Apple Blossom Postcard-Bouquet Bunny – Knitting

This sweet spring bunny is designed as a collectible handmade rabbit doll with heirloom charm, soft nursery decor appeal, and the polished finish people love in a knitted stuffed animal gift. The outfit combines a floral yoke cardigan, embroidered skirt, tiny bonnet-style hat, pink slippers, bouquet, postcard pouch, and a miniature companion bunny. The finished look feels perfect for an Easter display, a keepsake shelf, or a handmade bunny doll shop listing. Every section below is written to help you recreate the full scene with balanced proportions, clean shaping, and charming detail.

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

Materials

• Main bunny yarn: sport or light DK weight in warm cream for head, body, arms, legs, and ears
• Cardigan yarn: light DK in soft moss green
• Skirt yarn: light DK in dusty rose-taupe
• Shoe yarn: light DK in soft rose pink
• Hat yarn: light DK in pale sky blue
• Mini bunny yarn: cream, taupe, pale blue, and a tiny amount of soft aqua
• Embroidery yarn or stranded knitting colors: blush pink, pale pink, white, sage green, olive green, buttercream, and brown
• Needles: 2.25 mm and 2.75 mm double-pointed needles or small circulars, plus matching straight needles if preferred for flat trims
• Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle, sewing needle, small buttons, black embroidery thread, brown embroidery thread, toy stuffing, thin floral wire for bouquet stems if desired, and a tiny amount of felt or canvas for the postcard pouch

Gauge, Finished Size, and Overall Proportions

Gauge matters because this bunny depends on a neat, dense fabric. Work firmly enough that stuffing does not show through. On 2.75 mm needles in stockinette, aim for about 30 stitches and 40 rounds over 4 inches.

The finished large bunny stands about 13 to 14 inches tall from the top of the head to the soles of the slippers. The head is large and softly rounded, about one third of the total visual height. The body is smaller and tapered under the cardigan.

The legs are long and narrow, slightly longer than the body. The arms are medium length, softly tube-shaped, and hang just below the waistline. The ears are slim, flat, and droop from the sides of the head rather than standing upright.

The cardigan sits cropped, ending above the widest point of the skirt. The skirt is softly gathered with enough volume to spread over the seated edge of a bench. The hat is deep with a rolled brim and a close fit, covering the top of the forehead.

Abbreviations

• BO = bind off
• CO = cast on
• dec = decrease
• dpn = double-pointed needle
• inc = increase
• k = knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• M1L = make 1 left
• M1R = make 1 right
• p = purl
• pm = place marker
• rep = repeat
• rnd = round
• RS = right side
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• WS = wrong side

Construction Notes

This bunny is worked mostly in the round for a smooth finish, then assembled and dressed. The legs are made first, joined for the lower body, and stuffed as you go. The head is shaped directly from the body so the neck looks clean and stable.

The cardigan is worked separately and sewn or lightly tacked closed at the lower front if you want the same gentle overlap seen in the image. The floral yoke may be worked with stranded colorwork or duplicate stitch after knitting.

The skirt, hat, shoes, bouquet, tiny postcard pouch, and mini bunny are all separate pieces. This gives the finished doll the layered, boutique look visible in the image. Keep all seam lines neat and centered because the styling depends on symmetry.

Legs

Make 2

Using cream yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 18 sts. Divide evenly across dpns, join to work in the round, and place marker for start of rnd.

1. Rnd 1 to 28: Knit all sts.
2. Rnd 29: K7, M1R, k2, M1L, k7. You now have 20 sts.
3. Rnd 30 to 38: Knit.
4. Rnd 39: K8, k2tog, k8. You now have 19 sts.
5. Rnd 40: Knit.
6. Rnd 41: K8, ssk, k8. You now have 18 sts.
7. Rnd 42 to 52: Knit.

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Stuff the lower part of the leg firmly, keeping the ankle smooth and straight. The upper leg should be stuffed a little more softly so the doll can sit naturally. Make the second leg the same.

Join Legs and Knit Body

Place the two legs side by side with markers facing inward. On the first leg, knit 9 sts. CO 4 sts using backward loop. Knit around the second leg, CO 4 sts, then finish the remaining sts of the first leg. You now have 44 sts.

1. Rnd 1: Knit across all sts, including the cast-on bridges.
2. Rnd 2: K all sts.
3. Rnd 3: At each bridge, pick up 1 extra st at both edges to prevent holes. You now have 48 sts.
4. Rnd 4 to 16: Knit.

Begin gentle body shaping. The lower body should be softly pear-shaped, but still slim enough for the cardigan to sit cleanly.

