This soft collectible set combines a heirloom bunny doll, a floral dirndl dress, a scalloped apron, a tiny headscarf, knit shoes, a flower bouquet, a little basket, a pocket-sized animal friend, a gingham-style cloth, and a miniature jar. It has the look of a boutique handmade toy, an artisan nursery gift, and a keepsake display piece all in one. The pansy motifs, apron lacing, and gentle pastel palette give it strong handmade toy, knitted doll outfit, and giftable nursery decor appeal for readers searching for premium knitted animal dolls.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Overview
This design creates a standing floppy-eared bunny with a rounded head, a soft pear-shaped body, long slim arms, sturdy legs, and simple embroidered features. The finished bunny is dressed in a lavender dirndl with cream puff sleeves, a floral skirt border, a cream apron, and a matching headscarf.
The proportions matter. The head is large but not oversized, about one-third of the full bunny height. The body is slightly longer than the head. The arms are narrow and hang low. The legs are firm and straight enough to support a seated or propped standing display.
The clothing is as important as the bunny itself. The bodice sits high and close to the chest. The sleeves are rounded and gentle. The skirt widens slightly at the hem. The apron covers the front center only and finishes with petal-like scallops edged by tiny pansy circles.
The small accessories complete the exact look: a short handled basket, a bouquet of pansies, a tiny animal companion in matching clothes, a small lidded jar, and a little checked cloth. Work them all in the same fine gauge so the full scene feels balanced.
Finished Measurements
- Main bunny: about 11 to 12 inches tall from foot sole to top of head
- Ear length: about 4 1/4 inches from crown seam
- Dress length: from upper bib to hem about 4 1/2 inches
- Apron width: about half the skirt front width
- Tiny companion: about 4 inches tall
- Basket: about 2 inches wide
- Jar: about 1 inch tall
- Checked cloth: about 1 1/2 inches square
Materials
- Fingering-weight yarn in warm beige for bunny body
- Fingering-weight yarn in cream for blouse and apron
- Fingering-weight yarn in soft lavender for bodice, skirt trims, shoes, and scarf details
- Fingering-weight yarn in deep plum for dark pansy petals
- Fingering-weight yarn in butter yellow for flower centers and lighter petals
- Fingering-weight yarn in leaf green for stems and the companion cardigan
- Very small amount of rose pink for the companion dress trim
- Very small amount of caramel and white for the tiny companion body
- Small amount of amber or honey gold for the jar
- Black embroidery thread or fine yarn for eyes
- Dark brown embroidery thread for nose and mouth
- Toy stuffing
- Lightweight cardboard or plastic canvas scraps for foot soles if extra stability is wanted
- 2.25 mm needles for flat pieces
- 2.0 mm double-pointed needles for small tubes and tiny accessories
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Waste yarn
Gauge
Main fabric gauge: 34 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches in stockinette after light blocking. The fabric should be firm enough that stuffing does not show through. If your stitches look open, go down a needle size.
Colorwork gauge: keep the same stitch count, but spread floats gently. The floral hem and scarf accents should lie flat without puckering. Do not pull the contrast yarn tightly behind the work.
Abbreviations
- CO = cast on
- K = knit
- P = purl
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- inc = increase 1 stitch
- k2tog = knit 2 together
- ssk = slip, slip, knit
- RS = right side
- WS = wrong side
- rep = repeat
- BO = bind off
- pm = place marker
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Color Notes
Use beige for all exposed bunny fur. The blouse is cream. The bodice and skirt base are soft lavender. The floral border uses lavender, plum, yellow, and cream. The apron is cream with lavender-and-yellow pansy circles around the lower edge.
The headscarf is mainly cream with tiny lavender and plum accents near the sides. Shoes are beige with lavender strap flowers. The companion uses white and caramel sections with a moss green cardigan and a pale cream apron over a dusty pink base.
Main Bunny Legs
Make 2. Begin at the sole in beige. CO 12 sts. Work 6 rows in garter. On the next RS row, inc at each end and twice evenly across. Repeat once more on every other row until 20 sts. This makes the rounded shoe base.
Work 8 rows stockinette. Shape the front of the foot with short decreases: Row 1: K7, k2tog, k2tog, K7. Row 2: P. Row 3: K6, k2tog, k2tog, K6. Row 4: P. You should have 16 sts.
Continue even for 10 rows to form the top of the foot. If using a sole insert, cut it slightly smaller than the knitted base and set aside. Begin the ankle and leg by knitting 20 more rows in beige, increasing 1 stitch at each side every 8th row twice.
