Knitted Easter Bunnies

I have been wanting to knit up a little Easter rabbit for a while now. I've looked online for various styles in Ravelry, but wasn't really happy with them. I wanted the rabbit to be small, but not fussy since I had to make five of them quickly (because I leave everything till the last minute!). I have recently knit a big vintage-style rabbit that took me ages to complete. I still have to attach his enormous ears before I can show him here ... hopefully I'll have time this weekend to finish him. In the end, of course, I just made up something on my own. I didn't want to stitch a lot of arms and legs on the rabbit, just a nice simple form for the body and two ears that will stand up. This is what I came up with ...

I picked up these really cute little Easter treat boxes at the dollar store. Just enough to add a few treats for small kids without overdoing it (I know all these kids will be spoiled by parents and grandparents on Easter Sunday with chocolates).

Smudge Bunny has given these knitted rabbits his seal of approval ;)

Thanks Smudge!

If you're interested in making one for yourself, here's the pattern. They are knit from the bottom up, and are about 3 1/2-inches tall (to top of head, not ears).

KNITTED EASTER RABBITS

Yarn: Bernat Cotton (one 50g ball made two rabbits, with enough left over to possibly make a third)

Needles: 4 DPNs 3 mm

Body

• co 3 sts onto one needle
• kfb of each stitch using a separate needle for each stitch you knit into. You now have 2 sts on each of three DPNs
• join for knitting in the round
• k all sts
• kfb of all sts (12 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k1, repeat from * to end of round (18 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k2, repeat from * to end of round (24 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k3, repeat from * to end of round (30 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k4, repeat from * to end of round (36 sts)
• k next 6 rounds
• *k2tog, k4, repeat from * to end of round (30 sts)
• k all sts
• *k2tog, k3, repeat from * to end of round (24 sts)
• k all sts
• *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to end of round (18 sts)
• k all sts
• stuff the bottom with fibre fill
• *kfb, k2, repeat from * to end of round (24 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k3, repeat from * to end of round (30 sts)
• k all sts
• *kfb, k4, repeat from * to end of round (36 sts)
• k next 4 rounds
• *k2tog, k4, repeat from * to end of round (30 sts)
• k all sts
• *k2tog, k3, repeat from * to end of round (24 sts)
• stuff the head with fibre fill
• *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to end of round (18 sts)
• *k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end of round (12 sts)
• if you need to stuff a little bit more into the head, do it now
• k2tog to end of round (6 sts)
• break thread and run through the last 6 sts

Ears

• co 4 sts
• work 8 rows of stockinette stitch, ending after the purl row
• ssk, k2tog (2 sts)
• p 2sts
• k2tog, break yarn leaving about 6-inches for sewing
• thread a darning needle and run the thread from the top of the ear along the stitches on one side to the bottom; use the same thread to now secure the ear to the top of the head; weaving in ends
• make a second ear in the same way

Eyes & Nose

Using scrap yarn, embroider the eyes and nose with a couple of stitches. Do not use buttons if this is for a young child. Tie a ribbon around the rabbit's neck if desired.

Tail

I forgot to take a photo of the rabbit's behind and fluffy pom pom tail. I just made one up quickly using the old-fashioned method of two cardboard "donuts" and wrapped the yarn around the outside edge of the donut until it was filled in the middle. Tie the pom pom onto the rabbit's bum. They're pretty cute :)

If you want to knit an Easter Egg, I've prepared a pattern for that here.

Happy Easter Everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

Wendy