Amaranth Willow-Smock Bunny – Knitting

This heirloom bunny doll is designed to capture the gentle, collected look of a handmade nursery gift, artisan knit toy, and collectible stuffed bunny all in one piece. The long-eared rabbit wears a dusty rose dress with willow-style smocking, floral detailing, matching Mary Jane shoes, a soft green bonnet, a tiny flower bag, and a smaller dressed bunny companion. The finished set has the sweet appeal many knitters look for in boutique bunny dolls, Easter decor, and baby shower keepsakes, while still being enjoyable to make at home with classic shaping and fine finishing.

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: Fingering or light sport weight wool in warm ivory.
• Dress yarn: Fingering or light sport weight in muted amaranth rose.
• Shoe and bag yarn: Fingering or light sport weight in deep berry rose.
• Bonnet yarn: Fingering or light sport weight in pale willow green.
• Embroidery yarn: Fine wool or cotton in berry rose, dusty mauve, pale cream, and olive green.
• Needles: One size for working a firm fabric for the toys, and one size larger if needed for the dress skirt drape. Use the size that gives a dense fabric with no stuffing visible.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, stuffing, small black beads or safety eyes, matching sewing thread, one tiny button for each shoe strap, optional tiny button for bonnet tack if desired.

Finished Size

The large bunny sits at approximately 11 to 13 inches tall from the base to the top of the head, not including the ears. With ears upright, the total height is approximately 15 to 16 inches. The companion bunny is about one third of the height of the large bunny.

Gauge and Fabric Notes

This pattern depends more on proportion and fabric firmness than on exact row gauge. Knit tightly enough that the stuffing does not show through. The body and limbs should feel compact and smooth, while the clothing should still keep a soft natural drape.

The photo shows a refined stockinette surface with minimal texture on the bunny itself, gentle gathered fullness in the dress, slightly structured shoes, and a bonnet that frames the face closely. Keep all shaping neat and symmetrical.

Color Placement Overview

• Ivory: Head, muzzle shaping, ears, arms, legs.
• Amaranth rose: Dress, sleeve cuffs, waist ties, companion bunny dress.
• Deep berry rose: Shoes, bag, companion bonnet or dress accent tone if preferred.
• Willow green: Main bonnet with embroidered vine detail.
• Embroidery: Floral hem vines, sleeve floral details, bag flowers, bonnet vine stems.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• K = knit
• P = purl
• St st = stockinette stitch
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit two together
• pm = place marker
• sm = slip marker
• rep = repeat

Construction Order

1. Knit the legs and body.
2. Knit the head.
3. Knit the ears and arms.
4. Assemble and shape the face.
5. Knit the dress.
6. Knit the bonnet.
7. Knit the shoes.
8. Knit the flower bag.
9. Knit the miniature bunny companion and its dress.
10. Embroider all floral details and complete styling.

Large Bunny Legs

Make 2 in ivory. Each leg should be long, softly tubular, and proportionally slimmer than the dress width. The visible leg section below the dress is straight, with no heavy ankle shaping.

1. CO a narrow base suitable for a slim toy leg.
2. Work 2 to 4 rows in garter or firm edge treatment to stabilize the lower edge.
3. Continue in St st for a long tube.
4. Add a few evenly spaced increases in the first third of the leg so the leg looks softly rounded instead of stick-like.
5. Work even until the leg reaches the desired length, leaving enough visible below the hem for the shoes to sit clearly in view.
6. Stuff firmly from the foot upward, keeping the uppermost inch less stuffed so it can join neatly to the body.
7. Set aside and make the second leg to match exactly.

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Body

The body is hidden under the dress, but its shape matters because the dress sits over a gently rounded torso, not a narrow cone. Join the legs with a comfortable gap so the bunny can sit naturally on an edge or shelf.

1. Join both legs onto one needle and work across the first leg, CO a small gap bridge, then work across the second leg.
2. Work 2 plain rounds or rows after joining to stabilize the crotch area.
3. Increase gradually at each side of the torso to build a soft pear-like body.
4. Work even through the belly section.
5. Decrease lightly toward the upper torso so the chest is narrower than the lower body.
6. Keep stuffing compact and smooth, especially around the seat, since the doll is shown sitting.
7. Finish body at neck opening with a firm upper edge.

