Miffy Plush Toy Free Knitting Pattern: Make Your Own Adorable Bunny at Home
There is something quietly magical about Miffy. The little white rabbit with the simple cross-shaped mouth and wide circular eyes has charmed children and adults alike for nearly seventy years, ever since Dutch artist Dick Bruna first drew her in 1955 for a bedtime story he was telling his son. She has appeared on greeting cards, picture books, television shows, and countless soft toys. But if you are a knitter who loves handmade gifts, there is nothing quite as satisfying as creating your very own Miffy plush toy from scratch. This guide gives you a complete free knitting pattern for a Miffy plush toy, along with all the tips, yarn advice, stuffing recommendations, and finishing techniques you need to produce a result you will truly be proud of.
Whether you are knitting this for a new baby, a toddler, a nostalgic adult collector, or simply yourself, this pattern is designed to be accessible to knitters with intermediate experience. If you can knit in the round, work simple increases and decreases, and sew up a seam neatly, you have everything you need to bring this beloved bunny to life.
A Little About Miffy Before We Begin
Before diving into the pattern itself, it is worth appreciating just how clever Miffy’s design is from a knitter’s perspective. Dick Bruna created her using the simplest possible visual vocabulary: a white circle for the head, two upright ears, a small body, and those iconic facial details. There are no complex curves, no fussy proportions, and no intricate colorwork. This makes her an ideal subject for a knitted plush toy. The pattern translates her essential shapes cleanly into yarn, and the result is immediately recognizable to anyone who grew up with her books.
The finished toy in this pattern stands approximately 25 to 28 centimetres tall (around 10 to 11 inches), making it a comfortable size for little hands to hold and just right as a nursery decoration or shelf display piece. You can scale the pattern up or down by adjusting your yarn weight and needle size, which we will discuss in the materials section.
Materials You Will Need
Getting your materials right before you cast on makes the whole project smoother. Here is everything you need for this Miffy plush toy knitting pattern.
Yarn: The best choice for a plush toy intended for a young child is a soft, washable DK weight yarn in white or cream. You will need approximately 150 to 200 grams for the main body. Merino wool blends, cotton-acrylic blends, and dedicated amigurumi or toy yarns all work beautifully. Avoid anything too fluffy or heavily textured, as it will obscure your stitch definition and make the shaping harder to see as you work. If you want to knit Miffy in one of her classic colored dresses, you will need an additional 50 grams in your chosen color, traditionally blue, red, yellow, or green.
Needles: Use 3.5mm or 3.75mm double-pointed needles (DPNs), or a short circular needle if you prefer the magic loop method. The key is to knit at a tighter-than-usual gauge so that your fabric is dense enough to hold stuffing without it showing through.
Stuffing: Use polyester fiberfill stuffing. Choose a toy-safe, hypoallergenic grade, particularly if the toy is intended for a baby or young child. Stuff firmly but not so tightly that the yarn stretches and distorts.
Eyes: For children under three, use embroidered safety eyes worked in black yarn or embroidery thread. For older children and adults, 12mm black safety eyes give a lovely result. Miffy’s iconic cross mouth is embroidered in two simple stitches using black or dark brown yarn.
Additional tools: Stitch markers, a tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, and a small amount of pink yarn or embroidery thread for Miffy’s cheeks if you want to add that detail.
Gauge
Approximately 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch using 3.5mm needles and DK weight yarn. Gauge is not absolutely critical for a toy, but working consistently helps you achieve the proportions described in the pattern.
Abbreviations
Throughout this pattern the following abbreviations are used:
CO = cast on, K = knit, P = purl, KFB = knit into the front and back of a stitch (increase), K2tog = knit two stitches together (decrease), SSK = slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease), PM = place marker, SM = slip marker, MR = magic ring, DPN = double-pointed needle, St(s) = stitch(es), RS = right side, WS = wrong side, BO = bind off.
The Pattern: Miffy Plush Toy
Head
The head is knitted in the round from the bottom up.
