Heliotrope Lavender-Scroll Bunny – Knitting

This elegant bunny set is designed to capture the look of a collectible handmade doll with boutique charm. The finished piece includes a lavender dress, textured cardigan, berry beret, Mary Jane shoes, a tiny purse, perfume bottle, lace mat, lavender bouquet, and a matching little cat friend. It has the appeal of a heirloom toy, nursery decor piece, handmade gift, and artisan doll that many shoppers look for when browsing knitted bunny dolls, stuffed animals, and luxury handmade plush designs online. The shapes are soft, classic, and beautifully coordinated, with delicate floral details throughout.

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: light fingering to sport weight wool or cotton blend in warm beige.
• Dress yarn: soft pale lavender.
• Beret and shoes yarn: rich heliotrope or deep berry purple.
• Cardigan yarn: muted taupe-brown tweed or marl.
• Flower accent yarn: medium purple and lavender.
• Stem and vine yarn: leaf green and olive green.
• Little cat yarn: warm gray-brown, dusty rose, cream, and white.
• Needles: US 1.5 to US 2.5 double-pointed needles or your preferred small-circumference method.
• Extra needle: one size smaller for trims if desired.
• Stuffing: small amount of high-quality fiberfill.
• Safety option: black embroidery thread may be used instead of plastic eyes.
• Notions: tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn, sewing needle, small clasp frame for purse if available, thin cardboard for sole support, and tiny scraps of felt if desired.

Finished Size

The main bunny stands about 11 to 12 inches tall from feet to the top of the head, not including the soft rise of the beret. The little cat companion is about 4 inches tall seated. Accessories are scaled to match the proportions shown in the image.

Gauge and Fabric Notes

Knit all toy pieces at a firm gauge so stuffing does not show. The body, limbs, and head should feel dense and smooth. Stockinette is the primary fabric, with a few garter, rib, and simple textured details added for shaping and decoration.

The face is minimal. Keep the muzzle gentle, the head rounded, and the body slightly straight rather than very plump. The image shows a refined bunny with long downward ears, small hands, narrow feet, and clothing that sits neatly instead of loosely.

Abbreviations

• k = knit
• p = purl
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• p2tog = purl 2 together
• yo = yarn over
• m1 = make 1 increase
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• rep = repeat

Construction Overview

The bunny is made in separate pieces. Knit the legs first, then the body, arms, head, ears, and tail. The clothing is made separately so the silhouette stays true to the image. The beret is full and soft, the cardigan is cropped with wide fronts, and the dress has a fitted patterned upper section with a gently flared skirt.

The small accessories matter here. The purse is compact and rounded, the perfume bottle is tiny and sweet, the lace mat is flat and decorative, the bouquet is dense with clustered purple blossoms, and the little cat mirrors the same romantic color story as the bunny.

Main Bunny Legs Make 2

Using beige, cast on 12 sts. Join for working in the round if preferred, or work flat and seam later. Work 6 rounds or rows in 1×1 rib for the ankle and lower leg edge. This creates the neat vertical texture seen on the feet and legs.

Increase to 16 sts evenly on the next round. Work straight for 16 rounds in stockinette. The legs in the image are slim and even, so avoid making the calves too wide. Stuff lightly as you go, but keep the lower leg firm.

Shape the foot:

1. Round 1: k1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
2. Round 2: knit.
3. Repeat these 2 rounds twice more. You now have 22 sts.

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Work 4 rounds even. Then begin toe shaping:

1. Round 1: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
2. Round 2: knit.
3. Repeat these 2 rounds until 14 sts remain.

Stuff the foot a little more firmly at the toe and flatter at the sole. Work 2 more rounds even. Bind off or place on waste yarn. Make the second leg the same.

Body

Join the two legs onto one needle, leaving 2 to 4 stitches between them at the inner thighs depending on your preferred method. You should have about 32 to 36 sts total after the join. Add or remove a stitch if needed so the body shaping stays symmetrical.

Work 6 rounds even. On the next round, increase 4 sts evenly. Work 8 rounds even. The lower body should be softly rounded but not oversized. This bunny wears a dress, so the torso underneath should stay narrow enough to fit smoothly.

Shape the belly and chest gradually:

1. Increase 4 sts evenly on one round.
2. Work 5 rounds even.
3. Work 1 decrease round, decreasing 4 sts evenly.
4. Work 4 rounds even.
5. Repeat one more gentle decrease round if the body looks too wide.

