This woodland-inspired knitted set features a soft bunny doll in a patchwork dress, a cozy bonnet, little Mary Jane shoes, and a tiny crossbody bag, along with a charming fox friend and small seasonal accessories. It has the look of a collectible heirloom toy, nursery decor piece, or handmade gift set often searched for by shoppers looking for a knitted bunny doll, woodland nursery toy, handmade rabbit plush, and boutique stuffed animal gift. The finished set is sweet, detailed, and wonderfully display-worthy while still feeling warm and approachable to knit.
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 is written to recreate the full knitted scene shown in the image as closely as possible. The main piece is a long-eared bunny with a rounded head, slim body, straight limbs, softly flattened feet, and a calm embroidered face.
The bunny wears a patchwork A-line dress with woodland color blocks, a rounded bonnet edged in tan, brown strap shoes, and a tiny tan purse worn across the body. Beside the bunny sits a small fox wearing a striped sweater and pointed hood, holding a basket of fruit.
To complete the scene, the pattern also includes a small acorn, a toadstool mushroom, and two tiny autumn leaves. Every part is sized to work together visually, so the accessories look delicate but not underscaled next to the bunny.
Skill Level
Intermediate. A confident beginner can make this set with patience, but it includes shaping, neat seaming, stranded color sections, small toy construction, and careful finishing.
Finished Size
- Main bunny: about 15 to 17 inches tall from top of head to feet, not including the droop of the bonnet
- Fox: about 5 to 6 inches tall
- Purse: about 1.5 inches wide
- Fruit basket: about 1.25 inches wide
- Mushroom: about 1.75 inches tall
- Acorn: about 1.5 inches tall
- Leaves: about 1.25 inches across
Materials
- DK weight yarn in cream, oatmeal, tan, chestnut, rust, navy, cocoa, soft olive, mushroom brown, fox orange, deep brown, and small amounts of berry red and pale green
- Straight needles or double-pointed needles suitable for knitting small toy pieces
- Optional circular needle for small circumferences if preferred
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Waste yarn
- Toy stuffing
- Small buttons for shoes and purse flap
- Black or dark brown embroidery thread for facial details
- Very small amount of pink or beige embroidery thread for optional inner ear tint if desired
Suggested Gauge
For toys, exact gauge is less important than producing a firm fabric that does not allow stuffing to show through. Use a needle size smaller than you would normally choose for DK yarn.
A good working gauge is approximately 28 to 32 stitches and 36 to 42 rows over 4 inches in stockinette. The fabric should feel dense, smooth, and springy.
Color Placement Notes
The overall palette matters as much as the shaping. Keep the bunny itself mostly cream. Use tan for trims and accessories. The dress should feel patchwork and woodland-inspired, with cream grounding the brighter colors.
The lower dress has the strongest color story. Place navy and rust blocks prominently, and keep one front lower panel in rust with a simple deer motif if you enjoy charting. The bodice remains lighter and calmer.
The bonnet crown uses mixed blocks in rust, tan, navy, and muted plum-brown tones. It should not look striped. It should look pieced, warm, and slightly rustic.
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on
- BO: bind off
- K: knit
- P: purl
- St st: stockinette stitch
- Garter: knit every row
- K2tog: knit 2 together
- SSK: slip, slip, knit
- M1: make 1 increase
- RS: right side
- WS: wrong side
- rep: repeat
- sts: stitches
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Main Bunny
Legs Make 2
Using cream, CO a narrow base suitable for a slim toy leg. Work in St st for a long, gently stuffed tube. The legs in the image are straight and even, with only slight widening toward the thigh.
Begin each leg at the foot end with a softly rounded shape. Work a few short rows if you like to create a flatter sole, but keep the shaping subtle. These feet are hidden inside the shoes, so the foot itself should stay compact.
Increase lightly after the ankle so the upper leg looks natural and not pencil-thin. The finished leg should be long and elegant, matching the seated pose in the image. Stuff firmly at the lower leg and lightly at the upper edge for easier joining.
