The Carrot Gardener Bunny is a cheerful and vibrant tribute to the joys of a backyard vegetable patch. Radiating the energy of a sunny morning spent in the soil, this bunny is ready to harvest her prize vegetables. She features a practical yet adorable outfit designed for gardening comfort. Her main garment is a soil-brown pinafore dress, sturdy and ready for work, featuring a handy front pocket embroidered with a bright orange carrot.

Underneath her pinafore, she wears a cozy long-sleeved sweater patterned with crisp orange and white horizontal stripes, adding a pop of zesty color to her look. Her gardening attire is topped with a whimsical light green floppy hat, uniquely designed with leaf-like shapes on the crown to resemble carrot tops. On her feet, she wears dark brown lace-up flat shoes for stability in the garden beds. She comes prepared with a wooden-handled trowel and a freshly pulled bunch of knitted carrots. Popping up to say hello is her underground neighbor, a tiny mole wearing wire-rimmed glasses, emerging from a mound of earth.

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
• I-cord – A narrow tube of knitting

Materials

• DK or Light Worsted weight yarn in the following colors:
  • Oatmeal/Beige (Bunny body)
  • Soil Brown (Pinafore Dress)
  • Dark Brown (Shoes and Mole Mound)
  • Orange (Sweater stripes, Carrots, Embroidery)
  • White (Sweater stripes)
  • Light Green (Hat, Carrot leaves)
  • Dark Grey (Mole)
  • Tan/Wood (Trowel handle)
  • Light Grey (Trowel blade)
  • Pink (Mole nose/feet)
• 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 (9mm for bunny, 5mm beads for mole)
• Small brown buttons (for pinafore straps)
• Craft wire (for mole glasses)
• Tapestry needle and embroidery needle
• Stitch markers

Gauge & Finished Size

• Gauge: Approximately 26 sts = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
• Work firmly to ensure stuffing does not show through the fabric.
• Finished Height: Approximately 14–15 inches (36–38 cm) from shoes to ear tips.

Construction Overview

• Bunny: Worked in the round from the feet up. Dark brown shoes are integrated into the leg knitting. Legs join to form the body and head. Arms and ears are knitted separately and attached.
• Sweater: Worked flat from the neck down (raglan style) or in pieces, using a stripe pattern.
• Pinafore: The skirt is worked in the round, while the bib and straps are worked flat.
• Hat: Worked in the round from the brim up, finished with leaf shapes attached to the top.
• Accessories: Carrots, trowel, and the mole in its mound are separate miniature knits.

Bunny Body & Head

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Dark Brown yarn for the lace-up 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 (Shoe sole and sides).

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

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

Rnds 10–12: k all (Shoe upper).

Rnd 13: Purl all (Top edge of shoe).

Change to Oatmeal/Beige.

Rnd 14: In back loops only, k all.

Rnds 15–32: 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).

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 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.

Rnd 82: k2tog around (12 sts).

Rnd 83: k2tog around (6 sts). Close hole.

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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. Flatten top and sew to body.

Ears (Make 2)

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 4–24: Stockinette stitch.

Row 25: ssk, k10, k2tog (12 sts).

Decrease 1 st at each end every RS row until 4 sts rem. BO. Sew to head.

Shoe Laces

With Dark Brown yarn, embroider criss-cross laces on the front of the shoe and tie a small bow at the top.

Striped Garden Sweater

Worked flat, raglan style. Stripe Pattern: 2 rows Orange, 2 rows White.

With Orange, CO 28 sts.

Row 1: k2, p2 rib across.

Row 2 (Inc): k2 (border), k4 (Front), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Sleeve), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k8 (Back), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Sleeve), m1, k1 (Raglan), m1, k4 (Front), k2 (border).

Row 3: p all (keeping borders garter). Change to White.

Continue in stockinette and stripe pattern, increasing at raglan markers on every RS row until sleeve sections have 14 sts.

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

Body: Work 1.5 inches in stripe pattern. Work 4 rows ribbing in Orange. BO.