Work until the body from join measures about 3 inches. Stuff firmly at the seat and belly, but keep the upper chest slightly softer so the head can settle naturally. Finish with 2 rounds of plain knitting and leave the top open for attaching the head.

Arms Make 2

Using beige, cast on 10 sts. Work 5 rows or rounds in 1×1 rib for the wrist. Increase to 12 sts evenly. Work 14 rows or rounds in stockinette. The hands in the image are simple rounded paws with no separate fingers.

To form the upper arm, work 2 increase rounds spaced 4 rows apart until 16 sts. Knit straight for 8 more rows. Lightly stuff only the lower two-thirds of each arm. Keep the top flatter so it can lie close to the body under the cardigan sleeves.

Close the arm opening with yarn threaded through the live stitches, or bind off and seam. Shape the hand tip slightly oval with a few small stitches if needed. Set aside.

Head

Using beige, cast on 12 sts. Divide for working in the round, or work flat. Increase evenly over the next several rounds until you reach 48 sts. A smooth shaping sequence works well:

1. Round 1: kfb in each stitch.
2. Round 2: knit.
3. Round 3: k1, kfb around.
4. Round 4: knit.
5. Round 5: k2, kfb around.
6. Round 6: knit.
7. Round 7: k3, kfb around.

Work even until the head is nearly spherical. The image shows a softly rounded head with a gentle muzzle area, not a pronounced snout. After 10 to 12 rounds even, begin subtle muzzle shaping by adding two short rows across the front center if you like.

Place the eyes before closing the head. They should sit low and far apart, with plenty of forehead visible. Embroider small vertical black eye stitches if you want the same quiet expression shown in the picture.

Stuff very firmly, especially the cheeks and forehead. Decrease evenly over several rounds until 12 sts remain, then draw closed. Leave a long tail for sewing. Shape the nose area with two small horizontal stitches pulled inward to create the shallow center line above the nose.

Ears Make 2

Using beige, cast on 8 sts. Work flat in stockinette with a slipped first stitch for clean edges. Increase 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until 16 sts. Work straight for about 20 rows.

The ears in the image are long, narrow, and softly drooping. After the straight section, decrease 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until 10 sts remain. Work 4 rows even, then bind off. Make a second ear.

Do not stuff the ears. Fold the top edge slightly when attaching so they fall from each side of the head just below the beret line. The lower ends should reach about shoulder level.

Tail

Using beige, cast on 6 sts and work a tiny round ball by increasing to 12 sts, knitting 4 rounds, then decreasing back to 6 sts. Stuff lightly and close. The tail is small and mostly hidden under the dress.

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Face Shaping

With beige yarn, create a very soft nose bridge by making one small stitch from the top center of the muzzle downward. With black embroidery thread, work a tiny inverted Y shape for the nose and mouth. Keep it compact. The mouth in the image is centered and delicate, not smiling widely.

If needed, use matching beige thread to sculpt the cheeks very lightly. The head should remain round, with only slight contouring. Too much shaping will make the bunny look different from the pictured doll.

Dress

The dress has three key features: a patterned bodice in berry and lavender, a pale lavender skirt, and a floral vine near the hem. It should fit close through the chest and release into a soft A-line shape.

Skirt

Using pale lavender, cast on 88 sts. Work flat for easier dressing, or in the round if you prefer. Knit 4 rows in garter for the lower edge. Then work in stockinette for 12 rows.

Begin gentle decreases every 8th row, reducing 8 sts evenly each decrease row, until 56 sts remain. The skirt should taper gradually, not sharply. Total skirt length should reach just below the bunny’s knees.

Before attaching the bodice, embroider the lower vine. Use green yarn to stitch a light curving stem around the skirt about 1 inch above the hem. Add tiny purple bud knots or straight-stitch flowers spaced evenly across the front.

Bodice

Continue from the top of the skirt with the remaining 56 sts. Switch to the colorwork section using berry purple, pale lavender, and green. Work a simple repeated flower-dot motif across the front and back for about 16 rows.

A balanced motif that matches the look well is:

• 2 rows pale lavender base
• 4 rows with berry flower circles spaced every 4 or 5 stitches
• 1 row green stem dots near the bottom of the motif area
• Repeat once in a staggered arrangement

After the motif section, divide for front and back. Shape armholes by binding off 3 sts at each side. Work the back in two pieces with a simple opening. Work the front straight with a shallow neck. Bind off shoulders neatly. Seam shoulders and add one tiny closure at the back if desired.

