This cheerful garden bunny wears a soft sage-green sweater decorated with flowers, leafy borders, and tiny bees. Her outfit is completed with cream knitted legs, cable slippers with ladybug accents, a red pearl-centered bow, blue flower clips, and a crossbody garden satchel. The finished display also includes three knitted sunflowers, a miniature Garden Notes book, a carrot charm, and a small oval gathering basket.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Pattern Overview
The bunny is knitted mainly in the round, while the ears, sweater panels, slippers, notebook, basket, and many decorative pieces are worked flat. The finished bunny measures approximately 19 inches from the bottom of the slippers to the tips of the upright ears when the suggested yarn, needles, and gauge are used.
The head is intentionally large and softly pear-shaped. The long ears, broad muzzle, short rounded arms, wide lower body, and substantial feet reproduce the friendly proportions visible in the design.
- Skill level: Confident beginner to intermediate
- Construction: Knitting in the round and flat knitting
- Main techniques: Increasing, decreasing, stranded colorwork, duplicate stitch, embroidery, mattress stitch, seaming, and simple I-cord
- Finished height: Approximately 19 inches
- Body height without ears: Approximately 13 inches
- Head width: Approximately 6 inches
- Ear length: Approximately 7 to 8 inches
Materials
- US size 3 needles, 3.25 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge
- One set of US size 3 double-pointed needles or a long circular needle for magic loop
- US size 2 needles, 2.75 mm, for the smaller accessories
- Approximately 220 yards of cream DK-weight yarn for the bunny
- Approximately 120 yards of sage-green DK-weight yarn for the sweater and satchel
- Small amounts of dusty pink, red, sky blue, sunflower yellow, mustard yellow, olive green, dark green, brown, tan, black, white, pale peach, and lavender yarn
- Polyester fiberfill
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Waste yarn or stitch holders
- Small pearl bead for the red bow
- Black embroidery thread
- White sewing thread or fine white nylon thread for whiskers
- A short length of natural twine for the sunflower bouquet
- Optional thin plastic canvas for strengthening the notebook and basket base
Gauge
Gauge: 24 stitches and 32 rounds equal 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US size 3 needles. A firm fabric is important because loose knitting may allow the filling to show through.
Check the gauge before beginning. A small difference in gauge will change the finished size of the bunny, sweater, slippers, and accessories.
Yarn Color Key
- C: Cream
- S: Sage green
- P: Dusty pink
- R: Deep red
- B: Sky blue
- Y: Sunflower yellow
- M: Mustard yellow
- O: Olive green
- DG: Dark green
- BR: Dark brown
- T: Tan
- BK: Black
- W: White
Abbreviations
- CO: Cast on
- BO: Bind off
- K: Knit
- P: Purl
- St or sts: Stitch or stitches
- Rnd: Round
- RS: Right side
- WS: Wrong side
- Kfb: Knit into the front and back of the same stitch
- M1: Make one stitch
- K2tog: Knit two stitches together
- SSK: Slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together
- P2tog: Purl two stitches together
- St st: Stockinette stitch
- Rep: Repeat
- C4F: Slip two stitches to a cable needle and hold in front, knit two, then knit two from the cable needle
- C4B: Slip two stitches to a cable needle and hold in back, knit two, then knit two from the cable needle
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Important Pattern Notes
- Stuff each part firmly but evenly. Overfilling can stretch the stitches and distort the shape.
- Leave long yarn tails whenever a part will be sewn to another piece.
- Use mattress stitch for visible side seams and whipstitch for small appliqués.
- When changing colors, twist the old and new yarns together on the wrong side to prevent holes.
- For small colorwork areas, duplicate stitch may be used instead of carrying several colors across a row.
- All facial placement measurements are taken after the head has been stuffed.
Bunny Legs and Body
First Leg
Using cream yarn and the larger double-pointed needles, CO 28 stitches. Divide the stitches evenly and join to work in the round. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.
- Rounds 1 to 6: Knit all 28 stitches.
- Round 7: Repeat K7, M1 four times. You now have 32 stitches.
