Introduction
Meet the Honeybee Market Bunny—a pastel, hand-knit plush styled for a farmers’ market day. She wears a mustard ribbed beanie with tiny brown bee-antennae nubs, a cream short-sleeve tee, a bobbly honeycomb pinafore with a little bee motif, mint mitts, sage dotted neck scarf, mint leg warmers, and golden Mary Jane shoes with brown soles. Accessories include a lattice honey tote and a removeable honey jar.
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 Study
- Overall height (standing): ~10–10.5 in (25–27 cm).
- Head: Round-oval; head ≈ 40–42% of total height. Cheeks softly padded.
- Ears: Upright and slightly splayed; bases sit behind the beanie edge so ears remain visible.
- Face: Small black eyes centered mid-head; chocolate nose and short smile.
- Body: Gentle cylinder with a firm, flattened seat (invisible when standing but helpful for stability).
- Arms: Slim tubes, light stuffing at hands only; mitts end at mid-palm.
- Legs/Feet: Short columns; visible cream socks/leg warmers; Mary Jane shoes—mustard uppers, brown sole/edge.
- Garments:
- Pinafore: A-line, above-knee; dense seed-stitch hem; bobble “nectar cells” and zig-zag rows; tiny bee applique at right chest.
- Tee: Cream, boxy; rolled cuffs.
- Beanie: Mustard 1×1 rib brim; smooth crown; two small brown antenna nubs on top.
- Neck Scarf: Sage with tiny cream polka dots; tied to the back/side.
- Accessories: Honey tote (hex lattice) with a cylindrical jar; jar lid is mustard.
- Gauge look: Firm toy fabric—no stuffing peeks. Target 26 sts × 36 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in stockinette on US 2½ (3.0 mm).
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- k – knit
- p – purl
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- inc – kfb (knit front & back) unless noted
- dec – k2tog (knit 2 together)
- ssk – slip, slip, knit
- pm / sm – place marker / slip marker
- BO / CO – bind off / cast on
- yo – yarn over
- dpn – double-pointed needles
- M1L / M1R – make one left / make one right
- i-cord – knit stitches without turning; slide back each row
Materials
- Yarn (DK / 8-ply, smooth, non-fuzzy):
- Bunny: Cream/off-white, 60 g
- Tee: Cream, 20 g
- Pinafore: Mustard 25 g + Chocolate brown 8 g (contrast) + Cream scrap (bee wing)
- Beanie: Mustard 12 g + Brown 3 g (antennae)
- Mitts & scarf & leg warmers: Mint/sage, 18 g total + Cream scrap for dots
- Shoes: Mustard 12 g + Brown 8 g
- Tote: Mustard 12 g + Honey jar: Cream 6 g + Mustard 3 g
- Face: Chocolate scrap
- Needles: US 2½ (3.0 mm) circular or DPNs for body/clothes; US 1½ (2.5 mm) for i-cord/edgings and small details.
- Notions: 8–9 mm safety eyes; polyester stuffing; locking markers; tapestry needle; tiny snap (optional for tote); fabric-safe blush.
Construction Overview
Head (top-down) → Neck → Torso (close bottom) → Pick up legs & work shoes → Arms (separate) → Upright ears (separate) → Tail → Face → Beanie with antennae → Tee → Pinafore with bobbles/zigzags & bee → Mitts, scarf, leg warmers → Honey tote & jar → Dress and finish.
Head (Cream)
CO 8, join.
Rnd 1: kfb around (16)
Rnd 2: k
Rnd 3: k1, kfb around (24)
Rnd 4: k
Rnd 5: k2, kfb around (32)
Rnd 6: k
Rnd 7: k3, kfb around (40)
Rnd 8: k
Rnd 9: k4, kfb around (48)
Rnd 10: k
Rnd 11: k5, kfb around (56)
Work even until depth from CO = 2¼” (5.7 cm). Insert safety eyes 7 rnds below last inc, 10 sts apart. Start stuffing, building cheek pads.
Lower head & neck
Next rnd: k6, k2tog around (49)
Next rnd: k
Next rnd: k5, k2tog around (42)
Add stuffing.
Next rnd: k4, k2tog around (35)
Next rnd: k3, k2tog around (28) → neck established.