Using white DK yarn and 3.5mm DPNs, cast on 10 stitches using a magic ring or loop cast on. Distribute stitches across three or four needles and join to work in the round.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: KFB in every stitch. (20 sts)
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (K1, KFB) repeat to end of round. (30 sts)
Round 5: Knit all stitches.
Round 6: (K2, KFB) repeat to end of round. (40 sts)
Round 7: Knit all stitches.
Round 8: (K3, KFB) repeat to end of round. (50 sts)
Round 9: Knit all stitches.
Round 10: (K4, KFB) repeat to end of round. (60 sts)
Work rounds 11 through 30 straight in stocking stitch without shaping (20 rounds even).
Round 31: (K4, K2tog) repeat to end of round. (50 sts)
Round 32: Knit all stitches.
Round 33: (K3, K2tog) repeat to end of round. (40 sts)
Round 34: Knit all stitches.
At this point, begin stuffing the head firmly with polyester fiberfill. Continue stuffing as you decrease.
Round 35: (K2, K2tog) repeat to end of round. (30 sts)
Round 36: Knit all stitches.
Round 37: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end of round. (20 sts)
Round 38: K2tog repeat to end of round. (10 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches with a tapestry needle, pull tight to close, and weave in the end securely.
Body
The body is slightly larger than the head and has a gently rounded shape.
Using white DK yarn and 3.5mm DPNs, cast on 10 stitches using a magic ring.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: KFB in every stitch. (20 sts)
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (K1, KFB) repeat to end. (30 sts)
Round 5: Knit all stitches.
Round 6: (K2, KFB) repeat to end. (40 sts)
Round 7: Knit all stitches.
Round 8: (K3, KFB) repeat to end. (50 sts)
Round 9: Knit all stitches.
Round 10: (K4, KFB) repeat to end. (60 sts)
Round 11: Knit all stitches.
Round 12: (K5, KFB) repeat to end. (70 sts)
Work rounds 13 through 40 straight without shaping (28 rounds even).
Round 41: (K5, K2tog) repeat to end. (60 sts)
Round 42: Knit all stitches.
Round 43: (K4, K2tog) repeat to end. (50 sts)
Round 44: Knit all stitches.
Stuff the body firmly.
Round 45: (K3, K2tog) repeat to end. (40 sts)
Round 46: Knit all stitches.
Round 47: (K2, K2tog) repeat to end. (30 sts)
Round 48: Knit all stitches.
Round 49: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end. (20 sts)
Round 50: K2tog repeat to end. (10 sts)
Close and fasten off as for the head.
Ears (Make Two)
Miffy’s ears are the most distinctive element of her silhouette: long, upright, rounded at the top, and close together on the crown of her head.
Using white DK yarn and 3.5mm DPNs, cast on 8 stitches using a magic ring.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: KFB in every stitch. (16 sts)
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (K1, KFB) repeat to end. (24 sts)
Work rounds 5 through 30 straight without shaping (26 rounds even).
Round 31: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end. (16 sts)
Round 32: Knit all stitches.
The ears are lightly stuffed or left unstuffed depending on your preference. Lightly stuffed ears hold their shape better. Flatten the cast-on end and seam across the base to close.
Arms (Make Two)
Using white DK yarn and 3.5mm DPNs, cast on 6 stitches using a magic ring.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: KFB in every stitch. (12 sts)
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (K1, KFB) repeat to end. (18 sts)
Work rounds 5 through 22 straight without shaping (18 rounds even).
Round 23: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end. (12 sts)
Stuff lightly, then close by threading yarn through remaining stitches.
Legs (Make Two)
Using white DK yarn and 3.5mm DPNs, cast on 8 stitches using a magic ring.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: KFB in every stitch. (16 sts)
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (K1, KFB) repeat to end. (24 sts)
Round 5: Knit all stitches.
Round 6: (K2, KFB) repeat to end. (32 sts)
Work rounds 7 through 12 straight.
Round 13 (shape foot): K16, (K2tog) 8 times. (24 sts)
Round 14: K16, (K2tog) 4 times. (20 sts)
Work 20 rounds straight for the leg.
