Rabbit Knitting Pattern FREE
Rabbit Knitting Pattern FREE! Today I’m offering you a free pattern and tutorial for this beautiful, classic, velveteen-rabbit style knitted bunny. This photo-intensive tutorial is sure to give you success in this precious new addition to your home.
Rabbit Knitting Pattern FREE!
This rabbit knitting pattern is easy to knit up and FREE. It makes a great late-beginner pattern.
Please note that this is the page for the knitting pattern only. FOR THE FREE ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE!
Due to the high amount of images and details, to include both the knitting pattern and assembly instructions would have made much too long of a post!
Now, onto this rabbit knitting pattern (free!)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Supplies Needed:
- 3.75mm straight needles
- Worsted weight yarn, outer body color (weight 4)
- Worsted weight yarn, inner body color (weight 4)
- Scrap yarn or embroidery floss for eyes, nose, and mouth
- Wool to stuff the body with
- A tapestry needle to sew the body together with
- Scissors to cut the yarn with
Stitches Used
Here’s a list of stitches and their abbreviations that will be used in this pattern:
- Knit — a simple knit stitch
- Purl — a simple purl stitch
- KLL — Knit Left Loop, an increase stitch
- PLL — Purl Left Loop, an increase stitch
- K2TOG — Knit Two Together, a decrease stitch
- P2TOG — Purl Two Together, a decrease stitch
Want the printable version of this pattern? Get your pattern for free below! Or, keep scrolling to read it here on the blog!
Step 1: knit the back and head of the rabbit
First, I will show you how to knit the pattern piece pictured above.
This is the back of the rabbit.
The first part knitted will be the bottom legs, then up the back, the arms, and lastly the head will be shaped.
Let’s begin!
With 3.75 mm knitting needles, cast on 50 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl 1, PLL, Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, Purl 1 (52 stitches total on your needles)
Row 3: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1 (54 stitches total on your needles)
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (52 stitches total on your needles)
Row 10: P2TOG, Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG (50 stitches total on your needles)
Row 11: Cast off 12 stitches, knit to end
Row 12: Cast off 12 stitches, purl to end (26 stitches total on your needles)
Work in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next) for the next 25 rows.
Next, we will work on the front arms.
Row 38: Cast on 10 stitches, purl to end
Row 39: Cast on 10 stitches, knit to end (46 stitches total on your needles)
Row 40: Purl 1, PLL, Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, Purl 1 (48 stitches total on your needles)
Row 41: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1 (50 stitches total on your needles)
Row 42: Purl
Row 43: Knit
Row 44: Purl
Row 45: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (48 stitches total on your needles)
Row 46: P2TOG, Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG (46 stitches total on your needles)
Row 47: Cast off 12 stitches, Knit to end.
Row 48: Cast off 12 stitches, Purl to end (22 stitches total on your needles)
Row 49: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (20 stitches total on your needles)
Now we will begin to shape the head! We will work on 10 stitches at a time. this “splits” the head into two pieces.
Row 50: Purl 10, turn your work. Work on these 10 stitches ONLY! Leave those other stitches alone for now!
Row 51: Knit (knit the same 10 stitches you just purled)
Row 52: Purl
Row 53: Knit
Row 54: Purl
Row 55: Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 56: Cast on 1 stitch, Purl to end
Row 57: Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 58: Cast on 1, Purl to end (14 stitches total on your needles)
Row 59: Knit
Row 60: Purl
Row 61: Knit
Row 62: Purl
Row 63: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 64: P2TOG, Purl to end
Row 65: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 66: P2TOG, Purl to end
Row 67: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 68: P2TOG, Purl to end (8 stitches total on your needles)
Row 69: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 70: P2TOG, Purl to end (6 stitches total on your needles)
Row 71: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 72: P2TOG, Purl to end (4 stitches total on your needles)
Row 73: Knit 2 stitches, K2TOG (3 stitches total on your needles)
Row 74: Knit last 3 stitches together, break yarn, and reattach to remaining 10 stitches.
Onto the other side of the head…
Row 75: reattach yarn and purl across
Row 76: Knit
Row 77: Purl
Row 78: Knit
Row 79: Purl
Row 80: Knit 1, KLL, Knit remaining stitches
Row 81: Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, Purl 1
Row 82: Cast on 1, knit to end
Row 83: Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, Purl 1 (14 stitches total on your needles)
Row 84: Knit
Row 85: Purl
Row 86: Knit
Row 87: Purl
Row 88: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 89: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 90: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 91: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 92: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 93: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 94: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 95: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 96: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 97: Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 98: K2TOG, Knit to end
Row 99: Knit last 3 stitches together, break yarn and tie off.
