Riverside Picnic Bunny is a tiny knitted rabbit enjoying a calm picnic by a miniature stream. She has a soft cream body, a sage green top, a pale oatmeal skirt, a straw-colored sunhat, simple cream shoes, and two little brown picnic baskets.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- CO – cast on
- BO – bind off
- k – knit
- p – purl
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- row(s) – row(s)
- kfb – knit front and back (increase 1)
- m1 – make one (lifted increase)
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
- ssk – slip, slip, knit
- dec – decrease
- inc – increase
- PM – place marker
- rep – repeat
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
- st st – stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS; knit every rnd in the round)
- dpn(s) – double-pointed needle(s)
Materials
- DK-weight yarn (smooth, non-fuzzy) in:
- Cream for bunny body and shoes (approx. 20 g)
- Sage green for top (approx. 10 g)
- Pale oatmeal or light beige for skirt and hat (approx. 15 g)
- Warm brown for baskets (approx. 10 g)
- Tiny amount of peach/pink for nose embroidery
- US 2 (2.75 mm) dpns or circular needles for knitting in the round
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Pair of 6 mm black safety eyes (or embroidery thread if you prefer sewn eyes)
- Optional: a little blush for cheeks
- Real miniature props for your scene (plate, bread, blanket, rocks, grass, stream, etc. — these are not knit)
Gauge & Finished Size
- Approx. 26 sts and 36 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in st st in the round.
- Finished height: about 4.5 in (11–12 cm) from feet to ear tips.
Knit tightly enough so stuffing does not show through.
Construction Overview
The bunny is worked in separate pieces: head, body, legs, arms, ears, and tail are all knit in the round and sewn together. Clothes and accessories are knit individually so they can be removed: a sage green short-sleeved top, an oatmeal flared skirt, a wide-brim sunhat, simple cream shoes, and two brown picnic baskets.
Only the bunny and her outfit/accessories are knit. All other picnic details (blanket, bread, plate, river, grass, rocks, fence) should be real miniature objects to keep the miniature-world feeling.
Stuff firmly but keep the silhouette soft and rounded, matching the cozy plush look in the photo.
Bunny Pattern
Legs (make 2)
Using cream and dpns, CO 10 sts. Join to work in the round, PM for beginning.
Rnd 1: k.
Rnd 2: k1, kfb rep around (15 sts).
Rnd 3–5: k (shaping the rounded foot).
Rnd 6: k3, k2tog rep around (12 sts).
Rnd 7–8: k.
Rnd 9: k2, k2tog rep around (9 sts).
Rnd 10–20: k (straight lower leg).
Stuff the foot and lower leg firmly, leaving the top 2–3 rnds soft. Break yarn, leaving a long tail to sew to the body later. Set aside and make a second leg.
Body
Using cream, CO 24 sts. Join in the round, PM.
Rnd 1–4: k.
Rnd 5: k3, kfb rep around (30 sts).
Rnd 6–10: k (plump tummy).
Rnd 11: k3, k2tog rep around (24 sts).
Rnd 12–14: k.
Rnd 15: k2, k2tog rep around (18 sts).
Rnd 16: k.
Rnd 17: k1, k2tog rep around (12 sts).
Stuff body firmly, shaping it as a soft egg with a slightly narrower top.
Break yarn, leaving a tail. You will use these 12 sts later to attach the head, so do not close the opening completely; just cinch lightly to keep stuffing inside.
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Head
Using cream, CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12 sts).
Rnd 2: k1, kfb around (18 sts).
Rnd 3: k2, kfb around (24 sts).
Rnd 4: k3, kfb around (30 sts).
Rnd 5–12: k all (smooth round head).
Place safety eyes between rnds 7 and 8, about 6 sts apart. Embroider a tiny triangle nose with a short vertical stitch below it between the eyes. Add a very small “Y” mouth if you like.
Rnd 13: k3, k2tog around (24 sts).
Rnd 14: k.
Rnd 15: k2, k2tog around (18 sts).
Rnd 16: k1, k2tog around (12 sts).
Stuff the head very firmly to keep it nicely rounded.
Rnd 17: k2tog around (6 sts).
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts, pull tight to close, and weave in just enough to secure.
Using the tail from the top of the body, sew the base of the head to the body opening, keeping the head slightly forward-leaning, just like the attentive pose in the picnic scene.
Arms (make 2)
Using cream, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
Rnd 1: k1, kfb around (12 sts).
Rnd 2–3: k.
Rnd 4: k2, k2tog around (9 sts).
Rnd 5–16: k (slender arm tube).
Lightly stuff, keeping the upper third softer so it curves naturally.
Rnd 17: k1, k2tog around (6 sts).
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts, pull tight, and flatten the top.
Sew arms to each side of the body, just below the head. Angle them slightly forward so the bunny can “hold” her picnic baskets.
Ears (make 2)
Using cream, CO 8 sts. Work in the round.
Rnd 1–2: k.
Rnd 3: k1, kfb around (12 sts).
Rnd 4–8: k.
Rnd 9: k2, k2tog around (9 sts).
Rnd 10–12: k.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread through all sts, pull enough to round the upper tip, and flatten the ear. Do not stuff.