Cardigan

The cardigan is short, open-front, and softly textured. It reaches only to the waist and has full sleeves ending in a decorative cuff that echoes the dress colors. Use taupe-brown tweed or marl yarn.

Back

Cast on 34 sts. Work 4 rows garter. Continue in stockinette, adding one simple cable twist or mock cable line near each side if desired to mimic the subtle texture in the image. Work until the back reaches the waist-to-shoulder length of the bunny.

Shape armholes by binding off 3 sts at each side. Work straight a few rows, then bind off the center neck stitches and finish each shoulder separately.

Fronts

Cast on 18 sts for each front. Work 4 rows garter, then continue in stockinette. The front edges should have 3 garter stitches throughout so they roll less and look finished. Shape the neckline gradually so the fronts slope slightly outward as shown.

Work armholes to match the back. Seam shoulders and side seams.

Sleeves Make 2

Using the same taupe yarn, cast on 16 sts. Work a 6-row cuff in a tiny floral stripe pattern using pale lavender and berry. A simple effect works well:

• 2 rows pale lavender
• 2 rows berry with small purl dots if desired
• 2 rows pale lavender

Change to taupe. Increase gradually to 24 sts over the sleeve length. Work until the sleeve reaches the wrist to shoulder measurement. Bind off lightly and sew into the armholes. The sleeves should be slightly relaxed, not tight.

Beret

The beret is an important feature. It should be full, soft, and slightly slouched to one side, with a braided or cable-like band and a small clustered flower decoration.

Using berry purple, cast on 64 sts. Work a deep band of 8 rows in rib or a mock braided texture. For a fuller look, increase to 96 sts evenly on the next round.

Work 12 to 16 rounds in stockinette. Then begin decrease rounds spaced every 2 to 3 rounds, reducing 8 sts each decrease round until the crown closes. Keep the top broad enough so the hat can sit puffed rather than fitted.

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Make the flower cluster by knitting 7 to 9 tiny bobbles or French-knot style wrapped buds in lighter and darker purple shades. Sew them together as a rounded cluster and attach on one side of the beret band.

Shoes Make 2

Using berry purple, cast on 14 sts. Work the sole flat in garter for 6 rows, increasing at each end twice to create an oval. Pick up stitches around the sole and work 4 rounds upward in stockinette.

Shape the toe with 2 decrease rounds. The shoes in the image are rounded Mary Jane flats. Work a top strap separately by casting on 4 sts and knitting a narrow strip long enough to cross the instep. Sew one end to each side of the shoe opening.

Add a pale sole edge if desired by embroidering a neat line in light lavender or cream around the base.

Purse

Using dusty mauve yarn, cast on 18 sts. Work flat in stockinette for a small rectangle with slightly rounded corners created by decreasing at each end on the last 4 rows. Make 2 pieces.

Seam the sides and bottom, lightly stuff or line the inside, and add a miniature metal-look clasp if available. If not, embroider a gold top edge with chain stitch and create a tiny loop handle. The purse should look compact and structured.

Perfume Bottle

Using pale lavender, cast on 10 sts. Knit a tiny oval bottle shape by increasing to 16 sts, working 6 rows, then decreasing back to 10 sts. Stuff lightly or use a small felt core. Close the bottom and top.

For the cap, use beige or gold and make a very small rounded knob. Sew it to the top center. Embroider a tiny label on the front using a scrap of cream yarn or a few satin stitches. Keep the label extremely small so it matches the dainty scale in the image.

Lace Mat

This small square mat sits flat and delicate in front of the bunny. Use very fine pale lavender yarn and smaller needles. Cast on 21 sts.

Work this simple eyelet pattern for a square:

1. Row 1: k1, yo, k2tog, repeat across, k1.
2. Row 2: purl.
3. Row 3: k2, yo, k2tog, repeat to last 2 sts, k2.
4. Row 4: purl.

Repeat these 4 rows until the piece is square. Finish with 2 garter rows and bind off loosely. Block firmly so the points and holes open up. The image shows a fine decorative cloth rather than a heavy doily, so keep it light.

Lavender Bouquet

The bouquet is made from several thin stems grouped together. Use green for stems and leaves, and two purple shades for flower heads. Make 5 to 7 stems.

For each stem, create an i-cord or narrow knitted strip about 2 inches long. For the flower head, cast on 3 sts in purple and work tiny bobbles or knot clusters along a short central line. Sew this onto the top of the stem.

