Dianthus Pearl-Balcony Bunny – Knitting

This charming knitted bunny is dressed like a keepsake heirloom doll, with a soft blue floral dress, a dusty rose cardigan, a cream beret, and tiny pink shoes. The finished set also includes a floral shoulder bag, a small mouse friend, a little embroidered cloth, and a bundle of flowers. It is a lovely handmade gift for nursery decor, spring display, collectible toy lovers, and shoppers looking for artisan stuffed animals, knitted bunny dolls, and heirloom knit gifts with delicate handcrafted 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: light fingering or fine sport weight wool in pale warm beige or soft blush beige for the head, ears, arms, and visible legs.
• Dress yarn: fine sport weight in dusty pastel blue.
• Flower motif yarn: soft cream or natural ivory.
• Cardigan yarn: muted dusty rose.
• Beret yarn: soft cream.
• Shoe yarn: pale dusty pink.
• Bag yarn: oatmeal, cream, dusty pink, muted rose, soft blue, and tiny touches of green.
• Mouse yarn: light gray, oatmeal, brown, and tan.
• Flower bundle yarn: green, rose pink, dusty mauve, and cream.
• Embroidery thread: black or very dark brown for the nose and mouth.
• Eyes: 5 mm to 6 mm black safety eyes, or small black beads if making for display only.
• Needles: double-pointed needles or magic loop needles suitable for tight toy knitting. Use a size that gives dense fabric with no visible stuffing gaps.
• Tapestry needle for assembly and embroidery.
• Small amount of toy stuffing.
• Thin cord, yarn cord, or i-cord for the bag strap and tiny ties.

Finished Size

The bunny in the image appears to be a small sitting doll, approximately 9 to 11 inches tall from the top of the beret to the base of the shoes. The body is compact and softly weighted. The head is large but not oversized, creating a balanced heirloom proportion.

The mouse companion is much smaller, about one-third of the bunny’s height. The flower bundle and cloth are miniature accessories sized to fit naturally beside the doll without looking oversized.

Yarn and Gauge Notes

A firm gauge is essential. The surface in the image is smooth and even, with small neat stockinette stitches. Use a needle size slightly smaller than you would normally choose for this yarn.

The fabric should feel dense, flexible, and tidy. Stuffing must not show through. The dress and cardigan should drape gently without becoming loose or floppy. The beret needs enough body to hold its rounded shape while still looking soft.

• Gauge target for toys: aim for a tight stockinette fabric rather than a loose garment gauge.
• Texture: smooth stockinette dominates the bunny and clothing.
• Special trim: the dress hem and neckline use decorative edging that should remain delicate and refined.

Abbreviations

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

Construction Overview

The bunny is made from separate pieces and then assembled carefully. The body is worked from the lower section upward. The legs are short and mostly hidden by the dress, while the shoes are fully visible.

The head is round and smooth with a gentle taper toward the chin. The ears are narrow, soft, and hang straight down from beneath the beret. The arms are slim and lightly curved.

The dress is worked separately so the floral hem border can be placed neatly and evenly. The cardigan is also separate and open at the front. The beret is shaped with a narrow ribbed band and a soft, full crown.

Bunny Legs

Make 2 in the main bunny yarn.

1. CO 8 sts. Divide evenly for knitting in the round.
2. K 1 round.
3. Inc evenly to 12 sts.
4. K 8 rounds.
5. Inc evenly to 14 sts.
6. K 4 rounds.
7. Stuff lightly at the lower part only.
8. Flatten the opening so the leg sits front-facing.
9. K across both layers for 7 stitches to close, or use three-needle closure.

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The visible leg section in the image is short, soft, and cylindrical. Do not overstuff. The upper end will be hidden under the dress and joined to the body. The lower front should remain smooth because the shoes sit over the feet area.

Bunny Body

Use main bunny yarn. The torso is pear-shaped but subtle, not too wide. It should support the dress without distorting the silhouette.

