Borage Blueberry Garden Bunny – Knitting

A softly dressed bunny with a berry-blue floral skirt, leafy green cardigan, matching bonnet, and tiny Mary Jane shoes makes a beautiful heirloom toy, nursery gift, or handmade bunny doll for a gift shop display. This design also includes the little woodland companion, the flower basket, and the small blue blossoms that give the whole set its quiet garden feel. The shapes are gentle and classic, with simple knitting techniques, careful finishing, and decorative stitching that creates the floral bands and the delicate leafy cardigan fronts.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Design Overview

This set is built around a seated rabbit with a large rounded head, long soft ears, a slim neck, a lightly stuffed torso, long tube-shaped legs, and relaxed arms. The clothing is fitted but not tight, with a dress that widens gradually into a full skirt.

The bunny wears five main garments and accessories: a knitted underdress, a decorative skirt section worked as part of the dress, a cropped cardigan, a close-fitting bonnet, and small strap shoes. Beside the bunny sits a tiny squirrel friend in a striped dress with a narrow headband.

A small hand basket filled with blue flowers completes the scene. The finished look depends on soft shaping, neat seaming, and careful embroidery rather than complicated stitch structures. The floral areas are easiest worked with duplicate stitch after knitting the fabric.

Finished Size

• Main bunny: about 13 inches tall seated, about 16 inches tall from feet to bonnet top if stretched straight
• Squirrel friend: about 4 1/2 inches tall
• Basket: about 2 inches wide
• Flower stems: about 1 1/2 inches tall above basket rim

Materials

• Sport weight yarn in warm beige for bunny body
• Sport weight yarn in sage green for cardigan, bonnet, and shoes
• Sport weight yarn in pale sky blue, medium cornflower blue, and cream for dress motifs
• Small amount of muted red for berry-dot bands on the skirt and bonnet accents
• Sport weight yarn in walnut brown for squirrel body
• Small amount of pale gray-blue and cream for squirrel clothing
• Small amount of tan or natural brown for basket
• Tiny amount of green for flower stems
• Needles suitable for very firm toy knitting, such as US 1.5 to US 2
• Set of double-pointed needles or magic loop needles for small circumferences
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• Waste yarn
• Toy stuffing
• Thin cardboard or plastic canvas for optional sole inserts
• 2 tiny buttons for cardigan
• 2 black beads or safety eyes for bunny
• 2 tiny black knots or beads for squirrel eyes
• Strong sewing thread matching body colors

Gauge

Gauge is less important than firmness, but the fabric must be dense enough that stuffing does not show through. Aim for a smooth, compact stockinette fabric with clear stitch definition.

A useful target is about 8 to 9 stitches per inch in stockinette using sport weight yarn on small needles. If your fabric feels loose, go down a needle size. A tight fabric is essential for the face, limbs, and tiny accessories.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• k = knit
• p = purl
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches
• kfb = knit into front and back of same stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• p2tog = purl 2 together
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• st st = stockinette stitch
• rep = repeat
• BO = bind off
• inc = increase
• dec = decrease

Color Notes

The overall palette is soft and dusty rather than bright. Choose a gentle sage green, a cool cornflower blue, a light blue, cream, and a muted berry red. The bunny body should be a pale flax-beige rather than pink or gray.

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The cardigan and bonnet match closely. The shoes should also match the cardigan. The dress background is light enough for the blue flowers to stand out, while the red dots should appear as small accents rather than bold stripes.

Main Bunny Body

Legs

Knit both legs separately from the feet upward in beige. Each leg is long, straight, and softly filled, with only slight widening near the thigh. The lower foot remains simple because the shoes cover most of it.

1. CO 12 sts and divide evenly for working in the round.
2. K 6 rounds.
3. Increase 4 sts evenly around. You have 16 sts.
4. K every round until leg measures about 5 1/2 inches.
5. For upper thigh softness, work 1 increase round by kfb in the first and last stitch of opposite sides. You have 18 sts.
6. K 6 rounds.
7. Break yarn and place stitches on waste yarn.

Make the second leg the same. Stuff the feet firmly and the leg more lightly as you go. Keep the top inch unstuffed until joining so the lower body can be shaped smoothly.

Body and Torso

The body in the image is modestly rounded, not chubby. The chest is narrow under the cardigan, and the belly is soft but controlled. Join the legs and build a simple pear-like torso with very gentle shaping.

