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When I saw this project in First Knits: projects for beginning knitters by Luise Roberts and Kate Haxell (buy it here), I knew I had to try it!

Here's what I used (it is different in the book):

Two 3.5zoz balls of Patons Shetland Chunky Taupe in Bulky
US 10 (6mm) needles
Tapestry Needle
Stuffing
Short Length of dark brown wool yarn (This is for the eyes and nose...my bunny is still waiting on those and I will update when I've bought some darker yarn!)

Their bunny was about 9" from nose to tail, but because my yarn was a different size, my bunny is almost 12"! As usual, please refer to the Glossary for any explanations of terminology and notation...
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The Body (make 3 of these pieces)
  • Make a slip knot 4" from the end of the yarn and cast on 3 sts (using the thumb cast on method). This is the nose!
  • Row 1: Purl
  • Row 2: Inc in first st, knit to last st, inc in last st (5 sts)
  • Repeat rows 1 - 2 nine times more (23 sts)
  • Row 21: Purl
  • Row 22: Knit
  • Row 23: Purl
  • Row 24: Inc in first st, knit to last st, increase in last st.
  • Repeat rows 21 - 24 three times more (31 sts)
  • Row 37: Purl
  • Row 38: Knit
  • Repeat rows 37 - 38 seven times more.
  • Row 53: Purl.
  • Row 54: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. (29 sts)
  • Repeat rows 53 - 54 four times more (21 sts)
  • Row 63: P2tog, purl to last 2 sts, p2tog
  • Row 64: K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
  • Repeat Rows 63 - 64 three times more, then repeat row 63 once more (3 sts)
  • Cast off.

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The Ear (make two of these pieces)
  • Make a slip knot 12" from the end of the yarn and cast on 20 sts (using the thumb cast on method).
  • Row 1: Sl1 kwise, knit to end of row.
  • Repeat row 1 until 60 rows have been worked (Helpful hint: every prominent row marks 2 rows)
  • Row 61: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog.
  • Repeat row 61 eight times more (2 sts)
  • Row 69: K2tog
  • Cut the yarn leaving a 30" tail. Thread the tail through the last st and pull it up tightly.

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The Tail (only need one of these!)
  • Wind yarn around four fingers about thirty times.
  • Take the bundle of yarn off the fingers and tie it firmly in the middle with another length of yarn.
  • Cut through the ends of the bundle with sharp scissors.
  • Fluff it up and trim the ends to make a round pom-pom.
  • Trim only one of the tails of the yarn used to bind the bundle and leave the other one long (it's easiest if it's about 12" long as it's used to sew the tail to the bunny.)

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Creating your Bunny Frankenstein-style
  • Gently block and press the body and ear pieces.
  • Lay two body pieces side by side, with the pointed nose ends together. Using mattress stitch, sew the pieces together, starting at the nose.
  • Lay the third body piece nose-to-nose along a free edge of one of the two joined pieces and sew the edges together.
  • Sew the remaining edges together remembering to tuck in any loose tails that you have not weaved into the work. Leave a small gap for stuffing.

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  • Stuff the bunny's body quite tightly and finish sewing the seam.
  • Weave the 30" tail of yarn left from casting off up the side of the ear piece so that it appears at one of the top corners.
  • Fold an ear so that it has a pleat in the middle.
  • Using the same tail of yarn, sew the ear to the bunny's body, positioning it about an inch and a half from on of the seams. (I suggest pinning the ear and actually sewing the underside of the top to the body and then allowing the ear to flop over to the correct side.)
  • Repeat the process with the other ear.

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  • Using the long tail of yarn, sew the pom-pom tail to the bunny's bum!
  • Using the dark brown yarn, embroider eyes and a nose on the bunny's face (still to be done on mine, as you can see)
  • Thread the needle, make a knot in the yarn and trim the end very close to the knot.
  • To secure the end of the yarn, take the needle through a stitch that will be covered by the embroidery and pull it through up to the knot.

8/13/2010 05:53:37 pm

Extremes are dangerous.

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12/26/2010 11:46:50 am


thank you very much for the post! it is so useful.

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12/27/2010 11:07:52 am

Write very well, there are some others that resonate.

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