Anemone Story Garden Bunny – Knitting

This charming garden bunny is designed as a collectible knitted soft toy with a soft blush-lilac wardrobe, flower-trimmed skirt, cozy cream cardigan, and matching bonnet-style hat. The finished set also includes a tiny purse, a little flower notebook, a bouquet, a small pencil, and a dressed fox friend for an heirloom display. If you love handmade bunny doll decor, knitted stuffed animal gifts, collectible nursery toys, cottagecore rabbit dolls, and artisan spring plush designs, this project is a beautiful choice for your handmade shop, gift basket, or seasonal display.

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

Materials

• Sport weight yarn in warm beige for the bunny head, arms, and legs
• Sport weight yarn in soft blush lilac for the dress, hat, purse, notebook cover, bouquet petals, and pencil body stripe
• Sport weight yarn in cream for the cardigan, socks, and shoes
• Small amounts of purple, deep violet, lavender, dusty pink, soft blue, green, navy, rust orange, white, brown, black, and pale gray
• Double-pointed needles or your preferred needles for knitting small circumferences
• Straight or circular needles for flat pieces such as the cardigan fronts if preferred
• Tapestry needle
• Locking stitch markers
• Stuffing
• Black safety eyes or black embroidery thread for the eyes
• Dark brown or black embroidery thread for nose and mouth shaping
• Thin cardboard or plastic canvas for stabilizing the notebook if desired
• Tiny button or embroidered knot for purse closure
• Optional floral wire or pipe cleaner for bouquet stems if you want the bouquet posed more firmly

Finished Size

The bunny is designed as a seated-or-standing display doll with a finished height of about 11 to 13 inches from the sole of the shoes to the top of the hat. The fox friend stands at about 3 to 4 inches tall. The purse, notebook, bouquet, and pencil are scaled to sit naturally beside the bunny without looking oversized.

Gauge and Fabric Notes

Use a firm gauge so the stuffing does not show through. The fabric in the photo is smooth and tidy, with small even stitches and very little stretch visible on the finished surfaces.

The bunny body and clothing look best when worked tightly enough to hold their shape on a display table. If your fabric feels loose, go down one needle size. For the floral details, keep tension even so the petals remain crisp and defined.

Construction Overview

• The bunny is made from separate head, body, arms, ears, and legs.
• The dress is knitted as part of the body from the upper torso downward, then decorated with applied knitted flowers and embroidered stems.
• The cardigan is made separately and worn open at the front.
• The hat is worked as a bonnet-style cloche with a soft rolled brim and small flowers attached to one side.
• The shoes, purse, notebook, bouquet, pencil, and fox companion are all separate pieces.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• K = knit
• P = purl
• St st = stockinette stitch
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• rnd = round
• inc = increase 1 stitch in your preferred neat method
• k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• BO = bind off
• rep = repeat
• sts = stitches

Bunny Body and Dress

Lower Dress Skirt

Using blush lilac, CO enough stitches for the lower hem to create a skirt that is gently flared, not extremely wide. The skirt in the image falls in a soft A-line shape and ends just above the bunny’s ankles, leaving the cream shoes fully visible.

Work the hem in a neat textured border for several rounds or rows. A simple seed-stitch or garter-look hem works well here because the photo shows a defined edge with a little visual weight at the bottom.

After the hem, switch to St st for the main skirt. Decrease gradually as you work upward so the skirt tapers gently toward the waist. Do not pull the skirt in too sharply. The silhouette is soft and elegant, with enough fullness to sit over the legs without stiffness.

Before reaching the waist, mark the front center. The front lower half of the dress carries a broad floral arrangement with large anemone-style blossoms, smaller side buds, and green stitched stems. Keep the skirt plain while knitting and add the motifs later so the placement stays controlled and balanced.

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Waist and Bodice

At the waist, reduce the stitch count enough to create soft gathering below the bodice. The image shows a visible gathered transition rather than a smooth continuous tube. This can be achieved by evenly spacing decreases over one round, then working a few rounds plain.

Continue upward for the bodice in blush lilac. The bodice is narrow, smooth, and fitted, with a simple rounded neckline. It sits under the open cream cardigan and remains visible at the chest and upper torso.

The armholes should sit low enough to give the bunny a relaxed doll-like shoulder line. Bind off or shape for armholes as needed, then work front and back sections or continue in the round depending on your preferred construction.

