Introduction
Meet the Cottage Baker Bunny—a cozy, hand-knitted rabbit wearing a pink dress with a scalloped hem, a cream baker’s apron with a tiny pocket and scallop edging, cream socks, and chocolate-brown Mary Jane shoes. The set includes three mini accessories: a strawberry jam jar with a textured “lid,” two golden scones on a placemat, and a tiny oven mitt. The finished bunny sits sweetly at a kitchen table styled with a pink-and-white gingham cloth.
Finished height (seated): ~7.9–8.3 in (20–21 cm). Standing (ears up): ~12–12.6 in (30–32 cm).
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Materials
- Yarn (Worsted/Aran, Category 4):
- Body/Ears/Hands/Legs (natural oat): 60 g
- Dress (dusty pink): 40 g
- Apron + Socks + Jam-lid texture + Oven mitt (cream): 35 g
- Shoes (chocolate brown): 20 g
- Jam (strawberry red): scraps
- Scone tops (honey) + bottoms (beige): scraps
- Placemat (cream): scraps
- Nose/Mouth embroidery (cocoa): scraps
- Needles:
- 3.5 mm (US 4) DPNs or circulars for knitting in the round
- 3.0 mm (US 2½–3) for apron edging and accessories
- Notions: 10 mm black safety eyes (2), tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn, fiberfill, locking stitch markers or pins, optional pipe cleaners (for ears), craft wire (jam label tie—optional).
Gauge
- Stockinette in the round: 24 sts × 32 rnds = 4 in (10 cm) on 3.5 mm after light blocking.
- Work firmly so stuffing doesn’t show. Match gauge to achieve proportions shown.
Abbreviations
- k – knit
- p – purl
- kfb – knit front and back (inc 1)
- k2tog – knit 2 together (dec 1)
- ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
- m1L/m1R – make 1 left/right
- pm/sm – place/slip marker
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- BO – bind off
- CO – cast on
- yo – yarn over
- tbl – through back loop
- i-cord – knit tube technique
Construction Overview
The bunny is knit mostly in the round: head from nose up, neck down through torso; arms and legs are knit separately and joined. Ears are knit flat then seamed and wired (optional) to stand. Shoes are integrated to the legs. Dress is worked top-down in the round with a scalloped picot-style hem. Apron is knit flat with a pocket and scallop edging; straps are i-cord. Accessories are worked in the round or flat as noted.
Head & Face
With oat (3.5 mm), CO 6 sts, distribute over DPNs, pm for start.
- Rnd 1: kfb around — 12 sts
- Rnd 2: k
- Rnd 3: (k1, kfb) around — 18
- Rnd 4: k
- Rnd 5: (k2, kfb) around — 24
- Rnd 6: k
- Rnd 7: (k3, kfb) around — 30
- Rnd 8: k
- Rnd 9: (k4, kfb) around — 36
- Rnd 10: k
- Rnd 11: (k5, kfb) around — 42
12–24. Work 13 rnds even — 42
Eye placement: After Rnd 16, insert safety eyes 11 sts apart horizontally and 10 rnds up from Rnd 12 center (check symmetry).
Shape crown:
25. (k5, k2tog) around — 36
26. k
27. (k4, k2tog) — 30
28. k
29. (k3, k2tog) — 24
30. (k2, k2tog) — 18; start stuffing firmly.
31. (k1, k2tog) — 12
32. k2tog around — 6. BO, weave tail; finish stuffing to a smooth sphere with a gentle oval.
Nose & Smile: Duplicate-stitch or satin-stitch a small oval nose in cocoa centered 4–5 rnds below eyes; embroider a simple “smile” with two curves meeting at center.
📌Thank you for reading the article.
Ears (make 2)
Worked flat on 3.5 mm in oat.
CO 6.
Rows 1–2: k.
Row 3 (inc row): k1, m1R, k to last st, m1L, k1 — 8.
Repeat Row 3 every RS row 5 more times to 18 sts; work WS rows knit.
Work 10 rows even.
Dec shaping (RS): k1, ssk, k to last 3, k2tog, k1 — dec 2.
Repeat dec row every RS row 6 times to 6 sts.
Knit 2 rows even. BO leaving long tail.
Fold lengthwise, mattress seam WS; insert a short folded pipe cleaner if poseable desired. Leave 1.2 in (3 cm) unseamed at base for soft flare.
Body & Neck
Pick up from head base or simply CO for neck and shape up—this version continues down from the head opening made in Rnd 32.
With oat, pick up 12 sts from the BO center; evenly pick up around to 36 sts.
Rnd 1–3: k — neck tube.
Rnd 4: (k5, kfb) around — 42.
Rnd 5: (k6, kfb) — 48.
Rnd 6–18: k — torso straight.
Rnd 19: (k6, k2tog) — 42.
Rnd 20: (k5, k2tog) — 36.
Rnd 21: (k4, k2tog) — 30.
Rnd 22: k; stuff torso firmly, keeping a soft belly.
