Clematis Porch-Lace Bunny – Knitting

This elegant knitted bunny set is designed as a soft heirloom doll with a romantic garden look. The main bunny wears a shaded purple dress with lace near the hem, floral trims, a brimmed hat, Mary Jane shoes, and a tiny shoulder basket. The set also includes a small companion animal, a matching hat, and a folded fan. It has the charm of a handmade nursery gift, collectible soft toy, knitted stuffed rabbit, and cottagecore decor piece that many shoppers search for when browsing premium handmade dolls and luxury knitted gifts.

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 pattern creates a seated bunny with long hanging ears, a rounded head, a softly stuffed body, straight arms, straight legs, a sleeveless dress with ruffled cap sleeves, and layered floral decoration placed vertically over the bodice and skirt.

The overall look depends on neat stockinette fabric, light stuffing, and careful finishing. The bunny should feel refined rather than bulky. Keep the shaping soft and smooth, especially around the cheeks, muzzle, shoulders, and upper thighs.

The dress is the visual centerpiece. It begins with a darker plum bodice and changes into a softly blended skirt in plum, lavender, gray-violet, and pale cream-lilac tones. The lower skirt includes lace panels near both front sides.

The hat is a pale cream cloche with a rounded crown and a gently rolled brim. A purple flower with a pale center and green leaves is attached to one side. The basket is a warm brown mini bucket bag with a narrow strap and one floral accent.

The small companion should coordinate with the main bunny, not compete with it. It is tiny, slim, and dressed in a miniature purple outfit with pale decorative dots near the hem. Its arms are darker brown, and it wears a matching cream hat.

Materials

• Main bunny yarn: fingering or light sport weight in pale oatmeal-beige
• Dress bodice yarn: deep plum
• Dress skirt yarn: one long-gradient or hand-blended set in plum, lavender, muted violet, gray-violet, and pale cream-lilac
• Shoe yarn: medium plum
• Hat yarn: soft cream
• Flower yarns: lilac, medium purple, dusty mauve, pale yellow-cream, and leaf green
• Basket yarn: warm brown
• Mini companion yarns: cream for head and hat, brown for arms, plum and mauve for clothing, tiny amounts of gray and pale green for accents
• Needles: double-pointed needles or magic loop size US 1.5 to 2.5 mm for main fabric, plus one size smaller for very neat trims if desired
• Stuffing: soft polyester fiberfill
• Facial details: black embroidery floss or fine black yarn
• Optional: tiny weighted pellets sealed in a fabric pouch for the body base
• Finishing tools: tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn, pins, scissors

Finished Size

The main bunny should finish at about 11 to 13 inches tall when seated, depending on yarn and tension. From the top of the hat to the bottom of the shoes, the finished look should feel compact, slightly tall through the torso, and balanced by the broad skirt.

The mini companion should finish at about 4 to 5 inches tall. The basket should reach roughly the height of the bunny’s lower arm. The folded fan should look small enough to rest beside one shoe without extending past the skirt edge.

Gauge

Gauge is less important than proportion, but the fabric must be tight enough to hide stuffing. Aim for a smooth, even stockinette with no visible gaps. If your stitches look loose, go down a needle size.

A useful target gauge is 8 to 9 stitches per inch in stockinette worked in the round using fingering or light sport yarn. Decorative flowers may be worked slightly tighter to hold their shape.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd = round
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• inc = increase
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• p2tog = purl 2 together
• yo = yarn over
• BO = bind off

Construction Notes

• The bunny is made in separate pieces and sewn together.
• Head and body are worked separately to control the soft neck and rounded chest shape seen in the image.
• Arms and legs are slim tubes with gentle shaping.
• Ears are flat pieces seamed lightly at the base and attached so they fall straight down from under the hat brim.
• The dress is worked separately and sewn or lightly tacked in place.
• All flowers are individual knitted embellishments.

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Do not overstuff. The face in the image is calm and gently padded, not tight. The dress also must drape. If the body is packed too firmly, the skirt will sit stiffly and lose the soft porch-garden feel.

Main Bunny: Legs Make 2

Using pale oatmeal-beige, CO 12 sts. Join to work in the round. Distribute evenly.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 24 sts.
3. Rnds 3-8: K all.
4. Rnd 9: K4, k2tog 2 times, K8, ssk 2 times, K4. 20 sts.
5. Rnds 10-18: K all.
6. Rnd 19: K2, k2tog, K12, ssk, K2. 18 sts.
7. Rnds 20-34: K all.