1. Rnd 17: K10, k2tog, k20, ssk, k14. You now have 46 sts.
2. Rnd 18 to 20: Knit.
3. Rnd 21: K9, k2tog, k20, ssk, k13. You now have 44 sts.
4. Rnd 22 to 24: Knit.
5. Rnd 25: K8, k2tog, k20, ssk, k12. You now have 42 sts.
6. Rnd 26 to 30: Knit.

Stuff the body firmly at the base and moderately at the waist. Keep the front smooth because it will sit beneath the cardigan opening. If you want a slightly flatter tummy, place a little less stuffing in the center front and a little more at the back.

Neck and Head

The neck is narrow but not delicate. The head is round, smooth, and slightly taller than wide, matching the calm, soft face seen in the image.

1. Rnd 31: K5, k2tog, rep around. You now have 36 sts.
2. Rnd 32 to 35: Knit.
3. Rnd 36: M1R every 3 sts around. You now have 48 sts.
4. Rnd 37: Knit.
5. Rnd 38: M1R every 4 sts around. You now have 60 sts.
6. Rnd 39 to 62: Knit.

Stuff the neck firmly before the head becomes large. Add stuffing to the head gradually and evenly. Focus on a smooth forehead, rounded cheeks, and a full back of head. Avoid overstuffing the face center, because the muzzle shaping is added later.

1. Rnd 63: K8, k2tog, rep around. You now have 54 sts.
2. Rnd 64: Knit.
3. Rnd 65: K7, k2tog, rep around. You now have 48 sts.
4. Rnd 66: Knit.
5. Rnd 67: K6, k2tog, rep around. You now have 42 sts.
6. Rnd 68: Knit.
7. Rnd 69: K5, k2tog, rep around. You now have 36 sts.
8. Rnd 70: K4, k2tog, rep around. You now have 30 sts.
9. Rnd 71: K3, k2tog, rep around. You now have 24 sts.

Finish stuffing the head firmly but softly rounded. Thread the yarn tail through the remaining sts, pull closed, and secure. Close the top neatly because it will be partly covered by the hat, but still should remain smooth.

Muzzle Shaping and Face Placement

Using a long strand of cream yarn, create a soft horizontal muzzle indent about halfway down the head. Take the needle from the back of the head to a point slightly below center front, then pass across the face width and back again. Pull gently.

The face in the image is minimal and delicate. The eyes are tiny black embroidered ovals placed wide apart, just above the muzzle center line. The nose is a brown inverted Y shape, very small and tidy, with no separate mouth smile.

Place the eyes about 9 to 10 stitches apart. Each eye should be only 2 or 3 satin stitches long. Embroider the nose one row below the fullest part of the muzzle. Keep the vertical line short so the expression stays calm and sweet.

Ears

Make 2

Using cream yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 8 sts. Work flat.

1. Row 1 RS: Knit.
2. Row 2 WS: Purl.
3. Row 3: K1, M1L, k6, M1R, k1. You now have 10 sts.
4. Row 4: Purl.
5. Row 5: K1, M1L, k8, M1R, k1. You now have 12 sts.
6. Row 6: Purl.
7. Row 7: K1, M1L, k10, M1R, k1. You now have 14 sts.
8. Row 8 to 22: Work in stockinette, beginning with a purl row.
9. Row 23: K1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. You now have 12 sts.
10. Row 24: Purl.
11. Row 25: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. You now have 10 sts.
12. Row 26: Purl.
13. Row 27: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. You now have 8 sts.
14. Row 28: Purl.
15. Row 29: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. You now have 6 sts.
16. Row 30: Purl.
17. Row 31: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. You now have 4 sts.
18. Row 32: Purl.
19. Row 33: K2tog twice. You now have 2 sts.
20. Row 34: P2tog and fasten off.

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Lightly steam or finger-shape each ear so it lies flat. Fold the cast-on edge slightly and sew to the sides of the head just below the hat line. Angle them downward so they fall softly beside the cheeks.

Arms

Make 2

Using cream yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 16 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1 to 10: Knit.
2. Rnd 11: K6, k2tog, k6, ssk. You now have 14 sts.
3. Rnd 12 to 26: Knit.
4. Rnd 27: K5, k2tog, k5, ssk. You now have 12 sts.
5. Rnd 28 to 34: Knit.

Stuff only the lower two thirds of each arm. Leave the top soft and flat for easier sewing. Bind off loosely. Sew the arms to the body just below the neck shaping, slightly forward on the torso so they hang in front of the side seam line.

Pink Slippers

Make 2

The slippers are shallow and rounded with a small bow. They should look like delicate knit flats rather than bulky shoes.

Using pink yarn and 2.25 mm needles, pick up 18 sts around the foot opening at the base of each leg, or make separately and sew on if preferred.