- Rounds 8 to 24: Knit all 32 stitches.
- Round 25: Repeat K6, K2tog four times. You now have 28 stitches.
- Rounds 26 to 32: Knit all 28 stitches.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Place the stitches on waste yarn. Lightly stuff the lower leg, keeping the upper three rounds unstuffed.
Second Leg and Body Join
Make the second leg exactly as the first, but do not cut the yarn after Round 32.
- Knit all 28 stitches of the second leg.
- CO 4 stitches for the center front bridge.
- Knit all 28 stitches from the first leg.
- CO 4 stitches for the center back bridge.
You now have 64 stitches. Place the beginning marker at the center back.
- Body Rounds 1 to 8: Knit all 64 stitches.
- Round 9: Repeat K14, K2tog four times. You now have 60 stitches.
- Rounds 10 to 13: Knit.
- Round 14: Repeat K13, K2tog four times. You now have 56 stitches.
- Rounds 15 to 18: Knit.
- Round 19: Repeat K12, K2tog four times. You now have 52 stitches.
- Rounds 20 to 23: Knit.
- Round 24: Repeat K11, K2tog four times. You now have 48 stitches.
- Rounds 25 to 30: Knit all 48 stitches.
BO loosely. Close any small openings at the leg join with the yarn tails. Stuff the legs firmly, then fill the body more softly so that the lower torso remains broad and rounded.
Bunny Arms
Make two identical arms. The cream section forms the paw, while the sage section forms the visible sweater sleeve.
- Using cream yarn, CO 20 stitches and join in the round.
- Rounds 1 to 10: Knit all 20 stitches.
- Round 11: Repeat K4, Kfb four times. You now have 24 stitches.
- Change to sage yarn.
- Rounds 12 to 15: Repeat K1, P1 around for the sleeve cuff.
- Rounds 16 to 28: Knit all 24 stitches.
- Round 29: Repeat K10, K2tog twice. You now have 22 stitches.
- Rounds 30 to 33: Knit all 22 stitches.
- Round 34: Repeat K9, K2tog twice. You now have 20 stitches.
- Rounds 35 and 36: Knit all 20 stitches.
BO, leaving a long sewing tail. Stuff the cream paw firmly and the sleeve lightly. Flatten the top edge so the arm can be attached at a slight downward angle.
Sleeve Flower Details
Work the floral details with duplicate stitch after both arms are completed. Count rounds upward from the first sage stockinette round.
- Place one pale peach flower on Rounds 7 to 9, centered over stitches 5 to 7.
- Place one blue flower on Rounds 12 to 14, centered over stitches 14 to 16.
- Place one small cream flower on Rounds 17 to 19, centered over stitches 7 to 9.
- For each flower, work one center stitch in yellow. Add one petal above, below, left, and right of the center.
- Embroider two short olive-green stem stitches beneath each flower.
Bunny Head
The head is worked from the lower chin upward. The increases create a full muzzle and rounded cheeks, while the upper decreases form the softly curved forehead.
- Using cream yarn, CO 12 stitches and join in the round.
- Round 1: Kfb in every stitch. You now have 24 stitches.
- Round 2: Repeat K1, Kfb around. You now have 36 stitches.
- Round 3: Repeat K2, Kfb around. You now have 48 stitches.
- Round 4: Repeat K3, Kfb around. You now have 60 stitches.
- Round 5: Repeat K4, Kfb around. You now have 72 stitches.
- Rounds 6 to 15: Knit all 72 stitches.
- Round 16: Repeat K11, Kfb six times. You now have 78 stitches.
- Rounds 17 to 30: Knit all 78 stitches.
- Round 31: Repeat K11, K2tog six times. You now have 72 stitches.
- Rounds 32 to 36: Knit all 72 stitches.
- Round 37: Repeat K10, K2tog six times. You now have 66 stitches.
- Rounds 38 to 42: Knit all 66 stitches.
- Round 43: Repeat K9, K2tog six times. You now have 60 stitches.
- Rounds 44 to 46: Knit all 60 stitches.
