The Honey Bee Keeper Bunny is a celebration of sunny days and sweet gardens. This adorable rabbit features soft oatmeal fur and is dressed in a cheerful ensemble designed for tending to the hives. She wears a light yellow dress with a delicate honeycomb eyelet lace skirt, paired with a creamy white cropped cardigan adorned with tiny daisy buttons. Her outfit is topped with a sunny yellow wool bucket hat featuring a tiny embroidered bee on the brim. To complete her look, she wears classic black Mary Jane shoes and carries a honey pot-shaped crossbody bag. A tiny bumblebee friend perches on her shoulder to keep her company.

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)
• m1 – make 1 (lifted increase)
• k2tog – knit 2 together
• ssk – slip, slip, knit
• yo – yarn over
• rem – remaining
• rep – repeat

Materials

• DK or Light Worsted weight yarn in the following colors:
  • Oatmeal/Beige (Bunny skin)
  • Sunny Yellow (Dress and Hat)
  • Creamy White (Cardigan)
  • Black (Shoes and Bee stripes)
  • Golden/Honey Brown (Honey pot bag)
  • Scraps of White (Wings/Daisies) and Green (Leaves)
• US 2.5 (3.0 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circulars for magic loop
• US 2.5 (3.0 mm) straight needles (optional for flat pieces)
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Black safety eyes (approx. 9mm)
• Tapestry needle and embroidery needle
• Stitch markers
• Small yellow buttons or yellow yarn for daisies

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: Approx. 26 sts = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette.
• Work firmly so stuffing does not show through.
• Finished Height: Approximately 13–14 inches (33–35 cm).

Construction Overview

• Bunny: Worked from the feet up. Shoes are integrated into the legs. Legs join to form the body, which continues up into the head. Arms and ears are sewn on.
• Dress: Worked from the bottom up in the round with a lace skirt, decreasing at the waist.
• Cardigan: Worked flat from the neck down (raglan style).
• Hat: A bucket hat worked from the top center down to the brim.
• Accessories: The honey pot bag and tiny bee are knitted separately.

Bunny Body & Head

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Black yarn for the Mary Jane shoes.

CO 10 sts on DPNs. Join in the round.

Rnd 1: kfb around (20 sts).

Rnd 2: *(k1, kfb)* rep around (30 sts).

Rnds 3–7: k all (Sole and side of shoe).

Rnd 8 (Shape Toe): k10, (k2tog) 5 times, k10 (25 sts).

Rnd 9: k10, (k2tog) 3 times, k9 (22 sts).

Rnd 10: k all.

Rnd 11 (Strap gap): k8, BO 6 sts loosely, k8.

Rnd 12 (Change to Oatmeal/Beige): k8, CO 6 sts (using backward loop method over the gap), k8 (22 sts).

Rnds 13–32: k all (Leg). Stuff foot firmly and leg lightly.

Break yarn for the first leg. Knit the second leg but do not break yarn.

Body

Rnd 33 (Join Legs): k11 (from 2nd leg), CO 4 sts, k22 (from 1st leg), CO 4 sts, k11 (from 2nd leg). (52 sts total). Place marker for center back.

Rnds 34–42: k all (Hips).

Rnd 43: *(k11, k2tog)* rep around (48 sts).

Rnds 44–50: k all.

Rnd 51: *(k6, k2tog)* rep around (42 sts).

Rnds 52–58: k all. Stuff body firmly.

Rnd 59: *(k5, k2tog)* rep around (36 sts).

Rnd 60: *(k4, k2tog)* rep around (30 sts).

Rnd 61: *(k3, k2tog)* rep around (24 sts). (Neck).

Head

Rnd 62: *(k2, m1)* rep around (32 sts).

Rnd 63: *(k3, m1)* rep around (40 sts).

Rnd 64: *(k4, m1)* rep around (48 sts).

Rnds 65–78: k all. Insert safety eyes approx between Rnds 72 and 73.

Rnd 79: *(k4, k2tog)* rep around (40 sts).

Rnd 80: *(k3, k2tog)* rep around (32 sts).

Rnd 81: *(k2, k2tog)* rep around (24 sts). Stuff head firmly, shaping cheeks.

Rnd 82: k2tog around (12 sts).

Rnd 83: k2tog around (6 sts). Cut yarn and close hole.

Arms (Make 2)

With Oatmeal, CO 8 sts. Join in round.

Rnd 1: kfb around (16 sts).

Rnds 2–20: k all.

Rnd 21: k2tog around (8 sts).

Stuff lightly (leave top empty). Sew to body.

Ears (Make 2)

Designed to be medium length, not too long.

With Oatmeal, CO 12 sts. Work flat.

Row 1: k all.

Row 2: p all.

Row 3: k1, m1, k10, m1, k1 (14 sts).