This forms a softly rounded foot and a straight lower leg. The foot should look slightly fuller than the calf but not cartoonishly wide. Add a tiny amount of stuffing to the foot now. Keep the leg lightly stuffed only after the knee line.

At the top opening, leave a long tail for sewing. Flatten the top of the leg opening later when attaching to the lower body, so the legs angle slightly forward in a seated pose.

Main Bunny: Body

Using pale oatmeal-beige, CO 16 sts. Work flat for the lower body front and back separately if you prefer strong seam lines, or begin in the round and shape with increases. The seamed version gives a better dress silhouette.

Front Body

1. CO 16 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in stockinette, beginning with a WS row.
3. Row 5: K1, inc, K14, inc, K1. 18 sts.
4. Rows 6-8: Work even.
5. Row 9: K1, inc, K16, inc, K1. 20 sts.
6. Rows 10-14: Work even.
7. Row 15: K1, inc, K18, inc, K1. 22 sts.
8. Rows 16-24: Work even.

Shape the waist very gently so the dress can sit over a narrow middle.

1. Row 25: K2, k2tog, K14, ssk, K2. 20 sts.
2. Rows 26-30: Work even.
3. Row 31: K2, k2tog, K12, ssk, K2. 18 sts.
4. Rows 32-36: Work even.

Shape shoulders and neckline.

1. Row 37: K6, BO 6, K6.
2. Work each side separately for 2 rows, decreasing 1 st at neck edge once.
3. BO remaining shoulder sts.

Back Body

Work the same as front through Row 36. For the neckline, keep it slightly higher.

1. Row 37: K7, BO 4, K7.
2. Work each side separately for 2 rows without further shaping.
3. BO shoulder sts.

Sew shoulder seams. Sew side seams. Stuff the lower body lightly, then slightly more firmly through the chest, keeping the waist indentation visible. Add a small weight pouch in the base if desired.

Main Bunny: Head

The head should be larger than the upper body width and almost perfectly round, with a slightly flattened front muzzle area created during finishing rather than strong knitted shaping.

Using pale oatmeal-beige, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 24 sts.
3. Rnd 3: K all.
4. Rnd 4: K1, kfb around. 36 sts.
5. Rnd 5: K all.
6. Rnd 6: K2, kfb around. 48 sts.
7. Rnds 7-16: K all.
8. Rnd 17: K6, inc around. 56 sts.
9. Rnds 18-25: K all.

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Begin decreasing while stuffing gradually. Shape must stay round, not oval.

1. Rnd 26: K6, k2tog around. 49 sts approximately. Keep spacing even.
2. Rnd 27: K all.
3. Rnd 28: K5, k2tog around.
4. Rnd 29: K all.
5. Rnd 30: K4, k2tog around.
6. Rnd 31: K all while stuffing firmly but smoothly.
7. Rnd 32: K3, k2tog around.
8. Rnd 33: K2, k2tog around.
9. Rnd 34: K1, k2tog around.

Thread tail through remaining sts and close. Before fully securing, shape the face by redistributing stuffing so the front center is smooth and the sides are softly rounded. The head should sit upright with a small neck opening at the base.

Main Bunny: Neck Join

Place the head centrally over the body opening. The chin should sit low enough that the hat brim nearly shadows the top of the face. Sew carefully around the base. Add extra small bits of stuffing into the neck while sewing if needed.

The finished neck should be stable but not thick. In the image, the bunny has a gentle, graceful transition from head to torso with no obvious shoulder hump.

Main Bunny: Arms Make 2

The arms are long, slim, and simple, with a soft rounded hand end and no separate paw shaping. They angle slightly downward from the shoulder and rest beside the skirt.

Using pale oatmeal-beige, CO 10 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 20 sts.
3. Rnds 3-5: K all.
4. Rnd 6: K4, k2tog 2 times, K8, ssk 2 times. 16 sts.
5. Rnds 7-26: K all.

Stuff the hand lightly and the arm very lightly. Flatten the top opening and sew to the body at shoulder level, just under the dress sleeve line. The arms should point slightly inward, not straight out.

Main Bunny: Ears Make 2

The ears are long, narrow, and hang straight down. They are not wired. Each ear should begin slightly rounded at the tip, widen modestly, then narrow at the base.

