Sunflower Sunhat Stroll Bunny – Knitting

This charming handmade bunny set brings together a soft toy rabbit, a sunflower dress, a little green cardigan, a floppy sunhat, a tiny bird friend, and matching picnic accessories. It is perfect for knitters who love heirloom dolls, nursery decor, Easter display pieces, and collectible handmade animal toys. The finished set has the sweet look of a boutique stuffed bunny doll, making it ideal for gift knitting, seasonal decor, and anyone searching for a knitted rabbit pattern with detailed clothing and accessories.

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

Materials

• DK weight yarn in warm beige for the bunny head, body, arms, legs, and ears
• DK weight yarn in cream for the dress, hat crown, hat brim base, and ice cream scoop
• DK weight yarn in olive green for the cardigan, leaves, and bouquet stems
• DK weight yarn in sunflower yellow for petals, dress trim, waist detail, flowers, shoe bows, and hat accent
• DK weight yarn in dark brown for sunflower centers and basket handle shadow if desired
• Small amount of black yarn for facial embroidery if you do not use safety eyes
• Small amount of pale orange, rust, or muted coral for the tiny bird dress dots and beak detail
• Very small amount of pale blue-green for the bottle topper in the basket
• 2.75 mm to 3.25 mm knitting needles, depending on your tension
• Double-pointed needles or magic loop for small circular pieces
• Tapestry needle
• Stuffing
• Stitch markers
• Waste yarn
• 6 mm to 8 mm black safety eyes, or black embroidery thread
• Thin cardboard or plastic canvas circle for basket base if you want extra structure
• Five tiny buttons for the cardigan front
• Optional fine wire for the bouquet stems

Finished Size

The main bunny is designed to sit at approximately 10 to 12 inches tall from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head, not including the hat brim. The tiny bird companion stands at about 3 to 4 inches tall. The accessories are scaled to match the proportions in the image.

Gauge

Gauge is less important than consistency, but you want a dense fabric so stuffing does not show through. Aim for a firm stockinette fabric. If your stitches look loose, go down a needle size. If your fabric feels stiff and difficult to shape, go up a size.

Abbreviations

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

Design Notes

This bunny has a rounded head, a softly stuffed torso, long floppy ears, short tapered arms, and plump seated legs with flat front feet. The outfit is made in separate pieces so the layering matches the image closely.

The dress has a cream base with a central sunflower on the bodice, a yellow waistline, a gathered skirt, and a border of sunflowers and leaves placed around the hem. The hem edge is softly scalloped in yellow.

The cardigan is short, olive green, slightly cropped, and curves open at the lower front edges. It has three-quarter sleeves and five visible buttons. Small sunflowers decorate the lower fronts.

The hat is large, soft, and slightly oversized, with a rounded crown and a deep, wide brim finished in a repeating scallop. The brim sits low enough to frame the bunny face and partially overlap the ears.

Main Bunny Head

1. Using warm beige, CO 12 sts evenly across double-pointed needles.
2. Round 1: Knit.
3. Round 2: Kfb in every stitch. 24 sts.
4. Round 3: Knit.
5. Round 4: K1, kfb around. 36 sts.
6. Round 5: Knit.
7. Round 6: K2, kfb around. 48 sts.
8. Round 7: Knit.
9. Round 8: K3, kfb around. 60 sts.
10. Knit 18 to 22 rounds, until the head is a smooth ball with gentle height.

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Place the eyes before closing the head. The eyes should sit low on the face, spaced widely, and aligned horizontally. The image shows a calm, simple expression, so keep the eye placement symmetrical and modest in size.

1. Decrease round: K3, k2tog around. 48 sts.
2. Knit 1 round.
3. Decrease round: K2, k2tog around. 36 sts.
4. Knit 1 round.
5. Decrease round: K1, k2tog around. 24 sts.
6. Stuff firmly.
7. Decrease round: K2tog around. 12 sts.
8. Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and close tightly.

Muzzle Shaping and Face

The bunny in the image has a very gentle muzzle, not a protruding snout. To create that look, embroider a small triangular nose area with subtle horizontal shaping rather than building a separate stuffed muzzle piece.

Using matching beige yarn, make two tiny horizontal anchor stitches at the lower center of the face to suggest the cheeks. Then embroider the nose in dark brown or black as a small upside-down triangle with softened corners.