The photo suggests a smooth silhouette beneath the dress. Avoid an overly wide stuffed tummy. The body should support the dress but not bulge. Think of the torso as softly oval when viewed from the front and slightly rounded when viewed from the side.

Head

The head is the defining feature. It is slightly elongated vertically, with a softly tapered muzzle and a calm centered face. The cheeks are full but not exaggerated. The muzzle area projects just enough to create a realistic rabbit profile without becoming pointed.

1. CO for the neck opening and begin working upward.
2. Increase evenly around the lower head to transition from neck to cheeks.
3. Work several rows even to establish the lower face.
4. Add subtle increases through the muzzle and cheek region so the front face has gentle fullness.
5. Work even through the widest part of the head.
6. Begin decreasing gradually toward the crown, taking care to keep the top rounded rather than flat.
7. Stuff firmly, shaping by hand as you go. The face should remain smooth with no corners.
8. Close the crown neatly and weave the end through remaining stitches.

Before securing the final opening, pause and shape the muzzle by pushing a small amount of stuffing forward at the lower front center. This helps create the slight nose bridge and soft snout that are visible in the image.

Ears

Make 2 in ivory. The ears are tall, narrow, and upright with softly pointed tips. They are not floppy. Each ear is attached just inside the outer head curve so both stand vertically with a slight outward lean.

1. CO a moderate number of stitches for a slender ear base.
2. Work in St st with edge stitches kept tidy.
3. Increase lightly in the lower section so the ear widens from the base.
4. Work even through the middle length.
5. Decrease evenly in the upper third to form a long leaf-like point.
6. Make a second matching piece for each ear if you prefer double-layered ears, or work one flat piece and seam lightly.
7. Do not overstuff. The ear should be softly padded or left unstuffed with firm seam shaping.
8. Sew closed and gently pinch the base before attaching.

When attached, place the ears high on the head and slightly behind the bonnet line. Angle them so they frame the bonnet rather than crowd the face. One ear may lean outward by a few degrees, but both should still look balanced.

Arms

Make 2 in ivory. The arms are short, rounded, and slim, ending in simple paw shapes with no separate fingers. They emerge from beneath the dress sleeves and sit low enough to allow one arm to hold the bag visually.

1. CO at the wrist end.
2. Work a few rows even.
3. Increase lightly through the forearm.
4. Work even through the upper arm.
5. Taper very slightly near the shoulder if needed.
6. Stuff firmly at the paw and more lightly at the upper arm.
7. Close neatly, leaving a sewing tail.

Joining Head and Body

Sew the head securely to the neck opening. The bunny in the image has a centered, upright posture, so avoid tilting the head forward too much. A tiny natural forward tilt is enough to create warmth, but the face should still look outward rather than downward.

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Use a ladder-style join or whipstitch with matching yarn. After sewing, reinforce with one extra round of hidden stitching through the neck seam. Add a little extra stuffing if needed before fully closing so the head does not wobble.

Dress

The dress is one of the signature features. It is a muted rose shade with a rounded yoke area, smocked or gathered detail across the upper front, long puffed sleeves, slim waist ties, and floral embroidery around the lower hem. The skirt is full, rounded, and falls just below the body, leaving the legs visible.

Dress Bodice

1. CO for the neckline, allowing enough room to pass over the head or plan a back opening.
2. Work a narrow edging for a tidy neck finish.
3. Shape a shallow yoke with evenly spaced increases.
4. Separate sleeve stitches from front and back body stitches.
5. Work the bodice to just above the natural waistline of the bunny.

The image shows textural detailing centered across the upper dress. To recreate this effect, work a decorative panel using one of the following: small grouped purl ridges on the RS, tiny gathered smock-like pulls worked with embroidery afterward, or a fine eyelet-and-purl arrangement that visually mimics heirloom smocking. Keep it delicate and horizontal.

Waist and Ties

The dress has two slender tie cords hanging from the center front. These are not large bows. They are narrow, soft ties that sit over the upper skirt area and extend downward.