1. Rnd 1 to 3: Knit.
2. Rnd 4: K7, k2tog, k7, ssk. You now have 16 sts.
3. Rnd 5: Knit.
4. Rnd 6: K6, k2tog, k6, ssk. You now have 14 sts.
5. Rnd 7: Knit.
6. Rnd 8: K5, k2tog, k5, ssk. You now have 12 sts.

Thread yarn through remaining sts, pull into a soft toe shape, and secure. For each bow, make a 3-inch I-cord or crochet chain using matching yarn. Tie a small bow and stitch it at the center front of each slipper.

Skirt

The skirt is a separate garment in dusty rose-taupe. It is softly gathered at the waist and falls in smooth stockinette folds. The hem is decorated with tiny apple blossom embroidery in pale pink, white, and sage green.

Using taupe-rose yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 96 sts. Join to work in the round.

1. Rnd 1 to 6: Knit.
2. Rnd 7: Purl all sts for a subtle turning ridge if desired.
3. Rnd 8 to 42: Knit.

Begin waist shaping.

1. Rnd 43: K10, k2tog, rep around. You now have 88 sts.
2. Rnd 44 to 46: Knit.
3. Rnd 47: K9, k2tog, rep around. You now have 80 sts.
4. Rnd 48 to 50: Knit.
5. Rnd 51: K8, k2tog, rep around. You now have 72 sts.
6. Rnd 52 to 54: Knit.
7. Rnd 55: K7, k2tog, rep around. You now have 64 sts.
8. Rnd 56 to 58: Knit.
9. Rnd 59: K6, k2tog, rep around. You now have 56 sts.
10. Rnd 60 to 62: Knit.

Bind off loosely. Sew or thread a narrow waist seam at the top so the skirt fits snugly around the bunny’s waist under the cardigan. Keep the gathers distributed evenly, with a slightly fuller front and sides.

Embroider the hem flowers after blocking. Use tiny detached petals and short leaf stitches. Space the blossoms around the front half and side edges, leaving the back more open. Mix white flowers, pale pink flowers, and small deeper pink buds.

Cardigan

The cardigan is cropped, moss green, and softly fitted. The yoke carries a floral motif in pale pink, white, and green. Two small buttons close the center front, while the lower front edges open gently into a slight V shape.

Work flat from the lower body upward using 2.75 mm needles. CO 52 sts.

1. Row 1 RS: K all.
2. Row 2 WS: K all.
3. Rows 3 to 8: Continue garter stitch for front bands and lower edge.

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Now establish fronts, sleeves, and back in one piece up to the armholes if desired, or work in separate pieces. The simplest route for matching the image is separate pieces with sewn sleeves.

Back

CO 28 sts. Work 4 rows garter, then stockinette until piece measures 3 inches. Bind off 3 sts at the start of next 2 rows for armholes. Decrease 1 st each side every other row twice. Continue straight until armhole depth is about 2 inches.

For shoulders and neck, bind off 6 sts, work until 16 sts remain, bind off center 8 sts, then finish each side separately. Bind off remaining shoulder sts.

Fronts

CO 14 sts for each front. Work 4 rows garter. Continue in stockinette, keeping 3 front edge sts in garter for the band. At the side edge, shape the armhole to match the back. At the neck edge, begin gentle shaping when front reaches the same armhole depth as the back.

Decrease 1 st at neck edge every 4th row 4 times. Bind off shoulder to match back. Work the second front as a mirror image.

Sleeves

CO 18 sts. Work 4 rows garter, then stockinette. Increase 1 st each side every 8th row 4 times. Continue until sleeve length suits the arm, roughly 3 inches. Shape sleeve cap by binding off 3 sts at the start of the next 2 rows, then decreasing 1 st each side every other row until 10 sts remain. Bind off.

Sew shoulders, set in sleeves, then sew side and sleeve seams. The cardigan should sit close to the body without bulk. Add two tiny buttons at the center front. Sew them high enough that the lower front edges open softly above the skirt.

Floral Yoke Decoration

Duplicate stitch the floral motif around the upper chest, shoulders, and near the front bands. Use tiny five-petal blossoms worked in white and pale pink, each with a small yellow or cream center. Add olive and sage leaves in pairs.

Arrange the blossoms in a curved necklace shape rather than a straight band. Concentrate the motif across the upper chest and shoulder line, tapering it as it approaches the underarm. This keeps the cardigan faithful to the image and prevents the flowers from looking crowded.

Blue Hat

The hat is close fitting with a rolled brim, a smooth dome, a line of eyelet detail, and a small embroidered blossom cluster near one side. It sits low on the forehead and partly covers the ear attachment area.

Using pale blue yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 64 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1 to 10: Knit.
2. Rnd 11: Purl all sts once to encourage a rolled brim.
3. Rnd 12 to 18: Knit.
4. Rnd 19: K2tog, yo, rep around for the eyelet band.
5. Rnd 20 to 32: Knit.

