Rugby-Stripe Daydream Bunny – Knitting

This knitted bunny set blends a classic school-uniform look with cozy sports-day charm. The long-eared bunny wears a striped rugby-style sweater, a deep pleated skirt, lace-up sneakers, and a pom-pom hat, with matching accessories that make the full set feel gift-ready and collectible. If your readers search for terms like handmade bunny doll, knitted stuffed rabbit, heirloom nursery toy, giftable knit doll, or artisan soft toy, this design fits naturally into that space while still feeling warm, sweet, and timeless.

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 color: light oatmeal-beige DK yarn for head, body, arms, legs, and ears.
• Navy blue DK yarn: skirt, hat brim, sweater stripes, shoes, mini duck skirt, and accessories.
• Burgundy DK yarn: sweater stripes, hat stripes, bag stripes, football stripe detail.
• Cream or soft white DK yarn: collar, sweater stripe, shoe toes, laces, hat stripe, and duck collar.
• Golden yellow DK yarn: mini duck body and wings.
• Orange DK yarn: duck beak and feet.
• Brown yarn: football body and optional face embroidery shading if desired.
• Small amount of black yarn: bunny eyes and duck eyes.
• Polyester toy stuffing.
• Pair of straight needles or circular needles for working flat: size suited to DK yarn to create a firm fabric.
• Set of double-pointed needles for narrow tubes and small accessories if preferred.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Waste yarn.
• Small sharp scissors.

Finished Size

The finished bunny measures about 13 to 15 inches tall seated, not including the pom-pom. From the base of the feet to the top of the hat, the full display is about 16 to 17 inches.

The duck companion is about 4 to 5 inches tall. The shoulder bag is proportioned to sit at the bunny’s right hip. The football is palm-sized and oval. The folded striped prop is small and soft, sized to rest beside the bunny on the bench.

Gauge

Gauge is not critical for display toys, but tight fabric matters. Knit firmly enough that stuffing does not show through. If your stitches look open, go down a needle size.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• St st = stockinette stitch
• Garter = knit every row
• K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
• SSK = slip, slip, knit
• M1 = make 1 stitch
• Rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• BO = bind off

Design Notes

This bunny has a softly oval head, slim shoulders, a neat waist, long dangling ears, and straight seated legs with rounded shoe fronts. The outfit is not oversized. It fits close through the torso and flares dramatically at the skirt.

The sweater has horizontal rugby stripes in navy, cream, burgundy, cream, navy, with a small cream collar opening at the neck. The skirt is dark blue, deeply ribbed or pleated, and falls in a bell shape when the bunny sits.

The face is simple and gentle. The eyes are tiny dark embroidered vertical ovals, spaced widely. The nose is embroidered in a soft triangular style, with a short center line and a split mouth below. Keep the face minimal to match the image.

The hat sits low over the forehead. The ears hang out from beneath it rather than through it. The pom-pom is round, chunky, and multicolored with navy, burgundy, cream, and small flecks of gold.

Body Overview

You may work the bunny in separate flat pieces and seam, or adapt to your preferred toy method. The instructions below are written in a clear, piece-by-piece format to match the proportions in the image as closely as possible.

1. Knit two legs.
2. Knit body from lower torso upward.
3. Knit head.
4. Knit two arms.
5. Knit two long ears.
6. Assemble and shape.
7. Knit outfit pieces and accessories.
8. Finish facial details and styling.

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Legs

The legs are narrow, straight, and softly stuffed. They should look longer than the arms and extend cleanly below the skirt. The feet angle slightly forward because the bunny is seated.

Make 2 Legs

Foot base: Using cream, CO 14 sts.

Work 4 rows in garter. This creates the white shoe toe edge.

Change to blue. Work 8 rows in St st, beginning with a knit row. On the RS, add a simple sneaker stripe by working 2 cream rows across the center section of the foot after row 4 if desired.

Shape the shoe front:

• Row 1: K1, K2tog, K8, SSK, K1.
• WS row: Purl.
• Row 3: K1, K2tog, K6, SSK, K1.
• WS row: Purl.

You should now have a neat rounded shoe top. Work 2 rows even.

For the ankle, work 2 rows in cream, then 2 rows in blue to echo the color-blocked sneaker opening.

Change to oatmeal-beige for the leg. Work 22 to 26 rows even in St st. Keep the legs slim. Do not overstuff. A lightly padded leg hangs more naturally.

Shape the upper leg slightly:

• Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, SSK.
• WS row: Purl.
• Work 5 rows even.

BO. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew each leg seam, shape the foot with extra stuffing at the toe, then stuff the leg lightly and set aside.