1. Place both legs on needles, 18 sts each, and join them into one round with 4 new sts cast on between front and back. You have 40 sts.
2. Work 2 rounds plain.
3. On the next round, decrease 2 sts at each side gap for neat joins. You have 36 sts.
4. K 10 rounds.
5. Increase 4 sts evenly. You have 40 sts.
6. K 12 rounds.
7. Decrease 4 sts evenly. You have 36 sts.
8. K 8 rounds.
9. Decrease 4 sts evenly. You have 32 sts.
10. K 6 rounds.

Stuff the lower body firmly at the base and more softly through the waist and chest. The seated shape should feel stable, with a slightly weighted lower half and a narrower upper section.

Neck

1. Work 1 decrease round evenly to 24 sts.
2. K 6 rounds for the neck.

The neck is slim in the image, allowing the large head to sit clearly above the cardigan neckline. Keep this section firmly stuffed so the head does not droop forward.

Head

The head is the most important shape in the entire piece. It is large, smooth, and almost round, with a softly projecting muzzle formed during finishing rather than by a separate snout piece.

1. From 24 neck sts, increase evenly to 36 sts.
2. K 1 round.
3. Increase evenly to 48 sts.
4. K 1 round.
5. Increase evenly to 60 sts.
6. K 18 rounds.
7. Increase evenly to 66 sts for a fuller crown.
8. K 6 rounds.
9. Begin crown shaping: decrease 6 sts evenly every other round 5 times.
10. K 1 round plain between decrease rounds.
11. When 36 sts remain, begin stuffing very firmly.
12. Continue decreasing 6 sts every round until 12 sts remain.
13. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull closed.

Add extra stuffing around the cheeks before fully closing. The face in the image looks rounded at the sides, with a gentle downward taper toward the chin. Massage the stuffing with your fingers to smooth bumps.

Arms

The arms are long, narrow, and relaxed at the sides. They are set slightly downward and outward, which gives the bunny its calm seated posture. Knit both arms from the paw upward.

1. CO 10 sts and join for working in the round.
2. K 8 rounds.
3. Increase 2 sts evenly. You have 12 sts.
4. K 20 rounds.
5. Increase 2 sts evenly. You have 14 sts.
6. K 10 rounds.
7. BO loosely, leaving a long tail for sewing.

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Stuff the lower paw area firmly and the upper arm lightly. Flatten the top edge before sewing so the arm sits naturally against the cardigan sleeves.

Ears

The ears are medium-long, softly drooping, and attached under the bonnet. They are not exaggerated. Each ear is a flat piece shaped with tapered ends.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Work flat in stockinette, slipping first stitch of each row for smooth edges.
3. Increase 1 st at each end of every RS row 4 times. You have 16 sts.
4. Work straight for 24 rows.
5. Decrease 1 st at each end of every RS row 4 times. You have 8 sts.
6. Work 4 rows.
7. BO.

Make two ears. Lightly steam if needed, fold the upper edge slightly, and sew each ear to the sides of the head so they fall just below bonnet level. The front of each ear should begin a little behind the eye line.

Face Shaping and Expression

The face is simple and gentle. Place the eyes wide apart and slightly below the center line of the head. The nose is a tiny stitched Y shape in dark brown embroidery, with a short center line and two small angled mouth lines.

1. Mark eye placement about 9 to 10 stitches apart.
2. Sew or insert the eyes.
3. Using matching beige thread, make a light horizontal face-sculpting stitch beneath the eyes to suggest rounded cheeks.
4. Embroider a small triangular nose.
5. Add a short vertical line below the nose, then two tiny downward slants for the mouth.

Do not add blush, eyelashes, or extra features. The charm in the image comes from restraint. The face should remain neat, balanced, and calm.

Dress

The dress looks like a fitted bodice with a wide skirt, all in one piece, worn under the cardigan. The visible upper section is mostly covered, but the skirt is a major visual feature. The hem has a garter-textured edge.

Bodice

1. CO 56 sts in cream or pale blue-gray and join for working in the round.
2. Work 6 rounds in k1, p1 rib.
3. Switch to stockinette and knit 10 rounds.
4. Decrease 4 sts evenly. You have 52 sts.
5. K 6 rounds.
6. Decrease 4 sts evenly. You have 48 sts.
7. K 4 rounds.

This section will sit snugly under the cardigan. If preferred, work a small opening at the back with two rows flat and add snaps later. For a very neat toy finish, the dress can also be sewn directly onto the body.

Skirt Expansion

1. Increase 8 sts evenly. You have 56 sts.
2. K 4 rounds.
3. Increase 8 sts evenly. You have 64 sts.
4. K 4 rounds.
5. Increase 8 sts evenly. You have 72 sts.
6. K 6 rounds.
7. Increase 8 sts evenly. You have 80 sts.
8. K 8 rounds.