- Round 47: Repeat K8, K2tog six times. You now have 54 stitches.
- Round 48: Repeat K7, K2tog six times. You now have 48 stitches.
- Round 49: Repeat K6, K2tog six times. You now have 42 stitches.
- Round 50: Repeat K5, K2tog six times. You now have 36 stitches.
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Begin stuffing. Place the filling firmly around the outer edges and more lightly in the center of the face. This helps create broad cheeks without making the muzzle appear pointed.
- Round 51: Repeat K4, K2tog six times. You now have 30 stitches.
- Round 52: Repeat K3, K2tog six times. You now have 24 stitches.
- Round 53: Repeat K2, K2tog six times. You now have 18 stitches.
- Round 54: Repeat K1, K2tog six times. You now have 12 stitches.
- Round 55: K2tog around. You now have 6 stitches.
Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. Pull securely closed. Add more filling through the lower opening if necessary before sewing the head to the body.
Outer Ears
Make two outer ears in cream. They are worked flat in stockinette stitch with a narrow garter border created during finishing.
- CO 10 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: Purl.
- Row 3: K1, M1, K8, M1, K1. You now have 12 stitches.
- Row 4: Purl.
- Row 5: K1, M1, K10, M1, K1. You now have 14 stitches.
- Row 6: Purl.
- Continue increasing one stitch after the first stitch and before the last stitch on every RS row until 24 stitches remain.
- Rows 16 to 48: Work in stockinette stitch without shaping.
- Row 49: SSK, knit to the final two stitches, K2tog. You now have 22 stitches.
- Row 50: Purl.
- Repeat Rows 49 and 50 until 8 stitches remain.
- Next RS row: K2tog, K4, K2tog. You now have 6 stitches.
- Next row: Purl.
- Next row: K2tog three times. You now have 3 stitches.
- Final row: Slip one, K2tog, pass the slipped stitch over.
Fasten off. Steam very lightly or pin flat without stretching.
Pink Inner Ears
Make two. The inner ears must remain slightly smaller than the cream outer ears so that a clear cream border is visible.
- Using dusty pink, CO 8 stitches.
- Rows 1 and 2: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Increase one stitch inside each edge on every RS row until 18 stitches remain.
- Work 28 rows in stockinette stitch without shaping.
- Decrease one stitch at each edge on every RS row until 6 stitches remain.
- K2tog three times.
- On the following row, slip one, K2tog, then pass the slipped stitch over.
Place one pink piece centrally on each cream ear. Leave approximately three stitches of cream visible along both sides and four rows of cream visible at the rounded tip.
Whipstitch the pink pieces in place using dusty pink yarn. Fold the lower outer edges of each ear slightly inward and sew the folds together for approximately 1 inch.
Keep one ear upright. Bend the upper third of the second ear gently toward the front and secure the fold invisibly with two small cream stitches.
Facial Features
Heart-Shaped Nose
- Using red yarn and smaller needles, CO 2 stitches.
- Row 1: Kfb in both stitches. You now have 4 stitches.
- Row 2: Purl.
- Row 3: Kfb, K2, Kfb. You now have 6 stitches.
- Row 4: Purl.
- Row 5: K2tog, K2, SSK. You now have 4 stitches.
- Row 6: Purl.
- Row 7: K2tog twice. You now have 2 stitches.
- Row 8: P2tog.
Fasten off. Use the starting tail to pull the top center downward slightly, creating the heart indentation. Add a tiny amount of filling beneath the nose before sewing it to the face.
Teeth
Make one small white rectangle. CO 8 stitches and work 6 rows in stockinette stitch. BO. Fold the side edges inward and sew them down so the finished piece measures approximately 1 inch wide.
Use black embroidery thread to make one vertical line down the center, dividing the rectangle into two teeth.
Face Placement
- Sew the heart nose approximately 3 inches above the lower chin.
- Embroider a straight black line downward from the nose for approximately 0.6 inch.
- Create two wide smiling curves extending from the lower end of the center line.
- Sew the teeth beneath the center line so that only the lower portion remains visible.
