Nigella Starlace Bunny – Knitting

This elegant knitted bunny is designed as a collectible heirloom toy with a soft cream body, a pale blue and cream dress, a flower-trimmed sunhat, a curved shoulder bag, a tiny fan-shaped purse, a small blue flower posy, and a woodland companion. It has the look of a boutique stuffed rabbit, an artisan knitted doll, and a handmade nursery keepsake all in one. The finished piece is ideal for shoppers searching for knitted bunny dolls, luxury handmade soft toys, heirloom rabbit gifts, and collectible nursery decor with delicate spring styling.

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 design is worked as a fully dressed rabbit doll with separate body parts and detailed accessories. The bunny has a rounded head, long softly hanging ears, a slim neck, a lightly stuffed pear-shaped torso, straight arms, straight legs, and gentle Mary Jane style shoes.

The clothing is an important part of the finished look. The dress uses pale blue panels, cream center inserts, eyelet columns, a decorative waistband, flutter sleeves, and embroidered blue floral motifs across the yoke. The hat is wide-brimmed and softly structured, with scattered embroidered flowers around the crown.

The shoulder bag is crescent shaped and hangs low across the front body. The small fan-shaped purse is attached at the skirt front. The flower posy is compact and made in the same pale blue family as the hat and dress embroidery. A tiny woodland companion completes the scene.

Finished Size

• Main bunny: about 13 to 15 inches tall seated, about 16 to 18 inches tall from feet to hat top when measured straight
• Hat brim diameter: about 5 to 5.5 inches
• Dress length from shoulder to hem: about 6.5 to 7 inches
• Shoulder bag width: about 3.25 inches
• Tiny companion: about 4 inches tall
• Flower posy width: about 2.5 inches

Materials

• DK weight yarn in warm cream for bunny body, shoes, dress panels, bag, and small accessories
• DK weight yarn in pale sky blue for dress panels, hat, embroidery details, and flowers
• Small amount of muted green for flower stems and leaves
• Small amount of deep navy blue for the tiny companion cape
• Small amount of beige or oat for the tiny companion hat
• Small amount of soft taupe or mushroom for the tiny companion body
• 2.75 mm needles for dense toy knitting
• 3.0 mm needles for garments and hat if you prefer softer drape
• Set of double-pointed needles or magic loop for narrow pieces
• Toy stuffing
• Tapestry needle
• Black embroidery thread or black yarn for eyes
• Brown embroidery thread for nose and mouth
• Cream sewing thread for attaching trim if needed
• Very small snap or a few stitches to secure the shoulder bag if desired

Suggested Gauge

Gauge matters most on the bunny body and head. Work tightly enough that stuffing does not show through. A good target is about 7.5 to 8 stitches per inch in stockinette worked flat or in the round with DK yarn on 2.75 mm needles.

The dress may be slightly softer, but still neat. The hat brim should hold its shape without becoming stiff. If your fabric is loose, go down a needle size. If it is too rigid and hard to shape, go up one size.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• K = knit
• P = purl
• St st = stockinette stitch
• Garter = knit every row
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• inc = increase 1 stitch
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• yo = yarn over
• rep = repeat
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches

Design Notes

The bunny in the image has a smooth face, not a pronounced snout. Keep the head round and softly oval, and avoid overstuffing the front face. The ears are long, narrow, and relaxed, attached slightly behind the side line of the head so they fall straight down.

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The shoulders are narrow. The arms are slim and gently tapered, ending without separate paw shaping. The legs are thicker than the arms and finish in rounded shoe fronts. The shoes have a raised strap effect to suggest Mary Jane slippers.

The dress should sit high at the neckline, with a shallow rounded yoke. The center cream panel is visually important. It has vertical eyelet columns and should remain narrower than the blue side panels. The waist seam is lightly gathered to create a soft bell-shaped skirt.

The hat crown is shallow and rounded, not tall. The brim droops slightly at the outer edge. The bag hangs from left shoulder to right hip. The tiny companion sits upright and should look small compared with the bunny, like a forest friend carried along for a picnic outing.

Main Bunny Legs

Knit 2 legs in cream. Start at the sole and work upward so the foot can be shaped with a rounded toe. Use firm tension throughout.

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1 WS: P.
3. Row 2 RS: Kfb, K8, kfb. 12 sts.
4. Row 3: P.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K10, kfb. 14 sts.
6. Rows 5 to 9: Work in St st, ending with a WS row.
7. Row 10: K5, kfb, K2, kfb, K5. 16 sts.
8. Rows 11 to 16: Work in St st.