Body
Join the two legs with a small gap between them and begin the body in cream. The torso is slim, soft, and slightly pear-shaped, widening very gently at the hips before narrowing again near the neck.
Work mostly in St st. Add only minimal shaping at the waist. The bunny in the image has a long dress covering the body, so the torso should remain smooth and uncomplicated, with no dramatic chest shaping.
As you knit upward, keep checking proportion against the legs. The seated bunny looks tall rather than wide. Stuff the lower body firmly so it can sit well, but do not overstuff the upper torso. The shoulders should stay narrow and gentle.
Arms Make 2
Using cream, CO for a slim arm. Work in St st, shaping only slightly so the upper arm is a touch fuller than the wrist. The arms are relaxed and straight, not bent sharply.
Make the hands rounded rather than defined. There are no separate fingers. Keep the arm length long enough for the hands to rest around hip level when attached. One arm should visually allow the purse strap to cross underneath it.
Stuff lightly. The arms should remain soft and slightly drapey so they lie naturally at the bunny’s sides.
Head
Using cream, knit a large rounded head. This head is one of the most important features of the entire project. It is broad, smooth, and softly oval, with a very calm front profile and a slightly narrower chin area.
Work increases gradually so the shaping stays even. The face should be wide enough to place the eyes far apart, giving the bunny a serene expression. Avoid making the head too spherical. The image shows a gentle oval with a smooth forehead and soft cheeks.
Decrease neatly toward the top, stuffing as you go. Pack the lower half of the head firmly so the face stays smooth and does not collapse around the muzzle embroidery. The crown can be slightly softer.
Ears Make 2
Using cream, knit long flat ears in St st. Each ear should be rounded at the tip and slightly wider through the middle, tapering gently at the base. The ears are long enough to fall past the shoulder line.
The ears in the image hang down on either side of the bonnet, with a soft, natural drape. To achieve this, do not overstuff. In fact, most knitters will prefer to leave the ears unstuffed or add only a whisper of filling at the base.
If you want the ears to hold a fuller shape, knit each ear as two layers and seam around the edge. Keep the seam fine so the ear stays smooth and elegant.
Face Embroidery
The bunny’s face is minimal and sweet. Use dark brown or black thread to embroider two small oval eyes. Place them wide apart and slightly above the horizontal center of the face. They should be tiny, quiet, and evenly balanced.
The nose and mouth are worked as one simple stitched motif. Make a small Y-shaped nose-mouth combination in dark brown. The nose is short and centered, with the mouth branching softly downward into two gentle curves.
Do not add eyelashes, cheeks, or extra details. The charm of this bunny comes from restraint. Keep the face calm, clean, and classic.
Assembly of the Bunny Base
- Sew the legs securely to the lower body if they were worked separately.
- Attach the head firmly to the neck opening, checking that the face looks straight from the front.
- Sew the arms at shoulder level so they hang low and relaxed.
- Attach the ears high on the head, slightly behind the face line, so they drop beside the bonnet.
- Adjust stuffing as needed before closing all seams completely.
Patchwork Dress
The dress is the signature garment in the image. It is sleeved, soft, and slightly flared, with a cream base and clear patchwork panels in navy, rust, tan, and brown. The skirt falls just above the ankles.
Begin at the lower hem using cream. Work a small garter or textured hem so the edge sits neatly and does not curl too much. Then begin the patchwork arrangement across the front and back.
The lower portion should include larger color blocks. One front panel is rust with a simple deer motif in tan. Another area is navy with scattered floral or leaf-like motifs in rust and tan. The overall effect should feel woodland and hand-pieced.
The upper skirt transitions into a lighter bodice with fewer dark blocks. Keep the center chest mainly cream. Add one rust-toned shoulder block and one small navy-toned area to echo the image without overwhelming the face.
