Knit a Rabbit Video Tutorial & Free Pattern – From Britain with Love
There is something wonderfully timeless about a hand-knitted rabbit. Whether you are making one for a new baby, a grandchild, a gift for a friend, or simply for the joy of creating something with your own two hands, a knitted rabbit has a charm that no shop-bought toy can quite match. At From Britain with Love, we believe in celebrating British craft traditions, and knitting a soft, squishy rabbit is about as quintessentially British as it gets — think Beatrix Potter, think nursery shelves lined with handmade toys, think the particular satisfaction of casting off your last stitch and knowing you made something truly special.
In this post, we are sharing everything you need to bring your own knitted rabbit to life: a full written free pattern, guidance on materials, step-by-step instructions, and a video tutorial to walk you through the whole process from start to finish. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned knitter looking for a quick and satisfying make, this pattern is designed to be accessible, clear, and genuinely enjoyable to work through.
Why Knit a Rabbit?
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let us take a moment to appreciate why knitted rabbits have remained such a beloved project for generations of crafters. They are small enough to complete in an evening or a weekend, which makes them wonderfully satisfying in a way that larger projects sometimes are not. They use up small amounts of yarn, so they are perfect for using up leftovers from other projects. They are endlessly customisable — change the yarn colour, swap out buttons for embroidered eyes, add a little knitted jacket or waistcoat, and you have something entirely unique every single time.
There is also the emotional dimension. A hand-knitted toy carries something that mass-produced items simply cannot — the hours of your attention, the warmth of your hands, the care and intention that goes into every stitch. When you give a knitted rabbit to a child, you are giving them something that might very well become their most treasured possession. Many adults can recall a knitted or soft toy from their childhood with extraordinary clarity. That is the kind of object we are making here.
Knitted rabbits are also a brilliant project for improving your technique. You will practise casting on and casting off, knit and purl stitches, increasing and decreasing, and the art of sewing pieces together neatly. If you are a beginner, this pattern will teach you a great deal. If you are more experienced, it offers a gentle, meditative make that you can work on while listening to a podcast or watching television.
Materials You Will Need
Getting your materials right before you begin will make the whole process much smoother. Here is what you will need for this pattern.
For yarn, you will want a double knitting weight (DK weight) yarn in your chosen colour. Approximately 100 grams should be more than enough for a rabbit of around 25 to 30 centimetres when finished. A soft, washable yarn is ideal, particularly if the rabbit is intended for a baby or young child — look for something with a good wash rating and preferably free from scratchy fibres. Pure cotton, cotton blend, or a soft merino blend all work beautifully. Traditional cream, pale grey, warm brown, and soft white are classic choices, but there is absolutely no reason you cannot make a lavender rabbit or a teal one if that takes your fancy.
For needles, a pair of 3.75mm knitting needles is recommended for DK weight yarn. You can use straight needles throughout this pattern as all pieces are worked flat. If you prefer to work in the round for the body, you can adapt accordingly, but the written pattern as given here uses flat knitting.
You will also need a tapestry or darning needle for sewing up the pieces, a small amount of toy stuffing (polyester fibrefill is widely available and washable), a pair of small black safety eyes or buttons (or you may prefer to embroider eyes using black yarn), and small amounts of pink yarn for the nose and inner ears if desired. Optional extras include narrow ribbon for a bow around the neck and a few metres of contrast colour yarn if you would like to add stripes or details.
Tension and Sizing
Before beginning any knitting pattern, it is worth checking your tension (sometimes called gauge). For this pattern, the tension is approximately 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimetres over stocking stitch on 3.75mm needles. However, because this is a toy rather than a garment, tension is not critical. A slightly tighter or looser tension will simply result in a slightly smaller or larger rabbit. The main thing to be aware of is that if your tension is very loose, the stuffing may show through the knitted fabric, so it is better to err slightly on the tighter side.
