Her wardrobe is a delicious mix of Gingerbread Brown and Icing White. She wears a fluffy Cream Puff-Sleeve Sweater tucked underneath a charming Ginger Pinafore Dress. The dress is the star of the show, featuring a hemline and waist decorated with white hand-embroidered “icing” stitches, mimicking the decoration on a cookie. To keep her ears warm while she kneads the dough, she wears a matching Ginger Dutch Bonnet trimmed with white. Her feet are clad in practical Dark Chocolate Mary Janes. She is ready to bake with her own knitted Gingerbread Man cookie, and she has the best helper in the kitchen: a tiny Mouse Chef wearing a tall, professional white toque.

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)

• k – knit
• p – purl
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• kfb – knit front and back (increase 1 stitch)
• m1 – make 1 (lifted increase)
• k2tog – knit 2 stitches together (decrease)
• ssk – slip, slip, knit (decrease)
• MC – Main Color (Oatmeal/Beige for bunny)
• CC – Contrast Colors (Ginger Brown, Cream/White, Dark Brown)

Materials

• Yarn: DK or Light Worsted weight yarn:
  • Oatmeal/Beige: Approx. 50g for the bunny body.
  • Ginger Brown: Approx. 40g for the dress, bonnet, and cookie.
  • Cream/White: Approx. 30g for the sweater, hat trim, mouse apron/hat, and embroidery.
  • Dark Brown: Approx. 15g for shoes.
  • Mouse Grey/Beige: Scrap for the mouse.
• Needles:
  • US 3 (3.25 mm) DPNs or circular needles (Bunny, Shoes, Mouse, Accessories).
  • US 4 (3.5 mm) Straight or circular needles (Clothing).
• Notions: Fiberfill stuffing, tapestry needle, stitch markers, black embroidery floss (eyes), white yarn or heavy floss for “icing” embroidery.

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 3 needles.
• Finished Size: Approximately 14 inches (36 cm) tall from shoes to the top of the ears.

Construction Overview

• Bunny: Worked in the round from the feet up. Legs are knitted separately, then joined to form the hips. The body and head are one continuous piece. Arms and ears are knitted separately and sewn on.
• Pinafore Dress: Worked flat. It features a skirt gathered at the waist and a bib front. The “icing” details are embroidered using chain stitch after knitting.
• Puff Sleeve Sweater: Worked flat or in the round. The sleeves have rapid increases to create volume.
• Dutch Bonnet: Worked flat to frame the face with a contrasting brim.
• Accessories: The Gingerbread Man is a flat 2D shape; the Mouse wears a 3D chef hat.

Bunny Body Instructions

Legs (Make 2)

With Oatmeal yarn and US 3 needles.

Rnd 1: CO 10 sts. Join in the round. k all.

Rnd 2: kfb in every st (20 sts).

Rnds 3–8: k all (Foot).

Rnd 9 (Heel): k10, turn. p10, turn. k10, turn. p10, turn. k all sts to end of rnd.

Rnds 10–35: k all. Stuff foot firmly and leg lightly.

Break yarn for the first leg and place stitches on a holder. Knit the second leg but do not break yarn.

Body

Rnd 36 (Join): k across 10 sts of second leg, CO 4 sts, k across 20 sts of first leg, CO 4 sts, k remaining 10 sts of second leg (48 sts). Join to work in the round.

Rnds 37–48: k all (Hips).

Rnd 49: *k6, k2tog* rep around (42 sts).

Rnds 50–60: k all.

Rnd 61: *k5, k2tog* rep around (36 sts).

Rnds 62–66: k all.

Rnd 67: *k4, k2tog* rep around (30 sts).

Rnd 68: *k3, k2tog* rep around (24 sts).

Rnd 69 (Neck): *k2, k2tog* rep around (18 sts).

Rnds 70–72: k all for neck. Stuff body firmly.

Head

Rnd 73: *k2, m1* rep around (27 sts).

Rnd 74: *k3, m1* rep around (36 sts).

Rnd 75: *k3, m1* rep around (48 sts).

Rnds 76–96: k all. Stuff neck very firmly.

Rnd 97: *k6, k2tog* rep around (42 sts).

Rnd 98: *k5, k2tog* rep around (36 sts).

Rnd 99: *k4, k2tog* rep around (30 sts).

Rnd 100: *k3, k2tog* rep around (24 sts).

Rnd 101: *k2, k2tog* rep around (18 sts).

Rnd 102: k2tog around (9 sts).

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight.

Arms (Make 2)

With Oatmeal yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in round.

Rnd 1: kfb around (16 sts).

Rnds 2–24: k all.

Rnd 25: k2tog, k to last 2 sts, ssk (14 sts).

BO. Stuff lightly and sew to body.

Ears (Make 2)

With Oatmeal yarn, worked flat. CO 12 sts.

Rows 1–35: Stockinette stitch (knit RS, purl WS).

