Lace Bonnet Tea Bunny – Knitting

This elegant knitted bunny set is designed for makers who love heirloom-style soft toys, boutique nursery decor, and collectible handmade stuffed animals. The finished display includes a dressed bunny, a tiny bonneted companion, a tea tray, and sweet knitted treats that feel perfect for gift giving, nursery styling, spring decor, or shoppers searching for artisan bunny dolls, knitted rabbit keepsakes, and luxury handmade toy ideas. The palette is warm cream, oatmeal, and soft biscuit, giving the whole set a timeless look that feels gentle, refined, and highly giftable while still being practical for careful home display.

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 the full knitted scene shown in the image.

• A standing bunny with long ears and a softly shaped face
• A lace-edged bonnet fitted around the ears
• A short-sleeved dress with ruffled trims and a lightly textured skirt
• A tiny crossbody purse with frill edging and ribbon bow
• Ruffled socks and strap shoes
• A miniature companion in a fluffy cream outfit with bonnet and shoes
• A flat oval tray with a tart, a heart cookie, and a swirl meringue

The proportions matter in this design. The main bunny is tall and slender, with a rounded head, narrow shoulders, softly weighted hips, and tapered limbs. The dress sits just below the knee, while the bonnet frames the face without covering the stitched muzzle.

Finished Size

• Main bunny: about 12 to 14 inches tall from feet to ear tips
• Mini companion: about 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches tall
• Tea tray: about 4 inches wide
• Tart: about 1 1/4 inches across
• Heart cookie: about 1 1/4 inches at widest point
• Meringue: about 3/4 inch across
• Purse: about 2 inches wide

Materials

• Sport or light DK yarn in warm beige for bunny body
• Soft cream yarn for dress, bonnet, socks, and shoe accents
• Light taupe or mushroom yarn for purse, tray edging, and tart base
• Very pale blush yarn for tiny flower center and tiny shoe rosettes
• Golden biscuit yarn for tart crust
• White or ivory yarn for lace trims and dessert details
• A small amount of dark brown or black yarn for facial embroidery
• Small satin ribbon in cream for neck bow and purse bow
• Toy stuffing
• Optional pellets or extra stuffing for weight in lower body
• 2.25 mm to 3 mm straight needles or your preferred needles for knitting flat
• Double-pointed needles if you prefer knitting some tubes in the round
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Small sewing needle and matching thread for securing ribbon if desired

Yarn Notes

The image shows a neat, fine gauge with smooth stockinette and tidy edges. Choose yarn that produces a compact fabric with almost no gaps when stuffed. A sport yarn on smaller needles works especially well.

The mini companion has a fuzzier, lamb-like cream outfit. You can create that look using a boucle, brushed, fleece-textured yarn, or a loop-stitch surface worked over a plain knitted base.

Gauge

Gauge is less critical than proportion, but firmness is essential.

• Aim for about 7 to 8 stitches per inch in stockinette after blocking lightly
• The fabric must be dense enough to prevent stuffing from showing
• If your stitches look loose, go down a needle size

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• St(s) = stitch(es)
• Kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
• P2tog = purl 2 stitches together
• SSK = slip, slip, knit
• YO = yarn over
• BO = bind off
• CO = cast on
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• Rep = repeat

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Construction Notes

The entire set is designed to look refined and softly antique. Keep seams neat and small. Stuff the main bunny firmly but not hard. The head should be round and smooth, the neck stable, and the lower body weighted enough for the figure to stand when supported by well-shaped feet.

The face is minimal. The eyes are small vertical embroidered marks placed wide apart. The nose and mouth are stitched in a delicate three-point style, centered low on the face. This restraint is important to match the image.

Main Bunny Body

Legs Make 2

Using warm beige, CO 14 sts.

1. Work 6 rows in garter stitch for the sole edge.
2. Begin stockinette and shape the foot over the next 10 rows by increasing 1 stitch at each end on rows 1, 3, and 5 of this section.
3. Work 4 plain rows.
4. Decrease 1 stitch at each end on the next 2 RS rows.
5. Work straight until the foot and ankle together measure about 2 inches.
6. Continue on the same stitch count for the lower leg, keeping the tube slim and slightly tapered.

Sew the leg seam neatly. Stuff the foot firmly, shaping a rounded front with a flatter sole. Stuff the leg more lightly above the ankle so the knitted socks and shoes will sit naturally.

Make the second leg to match exactly.

Joining Legs and Lower Body

Once both legs are complete, join them by knitting across one leg, casting on 4 stitches for the crotch, then knitting across the second leg. Work back and forth across all stitches.

Shape the body as a soft pear.