1. Twist or knit two slim cords in matching rose.
2. Anchor them at the center front waistline just below the smocked panel.
3. Let them hang freely, ending around the upper third of the skirt.

Sleeves

The sleeves are long and full, with visible volume through the lower arm. They narrow gently into decorative cuffs with a darker rosy accent at the upper cuff join and a floral embroidered motif near one cuff area.

1. Return to held sleeve stitches.
2. Pick up any underarm stitches needed for a smooth join.
3. Work the sleeve in the round or flat, increasing lightly if needed to create gentle puff.
4. Work even through the main sleeve length.
5. Decrease into a neat cuff.
6. Add a narrow darker berry stripe or a contrast join line near the cuff to match the image.
7. Finish with a tidy cuff edge.

Skirt

The skirt begins below the bodice and falls in a broad rounded shape. It is fuller than the body underneath, and the hem is finished with a slightly structured border that keeps the edge neat without becoming stiff.

1. From the waistline, increase evenly around to build fullness.
2. Work the skirt in St st, allowing a soft flare.
3. Check length often against the bunny body. The hem should fall low enough to feel like a proper dress, but still reveal the legs and shoes.
4. End with several rows of garter or another stable hem finish.
5. BO loosely but evenly.

Dress Embroidery

The embroidery is essential to the overall look. The lower hem features a scattered vine of berry-toned flowers with olive stems and occasional pale cream flower centers. One sleeve also carries a smaller floral spray, and the purse has dimensional clustered flowers.

• Hem embroidery: Work a meandering vine from left to right across the lower front hem. Use olive green stem stitch for the vine.
• Flowers: Add small detached chain petals, lazy-daisy petals, or tiny satin-stitch blossoms in mauve and berry rose.
• Centers: Place a few pale cream French knots or seed stitches.
• Sleeve motif: Add a smaller clustered floral detail near the outer lower sleeve.

Keep the embroidery asymmetrical but balanced. The floral line should look hand-placed and delicate, not like a perfectly repeated border. Concentrate more flowers toward the front center and one side, similar to the image.

Bonnet

The bonnet is willow green and frames the face closely. It covers the head around the cheeks and ties beneath the chin in two pointed tabs. The bonnet body extends slightly backward and upward, leaving the ears free and fully visible.

1. CO along the face-framing edge or begin at the back and shape toward the front, depending on your preferred construction.
2. Work in smooth St st or a fine textured stitch that still reads as clean and soft.
3. Increase gently to form a hooded shape that cups the head.
4. Create ear openings or simply leave the crown open enough that the ears emerge cleanly above the bonnet line.
5. Shape the lower front into two narrow tie flaps.
6. Work each tie flap long enough to knot beneath the chin.
7. Finish all edges neatly.

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Embroider a thin vine on one bonnet side using olive or brown-green thread, with tiny understated buds. This detail is subtle in the image. Do not overfill the bonnet with decoration. The face opening must remain the focus.

Shoes

The large bunny wears deep berry rose Mary Jane shoes with rounded toes, an open top line, and a side strap finished by a small button. The shoes cover the feet fully and have enough depth to look like real little knitted footwear rather than socks.

1. CO at the sole.
2. Work a flat or slightly shaped sole to match the bunny foot width.
3. Pick up around the sole and work upward for the shoe sides.
4. Decrease over the toe area to create a rounded front.
5. Leave an opening at the top center to show the ivory foot beneath.
6. Create one narrow strap from the side edge.
7. Sew a tiny button on the opposite side.
8. Repeat for the second shoe, mirroring the strap placement.

Attach the shoes snugly so they sit naturally on the feet without twisting. The rounded toe should project slightly beyond the leg line, just as in the image.

Flower Bag

The purse is a deep berry rose knitted bag with a short strap and dimensional clustered flowers on the front. It hangs from the bunny’s left arm and rests close to the dress.

1. CO for a tiny oval or rounded pouch base.
2. Work upward in the round or as two flat pieces to form a small bulb-shaped purse.
3. Keep the opening narrow.
4. Make a short cord or i-cord strap.
5. Attach the strap firmly to both top sides.
6. Embroider or knit tiny flower nubs on the front using berry rose and pale cream accents.

