Navy Academy Bunny – Knitting

This polished knitted bunny set is designed to capture the cozy, collectible look of a school-inspired rabbit doll dressed in a navy coat, striped beret, crossbody satchel, and buttoned shoes, complete with a tiny fox friend, stacked books, and a warm mug accent. It has the charm of a handmade heirloom toy, nursery shelf decor, artisan rabbit doll, and giftable knitted collectible all in one. If you love searching for a knitted bunny doll, handmade stuffed rabbit, school bunny toy, or boutique nursery gift, this design brings that classic buy-worthy look into your own knitting project.

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

Project Overview

This design recreates the full knitted scene with special attention to the long-eared rabbit, the deep navy academic coat, the striped beret, the little satchel, the navy shoes, the fox companion, the acorn, the stacked books, and the small mug detail.

The rabbit is the main piece and should look soft, upright, and slightly slender, with a rounded head, narrow muzzle shaping, long hanging ears, straight legs, relaxed arms, and a calm seated pose. The finished style is tidy, classic, and warm rather than rustic or oversized.

The coat is the visual centerpiece. It is long, slightly flared at the hem, richly textured in the front panels, and finished with white striping, pocket trim, a crest detail, and a neat row of buttons down the center front.

The fox is smaller, compact, and seated, with a bright orange head, white muzzle, pointed ears, striped sweater, tan pants, dark paws, and a large acorn held across the lap. The scale should make the fox look like a cherished side companion.

Finished Size

• Main bunny: about 14 to 16 inches tall seated with beret on, depending on yarn and stuffing density
• Fox companion: about 6 to 7 inches tall seated
• Books: about 2 to 3 inches long each
• Mug accent: about 1.5 inches tall
• Satchel: sized to rest from bunny shoulder to hip without covering the coat buttons completely

Materials

• Main bunny yarn: light cream or warm ivory DK or light worsted yarn
• Coat, beret, shoes, satchel: deep navy DK or light worsted yarn
• Contrast trim: bright white yarn in the same weight
• Fox yarn: orange-rust, white, black, moss green, tan, and dark brown or charcoal
• Book yarn: pale green, dusty blue, terracotta, cream, and taupe
• Mug accent yarn: oatmeal or beige with warm brown for motif
• Needles: a size that gives a firm fabric with minimal gaps, usually US 2 to US 4 for DK yarn
• Double-pointed needles or magic loop needles for small circumferences
• Tapestry needle for seaming and detail work
• Stitch markers
• Small buttons: 5 for coat front and 2 for shoes, plus 1 optional satchel button detail
• Black embroidery thread for eyes and nose line if not using safety eyes
• Toy stuffing
• Lightweight cardboard, craft foam, or felt for book shaping
• Optional fabric glue or sewing thread for crest application

Gauge and Fabric Notes

The fabric must be firm. Loose knitting will distort the rabbit’s face, the coat front, and the fox sweater stripes. Knit tightly enough that the stuffing does not show through.

• Suggested gauge: about 24 to 28 stitches per 4 inches in stockinette for the main pieces
• Smaller decorative pieces: may be worked even tighter for cleaner shaping
• Texture panels: should draw in slightly, so block lightly before assembly

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• K = knit
• P = purl
• St st = stockinette stitch
• Garter = knit every row
• kfb = knit into front and back of stitch
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• pm = place marker
• sm = slip marker
• rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side

Design Notes

The rabbit is constructed from separate knitted pieces for the head, muzzle shaping, body, arms, legs, ears, coat, beret, shoes, satchel, and applied details. This gives better control over the clean proportions shown in the image.

The face should stay simple. Use tiny dark eyes placed wide apart, a centered nose point, and a softly stitched Y-shaped mouth. The expression should be calm and gentle, not smiling broadly or overly animated.

The ears are long and flat, attached high enough to emerge beneath the beret while hanging straight down at the sides of the face. They should not flare outward too much.

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Main Bunny

Legs Make 2

Using cream yarn, cast on 18 stitches. Work in the round if preferred, or flat and seam later. Begin with a smooth, firm stockinette tube that reads as slender rabbit legs rather than chunky toy limbs.

1. Work 4 rounds in stockinette.
2. Increase evenly by 2 stitches. Work 10 rounds even.
3. Shape the upper thigh very lightly by increasing 2 stitches over the next 6 rounds.
4. Continue even until each leg measures about 5 inches from cast-on edge.
5. Stuff only the lower two-thirds firmly. Leave the top slightly softer for easier joining.