Shape a modest neckline at the front. The neckline is not deep. It is high, gentle, and childlike, matching the sweet formal look of the dress. Join shoulders or leave openings if you prefer to sew shoulders after stuffing.

Body Core

The body inside the dress should be softly stuffed and slightly pear-shaped, narrower at the upper torso and rounder through the lower body. Do not overstuff. The bunny in the image stands with a calm, elegant silhouette, not a stiff cylindrical body.

If you prefer, make a simple inner torso tube in beige, stuff it lightly, and dress it with the attached skirt and bodice shell. Another option is to use the dress as the outer body itself, adding stuffing carefully so the waist seam remains visible. Either method works as long as the final look matches the photo.

Legs

Using warm beige, make two legs. The legs are slender and straight, with very slight tapering toward the ankles. They are not thick or heavily shaped. The lower legs are mostly hidden by the dress, but enough is visible above the shoes to show the beige knitted texture.

1. CO a small number of stitches and join for working in the round.
2. Work several rounds evenly for the footless leg section.
3. Add a very subtle increase if needed to create a gentle calf shape.
4. Continue until the leg reaches from the lower body to just above the shoe opening.
5. Stuff lightly and evenly. The legs should remain straight and smooth.

Leave long tails for sewing. Position the legs under the skirt so they stand slightly apart. The feet should point straight forward.

Arms

Using warm beige, make two simple tubular arms. The bunny’s hands are rounded and minimal, with no separate fingers. The arms end just below the cardigan cuff and are visible at the wrists and hands.

1. CO a small number of stitches for each arm.
2. Work in the round for a narrow tube.
3. Increase slightly near the upper arm so the sleeve sits naturally over the arm shape.
4. Stuff lightly, especially near the hand, but keep the arm soft enough to bend a little.
5. Close the top neatly for sewing into the body.

Do not make the arms too long. In the image, the hands fall around the upper skirt area, with the cardigan cuffs ending above the hands.

Head

The head is large, rounded, and softly oval, with a slightly broader cheek area and a subtly narrower top. The face is calm and centered, giving the bunny a classic heirloom expression.

1. Using warm beige, CO or start at the top of the head using your preferred method.
2. Increase gradually to form a smooth dome.
3. Work evenly through the widest part of the head for several rounds.
4. Begin gentle decreases toward the lower face and chin area.
5. Stuff firmly but not hard. The face should stay smooth, with no hollow cheeks.

The lower face is slightly flatter than a perfect sphere. This helps the embroidered nose and mouth sit neatly at center front. The muzzle is suggested by shaping and embroidery, not by adding a separate snout piece.

Facial Placement

• Eyes are small, black, and vertically oval in appearance.
• They are placed wide apart, about midway down the face.
• The nose is stitched in a small Y-shaped or triangular bunny style.
• The mouth is short and centered, extending slightly downward from the nose.

Use a little sculpting thread if needed to create a soft indentation where the nose meets the face. Keep the features delicate. The expression in the image is gentle and composed, not exaggerated.

Ears

Make two long floppy ears in warm beige. The ears are attached high on the head but hang downward along the sides of the face. They are broad at the base and softly rounded at the ends.

1. CO stitches for the ear width.
2. Work flat in St st or another smooth fabric.
3. Shape the ear with gradual decreases toward the tip.
4. Make the second ear to match.
5. Do not overstuff. In most cases, leave the ears unstuffed or place only a trace of filling at the base.

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Fold the base of each ear slightly before sewing to create a natural drop. The ears should fall under the hat brim and frame the head evenly. They reach down toward the shoulder line.

Shoes

The bunny wears cream Mary Jane style shoes over cream socks. The shoes are rounded, soft, and slightly bulky in a sweet doll-like way. Each shoe has a strap opening across the top, leaving a small oval of the white sock visible.

Socks

Using cream or white, make simple short sock tubes to cover the lower leg and show above the shoe opening. Keep them smooth and close fitting.

Shoes

1. Using cream, begin at the sole and create a flat oval or small rounded base.
2. Pick up stitches around the sole and work upward for the sides.
3. Shape the toe so it is rounded and neat, not pointy.
4. Leave an opening across the instep.
5. Add a narrow strap across the opening and sew it down at both sides.

The shoes should be just large enough to stabilize the bunny when posed. Light stuffing in the toe helps them hold their form.

