Cosmos Picnic Bunny – Knitting

A soft knitted bunny in a flower dress always feels special, especially when it looks like a boutique nursery gift or a collectible handmade rabbit doll. This design combines a floppy-eared bunny, a wide sun hat, a floral dress, a tiny crossbody bag, a small bouquet, and a matching duck companion. The finished set has the sweet charm people search for in a knitted stuffed bunny, baby shower gift, Easter display toy, spring decor accent, or heirloom handmade animal. The shapes are gentle, polished, and balanced so the whole scene feels warm, pretty, and gift-worthy.

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: light beige for head, neck, feet, shoes, and hat.
• Contrast bunny yarn: warm taupe for arms, legs, side head panels near the ears, and ear exteriors.
• Inner ear yarn: soft taupe-beige, slightly lighter than the outer ear.
• Dress yarn: dusty pink for the bodice and skirt.
• Floral motif yarn: blush pink, cream, pale yellow, sage green, and muted mint.
• Bag yarn: pale mint and cream.
• Duck yarn: pastel yellow, warm orange, and white.
• Embroidery thread: black for eyes, dark brown for nose and mouth, yellow for flower centers if desired.
• Needles: a size suitable for tight toy knitting. Use needles 2–3 sizes smaller than the yarn label suggests so stuffing does not show.
• Double-pointed needles or magic loop for small pieces.
• Toy stuffing.
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch markers.
• Pins for blocking and assembly.
• Thin cardboard or plastic canvas for optional shoe soles.

Finished Size

The bunny is designed to stand about 11 to 12 inches tall from the bottom of the shoes to the top of the head, not including the hat brim.

The duck stands about 3 inches tall.

The bag should sit at hip level, and the flower bouquet should reach from the bunny’s waist to just below the shoulder.

Gauge

Gauge is not critical for display toys, but tight fabric is very important.

A good target is about 8 to 9 stitches per inch in stockinette after light blocking.

If your fabric looks open, go down a needle size. The sample in the image has very smooth, compact stitches.

Abbreviations

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

Design Notes

This bunny has a rounded head with a soft snout area, long downward ears, a short neck, gently tapered arms, sturdy straight legs, and flat shoes.

The dress is the visual center of the design. The bodice is simple, but the skirt widens strongly and carries vertical flower stems with petal motifs rising from the hem.

The hat is very important to the silhouette. It has a fitted crown and a wide brim with a relaxed wave.

The bunny looks best when firmly stuffed in the head, lightly stuffed in the arms, and medium-firm in the body and legs.

Use mattress stitch for almost all visible seams. Take time with shaping. The charm of this bunny comes from smooth assembly and soft symmetry.

Color Placement Guide

• Head front: light beige.
• Head sides and arms: warm taupe.
• Neck and upper chest: light beige.
• Body under dress: light beige.
• Legs: warm taupe.
• Shoes: light beige.
• Hat: light beige.
• Dress bodice and outer skirt: dusty pink.
• Hem floral lines: sage and pale green.
• Bag flap: cream.
• Bag body: pale mint with cream top edge.
• Duck body: pastel yellow with white lower body band.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Bunny Head

Head Front Panel

1. CO 16 sts in light beige.
2. Work in stockinette, increasing 1 st at each end of every RS row 6 times. 28 sts.
3. Work 10 rows even.
4. Shape cheeks by increasing 1 st at each end on next RS row. 30 sts.
5. Work 8 rows even.
6. Begin top shaping: on each RS row, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. Repeat 6 times. 18 sts.
7. Work 2 rows even.
8. Repeat decrease row 3 times. 12 sts.
9. Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, and pull closed later during assembly.

This panel should look softly oval, wider through the face than at the top.

Head Side Panels Make 2

1. CO 8 sts in warm taupe.
2. Increase at face edge every RS row 5 times, and at back edge every other RS row 4 times. 17 sts.
3. Work 16 rows even.
4. Shape crown with paired decreases at both edges on every RS row 5 times. 7 sts.
5. Work 1 WS row.
6. Break yarn and leave tail.