For the dimensional flowers, use French knots, wrapped knots, or tiny crocheted flower dots sewn on afterward. Cluster them densely near the upper front so the purse reads as floral and decorative, not plain.

Mini Bunny Companion

The small companion repeats the same visual language as the large bunny. It has an ivory head and limbs, upright ears, a berry rose dress, and a simple bonnet or hood-like head covering in the same rose tone. It is intentionally simpler but must clearly echo the main character.

Mini Body and Head

1. Knit two small legs in ivory and join into a compact torso.
2. Keep the body narrow and short.
3. Knit a small rounded head with a soft muzzle.
4. Attach securely and shape with a tiny amount of stuffing.

Mini Ears and Arms

1. Knit 2 narrow ears, proportionally longer than a bear’s ears would be.
2. Attach them upright.
3. Knit 2 tiny arms and sew at shoulder height.

Mini Dress

The mini dress is simpler than the main dress, but it still has a gentle A-line or gathered shape and a neat hem. The image suggests a small decorative lower edge and a sweet doll-like silhouette.

1. CO at the neckline.
2. Work a tiny bodice.
3. Separate for sleeves if desired, or keep arm openings simple.
4. Increase into a short skirt.
5. Finish with a neat hem border.

If you wish to include the small hood or bonnet effect shown in the image, knit a very small cap in the same rose shade and frame the face softly. Keep it close to the head and avoid bulky ties.

Facial Placement

The face is minimal and sweet. The eyes are small black points placed widely enough to create a calm expression. The nose and mouth are embroidered in matching ivory or a very soft beige so they do not dominate the face.

• Eyes: Place midway down the head, slightly above the muzzle line, with generous spacing.
• Nose: Embroider a tiny inverted triangle or short vertical satin area.
• Mouth: Add a split Y-shape or softly curved line descending from the nose center.
• Cheeks: Optional faint blush in pale pink if desired, very lightly applied.

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Keep all facial lines short and refined. The bunny in the image looks serene and understated, so resist making the features too dark or too large.

Assembly Notes

Attach the arms so they emerge just below the sleeve fullness, with the paws visible. Dress the bunny before fully fixing final accessories. Tie the bonnet under the chin with a simple knot, not a large bow. Position the purse on the left side and tack it lightly to the hand if needed.

Seat the bunny and test the balance. The body should rest securely while the legs hang naturally over an edge. If the bunny tips forward, add a little extra stuffing at the back lower body or tack the dress slightly to the torso to stabilize the silhouette.

Styling Details That Matter

• The ears must remain visible above the bonnet.
• The bonnet opening should frame the face closely.
• The dress skirt should look full and rounded, not narrow.
• The waist ties should hang straight and soft at the center front.
• The shoes should show a distinct top opening and side strap.
• The hem embroidery should stay concentrated along the lower front, not all around in a heavy band.
• The purse flowers should feel clustered and textured.
• The mini bunny should clearly coordinate without overpowering the main bunny.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Check that the head is centered, ears match in height, and the bonnet sits evenly around the face. Secure the eyes first, then embroider the nose and mouth. Stitch the dress neatly at the back if needed, attach the shoes firmly, and tack the purse and companion bunny only after the final pose looks balanced.

Care Notes

Handle this bunny as a decorative heirloom knit. Gentle surface dusting is best for regular care. Avoid rough pulling on the floral embroidery, bonnet ties, bag strap, and shoe buttons. Store away from direct sunlight to preserve the soft willow and amaranth shades.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Both ears aligned and upright
• Face centered and symmetrical
• Dress hem sitting at the correct length
• Waist ties attached neatly at center front
• Bonnet tied comfortably under chin
• Shoes mirrored correctly with straps outward
• Flower embroidery balanced across hem and sleeve
• Mini bunny proportionate and fully secured
• Purse hanging naturally from the left arm

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean with a barely damp cloth and mild wool-safe soap. Do not soak unless absolutely necessary, and never twist or wring. If a full wash is needed, hand wash gently in cool water, reshape while damp, and dry flat on a towel. Wrap in acid-free tissue for long-term storage and keep in a breathable box rather than sealed plastic.