The legs in the image are straight, narrow, and slightly tapered. Avoid heavy thigh shaping. They should hang cleanly from beneath the coat hem and fit inside the shoe openings without bunching.

Body

Using cream yarn, cast on 24 stitches. Work flat or in the round. The body is a rounded pear shape, slightly broader at the lower section and narrower through the neck area.

1. Work 6 rows even.
2. Increase 1 stitch at each side every 4th row, 5 times.
3. Work even for 12 rows.
4. Decrease 1 stitch at each side every 4th row, 4 times.
5. Work 6 rows even.
6. Shape the neck by decreasing 1 stitch at each side every other row, 3 times.
7. Work 4 rows even and leave live stitches.

Stuff the body firmly at the base and center, but keep the top neck area a little softer. The image shows a rabbit with a stable seated body that supports the coat without looking overstuffed.

Join Legs to Body

Sew or graft the tops of the legs to the lower body, spacing them slightly apart so they fall straight downward when seated. The stance is relaxed and symmetrical, with both feet pointing forward.

Check the proportions now. The bunny should look long-legged and elegant, with the torso appearing slightly shorter than the combined head and ears.

Arms Make 2

Using cream yarn, cast on 14 stitches. Work as narrow tubes. The arms should be slim and softly bent inward once attached.

1. Work 18 rows even.
2. Increase 2 stitches across the next row.
3. Work 8 rows even.
4. Decrease 2 stitches across the next row.
5. Work 4 rows even and finish.

Stuff lightly. The arms in the image are not rigid. They sit alongside the coat and end just below the coat pockets. One arm visually supports the satchel strap placement, while the other rests near the fox.

Head

Using cream yarn, cast on 24 stitches. Work in stockinette. The head is large and rounded, but not perfectly spherical. It should have gentle cheek fullness and a subtle narrowing toward the lower muzzle.

1. Increase evenly to 36 stitches over the first 4 rows.
2. Work 12 rows even.
3. Increase evenly to 44 stitches.
4. Work 10 rows even.
5. Begin shaping the crown with evenly spaced decreases every other row until 20 stitches remain.
6. Stuff firmly, especially around the sides and forehead.
7. Close the top securely.

Before closing completely, shape the face with gentle sculpting. The face in the image is smooth, with soft cheek roundness and a centered muzzle area that narrows just enough to make the embroidered nose sit naturally.

Muzzle Shaping

Using a tapestry needle and matching yarn, lightly sculpt from the lower side edges inward toward the nose point. Do not create deep indentations. The muzzle should be subtle and plush.

• Cheeks should be rounded
• Nose area should sit slightly forward
• Eye line should remain smooth and calm

Ears Make 2

Using cream yarn, cast on 16 stitches. Work flat. The ears are long, softly tapered, and hang low from beneath the beret. They are not wired and should drape naturally.

1. Work 10 rows in stockinette.
2. Decrease 1 stitch at each side every 8th row, 4 times.
3. Work 14 rows even.
4. Decrease 1 stitch at each side every 4th row until 6 stitches remain.
5. Work 4 rows even.
6. Bind off.

Lightly steam or block flat if needed. Fold each ear lengthwise just enough to create a natural side curve. They should frame the face and extend well below the jawline.

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Facial Features

Place the eyes with dark embroidery or very small safety eyes. The eyes should be tiny and set with generous space between them. They sit just above the muzzle shaping, not too high on the forehead.

1. Mark the center line of the face.
2. Place eyes evenly on each side.
3. Embroider a small triangular or rounded nose point in dark brown or black.
4. Bring the mouth stitches down and outward in a soft Y shape.

Keep the face minimal. The image relies on restraint. Too much expression will break the refined academy look.

School Coat

Coat Back

Using navy yarn, cast on enough stitches to fit smoothly around the body with slight ease. The coat reaches from neckline to below the knees when the bunny is seated. The hem has bold white striping.

1. Work 2 rows navy.
2. Change to white for 1 row.
3. Work 2 rows navy.
4. Change to white for 1 row.
5. Continue in navy for the main body.
6. Increase slightly at each side over the next several inches to create a mild A-line flare.
7. Work until underarm depth is reached.

The coat in the image is not stiff or boxy. It falls in a soft line over the body and widens gently toward the hem. The texture is most visible on the front, so the back can remain mostly smooth.

Coat Fronts Make 2

Each front panel includes a white vertical trim band, rich textural detail, and placement for buttons and pockets. Cast on mirror-image fronts so the trim edges meet neatly at center front.