Body

The bunny’s body is compact and pear-shaped under the outfit, with the fullness concentrated low at the belly and seat. Because the sweater and skirt cover most of it, keep the shaping smooth rather than bulky.

Using oatmeal-beige, CO 28 sts.

Work 6 rows St st.

Begin shaping:

• Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next RS row.
• Work 3 rows even.
• Repeat this increase row 3 more times.

You should have 36 sts. Work 10 rows even.

Now narrow for the waist:

• Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, SSK.
• WS row: Purl.
• Work 3 rows even.
• Repeat decrease row 3 more times.

You should return to 28 sts. Work 8 rows even.

For the upper chest and neck base:

• Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, SSK.
• WS row: Purl.

Work 4 rows even. BO. Make a second matching piece if working flat. Seam sides, leaving lower edge open temporarily if you prefer to attach to legs first.

Stuff the body firmly at the lower section and only medium-firm at the upper chest. A softer top helps the head sit naturally.

Head

The head is the key shape in this design. It is not perfectly round. It is slightly longer vertically, with full cheeks, a small muzzle area, and a softly flattened top because the hat sits snugly over it.

Using oatmeal-beige, CO 24 sts.

Work 4 rows St st.

Increase for the cheeks and head width:

• Row 1: K1, M1, knit to last 1 st, M1, K1.
• WS row: Purl.
• Repeat this increase row every 4th row until you have 34 sts.

Work 18 rows even. This length creates the broad face and gentle forehead seen in the image.

Shape the top:

• Row 1: K1, K2tog, knit to last 3 sts, SSK, K1.
• WS row: Purl.
• Repeat decrease row every RS row 5 more times.

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When you have 22 sts left, work 1 WS row, then repeat the decrease row until 12 sts remain. Break yarn, thread through live stitches, and draw up tightly.

Make a second matching head piece if working flat. Before fully closing, add stuffing gradually. Shape the muzzle area with your fingers so the lower center front projects slightly. Avoid overstuffing the forehead.

Optional Muzzle Refinement

If you want the face to match the image more closely, run a strand of matching yarn horizontally through the lower front third of the head and pull gently. This creates subtle cheek definition around the nose area without creating a separate sewn muzzle.

Arms

The arms are slim, slightly tapered, and relaxed at the sides. They end just above the skirt waistline. The paws are simple and undecorated.

Using oatmeal-beige, CO 12 sts.

Work 6 rows St st.

Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next RS row. Work 8 rows even.

Begin taper:

• Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, SSK.
• WS row: Purl.
• Work 5 rows even.

Work this taper once more if needed for your tension. BO. Make 2. Sew seams, stuff lightly, and flatten the top inch of each arm so they sew neatly into the shoulder line.

Ears

The ears are long, narrow, and softly drooping. They start near the upper sides of the head and hang below the shoulders. They are not heavily stuffed. Keep them flat and elegant.

Using oatmeal-beige, CO 10 sts.

Work 6 rows St st.

Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next RS row. Work 10 rows even.

Repeat the increase row once more. Work until the ear measures about 7 to 8 inches. This length is important. In the image, the ears drop well past the shoulder line.

Taper the tip slightly:

• Row 1: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, SSK.
• WS row: Purl.
• Repeat once more.

BO. Make 2. Sew each ear. Do not stuff, or add only a trace of stuffing at the base if you want a smoother root at the head.

Assembly of Basic Bunny Form

Sew the legs to the lower body, placing them close but not touching. Angle the feet slightly outward and forward. The seated look depends on this placement.

Sew the head securely to the body. Add a few extra anchoring stitches at the back of the neck so the head does not tilt backward once the hat is added.

Sew the arms at the shoulder line, just below the neck seam. They should hang straight down and rest near the side seams of the sweater.

Sew the ears to the upper sides of the head, slightly behind the eye line. Let them fall naturally. Check that both ears remain visible under the hat.

Facial Placement

Keep the expression very calm and sweet. Less is better here.

• Eyes: embroider two tiny vertical black stitches, spaced wide apart on the upper muzzle line.
• Nose: use brown or deep taupe yarn. Form a small upside-down triangle.
• Mouth: take one stitch down from the nose center, then split into a soft Y shape.

The face in the image is understated. Do not add blush, lashes, eyebrows, or large safety eyes.

Sweater With Rugby Stripes

This sweater is fitted through the torso and ends at the waist. The sleeves are full length. The collar is cream and open at center front, creating a small V with folded points.

Back

Using navy, CO 30 sts.

