Funny Bunny Pattern

Minimal seaming means this funny felted friend with his floppy arms and legs can be finished in a few hours. Feet and hands are knit flat with I-cord arms and legs; the body is started flat, then joined in the round.

Materials

35 grams (<100 yards) Turtle Cove Erratics or any worsted weight yarn suitable for felting

Size US 10 (6.0 mm) double pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge

Stuffing (polyfill)

Tapestry needle

3 stitch markers

Gauge

14 stitches = 4”; 19 rows = 4”

* Gauge is not terribly important in this project; knit bigger for a bigger bunny (which will need more yarn) or knit smaller for a smaller bunny. Gauge should be loose enough to felt easily.

Abbreviations

k – knit

p – purl

kf&b – knit into the front and then into the back of one stitch; an increase stitch

k2tog – knit two stitches together; a decrease stitch

I-cord – to knit I-cord: knit all stitches in the row. Slide the work to the other end of the needle and turn the needle so the right side faces you again. Pull the yarn across the back of the stitches and knit the stitches again. Continue knitting and sliding, pulling the yarn across the back of the work, until the I-cord is the desired length.

Feet and Legs (make 2)

Using dpns and your favorite cast on method, cast on 4 stitches *Do not join in the round!

Knitting back and forth (flat):

Row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 – purl all stitches

Row 2 – kf&b all stitches (8 stitches)

Row 4 – kf&b all stitches (16 stitches)

Row 6 – knit all stitches

Row 8 – k2tog all stitches (8 stitches)

Row 10 – k2tog all stitches (4 stitches)

Row 11-25 – begin I-cord legs; knit 15 rows of I-cord

Place stitches on waste yarn

Hands and Arms (make 2)

Using dpns and your favorite cast on method, cast on 4 stitches *Do not join in the round!

Knitting back and forth (flat):

Row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (ws) – purl all stitches

Row 2 (rs) – kf&b all stitches (8 stitches)

Row 4 – kf&b all stitches (16 stitches)

Row 6 – knit all stitches

Row 8 – k2tog all stitches (8 stitches)

Row 10 – k2tog all stitches (4 stitches)

Row 11-20 – begin I-cord arms; knit 10 rows of I-cord

Place stitches on waste yarn

Body

Using your favorite cast on method, cast on 8 stitches *Do not join in the round!

Knitting back and forth (flat):

Row 1 (ws) – purl all stitches

Row 2 (rs) – kf&b all stitches (16 stitches)

Repeat rows 1 & 2 one time (32 stitches)

Divide stitches onto three needles and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Mark the beginning of the round.

Connecting the legs

Before connecting the legs, mentally number the stitches in the I-cord. Stitch number 1 and stitch number 4 are the “beginning” and “end” of the I-cord tube, marked by the waste yarn.

Round 1 – knit 11, *knit next body stitch and stitch number 3 from first leg together, knit next body stitch and stitch number 4 from first leg together, knit 6*, repeat from * with stitches from second leg, knit 5

Round 2 – knit 11, *knit next body stitch and stitch number 2 from first leg together, knit next body stitch and stitch number 1 from first leg together, knit 6*, repeat from * with stitches from second leg, knit 5

Shaping belly

Round 1 – knit 10, place marker, kf&b 12 times, place marker, knit 10 (44 stitches)

Rounds 2-5 – knit

Round 6 – knit to first marker, k2tog, knit to two stitches before second maker, k2tog, knit to end (42 stitches)

Round 7 – knit

Repeat rounds 6 and 7 six times, removing decrease stitch markers on last decrease round (32 stitches)

Connecting the arms

As for the legs:

Round 1 – knit 11, *knit next body stitch and stitch number 3 from first arm together, knit next body stitch and stitch number 4 from first arm together, knit 6*, repeat from * with stitches from second arm, knit 5

Round 2 – knit 11, *knit next body stitch and stitch number 2 from first arm together, knit next body stitch and stitch number 1 from arm leg together, knit 6*, repeat from * with stitches from second arm, knit 5

Shaping shoulders and neck

Round 1 – knit

Round 2 – k2tog all stitches (16 st)

Round 3 – knit

Round 4 – *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end (12 st)

Round 5 – knit

Head

Round 1 – kf&b all stitches (24 st)

Rounds 2-3 – knit

Round 4 – k5, kf&b, k12, kf&b, k5 (26 st)

Round 5 and all odd rows – knit

Round 6 – k5, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k5 (24 st)

Round 8 – *k2, k2tog, repeat from * to end (18 st)

Round 10 – *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end (12 st)

Round 12 – k2tog all stitches (6 st)

Break yarn and draw tightly through all stitches.

Ears

Pick up and knit 4 stitches on one side of the head (along decrease row)

Knit 15 rows stockinette stitch (1.5 inches)

Row 16 (rs) – k2tog twice

Row 17 – purl

Row 18 – k2tog, break yarn and draw through stitch

Repeat on other side for second ear

Stuffing and Seaming

Put a small amount of polyfill in each hand and foot; seam edges together. Loosely stuff the head and body; seam bottom closed. Weave in all ends.

Felting

Place Funny Bunny in a lingerie bag or pillowcase and throw in the washing machine on hot wash/high agitation. Check every five minutes until the stitches are obscured.

Gently mold the bunny into a pear shape with a round head and set to dry. He is generally dry within 24 hours.