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Torso (Cream)
Inc evenly by 9 sts to 37; k 1 rnd even.
Inc evenly by 7 sts to 44; k 12 rnds even (~2″).
Hip widen: [k6, M1R] x6 → 50 sts; k 4 rnds even.
Bottom close:
k7, k2tog (44) → k6, k2tog (38) → k5, k2tog (32). Stuff firm.
k4, k2tog (26) → k3, k2tog (21) → k2, k2tog (16) → k2tog around (8). Draw closed. Form a slightly flat seat from inside.
Legs, Socks & Mary Jane Shoes
Turn body upside-down. With Cream, pick up 8 sts for each leg (16 total), centered. Work legs one at a time.
Leg (Cream):
Knit 8 rnds.
Ankle: k2, k2tog twice (6). Work 2 rnds even.
Shoe – brown sole, mustard upper
Rnd 1 (Brown): kfb around (12)
Rnd 2: k
Rnd 3: k1, kfb around (18)
Rnd 4: k; switch to Mustard and knit 2 rnds; stuff foot.
Toe: [k2, k2tog] x4, k2 (14) → next rnd [k1, k2tog] x4, k2 (10) → k2tog around (5). Draw closed.
Foxing/edge: With Brown, pick up 18–20 sts around shoe at color change; k 2 rnds; BO.
Mary Jane strap: With Mustard, pick up 5 sts across instep; k 2 rows; BO and sew ends to sides. Repeat for second foot.
Arms (make 2, Cream)
CO 6.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12)
Rnd 2–10: k; lightly stuff hand only.
Rnd 11: k2, k2tog around (9)
Rnd 12–18: k (upper arm unstuffed). BO, flatten top, sew to body 1 rnd below neck, angled slightly forward.
Upright Ears (make 2, Cream)
CO 10.
Rnd 1: kfb, k3 twice (12)
Rnd 2: k
Rnd 3: k1, kfb, k3 twice (14)
Rnd 4–12: k even.
Taper: k1, k2tog, k3 twice (12) → k 1 rnd → k2tog, k3 twice (10) → k 1 rnd → k2tog, k2 twice (8). BO. Pinch bases; sew nearly vertical with a tiny forward tilt so they rise above the beanie.
Tail
CO 6; kfb around (12); k 3 rnds; k2tog around (6). Stuff lightly; sew to lower back.
Mustard Beanie with Antennae
CO 56 in Mustard; join.
Rnds 1–8: k1 p1 rib (folded look).
Rnds 9–12: k even.
Crown:
- k6, k2tog (49)
- k 1 rnd
- k5, k2tog (42)
- k4, k2tog (35)
- k3, k2tog (28)
- k2, k2tog (21)
- k1, k2tog (14)
- k2tog around (7). Draw tight.
Antennae (Brown, make 2): CO 3, i-cord 10 rows; BO. Coil ends into tiny nubs; sew closely together on top-center.
Mint Mitts (make 2)
CO 18 in Mint; join.
Rnds 1–4: k1 p1 rib.
Rnds 5–10: k. BO. Slide onto hands so rib sits at wrist.
Sage Dotted Scarf
CO 48 in Sage; knit flat.
Rows 1–4: garter (k all rows).
Rows 5–8: St st with cream duplicate-stitch dots scattered later (about 14–16 small dots).
Rows 9–12: garter. BO. Tie loosely behind neck; ends hang to the front left.
Mint Leg Warmers (make 2)
CO 20; join.
Rnds 1–3: k1 p1 rib.
Rnds 4–12: k. BO. Position just above the shoes.
Cream Tee (boxy, rolled sleeves)
CO 76 in Cream; join.
Rnds 1–3: k1 p1 rib.
Rnds 4–16: k even.
Divide to work flat for armholes: split 38/38.
Back: Rows 1–8 St st; BO 4 at start of next 2 rows (30 remain); work 2 rows even; hold.
Front: Work to match (30).
Join shoulders with three-needle BO 4 sts each side; pick up around neck and work k1 p1 rib 2 rows; BO.
Sleeves: Pick up 36 sts around each armhole; k 4 rnds; BO—edges roll outward.
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Honeycomb Pinafore (A-line with bobbles & zigzags)
Skirt Hem & Body (Mustard, in the round):
CO 96; join.
