Introduction
Knit a cozy Greenhouse Botanist Bunny seated on a sunlit windowsill, wearing a cream ribbed turtleneck sweater, a sage-green pinafore with wood-look buttons, a tiny brown utility belt holding seed packets and pruners, soft brown ankle boots, and holding a knitted watering can and a terracotta pot with a fresh seedling. The look is gentle pastel with clear stitch definition and neat shaping for a photo-real, handmade finish. Finished seated height: ~8–9 in (20–23 cm); standing (ears up): ~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.
Form & Proportion Notes (from the image)
- Head: soft oval sphere, widest just under the eyes; simple smile and tiny oval nose.
- Eyes: low and wide, ~11 sts apart horizontally, centered vertically on the head’s mid-third.
- Ears: long, gently tapered, lightly curved forward.
- Torso: subtle belly; shoulders set right under the sweater neckline.
- Arms: slim, lightly stuffed so they hang naturally.
- Legs/Boots: legs taper into cuffed ankle boots with rounded toes.
- Outfit: close-fitting ribbed turtleneck, A-line pinafore that ends above the boot cuff; belt with pocket and pruners; seed packets peeking out; watering can in one hand, mini terracotta pot with seedling in the other.
Materials
- Yarn (Worsted/Aran, Category 4; wool or wool-blend):
- Body/ears/arms/legs (oatmeal): 60 g
- Sweater (cream): 30 g
- Pinafore (sage green): 35 g
- Belt & pocket (caramel/brown): 15 g
- Boots (brown): 25 g
- Watering can (light gray) & pruners (charcoal + gray): scraps
- Pot (terracotta) & soil (dark brown), seedling (leaf green + stem brown): scraps
- Nose/mouth (cocoa): scraps
- Needles:
- 3.5 mm (US 4) DPNs or circulars for most pieces
- 3.0 mm (US 2½–3) for accessories/edgings
- Notions: two 9–10 mm black safety eyes, tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn, fiberfill, optional pipe cleaners or soft wire for ears, two small wood-look buttons for pinafore straps.
Gauge
- Stockinette in the round: 24 sts × 32 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) on 3.5 mm after light blocking.
- Knit firmly so stuffing does not show.
Abbreviations
- k – knit
- p – purl
- kfb – knit front & back (inc 1)
- m1L / m1R – make one left/right
- k2tog – knit two together
- ssk – slip, slip, knit
- 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
Construction Overview
Head is worked in the round from nose to crown; ears knit flat and seamed. Body is picked up from the head base and worked top-down. Legs/boots continue from the body; arms are separate and sewn on. Sweater is a separate garment (top-down, in the round) with ribbed turtleneck and cuffs. Pinafore is worked flat for bib/straps and in the round for skirt. Belt, pocket, seed packets, pruners, watering can, and potted seedling are simple accessories scaled to the photo.
Head & Face (oatmeal, 3.5 mm)
CO 6, join in the round.
- kfb around — 12
- k
- (k1, kfb) — 18
- k
- (k2, kfb) — 24
- k
- (k3, kfb) — 30
- k
- (k4, kfb) — 36
- k
- (k5, kfb) — 42
12–22) k even — 42 sts
Insert safety eyes after rnd 16, 11 sts apart.
Shape crown:
23) (k5, k2tog) — 36
24) k
25) (k4, k2tog) — 30
26) k; start stuffing firmly, keeping cheeks smooth.
27) (k3, k2tog) — 24
28) (k2, k2tog) — 18
29) (k1, k2tog) — 12
30) k2tog — 6; BO and cinch.
Embroider tiny oval nose and curved smile with cocoa thread.
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Ears (make 2, oatmeal; knit flat on 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 more times to 22 sts; WS rows knit.
Work 10 rows even.
Decrease (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3, k2tog, k1.
Repeat dec row every RS row 8 times to 6 sts.
Knit 2 rows; BO.
Fold lengthwise, mattress seam; optionally insert a short pipe cleaner for shape. Leave 1 cm unseamed at base for flare.
