Knitting Tutorial: The “Strawberry Picker” Bunny – Free Knitting Pattern

This sweet knitted bunny is designed to look like a collectible heirloom soft toy with a warm cottage style. The finished piece features long floppy ears, a softly rounded head, a simple embroidered face, a berry-print dress, a cropped cardigan, a slouchy beret, Mary Jane shoes, a tiny bird, and a miniature strawberry basket. It is a lovely project for knit toy lovers, handmade gift shoppers, nursery decor fans, and anyone searching for knitted bunny doll patterns, artisan stuffed rabbit toys, or boutique soft sculpture designs to make or gift.

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

Pattern Overview

This pattern is written in US English and is worked mostly flat in small pieces, then seamed and stuffed. The shaping has been planned to closely match the bunny in the photo: a rounded head, narrow neck, slim arms, long dangling legs, long ears, a softly pear-shaped body, a short cardigan, a textured beret, a tiny perched bird, and a small basket filled with strawberries.

The knitting is intentionally fine and neat. A small needle is important because the stitches in the toy appear dense and compact. This helps the bunny keep a smooth sculpted form instead of looking floppy or overly plush. Keep your tension firm throughout the toy pieces, especially the head, arms, legs, and ears.

The dress is knitted as part of the body look, but the cardigan, beret, shoes, bird, and basket are separate pieces. The strawberry motif on the skirt is added after knitting with small embroidered duplicate-stitch berries and tiny green tops. This gives the cleanest result and best matches the image.

Finished Size

• Bunny height seated: about 10 inches from top of beret to bottom of feet
• Bunny full stretched height: about 13 inches including legs
• Head width: about 3 inches
• Body from neck to lower body: about 5 inches
• Arm length: about 3 1/4 inches
• Leg length: about 4 1/2 inches
• Ear length: about 4 inches
• Bird length: about 1 3/4 inches
• Basket height: about 1 1/4 inches excluding handle

Materials

• Main bunny color: cream or warm ivory fingering-weight yarn, about 60 grams
• Cardigan and shoes: deep berry red fingering-weight yarn, about 20 grams
• Beret: muted sage green fingering-weight yarn, about 12 grams
• Bird: light brown, dark brown, cream, and tiny amount charcoal yarn
• Basket: light tan or wicker-brown yarn
• Strawberries: red and green yarn scraps
• Needles: US 1.5 / 2.5 mm straight or double-pointed needles
• Optional smaller needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm for the bird and basket if you want firmer structure
• Toy stuffing: small amount, packed firmly but evenly
• Tapestry needle
• 2 black embroidered knots or 4 mm safety eyes
• Thin floral wire or pipe cleaner for basket handle, optional
• One tiny button for cardigan neck
• Sewing thread matching yarns for invisible tack stitches, optional

Gauge

32 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US 1.5 / 2.5 mm needles.

Gauge matters for toy proportion. Even a small change in gauge can make the head too large, the limbs too thick, or the clothing too tight. If your knitting is loose, go down a needle size.

Abbreviations

• BO = bind off
• CO = cast on
• k = knit
• k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
• m1 = make 1 increase
• p = purl
• pm = place marker
• psso = pass slipped stitch over
• rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• ssk = slip, slip, knit
• st = stitch
• sts = stitches
• WS = wrong side
• [ ] = repeat instructions inside brackets the stated number of times

Construction Notes

• The bunny is worked in separate pieces and sewn together.
• Use long yarn tails for seaming wherever possible.
• Stuff the head firmly, the body moderately, the limbs lightly to moderately, and the ears only at the base.
• The face is minimal. The charm comes from the clean proportions and soft shaping rather than heavy embroidery.
• The cardigan is short and slightly cropped. The sleeves stop at the wrist so the cream hands stay visible.
• The beret sits low and soft, slightly to one side.
• The bird is very small. Keep shaping tight so it can perch nicely on the arm.

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Bunny Head

Using cream, make 2 identical head pieces. Work in stockinette stitch.