The finished rabbit, worked at the recommended tension, measures approximately 25 to 28 centimetres from bottom to the tips of the ears.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
Throughout the pattern, the following abbreviations are used. If any of these are unfamiliar to you, do not worry — the video tutorial covers each technique as it arises.
K means knit. P means purl. St or sts means stitch or stitches. K2tog means knit two stitches together (a decrease). M1 means make one stitch (an increase). Kfb means knit into the front and back of the same stitch (an increase). St st means stocking stitch, which is knit one row, purl one row alternately. GS means garter stitch, which is knit every row. Rep means repeat. RS means right side. WS means wrong side. Cast on is abbreviated as CO. Cast off is abbreviated as BO (bind off) in some traditions, but throughout this pattern we will use the British term cast off.
The Free Knitting Pattern
Body
Cast on 10 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Kfb into every stitch. You will now have 20 stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: Kfb into every stitch. You will now have 40 stitches.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, kfb, repeat to end. You will now have 60 stitches.
Row 6: Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row) until the body measures 10 centimetres from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Shape the body:
Next row (RS): K2tog across the row. You will have 30 stitches.
Next row (WS): Purl.
Next row (RS): K2tog across the row. You will have 15 stitches.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitches and draw them up to close. Sew the side seam using mattress stitch, leaving a gap for stuffing. Stuff firmly, then close the gap. The cast-on end forms the base of the body. Gather the cast-on edge slightly to create a neat, rounded base and secure.
Head
Cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Kfb into every stitch. You will have 16 stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: Kfb into every stitch. You will have 32 stitches.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, kfb, repeat to end. You will have 48 stitches.
Row 6: Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch until the head measures 8 centimetres from the cast-on edge.
Shape the head:
Next row (RS): K2tog across the row. You will have 24 stitches.
Next row (WS): Purl.
Next row (RS): K2tog across the row. You will have 12 stitches.
Next row (WS): P2tog across the row. You will have 6 stitches.
Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Draw up and sew the seam, stuffing as you go. Leave a small opening at the base of the head for attaching to the body. Before fully closing, insert safety eyes between rows 5 and 6, approximately 10 stitches apart. Embroider a small nose in pink yarn and a simple Y-shaped mouth in the same colour.
Ears (make two)
Cast on 6 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, K1. 8 stitches.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, K1. 10 stitches.
Row 6: Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch without shaping until ear measures 8 centimetres.
Shape the top of the ear:
Next row (RS): K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, K1. 8 stitches.
Next row (WS): Purl.
Repeat these two rows until 4 stitches remain.
Cast off.
If desired, pick up stitches along the centre of the ear and work a few rows in pink yarn to create the inner ear. Alternatively, you can sew a small oval of pink felt to the inside of each ear. Fold each ear slightly along its length before sewing to the head to give them a natural, three-dimensional shape. Attach the ears firmly to the top of the head, spacing them evenly and angling them slightly outward.
Arms (make two)
Cast on 6 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Kfb into every stitch. 12 stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch for 7 centimetres.
Next row (RS): K2tog across the row. 6 stitches.
Cut yarn, thread through stitches, and gather. Sew the arm seam, stuff lightly (arms should be floppy rather than firm), and attach securely to the sides of the body.
Legs (make two)
Cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): Kfb into every stitch. 16 stitches.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: K1, kfb, repeat to end. 24 stitches.
Row 4: Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch for 4 centimetres (this forms the foot).
Next row (RS): K2tog, repeat to end. 12 stitches.
Next row (WS): Purl.
Continue in stocking stitch for 5 centimetres (this forms the leg).
Next row (RS): K2tog across row. 6 stitches.
Cast off.
Sew the leg seam, leaving the top open. Stuff firmly, particularly the foot, and attach to the base of the body.
Tail
Cast on 8 stitches.
Row 1: Kfb into every stitch. 16 stitches.
Work 4 rows in stocking stitch.
Next row: K2tog across. 8 stitches.
Next row: P2tog across. 4 stitches.
Draw yarn through stitches and sew into a small bobble shape. Stuff very lightly if desired. Attach to the back of the body, positioned towards the lower half.