From the base of the nose, embroider a short vertical line downward. Split that line into a delicate rounded mouth with one curve to each side. Keep the mouth compact so the face stays sweet and minimal.

Ears Make 2

1. Using warm beige, CO 8 sts.
2. Work flat in stockinette, increasing 1 stitch at each end every 4th row until you have 18 sts.
3. Continue straight for 18 to 22 rows.
4. Shape the tip by decreasing 1 stitch at each end every 3rd row until 8 sts remain.
5. Decrease every RS row until 2 sts remain.
6. Draw yarn through and fasten off.

Make a second ear the same way. Lightly steam or finger-shape them so they fall softly. Do not overstuff the ears. In the image, the ears are flat, long, and drape downward from under the hat brim.

Body

1. Using warm beige, CO 14 sts in the round.
2. Round 1: Knit.
3. Round 2: Kfb in every stitch. 28 sts.
4. Round 3: Knit.
5. Round 4: K1, kfb around. 42 sts.
6. Rounds 5 to 18: Knit.

The body should be softly pear-shaped, slightly wider at the lower section and narrower near the neck. That allows the dress to sit naturally and gives the bunny the rounded seated silhouette shown in the image.

1. Round 19: K5, k2tog around. 36 sts.
2. Rounds 20 to 24: Knit.
3. Round 25: K4, k2tog around. 30 sts.
4. Rounds 26 to 28: Knit.
5. Stuff firmly, with slightly more stuffing in the base than the upper torso.
6. Round 29: K3, k2tog around. 24 sts.
7. Round 30: Knit.
8. Round 31: K2, k2tog around. 18 sts.
9. BO, leaving a long tail for attaching the head.

Arms Make 2

1. Using warm beige, CO 8 sts in the round.
2. Knit 8 rounds for the paw area.
3. Increase to 10 sts evenly.
4. Knit 14 to 16 rounds.
5. Decrease once near the upper arm if needed so the arm tapers gently.
6. Stuff only the lower half lightly.
7. Flatten the top and sew closed.

The arms should look slim and relaxed, not rigid. Sew them to the side of the upper body angled slightly downward so the paws rest near the skirt and accessories, matching the calm seated pose in the image.

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Legs Make 2

1. Using warm beige, CO 10 sts in the round.
2. Round 1: Knit.
3. Round 2: Kfb in every stitch. 20 sts.
4. Knit 10 rounds.

For the foot shape, the lower front of each leg needs to appear broad and softly flattened. This gives the bunny the stubby seated feet visible under the dress. Add extra stuffing to the foot before shaping the ankle.

1. Next round: K8, k2tog, k8, k2tog. 18 sts.
2. Knit 4 rounds.
3. Next round: K7, k2tog, k7, k2tog. 16 sts.
4. Knit 8 rounds for the leg.
5. Stuff firmly, especially at the foot.
6. Flatten top opening and sew closed.

Before attaching, pinch the front foot edge very slightly and tack it in place to create the neat squared-off toe area seen in the photo. The feet should angle forward, with the legs tucked under the skirt.

Neck Joining and Core Assembly

Sew the head to the body securely. The neck should be short and hidden, with the head sitting directly above the dress neckline. Attach the ears to the upper sides of the head so they fall behind the cheeks and stay visible beneath the hat.

Sew the legs to the lower body in a seated position. Attach the arms after dressing the body in the bodice if you prefer easier placement. Check from the front that the bunny looks balanced and centered before fully tightening the seams.

Dress Bodice

1. Using cream, CO 28 sts.
2. Work flat in rib for 3 rows: k1, p1.
3. Change to stockinette and work 8 rows.

The bodice is simple and fitted. It should cover the upper torso smoothly without bulk. On the front center, embroider one large sunflower after assembly so the flower stays exactly positioned as shown in the image.

1. On the final row, increase evenly to 40 sts.
2. Work 2 rows in yellow to create the waist band.
3. BO loosely.

Wrap the bodice around the bunny torso and seam neatly at the back. Keep the waistline level. The top edge should sit just below the neck, leaving a narrow line of beige head visible above the dress.

Skirt

1. Using cream, CO 80 sts.
2. Work flat in stockinette for 22 to 26 rows.
3. On the next RS row, create a subtle fullness line by increasing 10 sts evenly if you want extra drape. 90 sts total.
4. Work 8 more rows.