This completes the body piece!
Step 2: complete the bottom of the rabbit
The next piece to knit is the bottom of the rabbit.
This piece includes the bottom parts of the bottom legs, as well as the seat of the rabbit.
This is also the piece you will be leaving slightly open to add wool to your rabbit once the other pieces are completed!
With 3.75 mm straight needles and the same color yarn you used for the body, cast on 25 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Cast off 12 stitches, Knit to end
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Row 13: Knit
Row 14: Purl
Row 15: Knit
Row 16: Purl
Row 17: Knit
Row 18: Purl
Row 19: Knit
Row 20: Purl
Row 21: Cast on 12 stitches, Knit to end
Row 22: Purl
Row 23: Knit
Row 24: Purl
Row 25: Knit
Row 26: Purl
Row 27: Knit
Row 28: Purl
Row 29: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Cast off stitches, break yarn.
Step 3: The Rabbit Ears
Next, we will be knitting the ears.
There will be 4 pieces total knit: 2 outer ears and 2 inner ears.
Of course, use the color you want for the outer ear, and the color you want for the inner ear.
With 3.75 mm needles and the same worsted/weight 4 yarn you’ve been using all along….
cast on 12 stitches
Row 1-28: Starting with a K row, straight stitch for 28 rows (knit one row, purl the next)
Row 29: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (10 stitches total on your needles)
Row 30: Purl
Row 31: Knit
Row 32: Purl
Row 33: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (8 stitches total on your needles)
Row 34: Purl
Row 35: Knit
Row 36: Purl
Row 37: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG (6 stitches total on your needles)
Row 38: Purl
Row 39: Knit
Row 40: Purl
Row 41: K2TOG, Knit 2 stitches, K2TOG (4 stitches total on your needles)
Row 42: Purl
Row 43: Knit
Row 44: Purl
Row 45: K2TOG, K2TOG.
Row 46: P2TOG
Cast off, break yarn
Make 4 total ear pieces!!!
Step 4: Knit the rabbit’s front body
Now we will be moving on to the front of the rabbit’s body.
Use the inner body color for the rabbit’s front body. I used white.
Use a weight 4 (worsted) weight yarn.
Using the same weight yarn for both colors (and the same sized needles) will ensure that all the pieces come out the proper size. This way, the rabbit will fit together properly when sewn together.
With worsted yarn and 3.75mm straight needles, cast on 38 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl 1, PLL, Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, Purl 1 (40 stitches total on your needles)
Row 3: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1 (42 stitches total on your needles)
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 10: P2TOG, Purl to last 2 sttiches, P2TOG
Row 11: Cast off 12 stitches, Knit to end
Row 12: Cast off 12 stitches, Purl to end (14 stitches total on your needles.)
Stockinette stitch for 25 rows!
Row 38: Cast on 10 stitches, Purl to end
Row 39: Cast on 10 stitches, Knit to end
Row 40: Purl 1, PLL, Purl to last 2 stitches, PLL, P1
Row 41: Knit 1, KLL< Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1 (38 stitches total on your needles)
Row 42: Purl
Row 43: Knit
Row 44: Purl
Row 45: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 46: P2TOG, Purl to last 2 stitches, P2TOG
Row 47: Cast off 12 stitches, Knit to end
Row 48: Cast off 12 stitches, Purl to end
Row 49: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 50: Purl
Row 51: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 52: Purl
Row 53: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 54: Purl
Row 55: K2TOG, K2TOG
Row 56: Purl these 2 stitches
Row 57: K2TOG, break yarn
Step 5: make a little “cottontail” for the rabbit
Lastly, we will be knitting a tail for “Mr. Cottontail Rabbit.”
With 3.75 mm knitting needles and worsted weight yarn, cast on 5 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit 1, KLL, Knit to last 2 stitches, KLL, Knit 1
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Row 13: Knit
Row 14: Purl
Row 15: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 16: Purl
Row 17: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 18: Purl
Row 19: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 20: Purl
Row 21: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 22: Purl
Row 23: K2TOG, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2TOG
Row 24: Purl
Cast off remaining stitches, break a long strand of yarn for assembly later.
Next Step: Rabbit Assembly! Found here!
Hooray!
You’ve finished knitting all the pieces for your very own rabbit!
But… he doesn’t look very much like a rabbit, does he?
Of course not. He needs to be assembled before he can be brought to life!
To find your assembly instructions, please follow this link HERE!
Or, simply use the Quiet Life Farm’s search bar.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this post: Rabbit Knitting Pattern FREE!
Happy Knitting!
Comment below what color yarn you used for your rabbit!
Want more knitting patterns?
Check out my other patterns on my website!