Shape the upper foot. Keep the front rounded, because the bunny’s shoes in the image have a soft puffed toe and not a pointed one.

1. Row 17: K5, k2tog, K2, ssk, K5. 14 sts.
2. Row 18: P.
3. Row 19: K4, k2tog, K2, ssk, K4. 12 sts.
4. Rows 20 to 22: Work in St st.
5. Next 2 rows: Garter for the edge where the shoe opens.

To suggest the strap, either embroider a horizontal strap after stuffing or knit a narrow applied band. For the neatest result, pick up 7 sts across the instep, work 4 rows in garter, then sew both ends down slightly above the ankle line. Add a tiny cream knot or stitched nub at one side for the button effect.

Continue leg above the shoe.

1. Resume on 12 sts and work 18 more rows in St st.
2. Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next row. 14 sts.
3. Work 10 rows even.
4. BO loosely, leaving a long tail.

Make the second leg to match. Stuff the feet firmly and the upper legs moderately. Do not overfill the top inch, because that area must flatten slightly when joined to the body.

Main Bunny Body

The body is soft and slightly tapered. It should be narrower at the upper chest and fuller around the lower torso. Begin from the lower body and join the legs as you work upward.

1. Place both legs side by side.
2. K across first leg, CO 4 sts, K across second leg. 32 sts total.
3. Work 6 rows in St st.
4. Increase row: K1, inc, knit to last 2 sts, inc, K1. 34 sts.
5. Work 5 rows even.
6. Increase row: K1, inc, knit to last 2 sts, inc, K1. 36 sts.
7. Work 7 rows even.

At this stage the body should look full but not round like a ball. It must support the dress without stretching it too wide. Begin tapering gently toward the chest.

1. Decrease row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. 34 sts.
2. Work 5 rows even.
3. Repeat decrease row. 32 sts.
4. Work 5 rows even.
5. Repeat decrease row. 30 sts.
6. Work 4 rows even.

Shape the upper torso and neck.

1. Next row: K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, K2. 28 sts.
2. Work 4 rows even.
3. Next row: K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, K2. 26 sts.
4. Work 2 rows even.
5. BO.

Sew the body seam neatly. Stuff the lower body firmly enough to sit well, but keep the chest softer. The rabbit in the image has a gentle neck transition, so avoid a hard stuffed ridge under the head.

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Main Bunny Arms

Knit 2 in cream. These are slim tubes with slight tapering. They hang straight down beneath the flutter sleeves and do not flare at the paw.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Work 6 rows in St st.
3. Increase row: K1, inc, knit to last 1 st, inc, K1. 10 sts.
4. Work 18 rows even.
5. Decrease row: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. 8 sts.
6. Work 8 rows even.
7. BO.

Sew and stuff lightly. Flatten the top of each arm before attaching. The arm should remain soft so it rests naturally against the dress instead of sticking outward.

Main Bunny Head

The head is the focal point. It should be smooth, rounded, and slightly longer vertically than horizontally. Knit two mirrored head pieces or work a shaped tube. A two-piece head gives the best control for the face.

1. CO 14 sts.
2. Row 1: P.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K12, kfb. 16 sts.
4. Row 3: P.
5. Row 4: Kfb, K14, kfb. 18 sts.
6. Row 5: P.
7. Row 6: Kfb, K16, kfb. 20 sts.
8. Row 7: P.
9. Row 8: Kfb, K18, kfb. 22 sts.
10. Rows 9 to 21: Work in St st.

Shape the crown.

1. Row 22: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. 20 sts.
2. Row 23: P.
3. Row 24: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. 18 sts.
4. Row 25: P.
5. Row 26: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1. 16 sts.
6. BO.

Make two pieces. Sew together, leaving the lower edge open. Stuff firmly around the forehead, cheeks, and back of head, but keep the face front smooth. A small amount of extra stuffing in the lower cheek area helps create the sweet rounded look seen in the image.

Ears

Knit 2 in cream. The ears are long, narrow, and softly folded by their own weight. They are not wired and should not stand up.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: P.
3. Row 2: Kfb, K6, kfb. 10 sts.
4. Rows 3 to 7: Work in St st.
5. Row 8: K1, ssk, K4, k2tog, K1. 8 sts.
6. Rows 9 to 26: Work even.
7. Row 27: K1, ssk, K2, k2tog, K1. 6 sts.
8. Rows 28 to 32: Work even.
9. BO.