- Place each closed eye approximately 1.25 inches above the nose and 1.4 inches from the center of the face.
- Embroider each eye as a smooth curved line using four small backstitches.
- Add three short upward lashes at the outer end of each eye.
- Add one slender eyebrow above each eye.
- Attach three white whiskers on each cheek, each approximately 2.5 inches long.
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Floral Garden Sweater
The sweater is knitted as separate front and back panels with two shaped sleeves. It is placed over the body before the head is attached.
Sweater Front
Using sage yarn and larger straight needles, CO 36 stitches.
- Rows 1 to 6: Repeat K1, P1 across.
- Row 7: Knit all stitches.
- Rows 8 to 15: Work the cream geometric border described below.
- Rows 16 to 34: Work in sage stockinette stitch.
- Row 35: BO 3 stitches, knit to the end.
- Row 36: BO 3 stitches, purl to the end. You now have 30 stitches.
- Rows 37 to 47: Continue in stockinette stitch.
- Row 48: K8, BO 14 stitches, K8.
Work each group of 8 shoulder stitches separately for 7 additional rows. BO both shoulders.
Cream Geometric Border
Each border row contains a 12-stitch repeat worked three times. On RS rows, knit the colors as listed. On WS rows, purl the same sequence in reverse order.
- Row 8: Repeat 5 sage, 1 cream, 1 sage, 1 cream, 4 sage.
- Row 9: Repeat 4 sage, 1 cream, 3 sage, 1 cream, 3 sage.
- Row 10: Repeat 3 sage, 1 cream, 5 sage, 1 cream, 2 sage.
- Row 11: Repeat 2 sage, 1 cream, 7 sage, 1 cream, 1 sage.
- Row 12: Repeat 1 sage, 1 cream, 9 sage, 1 cream.
- Row 13: Repeat the Row 11 sequence.
- Row 14: Repeat the Row 10 sequence.
- Row 15: Repeat the Row 9 sequence.
Sweater Back
Work the back exactly as the front through Row 47.
- Rows 48 to 51: Continue in stockinette stitch across all 30 stitches.
- Row 52: K8, BO 14 stitches, K8.
- Work each shoulder for 3 additional rows.
- BO the remaining 8 stitches on each shoulder.
Sweater Sleeves
Make two. These fabric sleeves fit over the sage sections already knitted as part of the arms, creating the fuller floral sleeves visible in the finished bunny.
- CO 22 stitches in sage.
- Rows 1 to 6: Repeat K1, P1 across.
- Row 7: K3, M1, K5, M1, K6, M1, K5, M1, K3. You now have 26 stitches.
- Rows 8 to 13: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Row 14: K1, M1, knit to the final stitch, M1, K1. You now have 28 stitches.
- Rows 15 to 21: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Row 22: Increase one stitch at each edge. You now have 30 stitches.
- Rows 23 to 29: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Row 30: Increase one stitch at each edge. You now have 32 stitches.
- Rows 31 to 36: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Rows 37 and 38: BO 3 stitches at the beginning of each row. You now have 26 stitches.
- Decrease one stitch at each edge on every following RS row eight times. You now have 10 stitches.
- BO the remaining stitches.
Floral and Leaf Decoration
Add the decorative motifs with duplicate stitch before sewing the sweater together. Count stitches from the right edge when the RS is facing.
- Place pale peach flowers centered over stitches 7, 18, and 29 on Rows 20 to 22.
- Place blue flowers centered over stitches 12 and 25 on Rows 25 to 27.
- Place lavender flowers centered over stitches 5, 21, and 33 on Rows 30 to 32.
- For each flower, work one yellow center stitch with four surrounding petal stitches.
- Embroider two-stitch olive stems beneath the flowers.
- Add small V-shaped olive leaves beside alternating stems.
Tiny Bee Motifs
Place one bee on each side of the upper sweater front. Position the left bee over stitches 9 to 13 and the right bee over stitches 24 to 28.
- Bee Row 1: Work three black duplicate stitches centered over the motif.
- Bee Row 2: Work black, yellow, yellow, black across four stitches.
