Berry Picnic Bunny is a soft knitted rabbit in a strawberry-themed outfit: a red pinafore dress, green Mary Jane shoes, a cream bucket hat with a tiny strawberry, and a matching red handbag. She comes with a mini picnic blanket, strawberries, and a little sandwich for her sunny day out.
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
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- k – knit
- p – purl
- kfb – knit front and back (increase 1)
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease 1)
- ssk – slip, slip, knit (decrease 1)
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
- pm – place marker
- sm – slip marker
Materials
- DK or light worsted weight yarn with good stitch definition:
- Cream: bunny body, hat
- Red: dress, bag, strawberries, blanket checks
- Green: shoes, leaves, “seeds” on dress
- Small amount dark brown or black: facial embroidery
- Small amount light beige/cream: sandwich
- Needles:
- 2.75 mm (US 2) circular or DPNs for tight toy fabric
- 3.0–3.25 mm (US 3) optional for dress and hat
- Stuffing (polyester fiberfill)
- 2 safety eyes, 6–8 mm
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Optional tiny button(s) for decorative dress straps (sew firmly if used)
The sample is worked mainly in the round using magic loop, but you can use DPNs if you prefer.
Gauge & Finished Size
- Approx. 28 sts × 36 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette with 2.75 mm needles, worked in the round.
- Finished bunny stands about 8–9 in (20–23 cm) tall, not including ears.
Exact gauge is not critical for toys, but a firm fabric is important so stuffing does not show.
Construction Overview
The bunny is worked from the feet up: legs in the round, joined into the body, then the head is shaped directly above the neck. Arms, ears and tail are knitted separately and sewn on. Clothes and accessories are also knitted separately so you can pose and style the toy.
All shaping is simple knits, purls, increases and decreases, so this pattern is approachable for an adventurous beginner comfortable working in the round.
Bunny: Legs, Body & Head
Legs (make 2, cream, in the round)
CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rnd 1: kfb around – 16 sts.
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) around – 24 sts.
Rnds 3–8: knit.
Rnd 9: (k4, k2tog) around – 20 sts.
Rnd 10: (k3, k2tog) around – 16 sts.
Stuff the foot firmly. Continue up the leg:
Rnds 11–24: knit straight.
Stuff the leg lightly as you go. Break yarn for the first leg and place its 16 sts on a holder. Work the second leg the same but do not break the yarn.
Join for Body
With sts of second leg on the needles:
Knit 16 sts of second leg, CO 4 sts, knit 16 sts from first leg, CO 4 sts – 40 sts total. Place a marker for the start of round at center back.
Rnds 1–12: knit.
Increase for tummy:
Rnd 13: (k4, kfb) around – 48 sts.
Rnds 14–23: knit.
Shape upper body and neck:
Rnd 24: (k4, k2tog) around – 40 sts.
Rnds 25–26: knit.
Rnd 27: (k3, k2tog) around – 32 sts.
Rnd 28: knit.
Rnd 29: (k2, k2tog) around – 24 sts.
This is the neck. Knit 3 more rnds even on 24 sts. Stuff body firmly up to the neck.
Head (continue in cream)
Increase for lower head:
Rnd 1: (k2, kfb) around – 32 sts.
Rnd 2: (k3, kfb) around – 40 sts.
Rnd 3: (k4, kfb) around – 48 sts.
Rnds 4–16: knit straight for a smooth round head.
Begin shaping the top:
Rnd 17: (k4, k2tog) around – 40 sts.
Rnd 18: knit.
Rnd 19: (k3, k2tog) around – 32 sts.
Rnd 20: knit.
Pause here to place the safety eyes: position them about 5–6 rnds down from the very top of the head, about 9–10 sts apart. Begin stuffing the head, building a slightly rounded muzzle at the front.
Continue decreasing:
Rnd 21: (k2, k2tog) around – 24 sts.
Rnd 22: (k1, k2tog) around – 16 sts.
Rnd 23: k2tog around – 8 sts.
Finish stuffing the head firmly but not over-stuffed. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight and secure inside.
Bunny: Arms (make 2)
Using cream and 2.75 mm needles, work in the round.
CO 8 sts. Join.
Rnd 1: kfb around – 16 sts.
Rnds 2–5: knit for the hand.
Rnd 6: (k2, k2tog) around – 12 sts.
Rnds 7–20: knit straight.
