Knit an adorable Easter bunny with our free pattern

If you’re looking for a new craft project to work on this Easter, why not stitch up an adorable Easter bunny with our free pattern?

Our Easter bunny knitting pattern is really easy to follow – and is guaranteed to get you in the mood for Easter. You only need three balls of yarn to make it, meaning it’s a brilliant project to stitch up on a budget.

The Easter bunny is stitched on straight knitting needles and is a great project for beginner and improver knitters. You only need the basic knit, purl and stocking stitches – and can brush up on all of them with our how to knit guide here.

This Easter bunny can be knitted up over a few evenings, and will make the perfect addition to your Easter table, or decoration for your Easter egg hunt.

Happy knitting!

What you need

• 1 ball of Prima DK acrylic yarn in Oatmeal (A)
• 1 ball of Prima DK acrylic yarn in Pure White (B)
• 1 ball of Prima DK acrylic yarn in Sage (C)

Tension

Tension is not required for this project.

Abbreviations

cm centimetre; cont continue; g gram; k knit; kfb knit into the front and back of next stitch (1 stitch increase); m1 make 1 stitch, mm millimetre; p purl; pfb purl into the front and back of next stitch (1 stitch increase); rep repeat; rem remaining; RS right side; st st Stocking stitch; ssk slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit these 2 stitches together through back loops; sl1 slip 1 stitch; st(s) stitch(es); tog together; WS wrong side; [ ] repeat instructions within brackets.

Check out our full knitting abbreviations glossary here.

Safety note

Pom poms and safety eyes: We do not recommend pom poms and safety eyes are used for use for babies, infants, toddlers or children under 3 years. Children, infants and babies should never be left unattended with pom poms.

Easter bunny free knitting pattern

knitted easter bunny and easter eggs on yellow background

Head

Using 3.25mm needles and B, Cast on 7 sts.

Row 1 and all odd rows (WS): P to end.

Row 2 (RS): [K1, m1] 6 times, k1. 13 sts

Row 4: [K2, m1] 6 times, k1. 19 sts

Row 6: [K3, m1] 6 times, k1. 25 sts

Row 8: K to end.

Row 10: Change to A, [k4, m1] 6 times, k1. 31 sts

Row 12: [K5, m1] 6 times, k1. 37 sts

Row 14: [K6, m1] 6 times k1. 43 sts

Row 16: [K7, m1] 6 times k1. 49 sts

Row 18: [K8, m1] 6 times k1. 55 sts

Row 20: [K9, m1] 6 times k1. 61 sts

Row 22: K to end.

Row 24: K to end.

Row 26: [K8, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 55 sts

Row 28: [K7, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 49 sts

Row 30: [K6, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 43 sts

Row 32: [K5, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 37 sts

Row 34: [K4, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 31 sts

Row 36: [K3, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 25 sts

Row 38: [K2, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 19 sts

Row 40: [K1, k2tog] 6 times, k1. 13 sts

Row 42: [k2tog] 6 times, k1. 7 sts

Break yarn, leaving a long end, thread through rem sts, pull up tight and fasten off.

Join side seam leaving around a 5cm gap in centre for stuffing. If using safety eyes and nose, attach nose to centre of cast on row. Attach eyes either side of nose along 12 row leaving approximately 6 sts between eyes. Stuff head. Using A, sew a running stitch along 9th row and gather slightly to create a indent for the muzzle. Complete sewing the side seam to close. If using thread to sew on the eyes and nose, embroider a nose to the centre of the muzzle. Embroider eyes either side of the nose on row 13.

Body

Using 3.25mm needles and A (throughtout), Cast on 7 sts.

Rows 1 – 7: Work rows 1 – 7 as given for head. 25 sts

Rows 8 – 19: Work rows 10 – 21 as given for head. 61 sts

Row 20: [k10, m1] 6 times, k1. 67 sts

Rows 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30: K to end.

Row 32: [k2tog, k9] 6 times, k1. 61 sts

Row 34: K to end.

Row 36: K to end

Row 38: [k2tog, k8] 6 times, k1. 55 sts

Row 40: K to end.

Row 42: [k2tog, k7] 6 times, k1. 49 sts

Row 44: K to end.