Cardigan

The cardigan is cream, open-front, and slightly cropped. It ends above the widest part of the skirt and has softly rounded fronts that curve away from the center. The sleeves are full enough to fit over the narrow arms and finish with blush cuffs decorated by tiny flowers.

Back

Using cream, CO for the back width across the shoulders. Work downward or upward based on your preferred garment method. The cardigan back is plain and smooth with a soft shoulder line. Keep the body relaxed but not oversized.

Fronts

Make two front pieces. Each front is narrower than the back and shaped so the lower front edge curves gently outward. The cardigan is worn open, showing the lilac bodice beneath. Do not overlap the fronts at center.

Sleeves

Work two cream sleeves. They are slightly loose, with blush cuffs at the wrist. The cuffs are not long. They act as a trim band at the end of the sleeve and feature tiny floral decorations near the outer side.

Collar and Edge Finish

The neckline and front opening are finished with a narrow clean border. The image suggests a tidy structured edge rather than a ruffle. Pick up stitches around the fronts and neck and work a few rows in garter or rib, then BO loosely.

Sew the cardigan together and slip it onto the bunny. Tack the shoulder area lightly if needed so it stays centered. The cardigan should sit close to the body while remaining open.

Hat

The hat is a soft bonnet-cloche hybrid in blush lilac. It has a rounded crown and a rolled brim that frames the head. One side carries a small cluster of knitted flowers and leaves.

1. Using blush lilac, start at the crown.
2. Increase gradually to form a smooth rounded top.
3. Work even rounds until the hat depth reaches the top of the ears.
4. Increase slightly for the brim section.
5. Work several rounds to create a soft brim that turns outward and downward.

The brim should not be overly wide. It sits close to the face and lightly covers the ear bases. Once placed on the bunny, the brim curves gently, giving a vintage garden look.

Hat Flowers and Leaves

Make several small flowers in dusty pink, lavender, purple, and soft blue. Add two or three tiny green leaves. Stitch them as a clustered spray near one side of the brim, close to the crown seam. Keep them compact, not spread out.

Dress Floral Border

This is the most important decorative feature of the bunny’s outfit. The front and lower sides of the skirt are covered with large anemone-style blossoms in purple, pink, lavender, and blue, each with a darker center. Between them are small buds and stitched green stems and leaves.

To match the photo, create the flowers separately and attach them after the dress is complete. This makes it easier to control spacing and balance. Place the largest flowers across the lower front hem area, then add smaller blooms and buds toward the sides.

Large Blossoms

• Make layered or single-piece flowers with five rounded petals.
• Use blush pink, lilac, purple, and dusty blue shades.
• Add a dark center in deep navy, deep purple, or black-purple.
• Keep petals rounded, not pointed.

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The flowers vary slightly in size, but all are scaled to look bold against the skirt. The center front flowers are the largest. Side blossoms are slightly smaller. Stitch them flat so they sit neatly on the dress.

Buds and Small Flowers

Add several tiny buds in pink and purple. These fill gaps and soften the composition. Place them near the sleeve cuffs and around the side areas of the skirt border. Keep them modest and delicate.

Stems and Leaves

Using green yarn and surface embroidery or narrow applied knitted strips, add thin stems rising from the hemline toward each blossom. Work simple elongated leaves along the stems. The stems in the image are slender and slightly curved, giving the floral border a natural garden movement.

Do not crowd the flowers all the way around the back. The main decoration is concentrated on the front and visible side sections, with the back likely simpler for comfort and neatness.

Sleeve Floral Details

Each cardigan cuff carries a small floral sprig made from a tiny purple or pink blossom with green leaves. Position the embellishment near the outer wrist so it is visible from the front. Keep it small enough that it looks like a cuff accent, not a full bouquet.

Purse

The purse is a tiny blush-lilac handbag with a soft rounded rectangular body, flap closure, short handle, and a small button-like accent. It is scaled to sit on the table beside the bunny.

1. Using blush lilac, knit a small rectangle for the body.
2. Fold and seam the sides to form a compact pouch.
3. Knit a curved flap and sew it to the back top edge.
4. Add a short looped handle.
5. Embroider or sew a tiny button or knot at the flap front.

Lightly stuff the purse or insert a little padding so it stands upright. The finished look should be neat and boxy with softly rounded corners.

Notebook

The notebook is a small soft square book in pale blush with a flower on the front cover. It looks lightly padded and slightly thicker than a flat card.