The sleeves are short and gently rounded. They are mostly cream but can include tiny flecks or small stitched specks of muted green and brown for a handmade patchwork feel. Keep the sleeves modest and soft, not puffed dramatically.
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Work the dress flat or in pieces, depending on your preference. A flat construction with back opening is easier for dressing the doll. If working flat, make front and back separately, seam shoulders, set sleeves, then seam sides.
The neckline should sit close but comfortable. It needs enough room for the head, especially because the bonnet also frames the face. A neat back closure with one tiny button or hook works well if you want the dress to be removable.
If you prefer a fixed outfit, you may sew the dress directly onto the body after fitting. That approach helps keep the silhouette exact and prevents shifting under the purse strap.
Simple Deer Motif Suggestion
If you enjoy colorwork, place a small deer shape near the lower left front panel in tan over rust. Keep it miniature and stylized. It should read as a woodland motif from a short distance rather than as a detailed picture.
If charting is not your preference, duplicate stitch the motif after knitting. This often gives better control on a very small panel.
Bonnet
The bonnet frames the bunny’s face with a tan edge and a patchwork crown. It fits close around the forehead and cheeks, then extends upward and backward over the head. The ears fall out from beneath it, not through holes in the top.
Begin with the tan face edging. Work it as a curved band that hugs the face opening. The edge should be smooth and slightly firm, creating the pretty oval frame visible in the image.
Then knit the bonnet crown in sections of cream, rust, tan, muted plum-brown, and navy. These sections do not need to be perfectly symmetrical. A lightly irregular arrangement looks more natural and faithful to the photographed piece.
Shape the sides so the bonnet cups the head rather than standing away from it. Add ties in tan. One tie is visible crossing under the chin and continuing down. Keep the ties narrow, soft, and long enough to knot or drape naturally.
Crossbody Purse
This tiny purse is knitted in tan and worn diagonally across the bunny’s dress. It sits low at the hip and has a flap with a small button detail. The strap is slender and slightly longer than you might expect so it drapes gently.
Knit a tiny rectangle, fold it into a pouch, and seam the sides. Add a rounded flap. The purse should look flat but slightly dimensional, so insert only a trace of stuffing or a small felt insert if desired.
For the strap, use I-cord, a narrow knitted strip, or a firm crochet chain if you are comfortable mixing techniques for finishing. Attach the strap so it crosses from one shoulder to the opposite hip.
Shoes Make 2
The bunny wears brown Mary Jane style shoes with rounded toes and a single strap. They are soft but structured enough to be clearly visible. The shoes cover only the foot area, leaving the cream legs visible above.
Begin at the sole in brown. Create a small oval base, then pick up around and knit the upper. Shape the toe smoothly and keep it full rather than pointed. The shoe should look slightly oversized in the sweet toy-like way shown in the image.
Add a narrow strap across the top with a tiny button on the outer side. Sew the shoes onto the feet after fitting so they stay properly aligned when the doll is posed sitting down.
Fox Friend
The fox is small, upright, and charming. It has an orange face, dark paws and feet, a striped sweater body, and a soft hood with pointed fox ears. It should reach roughly to the bunny’s hip while standing beside it.
Fox Body and Legs
Use rust-orange for the head and upper legs, dark brown for the feet, and striped cream-and-brown for the sweater body. The body is a simple narrow tube with slight shaping. The legs are short and sturdy.
Keep the fox compact. It should look like a small companion toy, not a second full doll. Stuff firmly so it stands or leans nicely beside the bunny.
Fox Head
The head is rounded-triangular rather than circular. Shape the muzzle slightly so the snout projects just a little. Use black embroidery for the eyes and nose. The expression should be tiny, sweet, and alert.
The ears are small triangles in rust with dark tips. They sit on the hood line rather than appearing fully separate and exposed.
Fox Sweater
The fox sweater is knitted in narrow cream and brown stripes. Keep the stripes even and modest. The garment should look snug and cozy, with short sleeves ending above darker hands or paws.