Sleeves: Pick up sleeve sts. Work 1.5 inches in stripe pattern. Work rib cuff in Orange. BO.

Soil Brown Pinafore Dress

Skirt:

With Soil Brown, CO 64 sts. Join in round.

Rnds 1–4: Garter stitch (p 1 rnd, k 1 rnd) for hem.

Rnds 5–26: k all (Skirt).

Rnd 27: *(k6, k2tog)* rep around (56 sts).

Rnd 28: k all.

Rnd 29: *(k5, k2tog)* rep around (48 sts).

Rnd 30: *(k2, k2tog)* rep around (36 sts). (Waist).

Rnd 31: BO 6 sts, k12 (Bib), BO remaining sts.

Bib:

Rejoin yarn to the 12 sts.

Work flat in stockinette for 12 rows. BO.

Straps: CO 4 sts. Knit two strips approx 5 inches long. Sew to top corners of bib, cross at back, and sew to back waistband. Add buttons to bib corners.

Pocket: CO 8 sts. Knit 10 rows stockinette. BO. Sew to front of bib.

Embroidery: On the pocket, embroider a small carrot using orange yarn (satin stitch triangle) and green yarn (lazy daisy stitch for leaves).

Carrot Top Hat

With Light Green, CO 48 sts. Join in round.

Brim:

Rnd 1: *(k1, m1)* rep around (96 sts).

Rnds 2–6: k all.

Rnd 7: Purl all (Turning ridge).

Rnd 8: *(k2tog)* around (48 sts).

Fold brim at purl ridge and knit together with cast-on edge on next round to double the brim thickness (or sew later).

Crown:

Rnds 9–18: k all.

Rnd 19: *(k6, k2tog)* rep around.

Decrease every other round until 12 sts rem.

Leaves (Top of Hat):

Divide the 12 rem sts into 3 groups of 4 sts. Work each group as a small leaf:

Row 1: kfb, k2, kfb (6 sts).

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: kfb, k4, kfb (8 sts).

Rows 4–6: Stockinette.

Row 7: ssk, k4, k2tog (6 sts).

Row 8: Purl.

Row 9: ssk, k2, k2tog (4 sts).

Row 10: Purl.

Row 11: ssk, k2tog (2 sts).

Row 12: k2tog. Fasten off.

Repeat for the other two leaves so they stand up from the top of the hat.

Accessories

Knitted Carrots (Make 3)

With Orange, CO 9 sts. Join in round.

Rnds 1–4: k all.

Rnd 5: k2tog, k7 (8 sts).

Rnds 6–7: k all.

Rnd 8: k2tog, k6 (7 sts).

Continue knitting and decreasing randomly until 3 sts rem. Pull yarn through. Stuff firmly. Attach green yarn loops at the top for greens.

Garden Trowel

Blade: With Light Grey, CO 4 sts. Increase to 8 sts. Knit flat 6 rows. Decrease to point. BO. Insert card for stiffness.

Handle: With Tan, CO 4 sts. Knit I-cord for 2 inches. Sew to blade.

Mole in Mound

Mound: With Dark Brown, CO 24 sts. Join in round. Knit 3 rnds. Decrease evenly every rnd until 12 sts rem. (This forms a hill). Do not close yet.

Mole Body: Change to Dark Grey. Work on the 12 sts. Inc to 18 sts. Knit 6 rnds.

Rnd 7: k2tog around (9 sts).

Rnd 8: kfb around (18 sts) (Head).

Rnds 9–12: k all.

Rnd 13: k2tog around (9 sts).

Stuff mound and mole.

Close top.

Details: Pink French knot nose. Pink yarn paws (small loops). Make tiny glasses from craft wire and place on nose.

Assembly

• Weave in all ends.
• Dress the bunny: Shirt first, then the pinafore dress.
• Place the green hat on the head.
• Tie the bunch of carrots together with a scrap of brown yarn and place in the bunny’s arm.
• Position the mole mound next to the bunny’s feet.
• Place the trowel in the other hand.
• Embroider a “Y” nose on the bunny with brown thread.

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