Row 36: ssk, k8, k2tog (10 sts).

Row 37: p all.

Row 38: ssk, k6, k2tog (8 sts).

Row 39: p all.

Row 40: ssk, k4, k2tog (6 sts).

Row 41: ssk, k2, k2tog (4 sts).

BO. Sew to head.

Ginger Pinafore Dress

Worked flat using Ginger Brown yarn and US 4 needles.

Skirt: CO 60 sts.

Rows 1–4: Garter stitch (Hem).

Rows 5–30: Work in Stockinette stitch.

Waist Decrease (RS): *k1, k2tog* rep across (40 sts).

Waistband: Knit 4 rows Garter Stitch.

Bib:

BO 10 sts, k20, BO 10 sts.

Rejoin yarn to the center 20 sts.

Work in Stockinette for 1.5 inches.

Knit 2 rows Garter. BO.

Straps: Pick up 3 sts at corners of the bib. Knit straps long enough to cross at back (approx 5 inches). Sew to waistband.

“Icing” Embroidery:

Using White yarn and a tapestry needle, work a chain stitch or stem stitch in a wavy/zigzag pattern just above the hemline and across the waistband. This creates the “frosted cookie” look.

Cream Puff-Sleeve Sweater

Worked flat from top down using Cream yarn and US 4 needles.

Neck: CO 26 sts. Work 2 rows rib.

Raglan Increases:

Row 3 (RS): k4 (Front), pm, k4 (Sleeve), pm, k10 (Back), pm, k4 (Sleeve), pm, k4 (Front).

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: *k to marker, m1, sm, k1, m1* repeat at all markers, k to end.

Row 6: Purl.

Repeat Rows 5–6 until sleeve sections have 14 sts.

Divide: Work Front, place Sleeve sts on holder, Work Back, place Sleeve sts on holder, Work Front.

Body: Work on body sts for 2 inches. BO.

Puff Sleeves:

Pick up sleeve sts.

Next Row: *k1, m1* across (Increase to make it puffy).

Work 6 rows Stockinette.

Decrease Row: *k2tog* across.

Work 2 rows Garter (Cuff). BO.

Sew sleeve seams.

Ginger Dutch Bonnet

With Cream/White (Brim) and Ginger (Main).

Brim: With Cream, CO 46 sts.

Rows 1–4: Garter stitch.

Bonnet Body: Change to Ginger.

Work in Stockinette stitch for 2 inches.

Back Shaping:

Row 1: *k4, k2tog* across.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: *k3, k2tog* across.

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: *k2, k2tog* across.

Row 6: Purl.

Row 7: *k1, k2tog* across.

Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts. Sew back seam.

Ties: Attach Ginger yarn braided ties to the corners.

Dark Chocolate Shoes

Make 2. With Dark Brown yarn and US 3 needles.

Sole: CO 10 sts. Knit 12 rows Garter. Round toe. BO.

Upper: Pick up 32 sts around sole.

Rnds 1–3: Knit all.

Rnd 4 (Toe): k10, (k2tog) 6 times, k10 (26 sts).

Rnd 5: BO all sts.

Strap: Chain a small strap across the instep.

Kitchen Accessories

Gingerbread Man Cookie

With Ginger Brown yarn. Worked flat.

Legs (Make 2): CO 4 sts. Knit 4 rows. Break yarn.

Body: Knit across leg 1, cast on 1 st, knit across leg 2 (9 sts).

Knit 6 rows.

Arms: Cast on 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows (15 sts).

Knit 2 rows.

Bind off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows (7 sts).

Head: Knit 4 rows.

Dec 1 st at each end. BO remaining sts.

Decoration: Embroider white eyes, mouth, and 3 buttons down the front.

Chef Mouse

With Grey/Beige yarn.

Body: CO 6 sts. Inc to 12. Knit 5 rounds. Dec to 6. Stuff. Close.

Head: Pick up 4 sts. Inc to 10. Knit 3 rounds. Dec to 4. Close.

Chef Hat (Toque): With White yarn.

CO 10 sts. Join in round.

Rnd 1: *kfb* in every st (20 sts).

Rnd 2: *k1, m1* around (30 sts – Puffy top).

Rnds 3–6: Knit all.

Rnd 7: *k2tog* around (15 sts).

Rnd 8: *k2tog* until 8 sts remain (Brim).

Knit 2 rounds for the band. BO.

Sew the hat onto the mouse’s head.

Final Assembly

• Face: Embroider warm, sweet eyes. Use brown thread for a nose.
• Dressing: Put on the cream sweater. Layer the ginger pinafore over it. Put on the dark brown shoes. Place the bonnet on the head.
• Props: Tack the gingerbread man to the bunny’s hand. Place the chef mouse by her side.

Your “Gingerbread Baker” Bunny is ready to mix the dough! Happy knitting.