Split for legs next.
Legs & Shoes (worked one by one from body)
Right leg:
Place 15 sts on hold for left leg; work 15 for right leg in the round.
Rnd 1–8: k — thigh.
Rnd 9: (k3, k2tog) — 12.
Rnd 10–14: k — shin.
Change to brown for shoe.
Rnd 15: (k1, kfb) — 18.
Rnd 16: (k2, kfb) — 24.
Rnd 17–19: k — shoe wall.
Rnd 20 (toe shaping): (k2, k2tog) — 18.
Rnd 21: (k1, k2tog) — 12; stuff leg.
Rnd 22: k2tog — 6. BO and cinch.
Mary Jane strap: Pick up 3 sts on shoe’s outer side, 1.0 cm above toe; work i-cord 3 sts for 8 rows, BO; sew to inner side, leaving slight arch.
Left leg: Work as right from the held 15 sts.
Socks (visual band): With cream, pick up 18 sts around top of each shoe; work k1, p1 rib 3 rnds, BO loosely. (This gives the cream cuff peeking under the dress.)
Arms (make 2)
With oat (3.5 mm), CO 6, join to knit in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb around — 12.
Rnd 2–10: k.
Rnd 11: (k2, k2tog) — 9.
Rnd 12–18: k.
Stuff lightly (so arms remain flexible).
Rnd 19: k2tog around to 5–6 sts; BO.
Sew to torso sides so hands rest at apron level.
Seat & Closure
Turn bunny upside down. Close the crotch neatly with mattress stitch if small gap remains. Ensure a flat sit by adding a pinch of extra stuffing at the back of hips; ladder stitch the opening closed.
Dress (top-down, long sleeves, pink)
Use 3.5 mm; work in the round.
Yoke CO: With pink, CO 54 sts, join without twist, pm.
Rnd 1: k.
Rnd 2 (raglan inc set): (k7, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 66.
Rnd 3: k.
Rnd 4: (k8, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 78.
Rnd 5: k.
Rnd 6: (k9, m1R, k1, m1L) ×6 — 90.
Divide for sleeves/bodice:
Place every 16-st section for sleeves on waste yarn; work bodice across remaining 58 sts.
Bodice (to waist):
Rnd 1–12: k straight.
Rnd 13 (waist slight shaping): (k8, k2tog) ×5, k8 — 53.
Rnd 14–16: k.
Skirt A-line:
Rnd 17: (k5, m1R) around — 64.
Rnd 23: (k7, m1R) around — 72.
Rnd 29: (k8, m1R) around — 80.
Work even to skirt length 5.1 in (13 cm) from yoke split.
Scalloped hem (picot-style):
Rnd 1: (k2tog, yo) around.
Rnd 2–4: k.
Fold hem to WS along eyelets; sew live sts to inside of skirt for a neat scalloped edge (creates the rounded look seen). Fasten off.
Sleeves (pick up each 16-st group):
Join pink; pick up 2 underarm sts = 18 sts.
Rnd 1–18: k straight (long sleeves to wrist).
Cuff: switch to cream if you want a peek; k1, p1 rib 4 rnds. BO loosely.
Apron (cream)
Worked flat on 3.0 mm to keep structure.
Skirt panel:
CO 36.
Rows 1–22: stockinette (RS k, WS p).
Row 23 (hem scallop set, RS): (k2tog, yo) across.
Rows 24–26: stockinette. BO. Fold to WS on eyelet row and whipstitch to create a rolled scallop hem.
Bib:
Pick up 20 sts centered along Row 1 top edge.
Rows 1–12: stockinette.
Row 13: k; BO.
Side edging: With RS facing, pick up sts up one side, across top, and down other side; k one RS row, then p one WS row; BO for clean frame.
Pocket:
CO 10. Work 8 rows stockinette; Row 9: (k2tog, yo) across for a mini scallop; Row 10: p. BO. Seam pocket to center of bib.
Straps:
Work two i-cords (3 sts × 7 in/18 cm). Attach at bib top corners; cross behind neck and tack to apron waistband ends.
Waistband ties:
Pick up 36 sts across apron waist; k 2 rows; BO. Add two i-cord ties (3 sts × 5 in/13 cm) at each end to bow at the back.
Fit: Apron should cover to mid-thigh with the scallop hem 1 cm above dress hem, matching the photo.
📌Thank you for reading the article.
Ear Placement & Head Assembly
Pin ears 1.2 in (3 cm) apart at crown, slightly angled outward. Ladder stitch bases securely; insert wire if using to hold gentle curve. Weave in ends neatly behind head.
Accessory 1: Strawberry Jam Jar (cream lid + red jar)
Jar (red, 3.0 mm):
CO 6; join in round.
Rnd 1: kfb — 12
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) — 18
Rnd 3–6: k
Rnd 7: (k2, k2tog) — 14
Rnd 8: k; BO. Stuff lightly; shape into squat cylinder.