Round 35: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end. (14 sts approximately, adjust as needed to decrease evenly)
Stuff firmly and close.
Dress (Optional but Iconic)
Miffy without her little dress is perfectly charming, but adding her characteristic color block dress makes her instantly recognizable. This simple dress is worked flat and seamed.
Using your chosen dress color (traditional options are cornflower blue, bright red, sunshine yellow, or grass green) and 3.5mm needles, cast on 60 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Work in stocking stitch for 30 rows total.
Next row: (K2, K2tog) repeat to end. (45 sts)
Work 3 rows even.
Next row: (K1, K2tog) repeat to end. (30 sts)
Work 3 rows even.
Next row: K2tog repeat to end. (15 sts)
Bind off.
Seam the sides of the dress together, leaving armhole openings. Slip over Miffy’s body and attach at the shoulders with a few stitches if needed.
Assembling Your Miffy Toy
Assembly is where your Miffy really comes to life, and it is worth taking your time here. Pin all the pieces in place before you sew anything permanently.
Start by positioning the head on the body. The head should sit centrally and slightly forward on the top of the body. Use a length of white yarn threaded on a tapestry needle and work through several layers of both pieces, pulling them together firmly. Sew all the way around the join, going back and forth a few times to ensure a strong attachment. A child’s toy needs a securely fastened head.
Next, attach the ears to the top of the head. Miffy’s ears sit very close together, almost touching at their bases, and positioned slightly toward the front of the top of the head rather than directly on top. This placement is what gives her that distinctive, instantly recognizable profile. Pin them in place and stand the toy up at arm’s length to check the position before sewing. Attach each ear firmly through several rounds of the head.
The arms attach to either side of the upper body, angled very slightly downward and forward. Sew through several stitches on both the arm and the body for stability. The legs attach at the base of the body, positioned to allow the toy to sit upright when placed on a flat surface. Take your time getting the leg placement even and symmetrical.
Adding Miffy’s Face
The face is the soul of this toy, and it deserves careful attention. Miffy’s face consists of two round black eyes and a simple cross made of two short overlapping stitches for the mouth, usually positioned just below center on the lower half of the face. Her small cheeks are sometimes rendered as two faint pink circles.
If using safety eyes, insert them and fix the backing clips on the inside of the head before you finish stuffing and closing it. Position them roughly in the center of the face, level with each other, with a gap of approximately two to three centimeters between them.
For the mouth, thread a tapestry needle with black yarn or embroidery thread. Work one horizontal stitch about one centimeter long, then cross it with one vertical stitch of the same length, forming a small plus sign. This is all it takes to give her that unmistakable expression. Keep the stitches small and neat, and your Miffy will look exactly as she should.
For the cheeks, use pink embroidery thread or a very fine strand of pink yarn and work small circular satin stitches to create soft rosy dots on either side of the mouth.
Tips for a Better Finished Toy
A few details make a big difference to the final result. Always check your tension as you go, particularly on the head. If the stitches are loose enough that stuffing shows through, try dropping down a needle size. Tight, even fabric is the goal.
When stuffing, fill each piece gradually and evenly rather than pushing in one large lump. Work stuffing into the extremities first, then fill the center. This prevents lumps and gives your toy a smooth, professional appearance.
If you find the toy’s head wants to flop forward or to one side, you can add a small handful of dried lentils or rice inside a sealed fabric pouch placed inside the body to give it a little ballast. This helps the toy sit naturally upright.
If you are making this toy for a baby, double-check every seam for security. Tug firmly on each limb and the head. It is also worth using embroidered eyes even if safety eyes would otherwise be appropriate, simply because no hardware is ever completely infallible on a toy for very young children.
Yarn Substitutions and Color Variations
The classic Miffy is white, but there is a whole family of rabbit friends in Dick Bruna’s world, and they come in different colors. Boris the bear and Snuffy the dog aside, you could experiment with a very pale gray or oat-colored yarn for a different but equally charming bunny. For a more whimsical take, a soft lavender or pale yellow body with contrasting inner ears in pink makes a beautiful