The side panels create the gentle color change visible beside the face and above the arms.

Head Gusset

1. CO 6 sts in light beige.
2. Work in stockinette, increasing 1 st at each end every RS row 5 times. 16 sts.
3. Work 18 rows even.
4. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 5 times. 6 sts.
5. BO.

Sew the gusset between the front and side panels from nose bridge over the top and down the back. Stuff firmly as you close the head.

Face Shaping

Before fully closing the lower head seam, add extra stuffing to the cheeks and forehead.

Create a slight muzzle by making one horizontal hidden tension stitch from one lower cheek to the other, pulling only a little.

The face in the image is smooth, not deeply sculpted. Keep the shaping delicate.

Bunny Body

Torso

1. CO 18 sts in light beige.
2. Work in stockinette, increasing 1 st at each end every 4th row 5 times. 28 sts.
3. Work 12 rows even.
4. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 30 sts.
5. Work 10 rows even.
6. Decrease 1 st at each end every 6th row 3 times. 24 sts.
7. Work 8 rows even.
8. Shape shoulders: BO 3 sts at start of next 2 rows. 18 sts.
9. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 4 times. 10 sts.
10. Work 2 rows even, then BO.

Body Back

Work the same as the front.

Sew shoulders and side seams, leaving the lower edge open for stuffing. Stuff the body firmly at the base and medium-firm near the top.

Arms Make 2

1. CO 10 sts in warm taupe.
2. Work 20 rows stockinette.
3. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 12 sts.
4. Work 8 rows even.
5. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 14 sts.
6. Work 10 rows even.
7. Shape upper arm: BO 2 sts at start of next 2 rows. 10 sts.
8. Decrease 1 st at each end on next RS row. 8 sts.
9. Work 1 WS row.
10. Break yarn, gather remaining stitches, and seam the arm.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Stuff lightly from wrist to elbow and only very lightly above the elbow. Flatten the arm tops when sewing them to the body.

The finished arms should hang straight down and slightly inward.

Legs Make 2

1. CO 12 sts in warm taupe.
2. Work 8 rows stockinette.
3. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 14 sts.
4. Work 12 rows even.
5. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 16 sts.
6. Work 20 rows even.
7. Decrease 1 st at each end every 8th row twice. 12 sts.
8. Work 10 rows even.
9. BO.

Sew each leg seam. Stuff firmly through the foot area and medium-firm through the leg.

Flatten the upper edge before attaching so the legs sit forward-facing and parallel.

Feet and Shoes

Inner Foot Base Make 2

1. CO 8 sts in light beige.
2. Increase 1 st at each end every RS row 3 times. 14 sts.
3. Work 8 rows even.
4. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 3 times. 8 sts.
5. BO.

Shoe Upper Make 2

1. CO 12 sts in light beige.
2. Work 10 rows stockinette.
3. Shape toe by decreasing 1 st at each end every RS row 2 times. 8 sts.
4. Work 4 rows even.
5. BO.

Shoe Strap Make 2

1. CO 4 sts in light beige.
2. Knit 14 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO.

Attach the foot base to the bottom of the leg. Add a small piece of cardboard if you want the bunny to stand more securely.

Sew the shoe upper over the front half of the foot, leaving the heel more open so it resembles a Mary Jane shoe.

Attach each strap across the instep. The image shows a simple strap without a visible button.

Ears Make 2 Outer and 2 Inner

Outer Ear

1. CO 8 sts in warm taupe.
2. Increase 1 st at each end every RS row 5 times. 18 sts.
3. Work 20 rows even.
4. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 5 times. 8 sts.
5. Work 10 rows even.
6. BO.

Inner Ear

1. Work as outer ear in slightly lighter taupe-beige, but make 2 rows fewer in the center section.

Sew inner ear onto outer ear around the edges, leaving lower edge open.

Do not heavily stuff the ears. If needed, place only a trace of soft filling near the base.

The ears should hang from beneath the hat, extending to about the upper arm level.