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1 (WS): purl.
3. Row 2: k1, m1, k8, m1, k1. 12 sts.
4. Row 3: purl.
5. Row 4: k1, m1, k10, m1, k1. 14 sts.
6. Row 5: purl.
7. Row 6: k1, m1, k12, m1, k1. 16 sts.
8. Row 7: purl.
9. Row 8: k1, m1, k14, m1, k1. 18 sts.
10. Row 9: purl.
11. Row 10: k1, m1, k16, m1, k1. 20 sts.
12. Rows 11-23: work 13 rows in stockinette, beginning with a purl row.
13. Row 24: k1, ssk, k14, k2tog, k1. 18 sts.
14. Row 25: purl.
15. Row 26: k1, ssk, k12, k2tog, k1. 16 sts.
16. Row 27: purl.
17. Row 28: k1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1. 14 sts.
18. Row 29: purl.
19. Row 30: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. 12 sts.
20. Row 31: purl.
21. Row 32: k1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. 10 sts.
22. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, and draw up.

Place the two head pieces together with RS facing out. Mattress seam around the outer edge, leaving the lower edge open for joining to the neck. Stuff firmly as you seam. Shape the cheeks with your fingers while filling so the head stays rounded rather than oval. The photo shows a soft rounded head with a gentle taper toward the muzzle area, not a square block.

Snout and Face Shaping

The bunny in the image has a very subtle face, so do not make a separate large muzzle. Instead, create the muzzle with tiny sculpting stitches after the head is stuffed.

• Using cream yarn, take one small horizontal stitch through the center lower front of the head.
• Pull very gently to create a slight nose ridge.
• Secure on the back of the head.
• Embroider a tiny vertical nose line in brown yarn, about 1/4 inch long.
• Add a short V shape below it for the mouth.
• Place eyes as tiny black French knots or small black stitches about 7 stitches apart and 5 rows above the nose line.

Keep the expression simple. The photo shows dot eyes and a tiny stitched nose, with no blush and no heavy eyelids.

Ears

Using cream, make 2 ears. Work flat in garter stitch for soft body and tidy edges.

1. CO 7 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: knit every row.
3. Row 7: k1, m1, k5, m1, k1. 9 sts.
4. Rows 8-16: knit every row.
5. Row 17: k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1. 7 sts.
6. Rows 18-24: knit every row.
7. Row 25: k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts.
8. Rows 26-28: knit every row.
9. Row 29: ssk, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
10. Row 30: knit.
11. Row 31: k3tog. 1 st.
12. Fasten off.

Do not stuff the ears. Fold the cast-on edge slightly and attach each ear to the upper sides of the head, a little behind the eye line. Let them hang downward. In the image, the ears emerge from under the beret and fall straight down, not outward like wings.

Neck and Upper Body

The bunny has a narrow neck leading into a wider dress-shaped body. Work the body front and back separately, then seam.

Using cream, make 2 identical upper body pieces.

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Row 1 (WS): purl.
3. Row 2: k2, m1, k8, m1, k2. 14 sts.
4. Row 3: purl.
5. Row 4: k2, m1, k10, m1, k2. 16 sts.
6. Row 5: purl.
7. Row 6: k2, m1, k12, m1, k2. 18 sts.
8. Row 7: purl.
9. Row 8: k2, m1, k14, m1, k2. 20 sts.
10. Row 9: purl.
11. Row 10: k2, m1, k16, m1, k2. 22 sts.
12. Rows 11-17: work 7 rows in stockinette.
13. Row 18: k2, m1, k18, m1, k2. 24 sts.
14. Row 19: purl.
15. Row 20: k2, m1, k20, m1, k2. 26 sts.
16. Rows 21-29: work 9 rows in stockinette.
17. BO loosely.

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Seam the side edges, leaving the top open for the neck. Stuff lightly to medium. The lower body should feel soft but stable. It should not be overfilled because the bunny in the image sits naturally on the stool with a gentle rounded lower body beneath the dress.

Arms

Using cream, make 2 arms. Work flat in stockinette.

1. CO 6 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: work in stockinette, beginning with a purl row.
3. Row 5: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1. 8 sts.
4. Rows 6-18: work in stockinette.
5. Row 19: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. 6 sts.
6. Rows 20-24: work in stockinette.
7. BO.