Attach ears to the sides of the top of the head, slightly angled outward and a bit forward so they peek out above the brim of the hat.
Tail
Using cream, CO 6 sts. Work in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12 sts).
Rnd 2–3: k.
Rnd 4: k2tog around (6 sts).
Lightly stuff and close with yarn tail. Sew tail low on the back of the body so it will still peek out under the skirt.
Clothing & Accessories
Sage Picnic Top
The top is a simple short-sleeved sweater with a soft rounded neck.
Using sage green, CO 30 sts. Join in the round.
Rnd 1–3: k1, p1 rib.
Rnd 4–10: k (body of top).
Divide for armholes and upper chest; from here work flat:
Row 11 (RS): k15, turn, leaving remaining 15 sts on holder or spare needle.
Row 12 (WS): p15.
Row 13 (RS): k15.
Row 14 (WS): p15.
BO these 15 sts.
Return to the held sts for the back.
Row 11 (RS): k15.
Row 12 (WS): p15.
Row 13 (RS): k15.
Row 14 (WS): p15.
BO these 15 sts.
With RS facing, use sage yarn to pick up around the armhole edges to create little cuff bands:
For each armhole, pick up about 14 sts evenly.
Rnd 1–2: k.
BO loosely.
Sew the side seams and shoulder edges to close the top. Try it on the bunny: it should sit just below mid-body, with a soft, slightly cropped fit like in the photo.
Oatmeal Picnic Skirt
The skirt is flared and high-waisted, covering the top of the legs and sitting just under the bunny’s top.
Using pale oatmeal, CO 60 sts. Join in the round.
Rnd 1: k.
Rnd 2: k4, kfb around (72 sts).
Rnd 3–10: k (gently flared skirt).
Rnd 11: k5, k2tog around (60 sts).
Rnd 12–13: k.
Rnd 14: k1, p1 rib around for waistband.
Rnd 15–16: repeat rnd 14.
BO loosely in rib.
Slide the skirt up over the bunny’s legs so the waistband sits at her natural waist, overlapping slightly over the bottom edge of the green top. The flare should match the soft A-line silhouette in the reference image.
If you want a more apron-like look, you can gently steam or finger-press a slight flat area at the front while the sides flare out.
Wide-Brim Sunhat
Using oatmeal, CO 40 sts. Join in the round.
Rnd 1–3: k1, p1 rib for the inner band that hugs around the head.
Rnd 4–6: k.
Begin brim increases:
Rnd 7: k4, kfb around (48 sts).
Rnd 8–9: k.
Rnd 10: k5, kfb around (56 sts).
Rnd 11–12: k.
Rnd 13: k6, kfb around (64 sts).
Rnd 14–16: k.
BO loosely.
Place hat on bunny’s head so the brim is almost flat but with a soft droop at the edge, echoing the straw sunhat look. The ears should sit just inside the back of the brim, poking above the top.
Cream Picnic Shoes (Ballet Flats)
Make 2.
Using cream, CO 14 sts. Work flat.
Row 1 (WS): purl.
Row 2: kfb, k12, kfb (16 sts).
Row 3: p.
Row 4: kfb, k14, kfb (18 sts).
Row 5: p.
Row 6: k all.
Row 7: p all.
Shape toe:
Row 8 (RS): k2tog, k14, ssk (16 sts).
Row 9: p.
Row 10: k2tog, k12, ssk (14 sts).
Row 11: p.
Row 12: k2tog, k10, ssk (12 sts).
Row 13 (RS – top edge): k.
Row 14 (WS): p.
BO all sts.
Fold the shoe in half lengthwise and sew up the back seam and around the sole with mattress stitch. Leave the top opening slightly oval so the bunny’s foot slips in and the shape reads as simple ballet flats, like in the picnic photo.
Put a shoe on each foot, adjusting the seam so it sits at the back.
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Picnic Baskets (make 2)
Each basket is worked from the base up in the round in warm brown.
CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12 sts).
Rnd 2: k1, kfb around (18 sts).
Rnd 3: k.
Rnd 4: k5, k2tog around (15 sts).
Rnd 5–8: k (straight sides).
Rnd 9: k1, p1 around for a slightly textured rim.
Rnd 10: k1, p1 around again.
BO all sts.
For the handle, CO 16 sts, BO, and sew each end to opposite sides of the basket opening to create a small arch. Make two baskets.
Place one in each paw by lightly tacking the handle to the inside of the bunny’s hand, or leave them loose so she can “carry” them in different poses.
Remember: the bread, plate, and picnic blanket in your scene should be real miniatures, not knit.
Finishing & Styling
Weave in all visible yarn tails, smoothing them into the stuffing. Slip the sage top onto the bunny, then pull the skirt up so the waistband meets the top neatly. Position the shoes, set the hat on her head, and arrange the baskets in her paws.
Set Riverside Picnic Bunny on a small checkered blanket beside miniature stones and a tiny river made from resin, glass, or other real materials. With soft morning light and shallow depth of field, she will look just like the ultra-detailed knitted bunny in the photo, ready for her quiet riverside picnic.