The skirt in the image widens gradually and hangs with a gentle bell shape. It is not sharply gathered. Keep increases evenly spaced so the motif bands remain smooth and balanced.

Skirt Motif Layout

Work the skirt background in the main pale shade. Add the floral decoration afterward using duplicate stitch. This keeps the knitting manageable and gives excellent control over flower placement.

• Upper visible band: medium blue flowers spaced across a pale band
• Middle accent line: muted red berry dots
• Lower floral band: alternating blue flowers and tiny white star stitches
• Second red berry-dot line below
• Bottom floral band: larger blue flowers with lighter blue highlights

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After the main skirt length is complete, finish with 8 rows of garter stitch for the textured hem seen in the image. Then BO knitwise on the RS.

Flower and Dot Embroidery

Use duplicate stitch for all blue flowers. Each flower is a six-petal star built over a central stitch. Add a few lighter blue stitches around the petals for dimension. Tiny white straight stitches between flowers create the scattered blossom effect.

The muted red dots are small single-stitch knots or duplicate stitches placed in an even horizontal line. Keep them consistently spaced. They should read as delicate berry beads, not bold spots.

Cardigan

The cardigan is cropped, sage green, and slightly fitted, with long sleeves and a front opening closed by two small buttons. The lower fronts curve outward, and each front panel has a vertical leafy motif.

Back

1. CO 28 sts.
2. Work 4 rows garter stitch.
3. Continue in stockinette with garter selvedge 2 sts at each side.
4. Work until piece reaches underarm level.
5. Bind off 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows for armholes.
6. Work straight until shoulder level.
7. Bind off 8 sts for each shoulder and place center back neck stitches on hold if desired.

Left Front

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Work 4 rows garter stitch.
3. Maintain 3 front-edge garter stitches for button band.
4. Work remaining stitches in stockinette.
5. Shape the lower front edge by increasing 1 stitch at side edge every 6th row 3 times.
6. At the same time, begin the leafy motif on the stockinette area using paired lifted increases and centered decreases, or embroider the vine later if preferred.
7. At underarm, bind off 3 sts at side edge.
8. Shape front neck gradually over the upper section to create a soft rounded neckline.
9. Bind off shoulder to match back.

Right Front

Work to match the left front, reversing shaping. Add two buttonholes spaced evenly on the garter band. Make each buttonhole as yarn over, k2tog, sized for tiny buttons.

Sleeves

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Work 5 rows garter stitch.
3. Continue in stockinette.
4. Increase 1 st at each side every 8th row 4 times. You have 24 sts.
5. Work until sleeve length suits the bunny arm, about 3 1/4 inches.
6. Bind off 3 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
7. Decrease 1 st each side every RS row 4 times.
8. Bind off remaining stitches.

Cardigan Finishing

Sew shoulder seams first, then set in sleeves, then sew side and sleeve seams. The cardigan should end just above the widest part of the skirt. Sew on two small buttons in a muted green or natural tone.

If you prefer not to knit the leafy panel as part of the fabric, embroider it after assembly. Make each front feature a central stem with angled leaf pairs rising upward. This detail is important to the overall look.

Bonnet

The bonnet is snug and rounded, covering the top and back of the head, with the ears coming out below it. It has embroidered blue flowers across the front and a few tiny muted red accents near the crown.

1. CO 56 sts in sage green.
2. Work in the round for 10 rounds in stockinette.
3. Begin crown shaping by decreasing 6 sts evenly every other round until 20 sts remain.
4. K 1 round between decrease rounds.
5. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and close.

To create the close bonnet fit, flatten the piece slightly and tack the lower back edge to the head after dressing the bunny. Embroider the flower border across the front half only, using medium blue petals and a few light blue accents.

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Add tiny muted red stitches spaced above some flowers. These are very small and should not dominate the bonnet. Place the bonnet low enough to frame the face but high enough that the eyes remain fully visible.

Shoes

The shoes are neat Mary Jane flats in sage green, with a rounded toe and a narrow instep strap. A tiny blue bead or stitched knot decorates the outer side near the strap join on each shoe.

1. Pick up 12 to 14 sts around each foot or knit separate slippers flat and seam them around the foot.
2. Work short-row shaping over the toe if needed to make a rounded front.
3. Knit the body of the shoe in stockinette for a snug fit.
4. Work 3 rows garter around opening edge.
5. Create a narrow i-cord or knitted strap and sew across the instep.
6. Add a tiny blue stitched knot at the outer strap point.