Sew each ear seam very lightly and do not stuff. Fold the lower edge slightly before attaching to the head. Place them just behind the widest point of the head so they hang down at the sides of the face, reaching near the upper arm area.

Head and Body Joining

Sew the stuffed head to the neck opening with small strong stitches. The head should sit upright with only a slight forward softness. Add extra stuffing into the neck area during joining if needed. The finished bunny should look poised, calm, and balanced when seated.

Dress Yoke

The dress is the main clothing piece. Work it separately and dress the bunny before final accessory placement. The yoke is soft cream with pale blue embroidered flowers and flutter sleeves attached at the shoulder line.

For the yoke, CO 44 sts in cream and work flat or in the round with a back opening if preferred.

1. Work 4 rows in garter.
2. Work 8 rows in St st.
3. On the final row, increase evenly to 56 sts.

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Create a smooth neckline opening if you are working flat. A narrow back seam or hidden closure is acceptable. The neckline should sit close but not tight around the bunny’s neck.

Flutter Sleeves

The sleeves are short, airy ruffles in pale blue. They sit over the tops of the arms and angle gently downward. Pick up 12 to 14 sts around each arm opening.

1. Work 1 row knit.
2. Increase in every other stitch across the next row to create flare.
3. Work 4 rows in St st.
4. Finish with 2 rows garter.
5. BO loosely.

After finishing, lightly steam or finger-shape so the sleeves form little wings, matching the soft lifted look in the image.

Dress Skirt

The skirt combines blue side panels and cream front sections. To keep the look accurate, divide the skirt visually into five vertical areas: blue side, cream insert, narrow blue center-left, narrow blue center-right, and blue side. The most visible cream portion is at the center front.

Join yarn to lower edge of yoke and work skirt downward, increasing for fullness. A striped planning approach works well even if you are not changing color every row.

1. From the yoke edge, pick up or continue 56 sts.
2. Increase evenly to 72 sts on the first skirt row.
3. Work 6 rows even.
4. Increase evenly to 84 sts.
5. Work 8 rows even.
6. Increase evenly to 96 sts.
7. Work until the skirt reaches the bunny’s knee area when tried on.

For the cream center front panel, use a simple eyelet repeat over about 14 to 16 center stitches:

1. RS: K2, yo, k2tog, K4, yo, k2tog, K4, yo, k2tog, K2
2. WS: P all sts
3. Repeat every 4th row, shifting placement slightly if desired to create vertical decorative columns

For the blue side panels, work plain stockinette for a clean smooth fabric. These panels frame the cream center and help match the balanced, airy look of the dress in the image.

Add a narrow eyelet or mock lace divider between the center panel and the side panels if desired. Keep it delicate. The visual effect should be refined, not busy.

Finish the hem with 4 rows in cream garter. The hem should curve softly outward due to the full skirt. Block lightly so the eyelet columns open but the skirt remains dense enough to hold shape.

Waistband

The waistband is a defining detail. It appears like a narrow decorative insertion between bodice and skirt. Make a separate cream band or use a row of eyelets with a knit ridge.

• Width: about 0.5 inch
• Texture: neat and slightly firm
• Placement: exactly at the natural waist of the dress

You may crochet or embroider tiny eyelets across it, but keep the color cream. It should separate the yoke from the skirt while staying subtle.

Floral Embroidery on Yoke

The yoke features simple blue embroidered flowers. Add three main floral motifs across the front upper chest area, with the center flower slightly lower and the outer flowers angled outward.

• Use pale blue yarn and straight stitches radiating from a tiny center
• Make each flower with 6 petals
• Keep flowers flat and delicate
• Add a few small detached stitches as mini blossoms or buds

Do not overfill the yoke with embroidery. The image shows airy spacing and quiet detail, not a heavily covered bodice.

Hat

The hat is pale blue with a rounded crown and a wide soft brim. Knit it separately. The brim should sit low over the bunny’s forehead and curve gently downward.

1. CO 72 sts in pale blue and join for working in the round.
2. Work 8 rounds in St st for the brim start.
3. Increase every 8th stitch around. 81 sts.
4. Work 6 rounds.
5. Increase every 9th stitch around. 90 sts.
6. Work 8 rounds.

This creates the wide brim. Once the desired brim width is reached, begin the crown by decreasing back down gradually.

1. Decrease evenly to 72 sts.
2. Work 10 rounds even.
3. Decrease evenly to 60 sts.
4. Work 6 rounds even.
5. Decrease evenly to 48 sts.
6. Work 4 rounds even.
7. Thread yarn through remaining stitches and close.