The leg should be slim and straight. Work until the full leg, including foot, measures about 4 inches. Bind off loosely. Seam along the leg and around the foot. Stuff the foot firmly, adding the sole insert if used. Stuff the leg moderately firm.
Main Bunny Body
The body is worked flat in two matching pieces from the lower edge upward. In beige, CO 26 sts for front and 26 sts for back. Work 4 rows in garter to create a stable base under the dress line.
Change to stockinette. Inc 1 stitch at each end every 6th row three times to reach 32 sts. This creates the lower tummy and hip width. Work 12 rows even. Then begin gentle shaping inward with 1 decrease at each end every 8th row twice.
Work 10 rows even. Shape upper torso: decrease 1 stitch at each end every 6th row twice, ending with 24 sts. Work 6 rows even. Bind off 4 sts at each side for arm openings, then continue on the center 16 sts for 10 rows.
For the neck, decrease 1 stitch at each end every other row twice, ending with 12 sts. Work 4 rows even, then bind off. Make the second body piece the same. Seam shoulders lightly, then side seams, leaving lower edge open at first.
Attach the stuffed legs inside the body before closing the lower body seam. Position them slightly apart so the bunny can stand when leaned back against a support. Stuff the body firmly at the belly and more softly near the chest.
Main Bunny Arms
Make 2 in beige. CO 10 sts. Work 4 rows in ribbing, K1 P1, for the tiny wrist shaping. Continue in stockinette for 24 rows. Increase 1 stitch at each end every 10th row twice. You should have 14 sts.
Work 8 rows even, then shape the shoulder cap: BO 2 sts at the start of the next 2 rows. Decrease 1 stitch at each end of every RS row until 6 sts remain. Work 2 rows even and bind off. Seam, stuff lightly, and keep the hands narrow.
The arms should look soft and tapered, not bulky. They hang straight down beside the apron. Do not overstuff. A slightly flattened arm gives the exact relaxed look seen in the sample.
Main Bunny Head
The head is worked in two side pieces plus a center face gusset for a smooth rounded shape. This method gives the gentle forehead, tidy muzzle, and centered nose line visible in the sample.
Side Head Pieces
Make 2 in beige. CO 14 sts. Work stockinette, increasing 1 stitch at each end every RS row 5 times to 24 sts. Work 16 rows even. Then decrease 1 stitch at each end every RS row 5 times back to 14 sts. Bind off.
Center Face Gusset
CO 6 sts in beige. Increase 1 stitch at each end every RS row until 14 sts. Work 18 rows even. Then decrease 1 stitch at each end every RS row until 6 sts remain. Bind off. This long diamond forms forehead, nose bridge, and chin.
Join the gusset to one side head piece from the back neck, over the crown, down the nose, under the chin, and back to the neck. Then join the second side. Before closing fully, embroider the face while the head is still mostly flat.
Ears
Make 2 in beige. CO 8 sts. Work stockinette and increase 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until 18 sts. Work 20 rows even. Then decrease 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until 8 sts remain. Work 2 rows and bind off.
Fold each ear lengthwise very lightly and seam just the lower quarter to create a soft inner curve. Do not stuff. The ears should drape downward from the headscarf line and fall behind the shoulders, with only a slight outward flare.
Head Stuffing and Neck Join
Stuff the head firmly, especially around the cheeks and muzzle, but avoid stretching the fabric so much that the stitches flatten. Close the back neck seam. Sew the head to the neck opening with strong matching yarn, adding extra stitches for stability.
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Attach the ears after the head is fixed to the body. Place them just behind the side face line, beginning near the crown seam. Their top edges should tuck under the scarf band, leaving the full ear length visible below.
Facial Placement
Use small straight satin stitches or tiny knots for the eyes. Place them widely spaced, about halfway down the head, one or two rows above the widest part of the muzzle. Embroider a short vertical nose stem and a neat split mouth in dark brown.
The expression should be calm and sweet. Keep the nose small, centered, and slightly triangular. The mouth curves softly downward and outward into two short lines. Do not add large cheeks or heavy shading. The clean face is part of the exact style.
Puff-Sleeve Blouse
The blouse is a separate garment in cream. Work the sleeves first, then join with the upper body. Make 2 sleeves. CO 18 sts. Work 4 rows in garter. Increase evenly across the next RS row to 24 sts. Work 14 rows stockinette.
For the lace-like cuff edge seen in the image, work the final 2 rows as follows: Row 1: K1, yo, k2tog across. Row 2: P all. Bind off loosely. This creates a delicate picot-style ruffle once the edge is lightly stretched.