Body (pick up from head base; oatmeal)
Pick up 36 sts evenly around head base; 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 gentle belly.
Split for legs.
Legs & Boots (worked one leg at a time)
Right leg (continue on 18 sts; place 18 sts for left leg on hold):
Thigh: Rnds 1–8 k.
Calf taper: Rnd 9 (k4, k2tog) — 15.
Rnds 10–12 k.
Change to brown for boots.
Boot:
Rnd 13 (k1, kfb) — 22
Rnd 14 k
Rnd 15 (k2, kfb) — 29
Rnds 16–18 k (high boot wall). Stuff leg.
Toe:
19 (k4, k2tog) — 24
20 (k3, k2tog) — 20
21 (k2, k2tog) — 16
22 (k1, k2tog) — 12
23 k2tog — 6; BO and cinch.
Cuff: Pick up 18 sts around boot top; work k1, p1 rib for 3 rnds; BO.
Left leg: Work to match.
Arms (make 2, oatmeal)
CO 6, join to work in the round.
Rnd 1 kfb — 12
Rnds 2–12 k
Rnd 13 (k2, k2tog) — 9
Rnds 14–20 k; lightly stuff.
Rnd 21 k2tog around to close; BO.
Sew to sides level with lower neck so hands sit at pocket height.
Sweater (cream; top-down, in the round)
Use 3.5 mm.
CO 48; join, pm.
Turtleneck: k1, p1 rib for 6 rnds; fold to inside and sew if you want a doubled collar.
Yoke increases in stockinette:
Rnd 1 (k5, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 60
Rnd 2 k
Rnd 3 (k6, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 72
Rnd 4 k
Divide: place 14 sts for each sleeve on waste yarn; continue over 44 sts for body.
Body: Work straight 10 rnds; BO loosely.
Sleeves: Return 14 sts, pick up 2 underarm sts = 16; work 8 rnds; finish with k1, p1 rib 4 rnds; BO. Repeat for second sleeve.
Pinafore (sage green; 3.5 mm body, 3.0 mm straps)
Bib (flat): CO 22.
Rows 1–16: stockinette (RS k, WS p).
Row 17: p (creates subtle horizontal ridge at bib top).
Leave live; set aside.
Skirt (in the round): CO 68 sts; join.
Rnds 1–8: k straight.
A-line shaping:
Rnd 9 (k6, m1R) around — 78
Rnd 16 (k7, m1R) — 88
Work even until skirt measures 3.75–4 in (9.5–10 cm) from CO.
Join bib to skirt: On next round, k 33, place bib live sts onto needle and knit across them, k 33 (adjust to center bib). Work 2 rnds even to secure.
Hem edge: (k2tog, yo) around; knit 3 rnds; fold to WS and stitch for a neat rounded hem that matches the photo’s soft edge.
Straps (3.0 mm): Work 2 i-cords, 3 sts × 4.5 in (11.5 cm). Sew to top corners of bib; cross in back and attach at skirt waistband. Add two tiny wood-look buttons to bib fronts (or duplicate-stitch circles).
Utility Belt & Pocket (caramel brown; 3.0 mm)
Belt: i-cord 4 sts × 9–10 in (23–25 cm); wrap around waist so ends overlap at side seam; tack down with a few stitches.
Front pocket: CO 14, work 10 rows stockinette, ending with RS. Row 11 (k2tog, yo) across for a subtle decorative lip; Row 12 p; BO. Seam center-front on pinafore, leaving top open.
Side tool loop: i-cord 3 sts × 1.5 in (4 cm); seam into a loop on the belt’s right side for the pruners.
Seed packets (2):
- CO 8 in cream on 3.0 mm; work 8 rows stockinette; BO. Fold in half to make a tiny rectangle; embroider a green sprout on front; stitch the sides closed; tuck into pocket.
Pruners (charcoal + gray; 3.0 mm)
- Handles (make 2): i-cord 3 sts × 1.75 in (4.5 cm) in charcoal; tie off.