The lower body transitions to orange-brown legs, and the paws darken again near the feet. This color contrast is important because it makes the little figure readable even at a small size.
Fox Hood
The hood is pale brown or oatmeal with a folded edge and small pointed ear shapes. It should sit close to the fox’s face and feel softly rustic. Make it as a little cap or hooded cowl and sew it in place after fitting.
Fruit Basket
The basket held by the fox is tiny and round, worked in tan. Knit or work a small cup shape with a firm base, then add a thin handle arcing upward. The basket should stay open enough to show the fruit inside.
Make two or three miniature fruits. In the image, they appear like small apples or berries in red and pale green. These can be tiny stuffed knots, bobble-like knitted balls, or stitched beads of yarn secured firmly into the basket.
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Acorn
The acorn is a small but very visible accessory. Knit the lower nut in tan and the cap in darker brown. The shape should be gently oval with a clear cap edge. A tiny stem can be added with a short twisted strand.
Stuff lightly and seam neatly. Place it beside the bunny on the table for display.
Mushroom
The mushroom is a toadstool style piece with a cream stem and reddish-brown cap dotted with tiny white spots. The cap is rounded and wide enough to overhang the stem slightly.
Knit the stem as a firm little column with a broader base. Knit the cap separately, lightly stuff it, and sew it on. Add small white embroidered spots sparingly. Keep them tiny and irregular for a natural look.
Autumn Leaves
Knit two flat leaves in muted mustard and rust-olive tones. They should be small, slightly pointed, and lightly textured. Simple increases and decreases can create the shape. Embroider a center vein if desired using a darker thread of the same family.
Do not overwork them. These leaves are accents, not focal points.
Styling and Proportion Check
- The bunny should remain the clear focal point
- The dress hem should fall low, close to ankle height
- The bonnet edge should frame the face in a soft oval
- The purse should sit at hip level, not waist level
- The fox should feel companion-sized, not doll-sized
- The mushroom, acorn, and leaves should look delicate and collectible
Finishing Tips
Steam is not recommended directly on stuffed toys, but gentle hovering with steam before assembly can help flatten garment pieces. Always let pieces dry fully before sewing them to the stuffed forms.
Take time with the face. A small change in eye placement will change the expression significantly. Pin the features first, step back, and check the doll from a normal viewing distance before stitching permanently.
For the patchwork dress, weave in ends in the direction of the color blocks so the inside stays smooth. Bulk around the bodice can distort the fit if too many yarn tails are trapped in one place.
Final Assembly and Facial Detailing
- Dress the bunny and close the back neatly.
- Fit the bonnet so the tan edge frames the face evenly.
- Place the purse strap diagonally and tack it lightly in two places if needed.
- Sew on the shoes and check that both toes point forward.
- Embroider the eyes first, then the nose and mouth.
- Pose the ears so they fall softly outside the bonnet line.
- Position the fox, basket, acorn, mushroom, and leaves for the full woodland arrangement.
Care Notes
- Handle the small accessories gently and keep them away from very young children if using buttons
- Display out of prolonged direct sunlight to protect the warm autumn colors
- Dust lightly with clean dry hands or a very soft brush
- Store flat or upright with support so the bonnet and ears keep their shape
Quick Checklist Before You Finish
- Face centered and balanced
- Ears even in length and placement
- Dress colors distributed attractively
- Bonnet snug but not tight
- Purse resting at the correct hip
- Shoes aligned evenly
- Fox sized correctly beside the bunny
- All tiny accessories secured and neatly finished
Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines
Spot clean only with a barely damp cloth and mild soap if needed. Do not soak the toy, bonnet, or accessories. Press gently with a towel and reshape while drying flat.
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If the piece is intended for display, keep it in a low-humidity area and avoid crushing the ears, purse, or mushroom cap. Tissue support inside the bonnet and around the dress hem can help maintain shape during storage.
For long-term preservation, wrap each small accessory separately and store the set together in a breathable box. Avoid plastic bags for extended periods, especially in warm climates.