- Bee Row 3: Work black, yellow, black, yellow, black across five stitches.
- Bee Row 4: Work black, yellow, yellow, black across four stitches.
- Add one white wing above each side of the body.
- Add two short black antenna stitches above the head.
Sweater Assembly
- Join the front and back shoulder seams.
- Sew the shaped sleeve caps into the armholes.
- Sew each sleeve seam from the cuff to the underarm.
- Sew the sweater side seams from the lower hem to the underarm.
- Place the sweater over the bunny body.
- Insert each arm through its sleeve and align the cuffs.
- Secure the sweater neckline to the cream body with small hidden stitches.
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Red Bow with Pearl Center
Bow Strip
- Using red yarn, CO 9 stitches.
- Work 30 rows in stockinette stitch.
- BO.
- Join the cast-on and bound-off edges to form a ring.
- Flatten the ring with the seam at the center back.
- Wrap red yarn tightly around the center six times.
Sew a small pearl bead at the center front. Attach the bow near the base of the bunny’s right ear.
Blue Flower Ear Clip
Make three small flowers in blue yarn.
- CO 5 stitches.
- Knit one row.
- On the next row, Kfb in every stitch. You now have 10 stitches.
- BO loosely.
- Roll the strip into a small flower and secure the base.
Make a tiny yellow French knot or knitted knot in the center of each flower. Sew the three flowers in a short curved row near the base of the opposite ear. Add two tiny yellow buds between the blue flowers.
Crossbody Garden Satchel
Front and Back Panels
Make two matching oval panels in olive-green yarn using the smaller needles.
- CO 8 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: Kfb, knit to the final stitch, Kfb. You now have 10 stitches.
- Repeat Row 2 on every RS row until 22 stitches remain.
- Work 14 rows in stockinette stitch without shaping.
- On the next RS row, SSK, knit to the final two stitches, K2tog.
- Repeat the decrease row on every RS row until 8 stitches remain.
- BO.
Bag Gusset
- CO 6 stitches in olive green.
- Work 58 rows in garter stitch.
- BO.
Sew the gusset around the curved edge of the front panel. Attach the back panel to the other side of the gusset, leaving the upper 2 inches open.
Satchel Strap
- CO 4 stitches in olive green on double-pointed needles.
- Knit 4 stitches.
- Slide the stitches to the opposite end of the needle without turning.
- Pull the yarn firmly across the back and knit the 4 stitches again.
- Continue until the I-cord measures approximately 20 inches.
- BO and sew one end to each upper side of the bag.
Place the strap diagonally from the bunny’s left shoulder to the right hip. Secure it with several small stitches so the bag remains in position.
White Daisy for the Satchel
Make five white petals.
- CO 3 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: Kfb, K1, Kfb. You now have 5 stitches.
- Row 3: Purl.
- Row 4: SSK, K1, K2tog. You now have 3 stitches.
- Row 5: Slip one, K2tog, pass the slipped stitch over.
Arrange the five petals in a circle and sew them to the front of the bag. Add a yellow center using several satin stitches or a small knitted knot.
Carrot Charm
- Using orange yarn, CO 12 stitches and join in the round.
- Rounds 1 to 4: Knit.
- Round 5: Repeat K1, K2tog four times. You now have 8 stitches.
- Rounds 6 and 7: Knit.
- Round 8: K2tog around. You now have 4 stitches.
- Cut the yarn, pull through the remaining stitches, and close.
Stuff lightly. Embroider three short horizontal lines across the carrot. Add three tiny dark-green I-cord or knotted yarn leaves at the upper end.
Attach the carrot to the upper side of the satchel so it hangs slightly beyond the bag edge.
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Sunflower Bouquet
Sunflower Centers
Make six brown center circles, two for each flower.
- CO 6 stitches and join in the round.
- Round 1: Kfb in every stitch. You now have 12 stitches.
- Round 2: Repeat K1, Kfb around. You now have 18 stitches.
- Round 3: Repeat K2, Kfb around. You now have 24 stitches.
- Rounds 4 and 5: Knit.