- Blades: i-cord 2 sts × 1.25 in (3 cm) in gray; flatten and point one end by sewing to a V shape.
- Assembly: Cross blades into a V; stitch at pivot; sew handles along blade bases so they appear slightly open. Hang through the tool loop on belt.
Watering Can (light gray; 3.0 mm)
Body: CO 16; join. Knit 8 rnds straight; dec (k2, k2tog) — 12; knit 2 rnds; BO; lightly stuff.
Base: CO 8; kfb to 16; BO; sew to bottom.
Spout: i-cord 3 sts × 2.25 in (5.5 cm); sew to body front at a slight upward angle; embroider a few French knots at the tip to suggest perforations (optional).
Handle: i-cord 3 sts × 2.75 in (7 cm); attach to upper back across the rim.
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Terracotta Pot with Seedling (3.0 mm)
Pot: CO 6 in terracotta; join.
Rnd 1 kfb — 12
Rnd 2 (k1, kfb) — 18
Rnd 3 k
Rnd 4 (k2, kfb) — 24
Rnd 5 k
Rnd 6 (k3, k2tog) — 20
Rnd 7 k; BO, leaving a neat rim.
Stuff a small pinch of fiberfill; cover with a tiny circle of knitted soil (dark brown, CO 12, knit 3 rows flat, BO) and sew inside rim.
Seedling:
- Stem: i-cord 2 sts × 1 in (2.5 cm) in brown; plant into center of soil.
- Leaves (make 2): CO 4 in leaf green; Row 1 k; Row 2 kfb, k2, kfb — 6; Row 3 k; Row 4 ssk, k2, k2tog — 4; Row 5 k; Row 6 k2tog twice — 2; BO; sew to stem sides; embroider a vein with one backstitch.
Assembly
- Ears: Pin 3 cm (1¼ in) apart on crown; tilt slightly forward; stitch bases securely.
- Arms: Sew at shoulder line so hands rest at pocket level; keep stuffing light for a natural drape.
- Dress: Slide on sweater first, then pinafore; cross straps in back and secure to waistband.
- Belt: Wrap around waist, pocket centered; attach tool loop at the bunny’s right hip.
- Accessories: Place seed packets inside pocket; hang pruners in loop; stitch watering can into left hand and pot into right hand as in the image for perfect posing.
- Seating: Add a touch of extra stuffing at back of hips before final closing so bunny sits flat on a shelf or windowsill.
Finishing & Blocking
- Light steam the pinafore hem along the folded eyelet line for a rounded, tidy edge.
- Very gently steam the sweater rib to relax without losing elasticity.
- Avoid heavy steam on the bunny body to keep plush fullness; just pat into shape.
- Trim any visible ends; add a tiny cream highlight stitch to each eye for sparkle (optional).
Exact Measurements (photo match)
- Head circumference: 22–23 cm (8¾–9 in)
- Ear length (excluding base flare): 11–12 cm (4¼–4¾ in)
- 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)
- Pinafore drop: 9.5–10 cm (3¾–4 in); bib width ~6 cm (2⅜ in)
- Belt length: 23–25 cm (9–10 in)
- Watering can height: ~5 cm (2 in)
- Pot height: ~4 cm (1½ in)
Troubleshooting
- Ears flop: Add wire or a tiny base dart.
- Pinafore rides up when seated: Add two more skirt rounds before hemming, or steam and pull gently downward.
- Boot toes pointy: Insert a felt/card oval into sole before final decreases.
- Sweater too tight: Increase cast-on by +4 sts and subtract the same across sleeve splits.
- Accessories topple: Secure with a few invisible stitches to hands and belt.
Styling Checklist (to match the image)
- Oatmeal body, cocoa nose/smile; eyes set low and wide.
- Cream ribbed turtleneck, long sleeves with rib cuffs.
- Sage-green pinafore with rounded hem and two small buttons on straps.
- Caramel belt with front pocket + side tool loop; two seed packets visible; gray pruners in loop.
- Brown boots with short rib cuffs.
- Watering can in left hand; terracotta pot with green seedling in right hand.
