Introduction
Create the Clockmaker Bunny—a cozy, photo-real knitted rabbit seated at a wooden bench, dressed in a cream work shirt, charcoal waistcoat with tiny buttons, and a cognac “leather” tool apron with pockets holding a pocket watch and a little wrench. He wears deep-brown ankle boots and charcoal shorts. Loose gears and a tiny hammer complete the workshop vibe. Finished seated height: ~8–9 in (20–23 cm); standing with ears: ~12–13 in (30–33 cm).
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Step 1 — Form & Proportion Analysis (to match the photo exactly)
- Head: rounded oval; widest just below horizontal eye line; smooth crown; modest cheek fullness.
- Eyes: 9–10 mm, set low and wide (about 11 sts apart) for a gentle look.
- Ears: long, softly tapered, slight forward tilt; inner curve subtly defined by seaming.
- Neck/Torso: short neck cylinder leading to a slightly bellied barrel torso.
- Arms: slim tubes, lightly stuffed, ending in rounded paws; set to hang just above apron top edge.
- Legs/Boots: straight thighs into rounded pull-on boots with wide cuff ridge; boots darker than apron.
- Clothes:
- Cream shirt with rolled cuffs (simple rib) and soft collar line.
- Charcoal waistcoat (V-neck) with three small buttons and vertical rib panels.
- Cognac apron with wide curved pocket panel divided into compartments; left pocket holds circular pocket watch on i-cord chain, right pocket holds a small wrench.
- Charcoal shorts peeking under apron.
- Props scale: two gears roughly the size of each boot sole; hammer length equal to foot + half.
Materials
- Yarn (Worsted/Aran, Category 4; wool/wool-blend recommended):
- Body / ears / paws (oatmeal): 60 g
- Shirt (cream): 25–30 g
- Waistcoat + shorts (charcoal grey): 35–40 g
- Apron (cognac/russet brown): 25 g
- Boots (dark brown): 25 g
- Watch face (ivory), bezel (brown/bronze), chain (dark grey), wrench + hammer (grey + charcoal), gears (light grey): scraps
- Nose/mouth embroidery (cocoa): scraps
- Needles:
- 3.5 mm (US 4) DPNs or 32–40 cm circular for most pieces in the round
- 3.0 mm (US 2½–3) for accessories/edgings
- Notions: 9–10 mm safety eyes (2); tapestry needle; stitch markers; waste yarn; fiberfill; 3 tiny buttons for waistcoat (or duplicate-stitch dots); small card ovals for boot soles (optional).
Gauge
- Stockinette in the round: 24 sts × 32 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) on 3.5 mm after light blocking.
- Work firmly to prevent stuffing show-through.
Abbreviations
- k – knit
- p – purl
- kfb – knit front & back (inc 1)
- m1L / m1R – make one left / right
- ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
- k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning dec)
- CO – cast on
- BO – bind off
- pm / sm – place / slip marker
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- RS / WS – right / wrong side
- yo – yarn over
- i-cord – narrow knit tube
- tbl – through back loop
Construction Overview
Head knit bottom-up in the round; ears knit flat and seamed. Body picked up from head base and worked top-down. Legs continue from body with boots integrated; arms knit separately and sewn on. Shirt and waistcoat are removable garments. Apron worked flat and seamed to form pockets then tied on. Accessories (watch, chain, wrench, gears, hammer) are small knits/sewn props.
Head & Face (oatmeal, 3.5 mm)
CO 6; join in the round without twisting.
Rnd 1: kfb around — 12
Rnd 2: k
Rnd 3: (k1, kfb) — 18
Rnd 4: k
Rnd 5: (k2, kfb) — 24
Rnd 6: k
Rnd 7: (k3, kfb) — 30
Rnd 8: k
Rnd 9: (k4, kfb) — 36
Rnd 10: k
Rnd 11: (k5, kfb) — 42
Rnds 12–22: k even — 42
Insert safety eyes after Rnd 16, spaced 11 sts apart, centered vertically.
Decrease crown:
Rnd 23: (k5, k2tog) — 36
Rnd 24: k
Rnd 25: (k4, k2tog) — 30
Rnd 26: k; start firm stuffing.
Rnd 27: (k3, k2tog) — 24
Rnd 28: (k2, k2tog) — 18
Rnd 29: (k1, k2tog) — 12
Rnd 30: k2tog — 6; BO and cinch.
Embroider a tiny oval nose and a soft double-curve smile in cocoa.
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Ears (make 2, oatmeal; knit flat, 3.5 mm)
CO 6.
Rows 1–2: knit.
Row 3 (inc): k1, m1R, k to last st, m1L, k1 — 8.