Sun Hat

Crown

1. Using light beige, CO 8 sts on double-pointed needles.
2. Round 1: kfb into each stitch. 16 sts.
3. Round 2: knit.
4. Round 3: k1, inc around. 24 sts.
5. Round 4: knit.
6. Round 5: k2, inc around. 32 sts.
7. Continue increasing evenly every other round until you have 64 sts.
8. Knit even for 18 rounds.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Brim

1. Increase 8 sts evenly on next round. 72 sts.
2. Knit 2 rounds.
3. Increase 8 sts evenly. 80 sts.
4. Knit 2 rounds.
5. Increase 8 sts evenly. 88 sts.
6. Knit 3 rounds.
7. Increase 8 sts evenly. 96 sts.
8. Work 5 rounds in garter stitch by alternating knit and purl rounds.
9. BO loosely.

Lightly steam and shape the brim so it waves naturally instead of lying flat.

The hat in the image has a soft, elegant ripple, not a stiff sun hat edge.

Dress

Upper Bodice Front

1. CO 22 sts in dusty pink.
2. Work 4 rows in k1, p1 rib.
3. Change to stockinette for 6 rows.
4. On next RS row, begin central openwork panel on the middle 10 sts. Keep side 6 sts each side in stockinette.
5. For the openwork panel, work: k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, then mirrored on following rows to create a soft lattice.
6. Continue for 12 rows.
7. Shape armholes: BO 2 sts at start of next 2 rows. 18 sts.
8. Work 6 rows even.
9. Shape neckline: k6, BO 6, k6.
10. Work each side separately for 4 rows, decreasing 1 st at neck edge once.
11. BO shoulder stitches.

Upper Bodice Back

1. CO 22 sts in dusty pink.
2. Work 4 rows rib and 18 rows stockinette.
3. Shape armholes same as front.
4. After 10 more rows, BO all stitches.

Sew shoulder seams first. Side seams will remain open until the skirt is attached if that makes embroidery easier.

Skirt Base

1. Pick up or knit 72 sts around lower bodice edge in dusty pink.
2. Work 4 rounds even.
3. Increase 1 st after every 6th st around. 84 sts.
4. Work 4 rounds even.
5. Increase 1 st after every 7th st around. 96 sts.
6. Work 6 rounds even.
7. Increase 1 st after every 8th st around. 108 sts.
8. Work until skirt reaches just below knee level on the bunny.

The dress must flare clearly. The image shows a wide skirt with a gentle bell shape and enough spread to display the flower pattern.

Lower Hem Shaping

Work 6 rows in stockinette, then 4 rows garter stitch for stability.

BO loosely so the hem can open slightly without drawing in.

Floral Skirt Pattern

The skirt in the image shows vertical stems rising from the hem, with petals opening above them. The lines are soft, painterly, and symmetrical rather than sharply graphic.

You may work the flower design with duplicate stitch after knitting the skirt, which gives the cleanest result for a toy garment.

• Add 5 main floral columns spaced evenly around the front skirt.
• Use sage green to stitch long stems from the hem upward.
• At the base of each stem, add narrow leaf shapes in pale green and muted mint.
• Use blush pink and cream for petals.
• Use pale yellow or mustard for the centers.
• Keep the center flower tallest and the outer flowers slightly shorter.

Do not overfill the entire skirt with flowers. The original look leaves visible pink ground between motifs.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Underskirt Lining Effect

The lower edge of the image suggests a pale underlayer peeking inside the dress. To recreate that effect, knit a narrow separate underskirt strip in cream with small mint accents and sew it inside the hem.

1. CO 90 sts in cream.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Add one simple dotted row using mint every 8 to 10 stitches.
4. Work 4 more rows.
5. BO and sew inside dress hem, leaving a narrow visible edge.

Bag

Bag Body

1. CO 12 sts in pale mint.
2. Work 10 rows in stockinette.
3. Increase 1 st at each end on next RS row. 14 sts.
4. Work 6 rows even.
5. BO.

Make 2 pieces and seam sides and bottom, lightly stuffing or lining the bag so it keeps shape.