1. CO 12 sts for the lower body.
2. Work in the round.
3. Round 1: inc evenly to 18 sts.
4. Round 2: knit.
5. Round 3: inc evenly to 24 sts.
6. Round 4: knit.
7. Round 5: inc evenly to 30 sts.
8. K 8 rounds.
9. On the next round, join both legs to the body, spacing them symmetrically at the front lower edge.
10. Continue knitting around all body and leg stitches, working decreases at the inner leg joins if needed to smooth the transition.
11. K 10 more rounds for the belly and chest.
12. Begin upper-body shaping: decrease 4 sts evenly.
13. K 3 rounds.
14. Decrease 4 sts evenly again.
15. K 2 rounds.
16. Stuff the body firmly but not hard.
17. Finish with a narrow upper neck opening of about 16 to 18 sts.

The body in the image is hidden by clothing, but it clearly supports a full dress with a rounded front. Keep the torso smooth and centered. The bunny should sit upright without leaning.

Head

The head is the most important part of the doll. It is softly oval, wider across the cheeks, and slightly narrower at the lower face. The forehead is smooth. The muzzle is not a separate piece in the image. Instead, the face is formed through shaping and gentle embroidery.

1. CO 12 sts in main bunny yarn.
2. Work in the round.
3. Increase evenly every other round until you reach 36 sts.
4. K 10 rounds.
5. Increase evenly to 40 sts for fuller cheeks.
6. K 4 rounds.
7. Place eyes between the center line and side line of the face, with moderate spacing. The eyes should sit slightly above the midpoint of the head.
8. K 2 rounds after eye placement.
9. Begin lower-face shaping with evenly spaced decreases every other round until 18 sts remain.
10. Stuff firmly, shaping the cheeks and forehead as you go.
11. Close the opening securely.

The face in the image looks calm, sweet, and minimal. Avoid deep sculpting. A very small amount of shaping at the muzzle area is enough. The embroidered nose is a tiny inverted triangle or short satin-stitched nose, with a simple split mouth beneath it.

Ears

Make 2 in main bunny yarn. The ears are narrow and medium-long. They hang straight down from below the beret, ending around jaw to shoulder level. They are not wired and not overly stuffed.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Work flat in stockinette, slipping the first stitch if preferred for neat edges.
3. Rows 1 to 4: knit RS, purl WS.
4. Row 5: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1.
5. Work 3 rows even.
6. Rep the decrease row once.
7. Work until the ear length matches the image, approximately 2.5 to 3 inches.
8. Bind off softly.
9. Fold each ear lengthwise very lightly and stitch the lower edge closed just enough to make the ear base tidy.

If you prefer to work the ears in the round, keep them flat and barely stuffed. The image shows soft drooping ears with a gentle fold at the top where they are attached.

Arms

Make 2 in main bunny yarn. The sleeves cover most of the arms, so only the paws are visible. The arms are slim and slightly tapered.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Work in the round.
3. Increase evenly to 10 sts.
4. K 10 to 12 rounds.
5. Increase to 12 sts for the upper arm.
6. K 6 rounds.
7. Stuff lightly, leaving the top inch soft.
8. Flatten and close the top.

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The finished arms should angle slightly downward when sewn. In the image, both arms rest naturally beside the dress, without stiff extension.

Face Embroidery

With dark embroidery thread, create a tiny nose centered low on the face. It should be small and neat, not wide. Add a short vertical stitch downward, then split it into a gentle V-shaped mouth.

Do not add blush, lashes, eyebrows, or extra detailing. The expression in the image is very simple, classic, and understated. Less detail will make the bunny look more elegant and accurate.

Dress

The dress is a sleeveless knitted garment in dusty pastel blue. It has a softly gathered skirt, a cream decorative neckline, a cream floral motif across the lower skirt, and a cream fringe-like hem edging. The shape is slightly A-line, with fullness beginning below the chest.