Repeat Row 3 every RS row 7× → 22 sts; WS rows knit.
Work 10 rows even.
Shaping (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3, k2tog, k1 — dec 2.
Repeat shaping every RS row 8× → 6 sts.
Knit 2 rows; BO.
Fold lengthwise; mattress seam; leave 1 cm base unseamed for flare. Optional: add soft wire to hold the gentle forward tilt.
Body (picked up from head base; oatmeal, 3.5 mm)
Pick up 36 sts evenly around head opening; pm.
Rnds 1–3: k.
Rnd 4: (k5, kfb) — 42
Rnd 5: (k6, kfb) — 48
Rnds 6–12: k even (barrel torso).
Rnd 13: (k6, k2tog) — 42
Rnd 14: (k5, k2tog) — 36
Rnd 15: k; stuff torso with a softly rounded belly.
Split for legs.
Legs & Boots (worked one leg at a time)
Right leg (work on 18 sts; place 18 for left on hold):
Rnds 1–8: k (thigh).
Rnds 9–10: (k4, k2tog) once, then k one rnd — 15 sts.
Rnds 11–12: k (shin).
Change to dark brown for boot.
Boot:
Rnd 13: (k1, kfb) — 22
Rnd 14: k
Rnd 15: (k2, kfb) — 29
Rnd 16–18: k (tall boot wall). Stuff leg.
Rnd 19: (k4, k2tog) — 24
Rnd 20: (k3, k2tog) — 20
Rnd 21: (k2, k2tog) — 16
Rnd 22: (k1, k2tog) — 12
Rnd 23: k2tog — 6; BO. Insert small card oval in sole before closing if desired.
Boot cuff ridge: Pick up 18 sts around boot opening; k1 rnd tbl for firmness; BO.
Left leg: Work to match. Close any crotch gap neatly.
Arms (make 2, oatmeal)
CO 6; join in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb — 12
Rnds 2–12: k
Rnd 13: (k2, k2tog) — 9
Rnds 14–20: k; lightly stuff (keep upper arm soft).
Rnd 21: k2tog around to close; BO.
Sew to sides with hands level with apron top.
Shorts (charcoal, 3.5 mm)
CO 64 sts; join.
Rnds 1–8: k straight.
Leg split: place 32 sts for each leg on separate needles; work each in the round 6 rnds. BO loosely. Shorts should end just below torso, barely visible under apron.
Work Shirt (cream; top-down, 3.5 mm)
CO 48; join.
Neckband: k1, p1 rib × 4 rnds.
Yoke shaping:
Rnd 1: (k5, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 60
Rnd 2: k
Rnd 3: (k6, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 72
Rnd 4: k
Divide for sleeves: place 14 sts for each sleeve on waste yarn; continue over 44 sts for body.
Body: work 10–12 rnds even; BO.
Sleeves: return 14 sts, pick up 2 underarm = 16; knit 8–10 rnds; rolled cuff look: k1, p1 rib 3 rnds, fold once when dressing.
Waistcoat (charcoal, with rib texture; 3.5 mm)
Back (flat):
CO 28.
Rows 1–4: k1, p1 rib.
Rows 5–24: [RS] k; [WS] p (stockinette) with 2 selvedge sts per side in rib to suggest seams.
Armhole shaping: BO 2 sts at beg next 2 RS rows → 24. Work 6 rows even.
Neck back: BO center 10; work each side 3 rows; BO shoulders.
Left front (flat):
CO 14.
Rows 1–4: k1, p1 rib.
Shape V-neck from Row 5 (RS): k to last 3, k2tog, k1. Repeat every RS row until 9 sts remain; work even to match back length; BO shoulder.
Right front: mirror with ssk at neck edge.
Side seams & shoulders: Mattress stitch fronts to back; leave armholes open.
Button band & armhole finish:
Pick up sts along each front edge and around neck; work 1 row k, 1 row p, then BO tbl for a crisp edge. Duplicate-stitch three tiny button dots on right front; work three matching loop “holes” by sewing small thread loops on left front, or attach real miniature buttons.
Tool Apron (cognac, 3.0 mm for firmness)
Apron base (flat):
CO 48.
Rows 1–6: stockinette.
Row 7 (curved pocket seam hint): p.
Rows 8–18: stockinette to total depth ~2.75 in (7 cm). BO.
Pocket panel (flat):
CO 44.
Rows 1–10: stockinette.
Row 11: (k2tog, yo) across (decorative seam line at pocket opening).
Rows 12–14: stockinette; BO.
Place pocket panel over base with lower edges aligned; edgestitch sides and bottom only, leaving top as a wide pocket.