Shape crown.

1. Rnd 33: K6, k2tog, rep around. You now have 56 sts.
2. Rnd 34: Knit.
3. Rnd 35: K5, k2tog, rep around. You now have 48 sts.
4. Rnd 36: Knit.
5. Rnd 37: K4, k2tog, rep around. You now have 40 sts.
6. Rnd 38: Knit.
7. Rnd 39: K3, k2tog, rep around. You now have 32 sts.
8. Rnd 40: K2, k2tog, rep around. You now have 24 sts.
9. Rnd 41: K1, k2tog, rep around. You now have 16 sts.
10. Rnd 42: K2tog around. You now have 8 sts.

Thread tail through remaining sts and close. Embroider a blossom spray on one side using pale pink, white, and sage green. Add three or four flowers with tiny leaves, placed just above the brim.

Mini Bunny

The miniature bunny mirrors the large bunny with a cream body, taupe jacket, blue cap, and tiny aqua chest accent. Keep the shape simple but recognizable.

For the body and head, use cream yarn and 2.25 mm needles. CO 12 sts for each leg, knit narrow tubes about 1.5 inches long, join into a 28-st body, then shape a short torso and rounded head. Keep stuffing light but even.

Make tiny flat ears from 6-st stockinette pieces. Embroider tiny black eyes and a brown nose. For the jacket, work a simple taupe garter or stockinette wrap with short sleeves. For the cap, use pale blue and finish with two little ear openings or stitched bumps to echo the main doll’s hat style.

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The mini bunny should finish about 3 inches tall. It does not need perfect structural complexity, but it should clearly repeat the color story and silhouette of the larger bunny.

Postcard Pouch

This little accessory sits beside the bunny and adds the “postcard-bouquet” storytelling detail. Use felt, sturdy knit fabric, or tightly worked stockinette backed with fabric. The finished pouch should resemble a tiny envelope wallet with visible postcard corners.

• Cut or knit a rectangle about 2 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall.
• Fold the lower third upward for the pocket base.
• Fold the top point down like an envelope flap.
• Sew side edges neatly.
• Add a tiny button or embroidered dot at the closure point.

For the postcard insert, use a small rectangle of cream felt or card. Embroider or draw tiny stamp-like color blocks in blue and red. Add miniature writing lines with a fine pen or thread. Keep the effect simple but clearly readable from a short distance.

Apple Blossom Bouquet

The bouquet is small, rounded, and fresh-looking. Make three or five blossoms in pale pink and white with green stems. The finished cluster should fit easily into the bunny’s hand without hiding the cardigan front.

• Make tiny five-petal flowers using embroidery, crochet, or felt.
• Use pale blush, soft pink, and white petals.
• Add tiny yellow or cream centers.
• Attach each flower to a wrapped floral wire or twisted yarn stem.
• Bind stems together with green thread and wrap the lower section neatly.

Slip the finished bouquet into one hand and tack it lightly in place if desired. Let a few blossoms angle outward rather than forming a stiff upright bunch. This matches the soft, natural arrangement in the image.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Sew the ears first, then refine the muzzle shaping if needed. Embroider the eyes and nose only after the hat is fitted, because the hat changes the visual balance of the face. Attach the arms evenly and check that both hands rest at similar heights.

Dress the bunny in the skirt first, then cardigan, then slippers, and finally the hat. Add the bouquet and place the postcard pouch beside the doll. Finish with tiny tacking stitches where needed so the outfit keeps its photographed look.

Care Notes

Display this bunny as a decorative knitted doll rather than a rough-play toy. Keep it away from prolonged direct sunlight so the pale colors stay fresh. If gifting to a child, secure every button, bow, and small accessory with extra stitching.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head is evenly stuffed with a smooth forehead and rounded cheeks
• Eyes are level and spaced widely
• Nose is small, centered, and softly stitched
• Ears hang evenly on both sides
• Cardigan fronts overlap neatly and buttons are aligned
• Skirt embroidery is balanced across the hem
• Hat brim rolls softly and blossom detail faces forward
• Slipper bows match in size
• Mini bunny, bouquet, and postcard pouch are scaled correctly

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean first with cool water and a mild wool-safe cleanser. Press gently with a cloth instead of rubbing. If a deeper clean is needed, remove loose accessories and hand wash the doll briefly in cool water without twisting.

Roll in a towel to remove moisture, reshape the head, ears, cardigan, skirt, and hat, then dry flat. Do not hang dry, because the body may stretch. Once dry, brush the embroidered flowers lightly with clean fingers to restore their shape.

Store the bunny flat or seated in a dust-free box lined with acid-free tissue. Keep the bouquet and postcard pouch in a separate small bag when not on display. This helps protect the tiny trims and prevents color transfer over time.

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