• Increase slightly at each side over several rows to build the hip area
• Work straight for the fullest part of the torso
• Then decrease gently toward the waist
• Keep the belly smooth, not round like a ball

The image shows a poised standing bunny rather than a chubby seated one. Avoid making the torso too wide. The body should feel elegant and vertical.

Upper Body and Neck

Continue in stockinette for the chest. Work fewer increases here than in the skirted lower shape, keeping the shoulders modest. Decrease gradually to a defined but not thin neck.

Before closing the upper body, add a little extra weight low in the torso. Then fill the chest and shoulder area with small amounts of stuffing so the surface stays smooth.

Head

From the neck stitches, increase evenly around the first head section. The head should become broadly rounded, slightly wider than the shoulders, with full cheeks and a softly domed top.

1. Increase across the first head rows until the circumference looks balanced with the image.
2. Work straight for the mid-head section.
3. Begin gentle decreases for the crown.
4. Pause to stuff the head firmly and evenly.
5. Finish the top neatly and close the opening.

Massage the stuffing with your fingers to remove bumps. The muzzle area should remain smooth, with only a slight forward push created later by embroidery and shaping.

Main Bunny Arms Make 2

Using warm beige, CO 12 sts.

• Work 4 rows in garter stitch for a gentle wrist start
• Change to stockinette
• Increase once near the upper arm if needed
• Work until the arm reaches about 3 1/2 inches
• Shape the top with a shallow cap by decreasing at both sides

The arms in the image are slim, softly filled, and angled downward. They are not bent. Sew the seams, stuff lightly, and flatten the upper caps slightly before attaching.

Main Bunny Ears Make 2

Using warm beige, CO 4 sts.

Each ear is long, narrow, and softly pointed. Work flat in stockinette with a slipped first stitch for tidy edges if you like.

1. Increase 1 stitch at each end every RS row until you have a gentle ear width.
2. Work straight for the center length.
3. Decrease 1 stitch at each end every RS row until a pointed tip remains.
4. BO the final stitches.

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Make two identical pieces for each ear if you want a thicker finish, or one piece folded and seamed if you prefer less bulk. Lightly steam and curve them. The ears stand upright, slightly angled outward, emerging through the bonnet openings.

Head Shaping

Before sewing the ears, add subtle face shaping.

• Use strong matching thread
• Take a stitch across the lower face to define the muzzle line very gently
• Do not over-sculpt
• The cheeks should stay soft and rounded

This step helps the stitched nose sit naturally without making the face severe.

Bonnet

The bonnet is one of the signature details of this design. It sits low around the head, framing the face with a soft ruffle and opening around the ears. The crown is close-fitting and slightly gathered at the edge.

Bonnet Crown

Using cream, CO enough stitches to fit around the head from one lower side, over the crown, to the other lower side. Work in rib for a few rows so the bonnet edge settles neatly.

Then continue in stockinette or reverse stockinette for the main bonnet body. Shape short rows or small decreases toward the back so the piece cups the head.

Sew the back seam. Test fit before adding the face ruffle.

Ear Openings

Mark the ear placement on the top of the bonnet. The openings should sit slightly forward of the crown center, matching the upright ear position in the image. Carefully create two reinforced slits by cutting one stitch column only if using felted wool, or preferably knit dedicated buttonhole-style gaps into the bonnet during construction.

Finish the edges neatly and pull the ears through after dressing the bunny.

Bonnet Face Ruffle

Using cream or ivory, pick up stitches around the face opening.

1. Work 1 row knit.
2. Increase evenly across the next row.
3. Work a lace edging such as YO, K2tog repeated on one row, followed by a purl row.
4. Finish with a picot-style or softly scalloped border.

The image shows a frill that is delicate rather than dramatic. Keep the ruffle airy and shallow so it frames the face softly.

Dress

The dress is cream, short-sleeved, and gently flared. It has ruffled edging at the neckline, sleeves, and hem. The bodice is simple, while the skirt features subtle vertical decorative motifs that resemble eyelets or tiny leaf columns.

Bodice

Using cream, CO enough stitches to fit around the bunny chest comfortably over the body. Work flat or in the round, depending on your preference. Begin with a narrow neckline edging.

• Work 2 to 4 rows in rib or garter
• Increase slightly for the upper chest
• Keep the bodice close fitting but not tight
• Place shoulder lines symmetrically

The neckline in the image is softened by a lace frill over the base dress. Keep the base neckline modest and smooth because the decorative trim will do most of the visual work.

Sleeves

The sleeves are small caps, falling just off the shoulder and ending above the elbow line. Pick up stitches around each armhole or knit separately and sew in.