Stuff hand and lower part of arm lightly; leave the top mostly unstuffed so it lies nicely at the shoulder. BO all sts, leaving a long tail. Flatten the top when sewing to the body.
Bunny: Ears (make 2)
Using cream, in the round or flat (your choice). Instructions assume in the round.
CO 10 sts.
Rnd 1: kfb around – 20 sts.
Rnds 2–6: knit.
Rnd 7: (k3, k2tog) around – 16 sts.
Rnds 8–12: knit.
Rnd 13: (k2, k2tog) around – 12 sts.
Rnds 14–16: knit.
Rnd 17: (k1, k2tog) around – 8 sts.
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts, pull tight. Do not stuff; flatten the ear, shaping a gentle curve.
Bunny: Tail
Using cream:
CO 6 sts. Join.
Rnd 1: kfb around – 12 sts.
Rnds 2–3: knit.
Rnd 4: (k2tog) around – 6 sts.
Stuff lightly. Cut yarn, pull through remaining sts and secure.
Dress (Red Pinafore)
Use red yarn and 3.0–3.25 mm needles in the round.
CO 84 sts. Join. Place marker.
Rnds 1–4: (k2, p2) rib.
Rnds 5–20: knit for the skirt.
Waist shaping:
Rnd 21: (k5, k2tog) around – 72 sts.
Rnd 22: knit.
Rnd 23: (k4, k2tog) around – 60 sts.
Rnd 24: knit.
Next rnd: k15, BO 30, k15. You now have 15 sts for the back and 15 for the front bib. Work back and forth in rows.
Back
With WS facing, work only on the first set of 15 sts.
Row 1 (WS): purl.
Row 2 (RS): k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 – 13 sts.
Rows 3–6: repeat Rows 1–2 two more times – 9 sts.
Rows 7–10: work in stockinette with no shaping (RS knit, WS purl).
BO all 9 sts. This back panel sits under the straps.
Front Bib
Rejoin yarn to remaining 15 sts with RS facing.
Row 1 (RS): knit.
Row 2 (WS): purl.
Row 3 (RS): k1, kfb, knit to last 1 st, kfb, k1 – 17 sts.
Row 4: purl.
Rows 5–10: work in stockinette with no further increases until bib measures about 1¼ in (3 cm) from waist, ending with a WS row.
BO all sts.
Straps (make 2)
With RS facing, pick up 5 sts along the top left corner of the bib.
Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for about 3½–4 in (9–10 cm), or long enough to reach the back panel comfortably over the bunny’s shoulder. BO.
Make a second strap from the top right corner of the bib. Cross straps if desired and sew their ends securely to the top corners of the back panel.
Pocket and Strawberry Details
Pocket: on one side of the skirt, pick up 6 sts about midway down.
Row 1 (RS): knit.
Row 2 (WS): purl.
Rows 3–4: repeat Rows 1–2.
BO. Sew sides and bottom of pocket to skirt.
With green yarn, embroider tiny V-shaped “seeds” scattered over the skirt. On the center of the bib, embroider a small red triangle (a few duplicate stitches) and add green straight stitches at the top for leaves to form a little strawberry.
Hat (Cream Bucket Hat)
Use cream yarn and 3.0–3.25 mm needles in the round.
CO 64 sts. Join, pm.
Rnds 1–6: knit.
First brim increase:
Rnd 7: (k7, kfb) around – 72 sts.
Rnds 8–10: knit.
Second brim increase:
Rnd 11: (k5, kfb) around – 84 sts.
Rnds 12–16: knit for a soft, slightly flared brim.
Shape crown:
Rnd 17: (k5, k2tog) around – 72 sts.
Rnd 18: knit.
Rnd 19: (k4, k2tog) around – 60 sts.
Rnd 20: knit.
Rnd 21: (k3, k2tog) around – 48 sts.
Rnd 22: knit.
Rnd 23: (k2, k2tog) around – 36 sts.
Rnd 24: knit.
Rnd 25: (k1, k2tog) around – 24 sts.
Rnd 26: k2tog around – 12 sts.
Rnd 27: k2tog around – 6 sts.
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts and secure.
Strawberry Appliqué for Hat
With red yarn, work flat:
CO 6 sts.
Row 1 (RS): knit.
Row 2: purl.
Row 3: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1 – 5 sts.
Row 4: purl.
Row 5: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog – 4 sts.
Row 6: purl.
Row 7: k2tog twice – 2 sts.
Row 8: p2tog – 1 st.