1. Begin with the hem stripes matching the back.
2. After the striped hem, establish a white border of 2 to 3 stitches at the front edge.
3. Work the remaining stitches in a textured panel pattern.
4. Shape slight flare at side seam.
5. Work straight to underarm.
6. Shape neck opening gradually so the coat can sit open just enough beneath the collar.

Suggested Front Texture

Use a narrow cable and purl combination or a mock cable texture to mimic the richly worked fronts seen in the image. The texture should look vertical and refined rather than heavily bulky.

• 2 stitches white border
• 2 purl stitches
• 4 stitch cable or twist panel
• 2 purl stitches
• remaining stitches in stockinette

Repeat the panel placement in a balanced way across both fronts. Keep the texture neat because this is one of the most visible details in the entire outfit.

Sleeves Make 2

Using navy yarn, cast on for a slim sleeve. The cuff has white striping and the sleeve ends just past the wrist area of the bunny arm underneath.

1. Work the same navy and white stripe sequence as the coat hem.
2. Continue in navy.
3. Increase gradually toward the upper sleeve.
4. Bind off softly at top for seaming into armhole.

The sleeves should not be overly wide. In the image they fit close to the arms and keep the silhouette polished.

Collar

Using navy yarn with white trim, knit a neat shawl-like band or simple round collar that sits close to the neck. Add a narrow white edge to echo the front bands and hem stripes.

The collar should frame the face without standing too high. It needs to sit below the jawline so the long ears remain visible and soft.

Pockets Make 2

Knit small navy rectangles and add double white horizontal trim near the top. Sew them low on the front coat panels, one on each side, with the pocket tops slightly angled outward if desired.

The pockets in the image are decorative and modest in scale. They should not be oversized or too high.

Button Bands and Buttons

Sew 5 small buttons evenly down the front opening. The white trim columns should stay straight from neckline to hem. When the coat is closed, the center line must remain tidy and vertical.

• Top button near collar base
• Middle buttons evenly spaced
• Lowest button above hem stripes

Crest Detail

Create a tiny school crest patch from duplicate stitch, surface embroidery, or a separately knitted shield shape. Place it on the bunny’s right chest as viewed from the front image.

A simple shield outline with white edging and a tiny green detail at the center gives the same look without becoming fussy. Keep it small and tailored.

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Beret

Using navy yarn, cast on in the round from the rib or brim edge. The beret sits low and soft on the head, with two white stripes near the brim and a rounded top that slouches gently to one side.

1. Work a short brim in navy.
2. Add 1 white round, 2 navy rounds, and 1 white round.
3. Increase generously to form the beret body.
4. Work several rounds even.
5. Decrease gradually toward the crown.
6. Finish with a small center nub if desired.

The beret must be wide enough to sit over the top of the ears without flattening the head. Position it with a casual tilt, but keep the front brim level enough to match the neat academic style.

Satchel

Using navy yarn and white yarn, knit a small rectangular satchel with bold horizontal stripes. It hangs from the bunny’s left shoulder to the right hip area. The strap is narrow and long.

1. Knit a small rectangle for the body of the bag.
2. Add alternating navy and white stripes.
3. Fold and seam the lower edge and sides.
4. Knit or crochet a slim strap in navy.
5. Sew a small flap button detail at the front.

The satchel should look soft and slightly stuffed, not flat like cardboard. Keep it light so it hangs naturally over the coat texture without pulling the garment out of shape.

Shoes Make 2

The shoes are rounded Mary Jane style in navy with white sole trim and one side button each. They fit over the lower bunny feet and cover the toes generously.

1. Pick up or knit a sole in white or add a white trim line at the base.
2. Knit the main shoe body in navy.
3. Shape rounded toes with short rows or gradual decreases.
4. Add a narrow strap across the instep.
5. Sew a small white or cream button to each outer side.

The shoes should appear snug and polished. The white sole edge is important because it visually defines the shoe shape in the image.

Fox Companion

Head

Using orange-rust yarn, knit a rounded fox head with a white muzzle insert. The head should be slightly wider at the cheeks and narrower at the chin than the bunny’s head.

1. Knit a small sphere-leaning oval shape.
2. Add a white muzzle panel centered at the lower face.
3. Embroider tiny black eyes and a black nose.

Ears Make 2

Knit small pointed ears in orange with white inner ear triangles and dark tips. Sew them high on the head so the fox expression stays bright and alert.

Body

The fox body is compact and seated. Knit a short torso in orange or work it as a base under the striped sweater. Keep proportions small enough that the fox clearly reads as a companion toy rather than a second main character.