Using pale oatmeal-beige, CO 6 sts and work flat.

1. Row 1: P.
2. Row 2: K1, inc, K2, inc, K1. 8 sts.
3. Row 3: P.
4. Row 4: K1, inc, K4, inc, K1. 10 sts.
5. Rows 5-10: Work even in stockinette.
6. Row 11: K1, inc, K6, inc, K1. 12 sts.
7. Rows 12-34: Work even.
8. Row 35: K1, ssk, K6, k2tog, K1. 10 sts.
9. Row 36: P.
10. Row 37: K1, ssk, K4, k2tog, K1. 8 sts.
11. Row 38: P.
12. Row 39: K1, ssk, K2, k2tog, K1. 6 sts.
13. BO.

Make two identical pieces for each ear if you want a double-layered ear, or use one layer and fold slightly lengthwise. For the pictured look, a lightly folded single-layer ear works well because it hangs naturally under the hat.

Sew the ears to the sides of the head, slightly behind the face line. Their attachment points should be hidden by the hat. The ears should drop to about shoulder level.

Mary Jane Shoes Make 2

The shoes are separate and worked to fit the feet snugly. They are a dusty medium purple with a visible instep strap effect.

Using shoe yarn, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 24 sts.
3. Rnds 3-6: K all.
4. Rnd 7: K5, k2tog 2 times, K6, ssk 2 times, K5. 20 sts.
5. Rnd 8: K all.
6. Rnd 9: K4, k2tog 2 times, K4, ssk 2 times, K4. 16 sts.
7. Rnds 10-13: K all.

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For the top opening, BO loosely on the back half only and continue working the front half back and forth for 3 short rows to create the shoe vamp. BO. Seam neatly around the foot.

For each strap, pick up 3 sts on one side of the opening, work 8 to 10 rows in garter, and sew to the opposite side. The strap should cross the instep just like the image. Make it slim, not chunky.

Dress: Bodice

The dress is sleeveless underneath, but the shoulder edge is finished with ruffled cap sleeves added later. The bodice should fit close to the bunny’s torso and stop just above the natural waist.

Using deep plum, CO 40 sts and join in the round.

1. Rnds 1-8: K all.
2. Rnd 9: P all to create a subtle waist seam ridge.
3. Rnds 10-18: K all.

If your bunny torso is slimmer or wider, adjust by 2 or 4 stitches. The bodice should sit neatly with slight stretch, never baggy. Bind off or place on hold depending on your preferred method for attaching the skirt.

Dress: Skirt

Join the gradient yarn to the lower edge of the bodice. Increase generously for fullness. The skirt in the image has a soft bell shape with front width and visible drape when the bunny is seated.

1. Pick up or continue from 40 sts.
2. Increase evenly to 72 sts on the first skirt round.
3. Rnds 2-10: K all.
4. Increase evenly to 84 sts.
5. Rnds 12-18: K all.
6. Increase evenly to 96 sts.

At this stage, begin the gentle color blending if you are changing yarn manually. Keep the darkest tones near the waist and upper skirt. Let the center move toward softer lavender and pale tones near the lower area.

The front hem includes two mirrored lace sections. Keep the back mostly plain so the front remains the focus.

Lace Panel Placement

Mark the center front. Count 14 stitches to each side of center. Place one lace panel on the left front and one on the right front, leaving the center front mostly stockinette to preserve the downward color flow seen in the image.

Each panel may be worked over 10 stitches with plain knitting between sections.

1. Panel Row A: K2, yo, k2tog, K2, ssk, yo, K2
2. Panel Row B: K all
3. Panel Row C: K1, yo, k2tog, K2, ssk, yo, K3
4. Panel Row D: K all
5. Panel Row E: Yo, k2tog, K2, ssk, yo, K4
6. Panel Row F: K all

Repeat these six rounds 3 to 4 times, depending on skirt length. This creates the angled leafy openings visible near the lower front skirt. Maintain mirrored direction on the opposite side.

Continue until the skirt reaches the bunny’s ankles when worn. End with 4 rounds in the palest tone. Work 2 rounds of garter by alternating knit and purl rounds if working in the round, then BO loosely.

Dress: Ruffled Cap Sleeves

The shoulder decoration looks like soft flutter sleeves in dark purple with lilac edging. These are small but important to the final likeness.

Using deep plum, pick up 12 to 14 stitches around each armhole edge or create separate strips.