Dress Bodice

1. CO enough stitches to fit comfortably around the upper chest of the bunny body. A practical count is 28 to 32 sts depending on your gauge.
2. Work flat for the back opening, or in the round if you prefer to seam later. A back opening is easier for dressing the doll.
3. K 2 rows in cream for the neckline band.
4. Change to blue.
5. Work 6 to 8 rows in stockinette.
6. Shape gentle armholes by binding off 2 sts at each side, then decreasing 1 stitch at each edge every RS row twice.
7. Work straight to the desired bodice height.
8. Shape a shallow neckline.
9. Join shoulders or seam later.

The neckline in the image has a tiny cream decorative loop effect. You can imitate this by adding a narrow picot-like trim, a small eyelet edging, or a delicate embroidered chain of loops after the dress is complete.

Dress Skirt

Pick up stitches around the lower bodice edge in blue.

1. Increase evenly across the first skirt round or row so the dress begins to flare.
2. Work 4 rows even.
3. Increase evenly again.
4. Work 6 rows even.
5. Increase once more, especially toward the side sections.
6. Continue until the skirt reaches just above the ankles.

The skirt should be full but not oversized. In the image, the hem spreads softly over the lap while the bunny is seated. The front looks smooth, and the side fullness is gentle rather than dramatic.

Flower Border on Dress

The lower skirt features a row of cream tulip-like motifs. There is one central tall flower rising upward and a repeated lower floral border near the hem. These motifs can be added with duplicate stitch after knitting for best control and accuracy.

Use cream yarn and duplicate stitch the motifs directly onto the blue skirt.

• Center bodice-to-skirt flower: create one upright flower above the skirt border, centered on the front. This flower has a stem, two leaves, and a blossom.
• Lower border flowers: work a horizontal repeat of simple tulip shapes across the front hem area.
• Spacing: leave even gaps between flowers so the border looks airy and neat.
• Height: the lower flowers should sit clearly above the cream hem fringe.

Each border flower should have a short stem, one or two leaves, and a rounded cup-shaped blossom. Keep them stylized, not realistic. The image shows a symmetrical decorative folk-floral style.

Dress Hem Trim

The hem has a short cream fringe or brush-like edging. To recreate this look, change to cream for the final 2 rows, then work a decorative loop or picot edge. Another option is to embroider short vertical cream stitches all around the hem after the dress is complete.

The edging should read as a soft pale trim, not a heavy ruffle. Keep it short and tidy.

Cardigan

The cardigan is dusty rose and cropped to the waist. It has long sleeves, an open front, a textured front band, a small collar, and embroidered floral pockets. It sits neatly over the dress without bulk.

Cardigan Back

1. CO 24 sts.
2. Work in stockinette for 10 rows.
3. Shape armholes by binding off 2 sts at each side.
4. Decrease 1 stitch at each armhole edge every RS row twice.
5. Work straight until shoulder height.
6. Shape a shallow back neck and bind off shoulders.

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Cardigan Fronts

Make 2 mirrored pieces.

1. CO 14 sts for each front, including edge stitches for the front band.
2. Work the inner band in a simple textured stitch such as seed stitch or rib for 3 stitches.
3. Continue remaining stitches in stockinette.
4. Shape armhole to match back.
5. At upper front edge, create a soft diagonal or curved neckline.
6. Bind off shoulder.

Sleeves

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Work in rows or in the round.
3. Increase gradually to 18 sts.
4. Work to elbow length plus a little extra so the sleeves reach the wrists.
5. Shape a very small sleeve cap if working flat.

The sleeves in the image are slim and softly fitted, not puffy. The cuffs are plain. The cardigan hem reaches just below the waistline of the dress bodice.

Collar and Front Finish

Seam shoulders first. Pick up stitches around the neckline to form a tiny folded collar. Work 2 to 4 rows in a rib or garter-like texture, then bind off softly.

The front bands should look slightly thicker than the main cardigan fabric. This gives the neat framed opening visible in the image. Do not add buttons. The cardigan remains open.