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Block over a bowl to set the crown if desired. Embroider small blue flowers with occasional green stems around the outer crown. Space them irregularly for a natural botanical feel.

Shoulder Bag

The shoulder bag is cream, crescent shaped, and lightly padded by its own knitted fabric. It sits across the bunny’s body with the opening facing upward.

1. CO 24 sts in cream.
2. Work 4 rows garter.
3. Work 14 rows St st.
4. Shape one side by decreasing at each end every other row 4 times. 16 sts.
5. Work 6 rows even.
6. Increase at each end every other row 4 times. 24 sts.
7. Work 4 rows garter.
8. BO.

Fold slightly to create a shallow pouch and sew side edges. Embroider tiny scattered star-like stitches in pale gold, beige, or soft brown. The image shows small subtle motif dots rather than bold decorations.

For the strap, make an I-cord or narrow knitted strip about 10 to 11 inches long. Sew it so the bag hangs from the bunny’s left shoulder to right hip.

Fan-Shaped Purse

This tiny piece hangs or rests at the right front of the skirt. It resembles a shell or folded fan in cream with faint blue accent lines.

1. CO 5 sts in cream.
2. Increase 1 stitch at each side every RS row until 15 sts.
3. Work 4 rows even.
4. Decrease 1 stitch at each side every RS row until 7 sts.
5. BO.

Embroider 3 to 4 radiating pale blue lines from the lower center upward. Lightly gather the lower edge to make the piece fan slightly. Attach it to the skirt front or suspend it with a tiny cord.

Flower Posy

The bouquet on the bench is compact, soft, and rounded. Make 3 to 5 small pale blue flowers and bind them with green stems.

• Each flower: knit or embroider a tiny center with 5 or 6 petals
• Leaves: 2 small green pointed leaves per stem
• Stem length: about 1.5 inches

Wrap the stems together and secure with green yarn. Keep the bouquet slightly loose and natural.

Tiny Woodland Companion

This small companion resembles a mouse-like or woodland creature in pale taupe with a cream belly, deep navy cape, and a pointed straw-colored hat. It should be charming but simple, because it is a supporting accessory to the main bunny.

Body

1. CO 10 sts in taupe.
2. Work a small rounded body, increasing to 16 sts, working 12 rows even, then decreasing back to 10 sts.
3. Sew and stuff lightly.

Head

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Increase gradually to 14 sts, work 8 rows even, then decrease.
3. Sew and stuff.

Ears and Limbs

• Make 2 tiny ears in taupe or soft brown
• Make 2 cream front paws and 2 cream feet as tiny stuffed ovals
• Embroider tiny black eyes and a tiny nose

Cape

For the cape, CO enough stitches to wrap the shoulders, about 18 sts in navy. Work 10 rows in garter, decreasing at the neck edge if needed. Tie with a mustard or beige cord at the front.

Hat

Work a pointed cone hat in oat or beige. Start with 3 sts, increase gradually to a small circle base, then seam. Add two thin curved brown cords at the sides to suggest decorative ties or twig-like trim.

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Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Sew the legs to the lower body if not already joined, then attach the arms slightly below the dress sleeve line. Dress the bunny and adjust the skirt fullness evenly all around.

Attach the ears first, then add the eyes as tiny black French knots or satin knots. Place them wide apart for a calm expression. Embroider the nose in brown as a small Y-shape with a soft split mouth below.

Set the hat low on the head so the brim frames the face. Add the shoulder bag, fan-shaped purse, bouquet, and tiny woodland companion only after the dress is fully positioned.

Care Notes

• Handle the embroidered flowers gently
• Do not hang the bunny by the bag strap
• Keep the hat stored flat to protect the brim
• Display away from direct moisture and rough play

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head centered and secure
• Ears matched in length and angle
• Dress center panel aligned at the front
• Waistband sitting level
• Hat brim even all around
• Bag hanging diagonally across the body
• Fan-shaped purse attached neatly
• Floral embroidery balanced on yoke and hat
• Tiny companion scaled smaller than the bunny

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean first with a barely damp cloth and mild wool-safe cleanser. Avoid soaking unless absolutely necessary. If a full wash is needed, hand wash gently in cool water without twisting.

Press out water in a towel and reshape while damp. Dry flat away from sun and heat. Do not machine dry. Store with acid-free tissue if keeping as a seasonal display item or collectible gift.