Seam each arm, stuff lightly, and flatten the upper edge. Sew to the body high at the shoulder area, slightly angled downward. The right arm in the image is lifted enough to support the bird, so when attaching, angle one arm forward and up a little more than the other.

Legs

Using cream, make 2 legs. Work flat in stockinette.

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: work in stockinette, beginning with a purl row.
3. Row 7: k1, m1, k6, m1, k1. 10 sts.
4. Rows 8-26: work in stockinette.
5. Row 27: k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. 8 sts.
6. Rows 28-30: work in stockinette.
7. BO.

Seam and stuff each leg lightly so it remains slim. Attach the legs to the lower body front, close together, allowing them to dangle freely. The seated pose in the photo comes from soft joints and low stuffing in the thighs. Do not overstuff near the top of the legs.

Dress

The dress is cream with tiny red strawberries scattered across the skirt. It has a simple rounded shape and sits under a cropped red cardigan. The easiest way to match the image is to knit the dress as a separate garment.

Using cream, work the dress flat in one piece from lower hem to top. It will seam at the back.

1. CO 42 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib across all rows on RS and WS as established.
3. Row 5 (RS): knit.
4. Row 6: purl.
5. Row 7: k2, k2tog, k16, k2tog, k16, k2tog, k2. 39 sts.
6. Row 8: purl.
7. Row 9: knit.
8. Row 10: purl.
9. Row 11: k2, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k2. 36 sts.
10. Rows 12-14: work in stockinette.
11. Row 15: k2, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k2. 33 sts.
12. Rows 16-18: work in stockinette.
13. Row 19: k2, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k1. 30 sts.
14. Rows 20-22: work in stockinette.
15. Row 23: k2, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k1. 27 sts.
16. Rows 24-28: work in stockinette.
17. Row 29: k1, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k1. 24 sts.
18. Rows 30-34: work in stockinette.
19. Row 35: p7, BO 10 sts, p7.
20. Row 36: knit 7, join yarn, knit 7.
21. Work each side separately for armhole shaping.
22. Row 37: purl.
23. Row 38: k1, ssk, k4. 6 sts.
24. Row 39: purl.
25. Row 40: knit.
26. Row 41: purl.
27. BO.
28. Repeat for second side, mirroring Row 38 as k4, k2tog, k1.

Sew back seam, leaving a small opening near the neckline if needed for dressing. Slip the dress onto the bunny before final attachment of the head if that is easier for your construction style.

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Strawberry Embroidery on Dress

Using red yarn and duplicate stitch, add tiny strawberries to the lower front of the dress. Scatter them in staggered rows, keeping them mostly on the lower two-thirds of the skirt.

• Make each berry over 1 knit stitch, extending slightly into the row below.
• Add about 12 to 16 berries total.
• With green yarn, embroider two tiny diagonal top leaves above each red berry.
• Do not place motifs too close to the side seams.
• Keep the upper bodice mostly plain, matching the photo.

Cardigan

The cardigan is short, red, and slightly open at the front, with full-length sleeves and one tiny button near the neck. Make 1 back, 2 fronts, and 2 sleeves.

Back

1. Using red, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib.
3. Rows 5-18: work in stockinette.
4. Row 19: BO 2 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 14 sts.
5. Rows 21-26: work in stockinette.
6. Row 27: k4, BO 6 sts, k4.
7. Row 28: p4.
8. BO remaining shoulder sts on next row.

Left Front

1. CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib.
3. Rows 5-14: work in stockinette, keeping 2 sts at front edge in garter stitch for band.
4. Row 15: at armhole edge BO 2 sts once. 8 sts.
5. Rows 16-22: continue as established.
6. Row 23: at neck edge BO 3 sts once.
7. Rows 24-26: continue straight.
8. BO shoulder sts.

Right Front

Work as Left Front, reversing shaping. Add a button loop on Row 13 if desired by working k2, yo, k2tog in the front band area.

