at each end of next 6 RS rows. 16 sts.
6. K2tog across, draw yarn through remaining sts.

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Sew crown pieces together. Leave lower edge open.

Brim frill:

1. Pick up 48 to 56 stitches evenly around the front bonnet opening.
2. Work 2 rows garter stitch.
3. Increase across next RS row by knitting into front and back of every 3rd stitch.
4. Work 4 rows stockinette.
5. Work 2 rows garter stitch and BO loosely.

Bonnet ties, make 2 short twisted cords or narrow I-cords, each about 7 inches long. Sew one to each lower side edge. Tie softly under the chin area or let them fall behind the cardigan tie if preferred.

The ruffle should wave gently around the face. If it looks flat, lightly steam from a distance and finger-shape the edge. Do not flatten it completely.

Shoes

Make 2 in butter yellow. These are soft slip-on shoes with a simple rounded toe and ribbon bow on each front.

1. CO 14 sts.
2. Work 8 rows stockinette.
3. Shape toe: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 on next 4 RS rows.
4. Work 2 rows even.
5. BO.

Sew each into a tiny shoe shape, leaving an opening for the foot to slide in. Fit over the lower foot and tack lightly in place. Add a narrow pale ribbon bow to the front of each shoe. The bows should lie flat and wide, not tall loops.

Mini Bouquet

This bouquet sits at the bunny’s left side and adds a picnic garden mood. Make 3 to 5 tiny flowers in cream and yellow, with sage stems. Each flower can be made as a tiny knitted circle or by wrapping yarn into a puff flower shape.

• For each flower, CO 8 sts in cream or pale yellow.
• Work 1 row purl.
• Kfb across. 16 sts.
• Purl 1 row.
• K2tog across. 8 sts.
• Thread yarn through and gather into a tiny rosette.

Make stems from twisted green yarn. Add small stitched leaves. Wrap the stem base with a narrow strip of soft plaid ribbon or fabric in cream, green, and muted yellow tones. Tie loosely so the bouquet looks relaxed and hand-gathered.

Lemon Slice Props

The large and small lemon slices are simple decorative props placed beside the bunny. Use ivory for the fruit flesh, butter yellow for the rind, and pale dividing lines for segment detail.

For the large slice:

1. CO 6 sts in ivory.
2. Increase at both ends every RS row until you have 18 sts.
3. Work 6 rows even.
4. Decrease at both ends every RS row back to 6 sts.
5. BO.
6. Make a second matching piece and seam them lightly, or leave flat if using as a prop only.

Embroider 4 segment lines from center toward curved edge. Crochet is not needed here. Use straight embroidery stitches instead. Outline the curved rind edge in butter yellow and make a second smaller slice in the same way.

If you want the classic wedge look seen in the image, make one full semicircle and one smaller matching wedge, then join them at the center point with a few hidden stitches so the pieces sit together naturally.

Bird Companion

This tiny bird sits to the bunny’s right side and wears a cream bonnet-like cap and a ruffled cream collar. The body is brown and tan with a pale belly. Keep it tiny and rounded, not realistic.

Body, make 2:

1. Using tan or light brown, CO 10 sts.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Inc 1 st at each end of next 4 RS rows. 18 sts.
4. Work 8 rows even.
5. Change center 6 sts to ivory for belly if using intarsia, or embroider later.
6. Dec 1 st at each end of next 4 RS rows. 10 sts.
7. K2tog across, gather off.

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Make tiny wings in darker brown:

• CO 6 sts.
• Work 4 rows stockinette.
• Decrease 1 st at each end of next RS row.
• Work 1 row.
• Draw through remaining sts.

Make tiny feet as wrapped dark yarn knots or small embroidered stitches. Add a tiny beak with one small brown or gold stitch.

For the bird hat, knit a tiny cream dome:

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Increase to 18 sts across one RS row.
4. Work 3 rows even.
5. K2tog across every other stitch to reduce.
6. Gather top closed.

Pick up stitches around the lower edge and work 2 garter rows with a few increases for a miniature frill. Make a tiny cream collar by casting on 20 sts, working 2 garter rows, then binding off loosely. Gather around the bird neck.

Assembly

1. Sew and stuff the head first.
2. Sew and stuff body, arms, and legs.
3. Attach legs to lower body, close together and straight.
4. Attach arms just below the neck line so they rest downward beside the skirt.
5. Sew head securely to body with several passes of matching yarn.
6. Attach ears to the upper sides of the head, slightly behind the eye line.
7. Dress the bunny with skirt first, then cardigan, then bonnet, then shoes.
8. Add bouquet, lemon slices, and bird as display props rather than permanently fixing them unless the piece is only for decor.

When dressing the bunny, keep the cardigan centered so both front panels hang evenly. The bonnet should sit low enough to frame the face and allow the ear tops to disappear under the crown area.

Facial Placement

• Eyes: place 8 to 10 stitches apart, about halfway between crown top and neck opening, but slightly lower than center for a soft childlike look.
• Nose: embroider a small upside-down triangle in brown.
• Mouth: bring one short line down from the nose point, then divide into two tiny curves.

The expression in the picture is calm and sweet. Avoid eyelashes, blush circles, or oversized features. The beauty of this bunny comes from restraint and neat shaping.

Styling Details That Matter

Color balance is important. The cream base should stay warmer and softer than bright white. The yellow should be buttery, not neon. The green should be dusty and light. This keeps the whole design gentle and vintage.

Proportion is also important. The head should be noticeably larger than the body core. The skirt must look full enough to create the doll silhouette, and the cardigan should stop high enough that the skirt remains visible.

Texture should stay fine throughout. If one accessory is knit too loosely, it will look out of scale beside the smooth bunny face. Use the same yarn family and close needle sizes for every visible piece.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check that the head sits straight and that both ears hang to the same length. Adjust the bonnet so the ruffle frames the forehead in a soft curve. Place the eyes evenly before securing them permanently. Keep the nose tiny and centered.

Tie the cardigan cord in a small bow. Add the floral bouquet near the left hand. Place the lemon slices to one side and the bird to the other for the same balanced storybook arrangement shown in the image.

Care Notes

This knitted set is best treated as a decorative keepsake or a gentle shelf toy. If it will be handled often, secure every seam firmly and stitch accessories in place. Avoid hard pulling on the bonnet ties, shoe bows, and the bird collar.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head firmly stuffed and evenly round.
• Eyes level and small.
• Ears matched in length and angle.
• Skirt centered with yellow trim facing forward.
• Cardigan fronts even and tie neat.
• Bonnet ruffle softly shaped.
• Shoe bows balanced.
• Bouquet, lemon slices, and bird proportionate to the bunny.

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Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean gently with a barely damp cloth and mild wool-safe soap. Do not twist or scrub the knitted surface. Blot moisture with a towel, reshape by hand, and dry flat away from direct sun or strong heat.

For long-term storage, keep the bunny in a clean breathable box with acid-free tissue. Do not compress the bonnet ruffle or floral details. If displaying on a shelf, rotate occasionally to reduce uneven fading and dust build-up.