For the blouse body, CO 32 sts for the front in cream and 32 sts for the back. Work 8 rows stockinette. Join one sleeve at each side by working across sleeve stitches at the beginning and end of the next RS row, making one large yoke section.
Work 10 rows even. Shape a square neckline by binding off the center 12 sts on the front only. Work each side separately for 4 rows, then bind off shoulder stitches. Back neckline stays nearly straight. Seam shoulders and sleeve underarms.
The blouse must sit just under the chin and fill the arm openings of the bodice. It should puff gently above the dirndl straps. Do not make it too loose. A close fit keeps the exact tidy doll look.
Dirndl Bodice and Skirt
This piece is worked from the upper bib downward. In lavender, CO 20 sts for the front bib. Work 14 rows in a textured panel: Row 1 RS: K2, P2, K12, P2, K2. Row 2 and all WS rows: work stitches as they appear.
At the same time, form the narrow side cables visually by working the two P2 panels consistently. On the center 12 stitches, work stockinette. This creates the smooth area where the corset lacing will later be embroidered. Bind off after 14 rows.
For the full dress skirt, pick up 44 sts along the lower edge of the bib and add 12 sts at each side for the back skirt sections. You will have 68 sts total. Work 6 rows in lavender, increasing 6 stitches evenly on the final row.
Continue in stockinette, increasing 1 stitch at each side and 4 stitches evenly across every 8th row three times. This builds the gentle outward bell shape. The skirt should widen modestly, not dramatically. Work until skirt length below bib is about 3 inches.
Floral Hem Band
The hem carries repeating pansy motifs. Work a 16-row charted band using cream as the main background. Each flower uses 5 to 7 stitches across. Make alternating blooms in lavender-yellow and plum-cream, with tiny dark centers.
Space the flowers evenly around the lower front and sides, keeping the background lavender between them. The sample shows full blossoms facing outward, each with rounded lower petals and smaller upper petals. End the hem with 4 rows in lavender garter.
Seam the back of the dress neatly. Leave the upper back open for dressing if desired, or sew permanently onto the bunny for a fixed display doll. The front bib should sit high and straight, with narrow shoulder straps framing the blouse.
Corset Lacing
Using cream yarn, embroider crisscross lacing over the center front bodice panel. Make six crossing pairs from upper chest to waist. Keep the lacing flat and narrow. The sample shows elegant, tidy crossings rather than chunky cords.
Anchor the top and bottom points invisibly. This one detail changes the dress from simple to unmistakably dirndl-inspired, so keep the spacing even and centered on the bib.
Apron
In cream, CO 30 sts. Work 4 rows garter. Change to stockinette and work 18 rows, increasing 1 stitch at each end every 6th row twice. The apron should cover only the center front of the skirt, ending above the floral hem.
For the lower scalloped edge, divide the live stitches into seven small scallops. Work each scallop separately over 5 stitches: knit 4 rows, then decrease 1 stitch at each edge every RS row until 1 stitch remains. Bind off. Rejoin yarn for each new scallop.
Once all scallops are complete, edge each scallop with a tiny knitted or embroidered pansy circle. Use lavender outer petals, cream edging, and a yellow center. These circles sit near the tips of the scallops and mirror the skirt border flowers.
Make narrow waist ties or simply sew the apron permanently to the dress. In the sample, the apron lies flat with no visible bulky bow in front. Attach it smoothly at the waistline, centered under the corset lacing.
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Headscarf
In cream, CO 56 sts. Work 6 rows garter. Then work 12 rows stockinette, shaping by decreasing 1 stitch at each end every 4th row three times. Add tiny side motifs in lavender and plum at rows 8 through 12 near both ends.
Finish with 4 rows garter and bind off. Fold the long scarf around the head like a soft kerchief, crossing behind the head and tying or stitching at the sides. The center front sits above the forehead in a smooth curved band.
The scarf must not cover the face too low. Leave the full forehead and both eyes open. The side gathered portions should look softly padded, almost like little rosettes, then the long ear sections hang behind beneath it.
Shoes and Ankle Flowers
The feet are already shaped as part of the body, but add surface details for the strapped shoe look. Embroider a horizontal lavender strap across each upper foot. At the outer ankle, sew a tiny pansy made from two lavender petals, two cream petals, and a yellow knot center.
This floral ankle accent is small but visible in the image and should sit slightly above the shoe line, not directly on the toe.
Mini Companion Body
This small friend is shaped like a tiny guinea pig or hamster standing upright. Work in two body colors: white for the face stripe and lower front, caramel for side head patches and body back. Begin with the front in white. CO 10 sts.
Work 6 rows, then increase to 14 sts. Add caramel at both side edges for the head patch effect. Work 10 more rows. Shape the crown with gradual decreases. Make a matching back piece in mostly caramel with a small white lower section.