1. Work a short sleeve cap.
2. Increase a touch for softness.
3. Work only a short length.
4. Finish with a tiny lace ruffle edging.

The sleeve ruffles should match the neckline trim in scale. Do not make them too long or floppy.

Skirt

At the waistline, increase generously to create a bell shape. The skirt should drape outward softly and fall to just above the ankles, leaving the socks and shoes visible.

To echo the image, divide the skirt visually into several motif columns. One easy way is to space small lace panels between plain stockinette sections.

Example motif panel over 6 stitches:

1. Row 1 RS: K2, YO, SSK, K2
2. Row 2 WS: P all
3. Row 3 RS: K1, YO, K2tog, K1, K1
4. Row 4 WS: P all

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Repeat these with plain rows between motifs so the finished skirt shows little openwork leaf-like details without becoming too lacy.

Work until the skirt reaches the desired length. Finish with a deeper decorative hem ruffle.

Hem Ruffle

Pick up or continue from the skirt edge.

• Increase every few stitches
• Work a soft scalloped or picot edge
• Allow the hem to curl outward slightly

The image clearly shows layered softness around the lower edge. This can be achieved by adding one main ruffle and, if desired, a second very narrow under-ruffle inside the hem line.

Neck Frill and Ribbon

A separate frill sits around the neck and over the top of the bodice. This detail is important because it gives the dress a vintage nursery look.

Pick up stitches around the neckline or knit a narrow strip separately.

1. Work 1 plain row.
2. Increase evenly.
3. Work a tiny lace row.
4. BO loosely.

Finish by tying a narrow cream ribbon at the center front in a small crossed bow. The bow should be tiny and flat, not oversized.

Purse

The purse is a small rounded pouch in pale taupe with a cream frill and a narrow strap worn crossbody from the bunny’s left shoulder to right hip. It sits at the front of the skirt, not at the side.

Purse Front and Back Make 2

Using pale taupe, CO 12 sts.

1. Work 2 rows garter.
2. Begin stockinette and increase 1 stitch at each end every RS row 3 times.
3. Work straight for several rows.
4. Shape the top with gentle decreases, keeping a rounded pouch form.

Sew front and back together, leaving the top open if you want a real pocket, or close fully for a decorative purse.

Purse Frill

Using cream, pick up stitches around the lower front and side edge of the purse. Increase lightly and work a short lace ruffle. This should echo the bonnet and dress edging.

Purse Strap

Knit an i-cord or narrow strap long enough to cross the body. Sew the ends securely to the upper corners of the purse. Add a tiny cream bow centered on the front.

Socks Make 2

The socks are cream ankle socks with a little frill. They sit above the shoes and below the dress hem.

• CO enough stitches to fit snugly around the lower leg
• Work a few rows in rib
• Add a small eyelet or picot frill at the top
• Work a short tube for the ankle
• BO loosely

Keep the socks delicate. They should not cover too much of the leg.

Main Bunny Shoes Make 2

The shoes are cream Mary Jane style with rounded toes and a strap across the front. Tiny side trims resemble little flower buttons.

Sole

Using cream, CO 8 sts. Work garter and increase to shape an oval sole. Make two soles.

Upper

Pick up around the sole edge and work upward in stockinette. Decrease at the front to form a rounded toe opening. Leave the top partially open like a soft doll shoe.

Strap

CO 3 sts and work a narrow strip for each shoe. Attach from one side to the other across the instep. Add a tiny rolled rosette or stitched nub at the outer side of each shoe to mimic the floral side detail in the image.

Slip the shoes onto the feet and tack in place invisibly.

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Mini Companion

The tiny companion has a sweet lamb-like silhouette but still belongs visually with the bunny set. Its face is simple like the main figure, while the outfit is fluffier, creamier, and even softer. Keep this piece petite and charming.

Mini Body and Head

Using a fine beige yarn for the visible face and limbs, knit a small body and head similar to the main bunny but on a much smaller scale.

• Legs should be very short
• Body should be softly pear shaped
• Head should be round with a gentle muzzle area
• Arms should angle slightly outward

The face embroidery should be tiny. Place the eyes as short straight stitches and embroider a small triangular nose with a neat split mouth beneath.

Mini Ears

The visible ear shape appears shorter and more drooped because the bonnet and fluffy outfit frame the head. Knit two small ears in beige, tapered and softly rounded.

Mini Fluffy Outfit

Using a textured cream yarn or loop-stitch technique, create a little one-piece coat or dress-like body cover.

1. Work from neck down.
2. Shape short sleeves or shoulder caps.
3. Increase for a rounded lower body covering.
4. Keep the surface soft and nubby.