Work stripe sequence as follows, keeping all rows in St st:

• 8 rows navy
• 6 rows cream
• 6 rows burgundy
• 6 rows cream
• 8 rows navy

Adjust row count slightly if needed to suit your bunny’s torso. The stripe bands in the image are broad, not thin.

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Shape armholes:

• BO 2 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
• Then decrease 1 stitch at each end of every other row twice.

Work even until the piece reaches the shoulder line. BO shoulder stitches, leaving center stitches for back neck if preferred.

Front

Work as for the back through the stripe sequence. At the neckline, divide for the center front opening.

Shape a shallow V by decreasing 1 stitch at the neck edge every 4th row 3 times. Keep the shoulder line straight. Make 2 mirrored front halves.

Sleeves

Using navy, CO 14 sts.

Work the same stripe order, adjusting length so the sleeve visually aligns with the sweater body in the image. Increase 1 stitch at each end every 6th row until sleeve width looks softly rounded but not puffy.

BO. Make 2.

Collar

Using cream, pick up stitches around the neckline and front opening.

Work 2 rows knit 1, purl 1 rib, then 4 rows St st to create a soft fold. Shape the collar tips by decreasing at the outer front edges over the final 2 rows. BO loosely.

Fold the collar outward and tack the tips so they sit flat. The collar should look like a classic rugby shirt collar, not a high standing collar.

Sweater Finishing

Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Dress the bunny and lightly tack the lower hem at the back if needed to keep the waistline neat under the skirt.

Pleated Blue Skirt

The skirt is one of the defining features of the design. It is dark blue, full, and deeply ribbed so it opens into wide pleats when the bunny sits on a bench.

Using navy, CO 84 sts.

Work in deep rib:

• Row 1: K2, P2 across.
• Row 2: Work stitches as they appear.

Continue until the piece measures long enough to cover the upper legs and reach the shoes when seated. In the image, the skirt is generous and almost bell-shaped, so do not make it too short.

To shape the waist, change to a smaller needle if desired and work:

• Row 1: K2tog across in pattern where possible.
• Row 2: Purl.
• Row 3: K1, P1 rib across for 6 rows.

BO loosely. Sew into a tube. Gather or ease the waist neatly around the bunny’s middle. Stitch in place over the lower sweater edge so the transition looks clean and dressed.

Sneakers

The sneakers are knitted as part of the foot section, but the finishing details make them recognizable. Use cream for the front toe, blue for the body, and cream laces.

After the legs are attached, embroider a central lace panel on each shoe using cream yarn.

• Make 4 to 5 horizontal lace bars.
• Thread one longer strand in a crisscross pattern.
• Tie a soft bow and tack it in place.

Keep the laces slightly oversized, as shown in the image. The bows are visible and playful.

Striped Pom-Pom Hat

The hat sits low and snug, covering the top of the head but leaving the face fully visible. It has a broad navy brim, narrow striped bands, and a rounded pom-pom.

Using navy, CO enough stitches to fit snugly around the bunny’s head. For most gauges, 40 to 48 sts works well when worked in the round, or half that amount for a flat piece later seamed.

Work 10 rows in rib for the folded brim.

Then work stripe sequence:

• 4 rows navy
• 3 rows cream
• 3 rows burgundy
• 3 rows cream
• 2 rows navy

Shape crown by spacing 6 decrease points evenly around the hat every other row until a small opening remains. Draw yarn through remaining stitches and close.

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Make a large pom-pom using navy, cream, burgundy, and tiny amounts of yellow or tan. Trim into a firm round shape. Sew securely to the crown.

Fit the hat low on the head and tack discreetly at the sides and back so it stays in place.

Striped Shoulder Bag

The bag is a small rectangle with the same sporty stripe story as the sweater. It hangs crossbody from the bunny’s left shoulder to the right hip.

Using navy, CO 16 sts.

Work this stripe sequence:

• 4 rows navy
• 4 rows cream
• 4 rows burgundy
• 4 rows cream
• 4 rows navy

BO. Make a second matching rectangle. Sew sides and lower edge, leaving the top open. For a slightly softer shape, lightly pad with a trace of stuffing or leave flat.

For the strap, make an I-cord or narrow knitted strip in navy long enough to cross the body. Sew the strap from upper left shoulder area to upper bag corners so the bag rests naturally against the right side of the skirt.

Football

The football is a small oval accessory tucked near the bunny’s right side. It should be slightly squashed rather than perfectly round.

Using brown, CO 10 sts.

Work 2 rows St st. Increase 1 stitch at each end every RS row 3 times. Work 6 rows even. Then decrease 1 stitch at each end every RS row 3 times. BO.

