The BUNNY (RABBIT): Chinese Zodiac Animals #4

The person who is a rabbit is gentle, sensitive and compassionate.  They dislike arguments and will do anything to avoid a fight (my Bunny niece who is three years old runs away when my kids start fighting).  They may also tend to be a little anxious and indecisive.  They are, however, known for their appreciation of beauty and fashion.  Many are artists.  

You will need:

white yarn and pink yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
crochet hook (size A recommended but any hook up to size G will work)

tapestry needle
*optional = long doll needle, stuffing fork (see the Information Page for more info on this)


Key:

Ch = chain

INC = 2 sc into one stitch

#INC = do # increases in a row

DEC = invisible decrease turns the next 2 sts into one st
# or sc# = separate sc stitches (no increasing or decreasing) 

Begin here:

R1  Using white yarn, make a magic circle with 6 stitches into the loop.

R2  INC around. (12)
R3  (1, INC) around (18)
R4  1, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2 (23)

R5  INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4 (28)

R6  3, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 3 (32)

R7  5, INC, 9, INC, 9, INC, 6 (35)

R8  3, INC, 10, INC, 11, INC, 8 (38)

R9  12, INC, 25 (39)
R10  INC, 38 (40)

R11  sc around
R13  25, DEC, 12 (38)
R14  8, DEC, 11, DEC, 10, DEC, 3 (35)  (insert eyes between R6/7, 9 sts apart)
R15  6, DEC, 9, DEC, 9, DEC, 5 (32)
R16  3, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 3 (28) (stuff leaving room at the top)
R17  4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC (23)

R18  2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 1 (18)
R19  (DEC, 1) repeat around (12)
R20  (DEC, 1) repeat around. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Fill completely with stuffing.  Pull tightly to close.  Sew in your ends.

Ears (make 2 in white):

R1     5 sc in Magic Circle (5)

R2     5INC around (10)

R3     (1, INC) 5 times around (15)

R4-8  sc around (15)

R9     (3, DEC) 3 times around (12)

R10-11  sc around (12)

R12   (2, DEC) 3 times around (9)

R13-15  sc around (9)  Flatten and attach to the head.  In my example, the ears are attached between rounds 14/15.

Tail:

R1  With white yarn, 6 sc in magic circle

R2  INC around (12)

R3  sc around

R4  sc around

R5  DEC around (6)

R6  Cut the end and weave thru remaining stitches.  Pull tight.  You can stuff the tail if you would like.  Sew onto the head/body.

Embroidering the nose and mouth:

This method is exactly the same as what was described for the TIGER.  Embroider the nose and mouth after you finish the body/head.  Thread about 18 inches of pink yarn on your needle.

1.  Go in from the bottom of the bunny and make a triangle going back and forth with the pink yarn for the nose starting at the wide edge.  Keep your stitches close together so you see minimal orange showing through.

2.  Come out with your needle at the base of the triangle and go back in where you want the centre of the mouth to be (we will call this point X).  You will end up with the small vertical line below her nose.   (Did you know this is called the "philtrum"???)

3.  Come back out at one corner of the mouth.  Enter back in at "X".

4.  Come back out at the other corner of the mouth.  Enter back in at "X".

5.  Now have a look at the 2 sides of the mouth.  To make sure the little smile/curve stays put, come out midway between the corner of the mouth and "X".  Catch the horizontal yarn  and go back in at the same place.

6.  Do this for the other side of the mouth.

You may have to do this a few times until you have something that you like.  When you are happy, go back out to where you started at the bottom of the bunny, tie a knot and push the knot into the bunny's head/body.

I hope you're enjoying this crochet-a-long.  We have the super-cute dragon coming up next which I really loved designing.  He is my elder daughter's favourite of the 12.

How's everything going with the crocheting?  If you ever need any help, advice, clarification or explanation, please feel free to stalk find me on Facebook, Instagram or comment below!