Leaves can be made by casting on 3 sts in green, increasing to 7 sts, then decreasing back to 3 sts into a small pointed oval. Make 4 to 6 leaves total. Gather the stems together, wrap with lavender yarn, and stitch securely. The bouquet should look dense and a little rustic.

Little Cat Companion

The cat is a seated miniature with white paws, a small pink nose, a berry beret, and a taupe jacket with berry buttons. It should look coordinated with the bunny without becoming too detailed or oversized.

Body and Head

Using gray-brown, cast on 10 sts and increase to 24 sts for the lower body. Work 10 rounds, then decrease lightly at the waist. Continue upward into the chest and head, increasing again to about 30 sts for the head. Stuff firmly.

The head should be rounded with a slightly narrower chin than the bunny. Embroider the nose in soft pink and the mouth in dark brown or black. Add tiny eyes close to the nose line for a sweet expression.

Legs and Feet

Use white for the paws and lower feet, then switch to gray-brown. Make two tiny legs and attach in a seated angle so the white feet point forward. The cat in the image sits with bent legs rather than standing upright.

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Arms Make 2

Start with white for the paws, then change to gray-brown. Keep the arms slim and lightly stuffed. Sew them high on the sides so they rest beside the jacket front.

Ears Make 2

Knit two tiny triangles in gray-brown. Sew them to the top of the head with a slight outward angle. Add a faint inner ear stitch in dusty pink if desired, but keep it subtle.

Tail

Knit a narrow tail about 2 inches long. Curve it gently behind the body so it peeks out at the side.

Cat Jacket

Using taupe, make a tiny open-front jacket with short sleeves or simple arm openings. Add two or three berry embroidered buttons down one side. The texture can be plain stockinette with a garter edge.

Cat Beret

Using berry purple, make a miniature version of the bunny’s beret. Cast on 24 sts, increase to 36 sts, work several rounds, then decrease to close. Add a tiny center nub. Sew at a jaunty angle.

Assembly of the Bunny

1. Sew the legs evenly to the body if not already joined.
2. Attach the head firmly to the top of the torso, making sure it faces straight ahead.
3. Sew the arms slightly below the neckline so the paws fall at the side of the skirt bodice.
4. Attach the ears with a soft fold at the top and let them hang down.
5. Add the tail low on the back.
6. Dress the bunny in the lavender dress.
7. Place the cardigan over the dress and tack the fronts lightly so they sit open but balanced.
8. Put on the shoes and stitch in place if this is a display piece.
9. Set the beret low across the forehead and slightly to one side.

Accessory Placement for Display

To match the arrangement in the image, place the purse on the bunny’s left side near the foot. Set the perfume bottle in front of the skirt. Lay the lace mat toward the front. Position the cat on the bunny’s right side, slightly turned inward. Rest the lavender bouquet in front of the cat.

This placement creates the same gentle storytelling feel as the original design. The accessories should look intentional and scaled, not scattered randomly.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check that the head is centered, the ears hang evenly, and the feet sit flat. Adjust the beret until one side looks softly slouched. Keep the facial embroidery tiny and calm. The nose should be small, the mouth delicate, and the eyes low enough to create a tender expression.

Use a few hidden stitches to secure the dress, cardigan, and shoes if the doll is for display. For the cat, make sure the paws face forward and the beret tilts slightly.

Care Notes

• Display away from direct sunlight to protect the lavender and berry shades.
• Spot clean whenever possible.
• Avoid soaking pieces with stuffed bodies unless absolutely needed.
• Store accessories together in a small box or fabric pouch.
• Reshape the beret and bouquet gently after handling.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Bunny body: firm, even, and balanced.
• Face: centered and softly embroidered.
• Ears: long and drooping to shoulder height.
• Dress: fitted bodice, flared skirt, vine near hem.
• Cardigan: cropped and open front.
• Beret: full, slouched, with flower cluster.
• Shoes: rounded Mary Jane shape.
• Accessories: purse, perfume bottle, lace mat, bouquet, and cat completed.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

For routine care, use a soft dry cloth or a clean makeup brush to remove dust. If deeper cleaning is needed, dab gently with cool water and a small amount of mild soap, then blot with a towel. Do not wring, twist, or hang heavy stuffed pieces while wet.

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Lay the bunny and cat flat to dry on a towel and reshape them with your hands. Keep metal purse findings dry. Store the set in a breathable container with acid-free tissue if packing it away for a long period. This helps preserve the form, color, and delicate decorative details.