Row 46: [k2tog, k6] 6 times, k1. 43 sts

Row 48: K to end.

Row 50: [k2tog, k5] 6 times, k1. 37 sts

Row 52: K to end.

Row 54: [k2tog, k4] 6 times, k1. 31 sts

Row 56: K to end.

Row 58: [k2tog, k3] 6 times, k1. 25 sts

Row 60: K to end.

Row 62: [k2tog, k2] 6 times, k1. 19 sts

Rows 64 and 66: K to end.

Row 68: [k2tog, k1] 6 times, k1. 13 sts

Row 70: [k2tog,] 6 times, k1. 7 sts

Break yarn, leaving a long end, thread through rem sts, pull up tight and fasten off.

Join seam, Stuffing lightly as you go.

Arms and legs (make 4 alike)

Using 3.25mm needles and B, Cast on 7 sts.

Row 1 and all odd numbered rows (WS): P to end.

Row 2 (RS): [K1, m1] 6 times, k1. 13 sts

Row 4: [K2, m1] 6 times, k1. 19 sts

Row 6: [k3, m1] 6 times, k1. 25 sts

Row 8: K to end.

Row 10: [k2tog, k2] 6 times, k1. 19 sts

Change to A, cont in st st, beginning with a P row for 39 rows.

Break yarn, leaving a long end, thread through rem sts, pull up tight and fasten off.

Join seam, Stuffing lightly as you go.

Inner ears (Make 2 alike)

Using 3.25mm needles and B, Cast on 4 sts.

Row 1 (WS): P1, [Pfb] twice, p1. 6 sts

Row 2 (RS): K1, m1, k4, m1, k1. 8 sts

Row 3 and all odd numbered rows (WS): P to end.

Row 4: K1, m1, k6, m1, k1. 10 sts

Row 6: K1, m1, k8, m1, k1. 12 sts

Row 8: K1, m1, k10, m1, k1. 14 sts

Rows 10, 12, 14, and 16: K to end.

Row 18: K1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1. 12 sts

Row 20: K to end.

Row 22: K1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. 10 sts

Row 24: K to end.

Row 26: K1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. 8 sts

Row 28: K to end.

Row 30: K1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. 6 sts

Row 32: K to end.

Row 34: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. 4 sts

Row 36: K to end.

Row 38: K1, k2tog, k1. 3 sts

Row 39: P to end.

Cast off rem 3 sts.

Outer ears (Make 2 alike)

Using 3.25mm needles and A, Cast on 4 sts.

Row 1 (WS): [Pfb] 4 times. 8 sts

Row 2 (RS): K2, m1, k4, m1, k2. 10 sts

Row 3 and all odd numbered rows (WS): P to end.

Row 4: K2, m1, k6, m1, k2. 12 sts

Row 6: K2, m1, k8, m1, k2. 14 sts

Row 8: K2, m1, k10, m1, k2. 16 sts

Rows 10, 12, 14, and 16: K to end.

Row 18: K2, ssk, k8, k2tog, k2. 14 sts

Row 20: K to end.

Row 22: K2, ssk, k6, k2tog, k2. 12 sts

Row 24: K to end.

Row 26: K2, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2. 10 sts

Row 28: K to end.

Row 30: K2, ssk, k2, k2tog, k2. 8 sts

Row 32: K to end.

Row 34: K2, ssk, k2tog, k2. 6 sts

Row 36: K to end.

Row 38: K2, k2tog, k2. 5 sts

Row 39: P to end.

Cast off rem 5 sts.

Scarf

Using 3.25mm needles and C, Cast on 7 sts.

Row 1: Sl1, k to end.

This row sets garter stitch.

Cont in garter stitch until scarf measures 45cm.

Cast off.

To make up

Join outer ears to inner ears working down the side seam, along the cast on edge and up the rem side seam. Sew each ear along the cast off edges to side of head approximately between rows 26 and 30. Sew head around the centre of the seam onto cast off edge of body. Sew arms to either side of body along cast off edges. Sew legs to base of body, along cast off edges to either side of centre cast on on the body. Make a small pom pom, around 5cm in diameter and attach to the bottom of the body of the bunny. Tie scarf in a bow around the neck.

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