1. Row 1: K all.
2. Row 2: P all.
3. Row 3: Kfb in each st.
4. Row 4: P all.
5. Row 5: K all.

Bind off with lilac or medium purple for a soft contrast edge. Let the sleeve ripple outward. Tack just the upper edge so the ruffle lifts gently from the shoulder rather than lying flat.

Floral Vines for Dress Front

The image shows two main hanging floral vines descending from the shoulder area toward the waist and skirt, plus a horizontal floral line around the waist. These details define the entire set, so make them with care.

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Leaf Chain

Knit narrow i-cord or tiny stem cords in muted green. Make:

• 2 vertical vines about 3 inches long
• 1 waist vine long enough to cross the front waist
• 2 short side sprigs for small blossoms

To make a simple knitted cord, CO 3 sts and work i-cord until desired length. Leave long tails for sewing. Steam lightly if needed so each vine curves gently instead of twisting sharply.

Leaves

For each leaf, CO 3 sts in green.

1. Row 1: P.
2. Row 2: Kfb, K1, kfb. 5 sts.
3. Row 3: P.
4. Row 4: Ssk, K1, k2tog. 3 sts.
5. BO.

Make 16 to 22 leaves in mixed small sizes. Sew them alternating along the vine cords. Angle them outward, not all in the same direction. This gives the natural trailing effect seen on the dress front.

Main Clematis Flowers

The larger blossoms are star-like with five petals in lilac, mauve, and medium purple. Centers are pale yellow-cream with a soft tufted look.

For each petal, CO 2 sts.

1. Row 1: Kfb, kfb. 4 sts.
2. Row 2: P.
3. Row 3: K1, kfb, kfb, K1. 6 sts.
4. Row 4: P.
5. Row 5: Ssk, K2, k2tog. 4 sts.
6. Row 6: P.
7. Row 7: Ssk, k2tog. 2 sts.
8. BO.

Make 5 petals per flower and join in a star formation. Embroider the center with pale yellow-cream stitches radiating slightly outward. Make 6 to 8 larger flowers for the bunny dress and accessories.

Small Blossoms

Make tiny five-petal flowers using the same petal method but stop at 4 stitches width. Create 8 to 12 of these. Scatter them on the vertical vines and near the waist trim.

Sew the two vertical vines from the shoulder area downward. Add larger flowers at upper chest level and smaller blossoms lower down. Add the waist vine horizontally and attach two or three blossoms to it.

Hat

The hat is a cream cloche with a rounded dome and a softly flared brim that curves downward slightly. It should sit low on the head and cover the ear attachment points.

Using soft cream, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 16 sts.
3. Rnd 3: K all.
4. Rnd 4: K1, kfb around. 24 sts.
5. Rnd 5: K all.
6. Rnd 6: K2, kfb around. 32 sts.
7. Rnd 7: K all.
8. Rnd 8: K3, kfb around. 40 sts.
9. Rnds 9-18: K all.

For the brim, increase every 5 stitches on the next round, then work 6 to 8 rounds even. For a slightly firmer rolled edge, work 2 rounds in garter effect at the brim edge and BO loosely.

The brim should extend beyond the face but not hide the eyes. Steam lightly over a rounded surface if needed. Do not flatten the crown. The hat must keep its soft dome shape.

Hat Flower and Leaves

Attach one medium purple flower and two green leaves to one side of the hat brim. Place them off-center, slightly above the ear line. This small placement choice is important because it matches the calm asymmetry of the image.

Basket

The basket is a small brown knitted bucket with a narrow shoulder strap and one decorative flower attached on the side. It should look hand-knit, not woven.

Using warm brown, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: Kfb in each st. 16 sts.
2. Rnd 2: K all.
3. Rnd 3: K1, kfb around. 24 sts.
4. Rnds 4-12: K all.

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For the top edge, work 2 rounds in purl or garter effect, then BO loosely. Lightly stuff with tissue while shaping, but do not permanently stuff. The basket should remain hollow.

For the strap, CO 3 sts and work i-cord until long enough to drape from the basket to the bunny’s hand area. Sew both ends securely inside the basket rim.

Add one small flower and a couple of leaves to the front of the basket. Keep it charming and modest. The basket should not overpower the bunny dress.

Folded Fan

The folded fan lies beside the bunny. It is a lovely extra detail and gives the set a gentle porch-afternoon mood.