Make 2 pieces. Sew together, stuff lightly, and close. Add a burgundy side stripe and small cream lacing across the center front. Keep the lacing short and neat.

Folded Striped Prop

At the bunny’s left side is a small folded striped knitted prop. It reads well as a mini scarf, folded team cloth, or soft accessory piece. It adds balance to the display and should not be omitted.

Using navy, CO 18 sts.

Work in garter stripe sequence:

• 6 rows navy
• 4 rows cream
• 4 rows burgundy
• 4 rows cream
• 6 rows navy

BO. Fold once or twice and tack lightly so it keeps the folded shape when styled beside the bunny.

Mini Duck Companion

The little duck echoes the bunny outfit beautifully. It wears a matching striped top, a tiny blue skirt, and a matching pom-pom hat. Its proportions are small and simple, with a rounded yellow body and short wings.

Duck Body

Using golden yellow, CO 18 sts.

Work 4 rows St st. Increase 1 stitch at each end every 4th row 3 times. Work 10 rows even. Decrease 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until you return to 18 sts.

Work 6 rows even for the neck-head section. Then decrease at each end every other row until a small opening remains. Stuff firmly before closing.

Duck Wings

Using golden yellow, CO 8 sts. Work 6 rows St st. Decrease 1 stitch at each end once. Work 2 rows and BO. Make 2. Sew flat against the sides.

Beak

Using orange, CO 6 sts. Work 2 rows. Increase once at each end, work 2 rows, then decrease back to 6 sts. BO. Fold and sew as a tiny shallow triangle at the center face.

Duck Feet

Use orange yarn to embroider small triangular feet at the base front. Keep them short and simple.

Duck Outfit

For the striped top, use the same navy, cream, and burgundy order as the bunny sweater, but scaled down. A tiny cream collar can be made from one narrow strip and folded outward.

For the skirt, knit a small navy ribbed band and gather it gently around the duck’s lower body so it flares a little.

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For the hat, make a tiny striped cap with a small pom-pom and sew it low on the head. The hat is essential because it visually ties the duck to the bunny.

Color Placement Guide

• Bunny head, ears, arms, legs: oatmeal-beige
• Sweater upper and lower stripes: navy
• Middle stripe: burgundy
• Separating stripes and collar: cream
• Skirt: navy only
• Hat brim: navy
• Hat band stripes: navy, cream, burgundy, cream
• Shoes: cream toe, blue body, cream laces
• Bag: navy, cream, burgundy striping
• Football: brown with cream laces and burgundy detail
• Duck: yellow body, orange beak and feet, matching striped outfit and blue skirt

Shaping Tips for a Closer Match

Use your hands while stuffing. The bunny in the image has elegant shaping, not stiff shaping. Press the top of the head slightly flatter. Keep the cheeks rounded. Let the body narrow gently at the waist.

The skirt should be full enough that it spreads into visible pleats when seated. If your skirt looks narrow, add more width before sewing the side seam. The visual impact depends on that sweep.

The hat should not perch high. Pull it down until it nearly touches the eye line, then ease it back slightly so the whole face remains visible. This creates the cozy winter-sport look in the image.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Dress the bunny fully before attaching the bag and styling the props. Place the sweater first, then sew the skirt around the waist. Add the hat, then the crossbody bag. Set the football at the bunny’s right side and the folded striped prop at the left.

Embroider the eyes only after the hat is fitted. This helps you judge the final facial balance. Keep the nose tiny and centered. Once the face is complete, tack the ears so they fall evenly from both sides under the hat.

Care Notes

• Display indoors and keep away from damp surfaces.
• Do not hang the bunny by the hat or bag strap.
• If giving to a child, secure all small details with extra stitching.
• Store the football, bag, and folded prop with the bunny to keep the full set together.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Are both ears the same length and attached at matching height?
• Does the sweater stripe order match on body and sleeves?
• Is the skirt full, pleated, and long enough?
• Do the shoes have visible cream laces?
• Is the bag resting at the right hip?
• Is the football oval and lightly stuffed?
• Did you include the folded striped prop?
• Does the duck have its hat, striped top, and blue skirt?

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean gently with a barely damp cloth and mild soap. Do not rub the embroidered face aggressively. Press moisture out with a towel and air dry flat, reshaping the skirt pleats, hat, and ears while damp.

For long-term storage, wrap the bunny and accessories in clean tissue and place them in a breathable box. Avoid plastic bags for extended storage. Keep dark yarns out of strong sunlight to help preserve the navy and burgundy tones.