Arms and Legs

Knit short arms in orange and seated legs in tan pants with dark paws or shoes. The fox in the image has a cozy dressed appearance, so the leg section should suggest trousers rather than bare limbs.

Striped Sweater

Work the torso sweater in moss green and cream or white narrow stripes. The stripes should be evenly spaced and clearly visible.

• Use 2 to 4 row stripes depending on scale
• Keep sleeves simple and short
• Do not make the sweater bulky

Pants

Knit simple tan lower-body pieces with a seated bend. Darken the foot ends with charcoal or dark brown to echo the darker shoe-like areas seen in the image.

Tail

Knit a fox tail in orange with a white tip and a slight curve. Attach it at the side-back so it peeks out subtly and does not dominate the seated pose.

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Acorn

Knit a small acorn with a tan body and darker brown cap. Stuff very lightly. Sew it into the fox’s lap so both arms can hold it securely.

Books

Create three tiny stacked books in muted tones. The image shows soft knitted books with visible edges, stacked beside the bunny. They should look cushioned but rectangular.

1. Knit small rectangles for front, back, and spine wraps.
2. Insert thin foam, felt, or cardboard wrapped in soft padding.
3. Seam closed neatly.
4. Use pale green, dusty blue, and terracotta with cream page edges.

Arrange them slightly unevenly in a stack. The books should look cozy and decorative, not perfectly sharp like mini hardbacks.

Mug Accent

To match the image, create a small mug accent by covering a tiny prop cup or shaped stuffed cylinder with an oatmeal knitted sleeve. Add a warm brown motif across the front resembling a heart-like decorative band.

If you prefer a fully soft version, knit a short cylinder with a flat base, then add a stuffed handle separately. Keep it small and rounded.

Assembly Order

1. Sew and stuff the bunny legs, body, head, and arms.
2. Attach the head to the body securely.
3. Sew ears high on the head so they hang beneath the beret line.
4. Add the facial embroidery.
5. Knit and assemble the coat.
6. Dress the bunny and fasten buttons.
7. Add the crest and pockets.
8. Place shoes on the feet.
9. Attach or position the beret.
10. Sling the satchel across the body.
11. Assemble the fox and place the acorn.
12. Finish the books and mug accent.

Styling and Proportion Checks

• Head: large, smooth, and softly rounded
• Ears: long, flat, and hanging straight
• Coat: knee-length on the seated bunny with white striped hem
• Beret: low and soft with clear stripe detail
• Satchel: striped and modest in size
• Shoes: rounded toes with side buttons
• Fox: distinctly smaller than bunny, warmly dressed
• Scene accents: books stacked, mug small, all colors muted and cozy

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Attach the head with extra passes of yarn so it sits centered and upright. Sew the ears close to the top sides of the head, then lightly tack them so they hang forward in a soft frame around the face.

Embroider the eyes small and even. Add the nose and mouth with short, careful stitches. Keep the muzzle neat and symmetrical. Dress the bunny fully before making final eye adjustments so the whole expression can be checked in context.

Sew the coat closed neatly, but do not pull the front too tight. Position the satchel strap diagonally. Tilt the beret slightly. Seat the fox close to the bunny, tuck the books at the other side, and place the mug near the fox for a balanced scene.

Care Notes

• Display indoors away from prolonged direct sunlight
• Spot clean whenever possible
• Avoid soaking pieces with buttons, crest details, or inserts
• Reshape ears, beret, and coat after cleaning
• Store flat or seated to preserve the outfit lines

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Are the bunny eyes tiny, even, and widely spaced?
• Do the ears hang below the jawline?
• Does the coat flare gently instead of hanging straight down?
• Are the white stripes on hem, cuffs, and beret clearly visible?
• Is the satchel sitting diagonally across the coat?
• Do the shoes show a rounded navy shape with white sole edging?
• Is the fox smaller and seated with a striped sweater and acorn?
• Are the books and mug scaled small enough to support the main bunny visually?

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Use a soft dry cloth or lint roller first to remove surface dust. For light marks, dab gently with a cloth barely moistened in cool water and a drop of mild soap. Do not scrub textured coat panels or embroidered facial features.

If a deeper refresh is needed, clean only the affected section by hand. Press with a towel to remove moisture, then air dry fully away from heat. While drying, reshape the beret, coat hem, ears, satchel, and fox tail.

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For long-term preservation, wrap the set in acid-free tissue and store it in a breathable box. Avoid plastic bags for long display storage. Keep heavy objects off the books, ears, and coat front so the scene keeps its carefully tailored silhouette.