The skirt in the image is softly gathered, not stiff. It falls in rounded folds from the yellow waistline and spreads around the seated bunny. Keep the fabric fluid so it naturally domes over the legs.

Scalloped Hem

1. Change to yellow.
2. Row 1 WS: Purl.
3. Row 2 RS: K2tog, yo across as an eyelet turning row if desired.
4. Rows 3 to 5: Stockinette.
5. Row 6 RS scallop setup: K3, k2tog, yo across in a repeating pattern that gives gentle shell movement.
6. BO loosely on the next row.

After sewing the side seam, run a gathering thread along the top edge and gather the skirt to fit the waist exactly. Sew it to the yellow waist band on the bodice, distributing the folds evenly across the front and back.

Sunflower Embroidery for Dress

Center bodice sunflower: embroider one large flower at the chest. Make a round brown center first, then add long yellow petals radiating outward. Add a tiny cream or yellow outline if you want more separation from the bodice fabric.

Skirt hem sunflowers: place five large flowers across the front half of the skirt, spaced evenly. The center flower sits lowest near the middle. Two flowers sit on each side, curving upward gently toward the side seams.

Use dark brown satin stitches or duplicate stitch for each center. Then work yellow petals around each center with straight stitch embroidery or tiny knitted applique petals. Each flower should be bold and cheerful, not tiny.

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Add small green leaves and short stems between the flowers. Keep the leaves angled upward and outward. The image shows soft painted-looking foliage, but in knitting, small embroidered leaf stitches give the closest effect without adding bulk.

Cardigan Back

1. Using olive green, CO 30 sts.
2. Work 4 rows in rib.
3. Continue in stockinette for 18 rows.
4. Shape armholes by binding off 2 sts at the start of the next 2 rows.
5. Work 10 more rows.
6. Shape shoulders with short decreases and BO remaining neck stitches.

Cardigan Fronts Make 2

1. CO 18 sts for each front.
2. Work 4 rows rib.
3. Continue in stockinette, shaping the lower front edge with a gentle curve by decreasing 1 stitch at the inner edge every 6th row 3 times.
4. At the same height as the back, shape armhole and neckline.

The cardigan fronts should open over the dress and curve slightly apart at the bottom, just like the photo. This curved front edge is important because it reveals the bodice sunflower and keeps the outfit airy.

Sleeves Make 2

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Work flat or in the round for 18 to 20 rows in stockinette.
3. Decrease slightly toward the cuff if needed.
4. Finish with 3 rows rib.
5. BO.

Sew the shoulders, set in sleeves, and seam the cardigan sides. Add five tiny buttons on the bunny’s right front edge, spacing them vertically. The opposite side can stay plain or include hidden snaps under the decorative buttons.

Embroider a small sunflower near the lower edge of each front panel. These two flowers should be smaller than the dress flowers and positioned close to the curved front corners, exactly where they appear in the image.

Sunhat Crown

1. Using cream, CO 8 sts in the round.
2. Round 1: Knit.
3. Round 2: Kfb around. 16 sts.
4. Round 3: Knit.
5. Round 4: K1, kfb around. 24 sts.
6. Round 5: Knit.
7. Round 6: K2, kfb around. 32 sts.
8. Continue increasing every other round until the crown fits the bunny head comfortably, about 56 to 64 sts.
9. Knit straight for 16 to 18 rounds.

Sunhat Brim

1. Increase 10 to 14 sts evenly around the next round.
2. Knit 4 rounds.
3. Increase 1 stitch every 5th stitch around.
4. Knit 3 rounds.
5. Increase 1 stitch every 6th stitch around.
6. Knit 3 rounds.

The brim should droop softly and spread wide around the face. In the image, it is feminine, floppy, and finished with a clear scalloped edge. If you want the shape to hold, thread a fine wire or hidden cord through the final edge round.

Scalloped Edge

1. Work one round in purl to create a turning ridge if desired.
2. Next round: [k3, BO 2 sts, return first bound stitch to left needle, k2tog] repeated to create shell-like points.
3. Adjust the repeat so the scallops distribute evenly around the brim.

Add a narrow yellow line around the base of the crown if you want to echo the yellow seen near the hat band area in the image. Keep it subtle so the main cream hat remains soft and natural.