- BO loosely.
Pair the circles. Sew each pair together around the edge and add a small amount of filling before closing.
Sunflower Petals
Make 36 yellow petals, 12 for each flower.
- CO 3 stitches.
- Row 1: Purl.
- Row 2: Kfb, K1, Kfb. You now have 5 stitches.
- Row 3: Purl.
- Row 4: SSK, K1, K2tog. You now have 3 stitches.
- Row 5: Purl.
- Row 6: Slip one, K2tog, pass the slipped stitch over.
Arrange 12 petals evenly around each brown center. Place the lower third of every petal behind the center and sew securely. Overlap adjacent petals slightly to create full, rounded sunflowers.
Stems
Make three dark-green I-cords, one measuring 9 inches and two measuring 8 inches. Use the four-stitch I-cord method described for the satchel strap.
Sew one stem securely to the back of each sunflower center.
Leaves
Make five leaves in dark green.
- CO 3 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: K1, M1, K1, M1, K1. You now have 5 stitches.
- Row 3: Purl.
- Row 4: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1. You now have 7 stitches.
- Row 5: Purl.
- Row 6: K1, M1, K5, M1, K1. You now have 9 stitches.
- Rows 7 to 11: Work in stockinette stitch.
- Row 12: SSK, K5, K2tog. You now have 7 stitches.
- Row 13: Purl.
- Row 14: SSK, K3, K2tog. You now have 5 stitches.
- Row 15: Purl.
- Row 16: SSK, K1, K2tog. You now have 3 stitches.
- Row 17: Slip one, K2tog, pass the slipped stitch over.
Embroider a central vein from the base to the tip of each leaf. Sew two leaves to the longest stem, two to one shorter stem, and one to the remaining stem.
Arrange the three flowers at slightly different heights. Tie the stems together with natural twine and form a loose bow at the front.
Garden Notes Book
Front and Back Covers
Make two covers in pale blue-green yarn.
- CO 22 stitches.
- Work 30 rows in garter stitch.
- BO.
Page Block
Make four cream page pieces.
- CO 18 stitches.
- Work 26 rows in garter stitch.
- BO.
Stack the page pieces evenly. Sew one short edge together to form the spine. Place the pages between the two covers and sew through all layers along the left edge.
Cover Lettering
Using black embroidery thread, backstitch the words GARDEN NOTES across the front cover. Center the first word approximately six rows below the top edge and place the second word four rows beneath it.
Add a tiny bee below the lettering. Use two yellow stitches for the body, two black horizontal stripes, one black head stitch, and two white wing stitches.
Optional plastic canvas may be inserted between each cover and the page block to keep the notebook rectangular.
Oval Garden Basket
Basket Base
- Using tan yarn and smaller needles, CO 8 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: Kfb, K6, Kfb. You now have 10 stitches.
- Row 3: Knit.
- Row 4: Kfb, K8, Kfb. You now have 12 stitches.
- Rows 5 to 22: Knit all stitches.
- Row 23: SSK, K8, K2tog. You now have 10 stitches.
- Row 24: Knit.
- Row 25: SSK, K6, K2tog. You now have 8 stitches.
- Row 26: BO.
Basket Side
- CO 6 stitches.
- Work 64 rows in garter stitch.
- BO.
Sew the long edge of the side strip around the oval base. Join the short ends neatly at the back. Fold the upper two rows outward and secure them to create a firm basket rim.
Basket Handle
Make one four-stitch tan I-cord measuring 9 inches. Sew one end to each long side of the basket. Curve the handle gently across the open top.
For the braided appearance, make two additional two-stitch cords and twist them around the main handle. Secure both ends firmly.
Cable Slippers
Slipper Soles
Make two soles in tan yarn.
- CO 8 stitches.
- Row 1: Knit.
- Row 2: Kfb, K6, Kfb. You now have 10 stitches.
- Row 3: Knit.
- Row 4: Kfb, K8, Kfb. You now have 12 stitches.
- Rows 5 to 24: Knit.
- Row 25: SSK, K8, K2tog.