Divide pockets: With matching yarn, sew two vertical lines to create three compartments:
- Left wide pocket (for watch)
- Center narrow pocket (empty or for a pencil)
- Right medium pocket (for wrench)
Waist ties: i-cord 3 sts × 12 in (30 cm); sew to top corners of apron base.
Drape: Slight curve across top edge; pocket heights should show ~½ of watch face and wrench head.
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Pocket Watch & Chain (ivory + brown + dark grey; 3.0 mm)
Watch face: CO 6 in ivory; kfb to 12; (k1, kfb) to 18; k 1 rnd; BO leaving long tail. Duplicate-stitch tiny tick marks and hands (set to ~10:10) in charcoal.
Bezel/back: Knit a second small circle in brown; sew face to bezel around edges; lightly pad with a pinch of fiberfill.
Chain: i-cord 2 sts × 6–7 in (15–18 cm) in dark grey; tack one end to watch, the other end to apron’s left tie point. Nestle watch half-inside the left pocket with chain draping across.
Wrench (grey; 3.0 mm)
Handle: i-cord 3 sts × 1.75 in (4.5 cm).
Head (open-end spanner): CO 6; knit 6 rows flat; BO. Fold to a diamond, stitch sides leaving a small open V. Sew head to handle; add a single backstitch line along handle for groove. Place in right pocket with head exposed.
Gears (2 sizes, light grey; 3.0 mm)
Ring: CO 20 (small) / 28 (large); join. Knit 2 rnds; BO.
Spokes: Embroider 5-point star inside ring with grey yarn, then overstitch each spoke to thicken.
Teeth: Work small yo-picot nubs around outside: using a needle, whip a tiny loop of yarn every 2 sts and secure; keep them even. Block flat with pins to maintain circular shape.
Hammer (grey head, tan handle; 3.0 mm)
Handle: i-cord 3 sts × 2.75 in (7 cm) in tan; BO.
Head: CO 12 in grey; knit 6 rows flat; BO; roll into a cylinder and seam; close one end flat, the other rounded. Sew across handle near one end; add a small flat square to one side for the peen if desired.
Assembly
- Ears: Pin 3 cm (1¼ in) apart on crown; tilt slightly forward; stitch securely.
- Arms: Sew at shoulder line so hands rest just above apron rim.
- Dress the bunny: Shirt on first; pull on shorts; add waistcoat (V-neck centered).
- Apron: Tie behind waist; check pocket alignment; stitch one or two tiny tacks at side edges so apron sits smoothly.
- Tools: Slide wrench into right pocket; seat watch in left pocket; drape chain naturally.
- Pose: Seat bunny so boots rest flat; place gears and hammer on bench beside him.
Finishing & Blocking
- Steam lightly to smooth the waistcoat rib and apron edges; avoid over-steaming the body to keep plush volume.
- Shape boot toes round while warm; press apron pocket seams with fingertip steam.
- Trim all ends; add a tiny highlight stitch to each eye if you like.
Exact Measurements for Photo Match
- Head circumference: 22–23 cm (8¾–9 in)
- Ear length: 11–12 cm (4¼–4¾ in) excluding base flare
- Torso (neck to seat): 10–11 cm (4–4¼ in)
- Arm length: 10–11 cm (4–4¼ in)
- Leg (hip to sole): 12–13 cm (4¾–5 in)
- Boot length: ~4.5 cm (1¾ in); cuff height 1.3 cm (½ in)
- Apron width: ~12 cm (4¾ in); pocket depth 3.5–4 cm (1⅜–1½ in)
- Waistcoat length: ends just above apron top; V-neck point centered at mid-chest
- Watch diameter: ~3 cm (1¼ in); chain length 15–18 cm (6–7 in)
Troubleshooting
- Crown too pointy: Add one extra even rnd before starting decreases; redistribute stuffing.
- Ears droop: Add a tiny dart at base or insert soft wire.
- Apron flares: Block pocket panel separately first; stitch pocket sides taut to base.
- Waistcoat gapes: Work button loops a touch shorter; steam front edges and let dry flat.
- Boots collapse: Insert card ovals; add one extra plain rnd before toe decreases.
Styling Checklist (match the image)
- Oatmeal body; cocoa nose and smile; eyes low and wide.
- Cream shirt with soft rib cuffs; charcoal V-neck waistcoat with three buttons.
- Cognac tool apron with three compartments; watch left pocket, wrench right.
- Charcoal shorts visible beneath apron; dark brown rounded boots with cuff ridge.
- Props: two light-grey gears and a tan-handled hammer on the bench.
Enjoy your Clockmaker Bunny—a warm, workshop-ready companion for any cozy shelf or photoshoot!