Seam and stuff very lightly. Add tiny triangular ears in mixed white and caramel. Embroider black eyes and a small brown nose and mouth similar to the main bunny, but slightly closer together. The companion should look alert and sweet.
Mini Companion Outfit
Dress the companion in a dusty pink lower dress with a cream apron panel and a moss green cropped cardigan. For the skirt, CO 20 sts in pink and work 10 rows, increasing 4 stitches evenly once. Bind off. Gather gently around the waist.
For the apron, CO 10 sts in cream. Work 8 rows. Add 3 tiny lavender dots or French-knot style flower buds across the lower edge. For the cardigan, make a flat strip in green, 22 stitches wide and 10 rows high, with short sleeves formed by folding and sewing.
Sew the cardigan around the shoulders, leaving the cream apron visible. Add two tiny yellow knots as buttons. Tie a small scarf or collar at the neck in rose pink. Finish with a tiny headscarf in cream and lavender if desired.
Basket
Using beige, CO 10 sts for the base. Work 12 rows garter. Pick up stitches around all four sides and work in the round or as a flat strip joined later until the basket wall measures about 3/4 inch tall. Bind off firmly.
For the handle, make an i-cord or narrow knitted strip about 4 inches long. Sew to opposite basket sides so it arches softly. Keep the basket simple and rustic, matching the natural tone in the sample.
Pansy Bouquet
Make 5 small pansies. Each flower may be worked as five separate tiny petals sewn together. For larger blooms, make two upper petals in plum or lavender, two side petals in cream-lavender, and one lower petal in yellow-lavender blend.
Make each petal by CO 3 sts, increasing to 7 sts, working 2 rows even, then decreasing back to 3 sts. Bind off. Sew petals together around a yellow center knot. Add green knitted cords as stems and tie them into a tiny hand bouquet.
Mini Jar
In honey gold, CO 8 sts on double-pointed needles. Work a tiny tube for 8 rounds. Decrease once evenly, then stuff lightly. Close the base. For the lid, work a small cream circle by CO 4 sts, increasing to 8 sts, then draw closed.
Wrap the cream lid over the top and secure with a narrow beige thread tied around the neck. The jar should be round and squat, sitting low beside the companion.
Checked Cloth
Use cream and lavender-pink. CO 12 sts. Work 12 rows in a simple check pattern: 2 rows cream, 2 rows lavender, alternating small 2-stitch blocks if you enjoy tiny stranded work. Bind off loosely and block square.
This piece is tiny and decorative. A softly textured square with a gingham impression is enough. Place it folded beside the jar.
Assembly Order
- Sew and stuff legs, arms, body, head, and ears
- Join legs into the body and close the lower body seam
- Attach head securely to neck
- Sew on ears in a drooping position
- Embroider face
- Dress bunny in blouse, then dirndl, then apron
- Add corset lacing and shoe flowers
- Place and secure the headscarf
- Make the mini companion and dress it
- Finish basket, bouquet, jar, and cloth
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Final Assembly and Facial Detailing
Check the symmetry before the last stitches. The head should sit straight, the ears should fall evenly, and the apron should be centered under the bodice lacing. The eyes need to be small, level, and gently spaced. Keep the nose tiny and the mouth neat.
Steam only very lightly from a distance if needed. Do not flatten the stuffed areas. Arrange the scarf so it frames the head without hiding the forehead. Pose the bouquet, basket, companion, jar, and cloth close to the bunny for the full storybook scene.
Care Notes
- Spot clean first whenever possible
- Handle floral appliqués gently
- Keep away from rough brushing or heavy pulling
- Store flat or upright with support behind the body
- Avoid prolonged direct sun to protect pastel shades
Quick Checklist Before You Finish
- Head: round and smooth with centered face
- Ears: long, soft, and draping behind shoulders
- Blouse: cream with puff sleeves and delicate cuffs
- Dress: lavender bodice, floral hem, centered lacing
- Apron: cream, scalloped, and decorated with tiny pansies
- Shoes: beige with lavender floral accents
- Scarf: cream with lavender-plum touches
- Accessories: basket, bouquet, companion, jar, and cloth included
Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines
For best results, dab marks with cool water and a tiny amount of mild soap on a cloth. Do not twist, soak, or machine wash. Press moisture out gently with a towel and let the piece dry naturally away from heat.
To preserve shape, support the head and body while drying. Keep the doll and accessories in a clean box or on a shelf away from dust and dampness. Acid-free tissue under the skirt and around the scarf helps maintain the crisp display silhouette.