Sleeves

1. CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib.
3. Row 5: k1, m1, k6, m1, k1. 10 sts.
4. Rows 6-10: work in stockinette.
5. Row 11: k1, m1, k8, m1, k1. 12 sts.
6. Rows 12-18: work in stockinette.
7. Row 19: BO 2 sts at beginning of next 2 rows. 8 sts.
8. Rows 21-22: work in stockinette.
9. BO.

Sew shoulder seams. Set in sleeves. Sew side and sleeve seams. Place cardigan on bunny and sew a tiny button at the neck. The cardigan should sit above the waist and leave most of the dress visible. Keep the lower edge slightly lifted at center front, matching the image.

Mary Jane Shoes

The bunny wears soft red knitted shoes. Make 2.

1. Using red, CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1-6: garter stitch.
3. Row 7: k2, m1, k4, m1, k2. 10 sts.
4. Rows 8-10: garter stitch.
5. Row 11: k2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2. 8 sts.
6. Rows 12-14: garter stitch.
7. BO.

Fold each piece around the lower foot and seam into a rounded slipper. With a short red strand, add one strap stitch across the front ankle area to suggest the Mary Jane band. Sew shoes securely to the feet.

Beret

The beret is soft sage green with a small stem at the top and a ribbed band. It sits low over the bunny head and slightly tilted.

Using green, work flat.

1. CO 36 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: k1, p1 rib.
3. Row 5: [k1, m1] across. 54 sts.
4. Rows 6-14: work in stockinette, beginning with a purl row.
5. Row 15: [k7, k2tog] across. 48 sts.
6. Row 16: purl.
7. Row 17: [k6, k2tog] across. 42 sts.
8. Row 18: purl.
9. Row 19: [k5, k2tog] across. 36 sts.
10. Row 20: purl.
11. Row 21: [k4, k2tog] across. 30 sts.
12. Row 22: purl.
13. Row 23: [k3, k2tog] across. 24 sts.
14. Row 24: purl.
15. Row 25: [k2, k2tog] across. 18 sts.
16. Row 26: purl.
17. Row 27: [k1, k2tog] across. 12 sts.
18. Row 28: purl.
19. Row 29: k2tog across. 6 sts.
20. Cut yarn and draw through remaining sts.

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Seam the side to form the beret. For the tiny top stem, using the tail, make 4 or 5 overcast wraps at the gathered center. Place the beret on the head slightly off-center, low enough to cover the top of one ear attachment.

Tiny Bird

The little bird is perched on the bunny’s raised arm. It should be tiny, rounded, and slightly plump with a cream cheek and darker wing accents.

Make 2 body sides in light brown.

1. CO 4 sts.
2. Row 1: purl.
3. Row 2: k1, m1, k2, m1, k1. 6 sts.
4. Row 3: purl.
5. Row 4: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1. 8 sts.
6. Rows 5-10: stockinette.
7. Row 11: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. 6 sts.
8. Row 12: purl.
9. Row 13: k1, ssk, k0, k2tog, k1. 4 sts.
10. Row 14: purl.
11. Row 15: k2tog twice. 2 sts.
12. Fasten off.

For the belly patch, embroider a cream oval on the front lower center before seaming. Add a tiny brown beak with two straight stitches. Add a black eye knot. Seam both sides together, leaving a small opening. Stuff very lightly.

For wings, make 2 tiny leaves in dark brown.

1. CO 3 sts.
2. Row 1: knit.
3. Row 2: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1. 5 sts.
4. Row 3: knit.
5. Row 4: ssk, k1, k2tog. 3 sts.
6. Row 5: knit.
7. Row 6: k3tog. 1 st.
8. Fasten off.

Sew wings to body sides. Tack the completed bird to the raised bunny hand and forearm so it looks naturally perched.

Basket

The basket is tiny and shallow, with visible vertical shaping and a curved handle. Make the base and side wall as one piece.

Using tan, work flat.

1. CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: garter stitch.
3. Row 5: k1, p10, k1.
4. Rows 6-10: repeat Row 5.
5. Row 11: knit.
6. BO.