Fasten off. With green yarn, embroider a small crown of leaves at the top. Sew the strawberry securely to one side of the hat.
Shoes (Green Mary Janes – make 2)
Use green yarn and 2.75 mm needles in the round.
CO 18 sts. Join.
Rnd 1: knit.
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) around – 27 sts.
Rnd 3: knit.
Rnd 4: (k2, kfb) around – 36 sts.
Rnds 5–7: knit.
Toe shaping:
Rnd 8: k12, (k2tog) 6 times, k12 – 30 sts.
Rnd 9: knit.
Rnd 10: k9, (k2tog) 6 times, k9 – 24 sts.
Rnd 11: knit.
Heel worked flat:
Row 12 (RS): k18, turn, leaving 6 sts unworked for the top of the foot.
Row 13 (WS): p12, turn.
Row 14: k12, turn.
Rows 15–16: repeat Rows 13–14 once more.
Next RS row: knit across 12, pick up and knit 6 sts along the side of the heel gap, then knit the remaining 6 instep sts – 24 sts around again.
Rnds 1–3 of cuff: (k3, p1) around.
Bind off loosely.
Strap
On the outer side of the shoe, pick up 5 sts just above the cuff.
Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for about 1 in (2.5 cm) to cross the instep. BO. Sew end to opposite side of shoe, forming the Mary Jane strap.
Handbag (Red)
Use red yarn and 3.0 mm needles, worked flat.
CO 14 sts.
Row 1 (RS): knit.
Row 2 (WS): k2, p10, k2.
Repeat Rows 1–2 until piece measures about 2¾ in (7 cm), ending with a WS row.
BO, leaving a long tail. Fold the bottom up so about two-thirds of the length forms the bag body and the remaining third forms the flap. Sew side seams of the bottom section only. The top section folds down over the opening.
Handle:
CO 30 sts and BO knitwise to make a sturdy strip. Sew each end to the upper corners of the bag body to create a short handle that fits in the bunny’s hand.
Picnic Blanket
Use cream and red yarn.
CO 18 sts in cream.
Rows 1–4: knit (garter border).
Row 5 (RS): k3 in cream, k3 red, k3 cream; repeat between * * once more, k3 cream.
Row 6 (WS): maintain colors as established, knitting all sts and carrying yarn loosely across the back.
Repeat Rows 5–6 until you have 12 rows of check pattern. Finish with:
Rows last 1–4: knit in cream. BO loosely.
Weave in all ends neatly on the WS. Lightly block to a square.
Tiny Strawberries (make 2–3)
Using red yarn:
CO 6 sts. Join in the round.
Rnd 1: knit.
Rnd 2: kfb around – 12 sts.
Rnds 3–4: knit.
Rnd 5: (k2, k2tog) around – 9 sts.
Rnd 6: (k1, k2tog) around – 6 sts.
Stuff lightly.
Rnd 7: k2tog around – 3 sts. Cut yarn, pull through remaining sts and tighten.
With green yarn, embroider leaf crowns at the top and optional tiny “seed” stitches in a slightly lighter shade.
Tiny Sandwich
With beige or cream yarn, worked flat:
CO 8 sts.
Rows 1–8: knit (garter stitch).
From now on, decrease at both edges on RS rows:
Next RS row: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, ssk.
WS rows: knit.
Repeat decrease row every RS row until 2 sts remain. K2tog and fasten off.
Make a second identical triangle. Embroider a thin green line across the middle of one piece to suggest lettuce. Place the two triangles together and whipstitch around the edges for a thicker sandwich.
Assembly & Finishing
- Sew arms to the body just below the neck, angling them slightly forward so the bunny can “hold” her bag or a strawberry.
- Sew ears to the top of the head, slightly toward the back so they tilt gently forward.
- Stitch the tail to the center of the lower back so it peeks below the dress.
Embroider the face with dark yarn: a small upside-down triangle or simple “V” for the nose centered between the eyes, and a short vertical stitch down with a little smile.
Dress the bunny: slide on the red pinafore, settle the waist at the narrowest part of the body, and adjust the straps. Put on the green shoes, set the hat on the head with the strawberry motif to one side, and hang the little bag over one arm.
Arrange the picnic blanket at her feet, scatter the tiny strawberries, and place the sandwich on top. Your Berry Picnic Bunny is ready for photos in natural light on a wooden table, sofa, or garden corner – a soft, pastel knit friend with beautifully visible stitches and a full picnic scene.