Using pale lavender, CO 18 sts and work flat.

1. Rows 1-2: K all.
2. Row 3: *K2tog, yo* across.
3. Row 4: K all.
4. Rows 5-10: Continue in stockinette or garter as preferred, changing to a paler shade near the lower edge.

BO. Thread a contrast cream yarn through one short edge and gather tightly to create the folded fan base. Wrap the base with cream yarn. Embroider a few tiny purple dots near the fan surface and add a tiny green accent if desired.

Mini Companion: Overview

The companion is a tiny dressed woodland friend styled to match the bunny. Its head is cream, its arms are brown, and it wears a plum-toned dress with a pale lower border and small decorative dots. It also wears a tiny cream hat with a floral trim.

Its face is simple and sweet. Keep the body slender and small enough to sit beside the bunny without reaching the bunny’s knee height.

Mini Companion: Head

Using cream, CO 6 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnd 1: K all.
2. Rnd 2: Kfb in each st. 12 sts.
3. Rnd 3: K all.
4. Rnd 4: K1, kfb around. 18 sts.
5. Rnds 5-10: K all.
6. Rnd 11: K1, k2tog around.
7. Rnd 12: K all while stuffing.
8. Rnd 13: K2tog around. Close.

Shape the muzzle very lightly with a few duplicate stitches or embroidered contour lines. Keep the face tiny and delicate.

Mini Companion: Body and Dress

Using plum, CO 16 sts. Join in the round.

1. Rnds 1-6: K all.
2. Increase evenly to 24 sts.
3. Rnds 8-14: K all, changing to softer mauve tones near the lower half.
4. Work 2 rounds in a pale contrasting shade near the hem.
5. BO loosely.

Stuff a tiny inner body form separately or build the body directly into the dress tube. Gather the top slightly to narrow the neckline. Embroider tiny pale seed-stitch-like dots or French-knot style accents near the lower front to echo the image.

Mini Companion: Arms and Legs

Using brown, make two arms and two legs as narrow tubes.

• Arms: CO 4 sts, work i-cord for 10 to 12 rows, lightly stuff ends only
• Legs: CO 5 sts, work tiny tubes for 8 to 10 rounds, shape simple pointed feet if desired

Sew the arms low at the shoulder line and the legs under the body so the companion sits upright. It should lean slightly toward the bunny.

Mini Companion: Hat

Use the same method as the main hat, but smaller.

• CO 6 sts
• Increase gradually to 18 or 20 sts
• Work a shallow dome
• Increase once for the brim and work 3 to 4 rounds

Add one tiny purple flower and one leaf. The hat should sit low and slightly tipped.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Sew the main bunny legs to the lower body with the feet pointing forward. Attach arms just below the upper body line. Add ears before fitting the hat. Try the dress on and tack it neatly at the back or shoulders so it stays centered.

Embroider the eyes as small vertical black ovals, spaced widely apart for a calm expression. Use dark brown or black yarn to stitch a small Y-shaped nose and mouth. Pull the muzzle stitches gently so the face remains soft and kind.

Place the hat low on the forehead. Arrange the basket beside one arm, the fan near one shoe, and the mini companion at the opposite side. Sew accessories in place only if the set is decorative rather than intended for play.

Care Notes

Handle the floral trims gently because the petals and leaf cords are delicate. Keep the doll displayed away from rough play if you want the details to stay crisp and elegant.

Light steaming can refresh the skirt and hat, but never press directly with a hot iron. Protect embroidered facial details from snagging during storage and cleaning.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head centered and secure
• Ears even and hidden neatly under hat
• Dress centered with lace panels at the front
• Ruffled sleeves balanced on both sides
• Floral vines placed symmetrically but not stiffly
• Shoe straps matching in height
• Hat brim level and flower placed off-center
• Basket strap secure
• Mini companion scaled correctly
• Face calm, simple, and evenly stitched

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean whenever possible using cool water and a mild wool-safe cleanser. Dab gently rather than rubbing. Support the head, hat brim, and dress lace while cleaning.

If a deeper wash is needed, hand wash briefly in cool water, squeeze out moisture with a towel, reshape carefully, and dry flat away from direct sunlight. Do not machine wash or tumble dry.

For long-term storage, wrap the doll in clean tissue and keep it in a breathable box. Avoid plastic bags, strong sunlight, damp rooms, and heavy stacking that could crush the hat, flowers, or skirt.