Fold the lower garter rows into a small rectangular base and seam the short edges together to form a basket wall. For a rounder shape, slightly gather the base corners inward as you sew.

For the handle:

1. CO 18 sts in tan.
2. BO all sts knitwise, leaving long tails.

Twist the handle strip lightly and sew each end to opposite inner sides of the basket. If you want a standing handle, wrap the knitted strip over a thin floral wire before stitching down.

Mini Strawberries for Basket

Make 3 to 5 tiny strawberries.

1. Using red, CO 4 sts.
2. Row 1: purl.
3. Row 2: k1, m1, k2, m1, k1. 6 sts.
4. Row 3: purl.
5. Row 4: k2tog, k2, k2tog. 4 sts.
6. Row 5: purl.
7. Row 6: k2tog twice. 2 sts.
8. Fasten off and gather.

Stuff each berry with a tiny pinch of fiber or simply roll the knitted piece closed. Add green tops with 3 small embroidered star stitches. Place berries into the basket and tack them lightly so they stay visible.

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Assembly Order

1. Sew and stuff the head.
2. Add face shaping and embroidered facial details.
3. Sew ears to head.
4. Sew and stuff body.
5. Sew and stuff arms and legs.
6. Attach legs low on body front.
7. Attach arms at upper sides of body.
8. Sew head to neck opening with firm stitches.
9. Dress the bunny in the cream dress.
10. Sew cardigan in place or leave removable if preferred.
11. Attach shoes to feet.
12. Place and tack beret to head.
13. Make bird and sew it to raised arm.
14. Make basket and strawberries.
15. Tack basket beside bunny or leave loose as a prop.

Detailed Positioning Notes for a Better Match

The likeness of this bunny depends heavily on positioning. The photo shows a composed seated doll rather than a floppy plush toy. The head is upright, the body slightly centered, the legs hanging from the stool edge, and the lifted arm gently bent forward.

• Head: sew straight, not tilted backward
• Ears: place close to the side crown, hanging vertically
• Arms: set just below neck seam, with one arm slightly raised
• Legs: attach close together so the ankles nearly meet
• Beret: tilt subtly to the bunny’s left
• Cardigan: keep front opening narrow and neat
• Bird: angle the beak inward toward the bunny
• Basket: keep scale small so it does not overpower the bunny

Helpful Tips for New Knitters

If you are newer to knitting toys, take your time with seaming. Clean seams make a huge difference. Use mattress stitch on stockinette pieces and tiny whipstitches only where hidden. When stuffing, add small tufts little by little instead of large lumps.

For the facial features, less is more. Place the eyes first with pins or removable thread marks. Step back and check symmetry before stitching permanently. A difference of even one stitch can noticeably change the expression on a small toy.

If your dress seems too wide, lightly steam it and let it cool flat before dressing the bunny. If it seems too narrow, block it gently and stretch only a little. Avoid overblocking the toy body itself.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Use tiny, neat stitches for all finishing. Embroider the eyes evenly, then add the nose and mouth in very short stitches. Lightly sculpt the muzzle only enough to suggest shape. Sew the beret down at two or three hidden points so it stays tilted. After dressing the bunny, adjust the cardigan edges, straighten the ears, and pose the raised arm before fixing the bird in place.

Care Notes

This toy is best treated as a decorative knitted doll or a gently handled keepsake. Avoid rough pulling on the bird, basket handle, or cardigan button. Store away from direct sunlight to help preserve color, especially the red cardigan and green beret.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• Are both eyes level and evenly spaced?
• Is the head centered on the neck?
• Do the legs hang evenly?
• Is one arm raised slightly for the bird?
• Are the strawberry motifs balanced on the skirt?
• Does the beret sit low and softly slouched?
• Are the shoes secure on both feet?
• Is the basket scaled small and neatly filled?

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Spot clean only with cool water and a mild wool-safe soap. Press gently with a clean cloth and never twist the toy. Reshape while damp and dry flat on a towel. Do not machine wash, tumble dry, or soak for a long time. For long-term storage, wrap in acid-free tissue and keep in a dry container away from moisture, dust, and pests.