For a crisp shoe shape, insert a very small sole of felt or plastic canvas before final closing. Keep the shoes delicate. They should hug the feet rather than look oversized.

Woodland Squirrel Friend

The little companion beside the bunny reads as a tiny squirrel or chipmunk with a curved tail, pointed ears, and a simple striped dress. The scale difference is part of the charm, so keep it distinctly smaller than the basket.

Body and Head

1. CO 10 sts in walnut brown and join in the round.
2. Knit 8 rounds for lower body.
3. Increase to 14 sts and knit 8 rounds.
4. Increase to 18 sts for chest and head base.
5. Knit 10 rounds.
6. Increase to 22 sts for head fullness and knit 6 rounds.
7. Shape crown by decreasing 4 sts every other round until 6 sts remain.
8. Close top.

Snout, Ears, Tail, and Arms

Embroider a tiny raised snout with wrapped stitches in a darker brown. Make two very small pointed ears from folded knitted triangles. The tail is a narrow tube that curves upward and is sewn behind the body.

The arms are tiny cords or narrow tubes attached at the upper sides. One arm may be bent upward so the squirrel appears to rest a paw near its head, matching the pose in the image.

Squirrel Dress and Headband

• Knit a tiny cream dress with pale muted stripes near the hem
• Add a soft gray-blue collar band at neck level
• Sew a narrow blue headband around the head
• Leave the ears visible above the band

The dress should be simple and slightly flared. A few muted decorative dots or tiny color accents near the lower section will echo the garden palette without competing with the bunny.

Basket

The basket is a small open container in natural brown, sitting just beside the bunny. It has a rounded base, upright sides, a slightly darker rim, and one curved handle.

1. CO 6 sts on double-pointed needles and increase evenly to 18 sts for the base.
2. Knit 4 rounds plain.
3. On the next round, purl 1 round to create a turning ridge.
4. Knit 8 rounds for side walls.
5. Work 2 rounds in a slightly darker brown for the rim.
6. BO.

For the handle, make a short i-cord and sew to opposite sides of the basket. Add a few tiny vertical embroidered slashes on the basket body to suggest woven openings, matching the look in the image.

Blue Flower Cluster

The basket holds several blue blossoms in two tones with a few green stems. These flowers should be soft and clustered closely, not individually stiff and separate.

1. For each flower, make a tiny center knot.
2. Add 5 or 6 detached petals around it using looped yarn or tiny knitted petals.
3. Use both medium blue and deeper blue flowers.
4. Add a few small pale centers or white highlights.
5. Gather several flowers together and anchor them into the basket.

Let one or two blossoms rise a little higher for a fresh cut-flower look. Add tiny green leaves only sparingly. The image is mostly blue bloom, not leafy bouquet.

Dressing Order

1. Finish and stuff the bunny fully.
2. Sew on arms, ears, and facial details.
3. Put on the dress and secure it at the back if needed.
4. Add the shoes.
5. Sew on the cardigan or fasten it with buttons.
6. Place and tack the bonnet.
7. Position the squirrel, basket, and flower cluster.

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Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check the symmetry of the face before tying off any embroidery. The eyes should sit evenly, the nose should be centered, and the mouth should stay very small. Attach the ears slightly behind the face line so they drape naturally under the bonnet.

When sewing the arms, angle them gently downward. The legs should hang straight from the seated body. If needed, add a few hidden stitches at the hip so the bunny sits neatly without twisting.

Care Notes

• Display pieces are best kept out of direct sunlight
• Handle the flower basket and squirrel gently because of the small scale
• Spot clean whenever possible
• Avoid strong rubbing over duplicate-stitched flowers

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head firmly stuffed and smooth
• Eyes even and calm in expression
• Leaf motifs visible on both cardigan fronts
• Blue flower bands evenly spaced on skirt
• Red dots kept small and tidy
• Bonnet sitting low but not covering the eyes
• Shoes fitted closely to the feet
• Squirrel, basket, and flowers scaled correctly

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Use a soft dry brush or clean cosmetic brush to remove dust from the cardigan leaves, floral skirt bands, bonnet embroidery, and flower basket. For light marks, dab carefully with a slightly damp cloth and mild soap, then blot with a dry towel.

Do not soak the finished set unless absolutely necessary. If deeper cleaning is required, hand wash gently in cool water, reshape immediately, and dry flat on a towel away from heat. Support the head, ears, and basket so they keep their intended form.

For long-term storage, wrap the bunny and accessories in acid-free tissue and place them in a breathable box. Avoid plastic bags for long periods in humid conditions. Store flat or seated so the neck, ears, shoes, and bonnet do not become misshapen.