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Shoe Bows

Make two tiny yellow bows. CO 6 sts, knit 4 rows, BO. Wrap the center with matching yarn and sew one bow to the outer side of each foot. These little details match the image and tie the shoes visually to the sunflowers.

Tiny Bird Companion Body

1. Using cream or pale beige, CO 10 sts in the round.
2. Increase gradually to 24 sts.
3. Knit 10 rounds.
4. Decrease gently toward the top while stuffing.

The tiny companion in the image reads as a small bird chick with a rounded body, tiny wings, black eyes, a yellow beak, and a cream dress with muted colored dots. Keep the shape squat and cuddly.

Bird Head and Face

If you prefer, work the body and head as one piece. Place two tiny black eyes close together. Embroider a small yellow beak between them. The wings can be knitted as two flat teardrop shapes and sewn at the sides.

Bird Dress

1. Using cream, CO enough stitches to wrap around the bird body loosely.
2. Work 10 to 12 rows in stockinette.
3. Add scattered embroidered dots in pale orange or rust.
4. Finish with a simple lower edge.

Sew the dress around the bird. Add a tiny hat using the same method as the large sunhat, scaled down. Make the brim narrow but visible, and add a small yellow band line around the crown.

Round Basket

1. Using brown, CO 6 sts in the round.
2. Increase evenly every round until the circular base reaches the size shown in the image.
3. Work one purl round to define the edge.
4. Knit upward without increasing for 12 to 16 rounds.

Flatten the basket base slightly so it sits well on a tabletop. Add a circular insert if you want a firm base. For the handle, make an i-cord or twisted cord, then sew both ends to opposite basket sides.

The little bottle inside can be made from a tiny cream or beige cylinder with a pale blue-green cap. It only needs to peek out from the basket opening, so keep it simple and slightly rounded at the top.

Ice Cream Cone

1. Using beige, CO 3 sts and work flat, increasing at one edge every RS row to form a small triangle.
2. Seam the triangle into a cone and lightly stuff.
3. For the scoop, make a tiny cream ball and sew it on top.

The cone in the image is very small and soft, with a rounded vanilla scoop and a pale waffle cone shape. A few tiny diagonal embroidery lines on the cone can suggest texture without making it bulky.

Sunflower Bouquet

Make three tiny sunflowers. Each flower can be built from a brown center circle and several yellow petals worked separately or embroidered directly around the center. Add two or three olive green leaves per stem.

Join the stems together with matching green yarn. The bouquet should look loose and cheerful, not tightly formal. It sits on the table in the image and echoes the flowers on the dress beautifully.

Color Placement Guide

• Main bunny: warm beige
• Dress base: cream
• Dress waist and hem scallops: yellow
• Sunflower petals: golden yellow
• Sunflower centers: dark brown
• Leaves and cardigan: olive green
• Hat: cream with a subtle yellow accent
• Bird dress dots: muted orange or rust
• Basket: medium brown
• Bottle cap: pale blue-green

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Dress the bunny first, then add the cardigan, hat, and tiny shoe bows. Check that the dress flowers sit across the front and remain visible below the cardigan edge. Position the hat low enough to frame the face without hiding the eyes.

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For the final facial detailing, gently pull the nose embroidery downward once more if needed so the mouth sits neatly centered. A tiny bit of beige shading thread around the nose base can soften the muzzle and add depth.

Care Notes

Handle the doll gently, especially around the hat brim, embroidered flowers, and tiny accessories. If the piece is used as decor, occasional dusting with clean dry hands or a soft brush will usually be enough.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head centered on body
• Ears placed evenly under hat
• Dress gathered smoothly at waist
• Five large skirt sunflowers visible across front
• One large sunflower centered on bodice
• Two small cardigan sunflowers added
• Five cardigan buttons attached
• Hat brim scallops evenly spaced
• Shoe bows sewn on both feet
• Bird, basket, cone, and bouquet all scaled to match

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean only with a slightly damp cloth and mild soap. Do not soak, wring, or machine wash, since the stuffing, embroidery, and shaped accessories may lose form.

Store away from direct sunlight to protect the cream, yellow, and green tones. If displaying long term, keep the bunny seated with support beneath the skirt so the body shape and clothing remain tidy.

For best preservation, wrap small accessories separately in tissue when storing. This helps prevent the bouquet, bird hat, basket handle, and ice cream cone from catching on the dress embroidery or cardigan buttons.