Pockets and Floral Embroidery

The cardigan has two tiny front pockets placed low on each side. Knit two small patch pockets in dusty rose and sew them on with the top edge slightly open.

After attaching, embroider small floral details in pink, cream, and green near the outer side of each pocket.

• Left pocket: include a tiny cluster of pink blossoms and pale leaves.
• Right pocket: repeat a similar motif so the cardigan looks balanced but not mechanically identical.
• Scale: the flowers must stay very tiny. They are accent details, not bold motifs.

Beret

The beret is one of the signature details of the doll. It is soft cream, round, and slightly oversized, with a ribbed headband and a full crown that gently slouches to one side. A small knitted bow is stitched near the right side of the brim.

1. CO enough stitches to fit around the head above the eyes and over the ear bases. A likely count is 44 to 52 sts depending on your gauge.
2. Work 5 to 7 rounds in k1, p1 rib.
3. Increase evenly across the next round by about one-third to create fullness.
4. Knit 8 to 10 rounds in stockinette.
5. Increase a little more if needed to create the soft rounded crown.
6. Work 4 more rounds.
7. Begin crown decreases in evenly spaced sections every other round.
8. When few stitches remain, thread yarn through and pull closed.

Flatten the crown gently so it leans to one side rather than sitting like a tight hat. The beret should cover the top attachment point of the ears and sit low on the forehead.

Bow for Beret

1. CO 8 sts in cream.
2. Knit a small rectangle for about 10 rows.
3. Bind off.
4. Wrap the center tightly with matching yarn to form a bow.
5. Sew to the right front side of the beret.

The bow should be soft and petite, not stiff and not oversized. Position it where the image shows a charming side accent.

Shoes

The bunny wears dusty pink knitted shoes with crossed straps, similar to tiny Mary Jane slippers or ballet-style shoes. They cover the feet completely and sit over cream lower legs.

Make 2.

1. CO 8 sts in pink.
2. Work a small oval sole by increasing at both ends over several rows.
3. Pick up stitches around the sole and work in the round.
4. Knit several rounds for the side wall.
5. Decrease at the toe to create a rounded front.
6. Work back-and-forth or selectively in the upper area to create the opening.
7. Create two narrow straps and cross them over the front ankle area.
8. Sew straps neatly at the sides.

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The shoes in the image are softly padded and rounded. Avoid a pointed toe. The crossed straps are an important visual detail and should sit neatly and symmetrically.

Shoulder Bag

The bag is a small rounded pouch in oatmeal with floral decoration and a cream strap worn diagonally across the body. It rests against the left side of the skirt.

1. CO 10 sts in oatmeal.
2. Knit a small oval or rectangular pouch front and back.
3. Join the pieces with side seams or knit in the round for a tiny pouch shape.
4. Add a top edge in cream or oatmeal.
5. Make a thin i-cord or twisted cord strap in cream.
6. Sew the strap securely so the bag hangs from the right shoulder to the left hip.

After construction, embroider or duplicate-stitch tiny floral motifs across the pouch front. Use muted pink, dusty rose, blue, cream, and small green leaves. Keep the flowers scattered but balanced.

The strap should be slender and delicate. It should not pull the cardigan open too dramatically. The bag hangs lightly, adding a vintage handmade look.

Mouse Companion

The tiny mouse standing beside the bunny is a separate knitted figure. It has a light gray face and ears, a pale oatmeal lower body, and a brown hooded coat with a front tie. The proportions are simple and sweet.

Mouse Body

1. CO 8 sts in oatmeal.
2. Work in the round, increasing to 14 or 16 sts.
3. Knit several rounds for a small pear-shaped body.
4. Change to light gray for the head section.
5. Increase slightly for rounded cheeks.
6. Knit 4 rounds.
7. Decrease to close.
8. Stuff lightly.

Mouse Ears

1. CO 6 sts in light gray.
2. Knit tiny circular or semicircular ear pieces.
3. Sew high on the head.

Mouse Face

Add tiny black eyes and a very small stitched nose. Keep the facial expression minimal so it matches the quiet look of the bunny.