Putting It All Together
Once all your pieces are knitted, the magic really happens in the making up. Take your time with this stage — neat seaming and careful assembly make an enormous difference to the finished result.
Begin by ensuring the body is well stuffed, giving your rabbit a nicely rounded, firm torso. Sew the head securely to the top of the body, taking care to position it slightly forward of centre for a natural, characterful look. Attach the arms at shoulder height and the legs at the base of the body, splaying them forward slightly so that the rabbit can sit upright. Sew on the tail and give the ears a final check to make sure they are symmetrical and well secured. Take a moment to gently shape the stuffed pieces with your hands — you can mould the head, body, and limbs to achieve just the look you want before everything sets in place.
If you are adding a ribbon bow, a small knitted scarf, or any other embellishments, now is the time to do so.
Watch the Video Tutorial
We know that written patterns, however detailed, can only go so far. Seeing the techniques in action makes a world of difference, particularly for less experienced knitters or when you encounter a step that the words alone do not quite bring to life. Our video tutorial walks you through each stage of making this rabbit from start to finish — casting on, shaping the body and head, working the ears and limbs, and sewing everything together into a finished toy.
The video is designed to be clear and easy to follow, with close-up footage of the hands so you can see exactly how each stitch and technique is worked. You can pause, rewind, and work at your own pace. It is there to support you, not to rush you. We hope you find it a genuinely useful companion to this written pattern, and we encourage you to use both together for the best experience.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few practical tips will help your rabbit come out looking its very best.
When sewing up the seams, use mattress stitch wherever possible. It creates an almost invisible seam on the right side of the work and gives your toy a professional, polished finish. Take your time and match row to row carefully.
Do not be tempted to under-stuff. A firmly stuffed toy holds its shape much better and looks more characterful. That said, the arms benefit from being slightly softer and more flexible, so you can afford to be a little lighter-handed there.
If you are making this rabbit for a baby or very young child, consider using embroidered eyes rather than safety eyes or buttons, just to be cautious. Use a tight, well-secured satin stitch in black yarn for a sweet, safe alternative.
Blocking your knitted pieces lightly before sewing up can help them lie flat and make the assembly stage considerably easier. Simply mist with water and pin to shape on a blocking mat, then leave to dry.
Finally, do not worry if your first rabbit is not perfect. Knitted toys are wonderfully forgiving, and a slightly wonky ear or an imperfect seam adds to the handmade charm rather than diminishing it. The second rabbit will be better, and by the third you will wonder why you ever worried at all.
Making It Your Own
One of the great joys of this pattern is how easily it adapts. A different yarn colour immediately creates a different character — a classic grey rabbit feels elegant and timeless, while a cheerful yellow one has a more playful personality. You can dress your rabbit in a tiny knitted jumper, add a felt waistcoat, tie on a miniature bow tie, or wrap them in a little hand-sewn pinafore. Each variation becomes its own distinct creature.
You can also adjust the size by changing your needle size or yarn weight. A chunky yarn on larger needles will produce a big, generous rabbit; a fine 4-ply yarn on smaller needles will give you something tiny and delicate, perhaps just right as a tree decoration or a pocket toy.
For a more whimsical look, try striping the body in two or three colours, changing yarn at the beginning of each right-side row for a clean stripe sequence. Or work the ears in a contrasting colour for a pop of unexpected detail.
Sharing Your Makes
We would love to see your finished rabbits. If you make this pattern, please do share a photo with us — you can tag us on social media or drop a picture into the comments below. There is nothing we enjoy more than seeing the variety that emerges when different knitters work the same pattern with their own yarn choices, their own hands, and their own instincts for making. Every rabbit is different, and every single one is wonderful.
If you run into any difficulties with the pattern or the video, please do leave a comment and we will do our best to help. We want this to be a pattern you come back to again and again — for gifts, for charity donations, for school fairs and fundraisers, for the pure pleasure of making.
Happy knitting, from all of us at From Britain with Love.