Lid band (cream):
Pick up 14 sts around rim; k1, p1 rib 3 rnds; BO. Add a few vertical p stitches to mimic a screw-top texture. Optional: tie a short cream i-cord (3 sts × 2 in/5 cm) like a label string.
Accessory 2: Two Scones & Placemat
Scone (make 2, honey/beige, 3.0 mm):
CO 6 (honey).
Rnd 1: kfb — 12
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) — 18
Rnd 3–4: k
Switch to beige.
Rnd 5: (k1, k2tog) — 12; stuff a pinch.
Rnd 6: k2tog — 6; BO. Use small whip stitches around the color change to emphasize the “cream split.” Lightly needle-sculpt top to dome.
Placemat (cream):
CO 10, knit garter for 12 rows; BO. Round the corners slightly with your needle to look like a tiny doily under the scones.
Accessory 3: Tiny Oven Mitt (cream)
CO 12 flat.
Rows 1–10: k1, p1 rib (stretchy texture).
Thumb gusset:
Row 11 (RS): k5, m1R, k2, m1L, k5 — 14.
Row 12 (WS): rib as established.
Row 13: k5, m1R, k4, m1L, k5 — 16.
Divide: place 4 center sts on holder (thumb).
Hand top: work 4 more rows rib over remaining 12 sts; BO.
Thumb: return 4 sts, work 4 rows rib; BO. Mattress seam. Add a 1.5 in i-cord loop to cuff corner.
Assembly & Finishing
- Attach limbs:
- Position arms level with lower head (so hands meet at apron height).
- Legs are already integrated; ladder stitch any small gap.
- Dress: Slip dress from feet up; ensure the waist shaping sits at the narrowest point.
- Apron: Tie back straps in a neat bow; align pocket dead-center.
- Face polish: Add a tiny highlight stitch on each safety eye with cream for sparkle (optional).
- Seating test: Firm the base by massaging stuffing toward the hips so the bunny sits stably on a wooden table or sofa arm.
- Style as in photo: Arrange the jam jar and scones on the placemat to the bunny’s right. Place the oven mitt near the front edge. If you prefer an all-knit scene, substitute a knitted mini rolling pin (i-cord around a slim core).
Measurements & Proportions (for photo-accurate look)
- Head circumference: ~8.7–9.1 in (22–23 cm) at widest; gentle oval.
- Ear length (excluding base flare): 4.7 in (12 cm).
- Torso length (neck to seat): 4.3 in (11 cm).
- Arm length: 4.1 in (10.5 cm); lightly stuffed to the wrist.
- Leg length (hip to sole): 4.7 in (12 cm); shoes 1.8 in (4.5 cm) long.
- Dress skirt drop: ~5.1 in (13 cm) from yoke split; hem sits just above socks.
- Apron hem: ~0.4 in (1 cm) above dress hem; pocket centered 0.8 in (2 cm) below bib top.
- Accessory scale:
- Jam jar height 1.4 in (3.5 cm).
- Each scone diameter 1.0 in (2.5 cm).
- Oven mitt length 1.6 in (4 cm).
Blocking & Care
- Light steam the dress and apron to smooth stitch definition (avoid over-pressing cables or picot edge). Shape scallops with your fingers while warm.
- Keep the body unblocked or barely steamed to maintain plush volume.
- For accessories, wet-block flat on a towel to preserve miniature proportions.
Styling Notes (to match the cozy kitchen vibe)
- Use oatmeal for the body and dusty pink for the dress; cream details add softness under warm natural light.
- The scalloped hem on both dress and apron is key to the look; keep edges round and tidy.
- Shoes should be a deep cocoa brown with curved Mary Jane straps snug over the socks.
- Pose the arms slightly forward as if the bunny is mid-bake.
Troubleshooting Quick Guide
- Head too pointy at crown: Add one extra even round before decreases and stuff more firmly just under the crown.
- Ears flop flat: Insert a short pipe cleaner or floral wire and stitch a tiny dart at the base.
- Dress rides up when seated: Add two extra skirt rounds or lightly steam and tug down while warm.
- Apron curls: Pick up more evenly spaced edge stitches or add a purl row around before BO.
Copyright & Usage
This is an original pattern designed to resemble the photo’s handmade look while remaining unique. Please knit for personal use or small-batch handmade sales with credit to the designer. Do not redistribute the pattern text.
Share Your Make
Tag your finished Cottage Baker Bunny with your usual page tags so fans can find the free pattern quickly. A small tea-time scene beside a sofa or wooden table works beautifully for photos.
Pattern Recap (Checklist)
- Body: oat; head 42-st max; safety eyes 11 sts apart.
- Ears: long, softly wired; seam base flare.
- Dress: pink, top-down; long sleeves; scalloped hem.
- Apron: cream with scallop hem + pocket; i-cord straps.
- Socks: cream rib.
- Shoes: Mary Jane brown with strap.
- Accessories: jam jar, two scones, tiny oven mitt.