The outfit should stop high enough to show the tiny shoes. It should look plush, almost like fleece.

Mini Bonnet

Make a small cream bonnet with a ruffled edge. It should sit close to the face and cover the top of the head. Add a thin tie or tiny bow under the chin if desired, but keep it very subtle.

Mini Shoes

Knit two miniature cream shoes with rounded fronts and tiny blush bows. These shoes are slightly larger in appearance relative to the body, which adds charm and matches the image.

Tea Tray

The tray is flat, oval, and knitted in pale taupe with a slightly raised cord-like edge and two tiny loop handles. It rests on the table in front of the figures.

Tray Base

Using pale taupe, CO 8 sts.

1. Work garter stitch.
2. Increase at each end every other row until the oval reaches the desired width.
3. Work straight for the middle.
4. Decrease symmetrically at each end for the opposite curve.

Make two pieces if you want a firmer tray, lightly pad between them, and sew together.

Raised Edge

Using the same yarn, work an i-cord and sew it around the tray edge. This creates the rope-like border visible in the image.

Handles Make 2

Form two small loops from i-cord or a knitted strip and sew at each short end.

Tart

The tart has a biscuit-colored base, white cream topping, a flower decoration, and a pink center.

Tart Base

Using golden biscuit yarn, make a tiny circular base in garter or stockinette. Stuff very lightly so it looks shallow, not spherical.

Cream Topping

Using ivory, knit or crochet a small spiral rosette and attach to the top.

Flower Decoration

Make five tiny white petals and a pink center. Sew on top of the tart so the flower sits slightly raised.

Heart Cookie

Using cream, knit two tiny heart shapes and seam together with minimal stuffing or none at all. Add a slightly darker biscuit edge if you want the cookie to stand out more clearly on the tray.

The cookie in the image is flat and tidy, not puffy. A lightly padded construction works best.

Meringue Swirl

Using ivory or white, create a tiny spiral coil and shape it into a rose-like meringue. Sew the base securely so it holds the swirl form.

This piece is very small, but it matters to the finished display. Keep it neat and centered, with a little lift at the top.

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Assembly Order

1. Sew and stuff both main bunny legs.
2. Join legs and finish body.
3. Knit, stuff, and close the head.
4. Attach arms evenly at the shoulder line.
5. Sew ears to the head.
6. Dress the bunny with socks, shoes, dress, bonnet, and purse.
7. Make and dress the mini companion.
8. Knit tray and desserts.
9. Arrange all accessories for the final styled display.

Placement Details for Accuracy

• The purse hangs across the body and rests at the right front side of the skirt
• The neck bow sits at the center front under the chin
• The bonnet ruffle frames the face evenly and does not hide the eyes
• The main arms angle down close to the dress sides
• The mini companion stands slightly to the right of the main bunny
• The tray sits forward and left, with the tart nearest the outer edge

Styling Tips

Steam only lightly if needed. Over-blocking can flatten the toy and remove the charm of the trims. The dress should look soft and airy, not heavily stretched. The bonnet should keep its rounded shape and the purse should remain petite.

Use tiny stitches whenever attaching trims. On a design this delicate, bulky finishing can change the whole mood. The most beautiful result comes from slow shaping and careful placement.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Attach the head so it sits upright with a calm forward gaze. Sew the arms low enough to keep the shoulders soft. Embroider the eyes as small vertical stitches in dark thread, spaced evenly apart. Add a tiny triangular nose and short split mouth in matching dark thread.

Place the bonnet after the ears are attached. Pull the ears neatly through the openings and adjust the ruffle so it frames the face. Dress the bunny fully before attaching the purse permanently. Arrange the mini companion and tea set only after all ribbons and trims are secured.

Care Notes

• Display use is recommended for the smallest details
• Keep away from rough play because trims and mini desserts are delicate
• Store out of direct sunlight to protect the cream yarn shades
• Handle the bonnet ruffles and purse strap gently

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Main bunny stands evenly with balanced feet
• Ears match in height and angle
• Eyes are level and softly placed
• Dress hem falls evenly around the body
• Bonnet ruffle frames the face without twisting
• Purse sits at the front right side
• Mini companion looks proportionate beside the main bunny
• Tray and desserts are scaled small and neat

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean only with a barely damp cloth and mild soap if needed. Do not soak the finished set, especially with ribbons, trims, and textured yarns attached. Reshape with dry fingers and allow to air dry fully on a towel away from heat.

For long-term preservation, wrap the set in acid-free tissue and store in a clean box. Avoid hanging the purse strap or bonnet ties under tension during storage. Check occasionally for dust, moisture, or crushing so the knitted scene keeps its heirloom look.