Bag Flap

1. CO 10 sts in cream.
2. Work 6 rows stockinette.
3. Decrease 1 st at each end on next RS row. 8 sts.
4. Work 2 rows.
5. BO.

Strap

1. CO 3 sts in pale mint.
2. Knit an i-cord or narrow strap long enough to cross from one shoulder to opposite hip.
3. BO and sew securely.

Sew a tiny embroidered dot or French knot on the flap to echo the small decorative closure seen in the image.

Flower Bouquet

The bouquet should contain several small blossoms in pink, blush, mauve, and cream, all held close together with green stems pointing downward.

Small Flat Flower Make 5

1. CO 5 sts in chosen petal color.
2. Work one tiny petal over 2 rows, BO, then repeat around a small center ring, or knit 5 separate petals and sew together.
3. Make flowers in blush, dusty pink, deeper rose, and cream.

Centers

• Use yellow knots for cream and blush flowers.
• Use pale cream knots for the deeper rose flower.

Stems

1. Make narrow green i-cords or twisted cords.
2. Attach one stem to each flower.
3. Gather all stems together and tack them into one bouquet.

Sew the bouquet to the bunny’s right side so it sits against the dress rather than floating away from the body.

Duck Companion

Body

1. CO 8 sts in pastel yellow.
2. Increase 1 st at each end every RS row 4 times. 16 sts.
3. Work 10 rows even.
4. Change lower 4 rows to white to create the little chest band effect.
5. Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row 4 times. 8 sts.
6. Gather top and seam.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Head

1. CO 6 sts in pastel yellow.
2. Increase evenly to 14 sts.
3. Work 8 rows even.
4. Decrease evenly back to 6 sts.
5. Gather and seam.

Wings Make 2

1. CO 5 sts in yellow.
2. Work 4 rows stockinette.
3. Decrease 1 st at each end once.
4. BO.

Beak

1. CO 4 sts in orange.
2. Work 2 rows.
3. BO.

Feet

Embroider or knit tiny orange triangles and attach at the base.

Use black embroidery for two tiny eyes set wide apart. The duck should look sweet and simple.

Assembly

1. Sew the head pieces together and stuff firmly.
2. Sew the body front and back, stuff, and close lower edge.
3. Attach legs evenly at the lower body so the bunny stands balanced.
4. Add feet and shoes, checking alignment from the front.
5. Sew arms to the upper body slightly below the neck seam.
6. Attach ears high on the side head seams so they fall naturally beside the face.
7. Sew head to body with a strong ladder stitch, adding extra stuffing to support the neck.
8. Dress the bunny and tack the dress closed neatly at the back.
9. Add hat and catch it with a few hidden stitches near the ears.
10. Sew the bag strap from left shoulder to right hip.
11. Attach bouquet on the right side of the bunny.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Place the eyes as small vertical black ovals, spaced widely across the face and slightly above center. Keep them simple and calm.

Embroider a tiny triangular nose in dark brown. From the base of the nose, stitch a short vertical line and a soft split mouth with a gentle downward curve.

The mouth should be delicate. Do not make it too long or too smiley.

After the face is complete, lightly brush the cheeks with your fingers to smooth the knit surface and check symmetry from the front.

Care Notes

• Display pieces stay neatest when handled gently.
• Spot clean first whenever possible.
• Keep dark embroidery threads dry while cleaning.
• Store away from direct sunlight to protect soft pastel shades.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head firmly stuffed and smooth
• Ears matched in length and hanging evenly
• Hat brim softly waved
• Dress centered with floral motifs balanced
• Bag resting at hip height
• Bouquet attached securely
• Shoes flat and even
• Duck standing upright beside bunny

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Use cool water, mild soap, and very light pressure. Avoid soaking the bouquet for long periods.

Roll the pieces in a towel to remove moisture, then reshape by hand. Dry flat.

For long-term storage, wrap each item in clean tissue and place it in a breathable box. Avoid sealed plastic in humid spaces.

If the hat brim or dress hem softens over time, re-shape with gentle steam from a distance and let it cool completely before moving.