Mouse Coat and Hood

1. CO enough stitches in brown to wrap around the small body as a simple open-front coat.
2. Work stockinette for a few rows to the needed length.
3. Shape a small hood separately or continue upward from the neckline if preferred.
4. Sew the hood so it frames the mouse face.
5. Add a thin tan tie at the neck.

The coat should look cozy and slightly rustic. The sleeves are simple, and the hood frames the face closely. The mouse feet are tiny and barely visible beneath the hem.

Flower Bundle

The accessory at the bunny’s side is a tied bundle of knitted flowers with green stems. This detail adds softness and a garden feel to the scene. Make three to five tiny flowers in slightly varied shades of dusty pink and mauve.

1. Knit or crochet tiny five-petal blossoms in rose pink, dusty mauve, and pale blush.
2. Make narrow green stems using i-cord, twisted yarn, or embroidered wrapped wire-free stems.
3. Join the flowers in a small bundle.
4. Tie with cream yarn near the stem tops.

The blossoms should be slightly floppy and handmade in appearance. They do not need rigid shaping. Keep the scale small so they sit naturally beside the bunny and cloth.

Mini Cloth

The small cloth at the bunny’s feet is a square cream handkerchief or mat with a blue scalloped edge and tiny floral embroidery. This can be knitted very simply and decorated afterward.

1. CO a small square in cream.
2. Work in garter stitch or smooth stockinette with a tidy border.
3. Bind off evenly.
4. With blue yarn, embroider or crochet a scalloped edge around the perimeter.
5. Add tiny pink and green floral embroidery in one corner or centered near the lower half.

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The cloth should look soft and delicate, not stiff. It is a decorative prop, so fine detail matters more than structural complexity.

Assembly

1. Sew the head securely to the body, centering it carefully so the bunny sits upright.
2. Attach ears at the upper sides of the head, allowing them to hang downward.
3. Sew arms to the upper body just below neck level.
4. Dress the bunny in the blue dress.
5. Attach or close the dress at the back.
6. Place the cardigan over the dress and stitch lightly at the shoulders if needed to keep it from shifting.
7. Sew the shoes onto the feet or stitch them closed around the feet.
8. Place the beret on the head and tack it invisibly in several spots.
9. Add the shoulder bag so it crosses the chest neatly.
10. Place the mouse, flower bundle, and mini cloth as separate props.

Check the silhouette from the front before securing everything permanently. The image shows a composed, centered arrangement. The bunny’s clothing layers should sit smoothly without twisting.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Once all main pieces are in place, adjust the stuffing gently through the seams if needed so the face looks round and calm. The eyes should be level. The nose should sit low and centered. Keep the mouth tiny and soft.

Lightly tack the ears so they fall evenly under the beret. Position the beret low enough to look cozy. The cardigan fronts should frame the dress without covering the center flower motif.

Care Notes

• Display pieces stay nicest when handled gently.
• If the doll is intended for children, embroider features securely and avoid small detachable parts.
• Do not over-compress the beret, bow, or floral accessories during storage.
• Store away from direct sunlight to protect the soft pastel shades.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head centered: the bunny should sit upright.
• Eyes even: both eyes should align horizontally.
• Ears balanced: both should hang at a similar height.
• Dress motif centered: the large flower sits in the middle front.
• Cardigan pockets matched: floral details should feel balanced.
• Beret slouch soft: not too flat and not too stiff.
• Shoe straps crossed neatly: both feet should match.
• Bag length correct: the pouch rests at the left side of the skirt.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean with a slightly damp cloth and mild wool-safe soap. Avoid soaking unless the yarn is known to be washable. Press out moisture gently with a towel and reshape while drying flat.

For long-term preservation, wrap the doll in clean tissue and keep it in a breathable box. Avoid plastic storage in humid places. Keep dark accessories away from pale sections so no color transfer occurs over time.