1. Knit two matching rectangles in pale blush for front and back covers.
2. Add a narrow side strip or fold to suggest the spine.
3. Insert a thin piece of felt, cardboard, or plastic canvas if you want structure.
4. Join the covers neatly around the edges.
5. Add a small flower motif with green leaf on the front.

The cover flower should echo the bunny’s dress flowers, using one blossom with a dark center and a simple green stem or leaf. Keep the notebook compact and tidy.

Bouquet

The bouquet contains several anemone-like blossoms in lavender, pink, and blue with green stems gathered together by a pale wrap. It lies on the table in front of the bunny.

1. Knit or crochet five small flowers in coordinated shades.
2. Add dark centers to each flower.
3. Create slender green stems using knitted i-cord, twisted yarn, or floral wire wrapped in yarn.
4. Gather the stems together.
5. Wrap the lower stems with pale lilac yarn and secure.

Angle the bouquet slightly when styling it. The blossoms should fan gently outward rather than forming a tight ball.

Pencil

The pencil is small and playful, with a pale lavender body, dark tip, and a pinkish end. It is a charming accessory that reinforces the storybook garden theme.

1. Knit a very short narrow tube in pale lavender.
2. Add a dark pointed end in black or charcoal.
3. Add a small pink or mauve cap at the opposite end.
4. Stuff very lightly or insert a trimmed pipe cleaner if needed.

Keep the pencil slim and slightly rounded, not stiff like a real writing pencil.

Fox Companion

The tiny fox is knitted as a separate miniature animal wearing a navy sailor-style sweater with white trim and tie, plus a tiny pale hat with a flower. The fox adds scale and story to the full display.

Fox Body

Using rust orange, make a tiny torso and head. The head is slightly pointed at the muzzle with small upright ears. The body is slim and simple. Add white to the lower face and possibly the tail tip if desired.

Fox Arms and Legs

Keep the limbs short and narrow. They only need enough shaping to suggest a standing little figure. Light stuffing is enough.

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Fox Sweater

Using navy, knit a miniature pullover with white trim at the collar, cuffs, and lower edge. Add a white front tie or scarf detail at the neck to create the sailor look. The sweater should fit close to the body.

Fox Hat

Using pale blush or cream-lilac, make a tiny brimmed hat. Add one small purple flower at the side. Position it slightly tilted for a whimsical finish.

Assembly

1. Sew the head securely to the body, making sure it faces straight forward.
2. Attach the legs evenly under the skirt so the bunny stands balanced.
3. Sew the arms at the shoulder line.
4. Attach the ears high on the head, then let them fall naturally.
5. Dress the bunny in the cardigan and place the hat over the ears.
6. Add the dress flowers, cuff flowers, and hat flowers after the main doll is assembled.

Check symmetry often. The charm of this design comes from the calm centered face, balanced ears, and carefully placed floral details.

Styling Notes for the Display

• Place the purse on one side of the bunny.
• Set the notebook near the purse with the flower cover facing upward.
• Lay the bouquet across the front area.
• Place the pencil nearby at a slight diagonal angle.
• Stand the fox on the opposite side of the bunny for balance.

This arrangement closely matches the visual rhythm of the photo and gives the finished set a sweet storybook table display.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

After all parts are attached, adjust the stuffing with your fingers so the head and body stay smooth. Embroider the nose carefully at the face center, then add the short mouth line beneath it. Set the eyes evenly and check that the face looks calm from straight on.

Lightly tack the cardigan at the shoulders if needed so it does not slide backward. Sew the hat flowers only after the hat is placed on the head, which helps you find the prettiest angle for the floral cluster.

Care Notes

Keep the finished set away from heavy moisture and rough play. This design works best as a display piece or a gently handled collectible toy. Store the accessories together so the small details do not get misplaced.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Head centered and securely sewn
• Ears even in height and length
• Eyes level and evenly spaced
• Nose and mouth centered
• Dress floral border balanced across the front
• Cardigan sitting open and even
• Hat brim shaped neatly around the face
• Purse, notebook, bouquet, pencil, and fox all completed

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Dust the set gently with clean dry hands or a very soft brush. If needed, spot clean carefully with a slightly damp cloth and mild soap, then let the item dry fully while reshaping the knitted fabric. Avoid soaking the flower details unless absolutely necessary.

For long-term storage, wrap the bunny and accessories in clean tissue and keep them in a dry box away from direct sunlight. This helps preserve the yarn color, the smooth stuffing shape, and the neat finish of the embroidered floral details.