Hem band: [k1, p1] for 4 rnds; then 2 rnds seed stitch (k1/p1 staggered) for a sturdy edge.
Decrease to A-line start: [k10, k2tog] around → 88 sts.
Honeycomb texture section (approx. mid-skirt):
Repeat the following 12-rnd pattern twice:
- Rnd 1: k around.
- Rnd 2: k4, bobble, k4, bobble repeat.
Small Bobble: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) into one st; turn p5; turn k5; turn p2tog, p1, p2tog; return to round.
- Rnd 3: k.
- Rnd 4: with Brown, k2, p2, k2, p2 (subtle cell wall).
- Rnd 5: k Mustard.
- Rnd 6: offset bobbles: k, bobble, k4, bobble, k3; repeat.
- Rnd 7: k.
- Rnd 8: with Brown, p2, k2 repeat.
9–12. Rnds: k Mustard.
Zigzag band (just above honeycomb):
With Brown: [k3, p1, k3, p1] for 2 rnds (the purl ditches read as zigzag troughs). Switch back to Mustard.
Waist taper: [k9, k2tog] around → 80 sts; k 2 rnds even.
Bib pickup line: Work 1 rnd purl (visible ridge at waist).
Upper skirt: k 3 rnds even; BO front 36 and back 36? Instead, keep in round and stop here; we’ll pick up for the bib.
Bib (front only):
At center front, pick up 22 sts along the purl ridge.
Row 1 (RS) k across.
Row 2 (WS) p.
Row 3: k.
Row 4: p.
Row 5 (shape top): k2tog, k to last 2, ssk.
Rows 6–7: work even.
Repeat Rows 5–7 two more times → 16 sts remain.
Work 4 rows even; BO.
Straps (make 2, Mustard):
Pick up 5 sts at back waist where straps start. Work i-cord 18 rows. BO. Cross over shoulders and sew to top corners of the bib.
Bee applique (right chest):
- Body: Duplicate stitch two horizontal brown bars (3–4 sts wide).
- Head: a tiny brown knot stitch.
- Wing: 2–3 cream duplicate stitches set diagonally.
Honey Tote (Lattice) & Honey Jar
Tote base (Mustard):
CO 6; join.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12)
Rnd 2: k1, kfb around (18)
Rnd 3: k2, kfb around (24)
Rnd 4: k tbl (firm edge).
Lattice walls (create hex look):
Rnd A: (yo, k2tog, k2, yo, ssk, k2) repeat.
Rnd B: k.
Repeat Rnd A–B 5 times for height.
Rim: k 3 rnds in Mustard; BO.
Handle: CO 3; i-cord 24 rows; BO and attach to opposite rim points.
Honey Jar (fits tote):
Jar body (Cream): CO 16; join; k 10 rnds.
Shoulder: k2tog around (8) → k 1 rnd.
Lid (Mustard): switch color; k 2 rnds; k2tog around (4); draw closed. Optionally embroider a tiny “drip” in golden yellow.
Dressing Order & Final Details
- Put on tee first; seam at back.
- Slide on pinafore; cross and attach straps to bib corners.
- Add mitts, leg warmers, and tie the scarf with dots facing outward.
- Fit beanie low on forehead; ears remain visible; antennae centered.
- Slip jar into the lattice tote and place tote in the left paw (a discreet tack stitch inside the palm helps for photos).
- Embroider face with chocolate yarn: tiny V-nose and short smile. Add a light blush to cheeks if desired.
Blocking & Care
Light steam the garments and accessories only (avoid steaming the stuffed body). Shape the beanie crown, pinafore bib corners, and tote rim while warm. Spot-clean with cool water and mild soap; air-dry flat. Store accessories separately to preserve crisp textures (bobble honeycomb and lattice).
Quick Photo-Match Checklist
- Cream bunny with upright ears; black eyes; small brown smile.
- Mustard beanie with two tiny brown antennae.
- Cream tee with short rolled sleeves.
- Mustard honeycomb pinafore: bobbles offset in cells, brown zigzag bands, seed-stitch hem; tiny bee on right chest.
- Mint mitts, sage dotted scarf, mint leg warmers.
- Mary Jane shoes: mustard uppers, brown sole edge.
- Honey tote with hex lattice + removable cream jar with mustard lid.