Rows 4–20: Stockinette stitch.

Row 21: ssk, k10, k2tog (12 sts).

Row 22: p all.

Row 23: ssk, k8, k2tog (10 sts).

Continue decreasing 1 st at each end of every RS row until 4 sts rem. BO. Sew to top of head.

Shoe Straps

With Black yarn, pick up 4 sts on the outer side of the shoe opening. Knit a strip long enough to cross the foot. Sew to the inner side.

Honeycomb Lace Dress

Worked in the round from bottom up.

With Sunny Yellow, CO 64 sts. Join in round.

Rnds 1–2: k all.

Honeycomb Eyelet Pattern:

Rnd 3: *k2, yo, k2tog* rep around.

Rnds 4–6: k all.

Rnd 7: *yo, k2tog, k2* rep around (offsets the holes).

Rnds 8–10: k all.

Repeat Rnds 3–10 two more times (or until skirt is desired length).

Waist Decrease:

Next Rnd: *(k2, k2tog)* rep around (48 sts).

Next Rnd: *(k4, k2tog)* rep around (40 sts).

Work 2 rnds in Garter Stitch (purl 1 rnd, knit 1 rnd) for waistband definition.

Bodice:

Rnds 1–6: k all.

Armholes:

Next Rnd: k10, BO 4, k12, BO 4, k10.

Work Front (12 sts) and Back panels (10 sts each) separately flat for 6 rows. BO. Sew shoulder seams.

Creamy Cardigan

Worked flat from the neck down (Raglan).

With Creamy White, CO 26 sts.

Row 1 (Neck): k2, p2 rib across.

Row 2 (RS): k4 (Front), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Sleeve), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k6 (Back), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Sleeve), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Front).

Row 3: p all.

Row 4: *k to raglan st, m1, k1, m1* repeat 4 times, k to end.

Repeat Rows 3–4 three more times.

Divide for Sleeves:

Next Row: k Front sts, place Sleeve sts on waste yarn, k Back sts, place Sleeve sts on waste yarn, k Front sts.

Body: Work on remaining sts in stockinette for 1.5 inches (cropped length). Work 3 rows garter stitch. BO.

Sleeves: Pick up sleeve sts. Knit 1 inch. Work 2 rows garter stitch. BO.

Finishing: Sew small daisy buttons (or embroider yellow centers with white petals) onto the front band.

Yellow Bucket Hat

Worked in the round from the top center.

With Sunny Yellow, CO 6 sts in a magic ring (or onto DPNs).

Rnd 1: kfb around (12 sts).

Rnd 2: *(k1, m1)* rep around (18 sts).

Rnd 3: *(k2, m1)* rep around (24 sts).

Continue increasing 6 sts every round until you have 48 sts (Flat top).

Next Rnd: Work in Back Loops Only (creates the edge of the crown). k all.

Work straight in stockinette for 1.5 inches (Side of hat).

Brim:

Rnd 1: *(k3, m1)* rep around (60 sts).

Rnd 2: k all.

Rnd 3: *(k4, m1)* rep around (72 sts).

Rnds 4–6: k all.

Rnd 7: Purl around (creates a finished edge look). BO.

Decoration: Embroider a tiny bee on the brim using black and yellow yarn scraps.

Accessories

Honey Pot Bag

With Golden/Honey Brown yarn, CO 6 sts. Join in round.

Rnd 1: kfb around (12 sts).

Rnd 2: *(k1, kfb)* rep around (18 sts).

Rnd 3: *(k2, kfb)* rep around (24 sts).

Rnds 4–10: k all (Pot body).

Rnd 11: *(k2, k2tog)* rep around (18 sts).

Rnd 12 (Rim): Purl around.

Rnd 13: k all.

Rnd 14: BO.

Strap: Make a long I-cord (approx 10 inches) in the same color. Sew ends to the sides of the pot.

Label: You can stitch a small square of cream yarn on the front and embroider “HONEY” if desired.

Tiny Bumblebee

With Yellow, CO 4 sts. Join in round.

Rnd 1: kfb around (8 sts).

Rnd 2: k all Yellow.

Rnd 3: Switch to Black. k all.

Rnd 4: Switch to Yellow. k all.

Rnd 5: Switch to Black. k all.

Rnd 6: Switch to Yellow. k2tog around (4 sts).

Cut yarn, pull through. Tie a small piece of white yarn to the back for wings.

Assembly

• Weave in all loose ends.
• Dress the bunny: Slide the honeycomb dress on first, then the cardigan.
• Place the bucket hat on the head. You can tack it down with a stitch if you want it to stay permanently.
• Hang the honey pot bag over one shoulder.
• Sew or pin the tiny bumblebee to the shoulder of the cardigan or the brim of the hat.
• Embroider a simple “Y” nose in brown thread and check the position of the eyes.