Knit a Rabbit Video Tutorial & Free Pattern – From Britain with Love

There is something quietly magical about knitting a rabbit. It sits in that perfect overlap between craft and comfort — the kind of project that gives you something to do with your hands on a rainy afternoon and rewards you with a keepsake that actually means something. Whether you are making it for a new baby, a toddler who has just discovered the joy of stuffed animals, or simply because you wanted a small and satisfying project to carry around in your bag, a knitted rabbit is one of those timeless makes that never goes out of style.

This tutorial and free pattern comes to you straight from Britain — and with it comes a little piece of that great British knitting tradition. From the wool mills of the Yorkshire Dales to the seaside towns where grandmothers have been knitting through every generation, there is a particular warmth baked into the craft as it is practiced here. We hope this pattern carries a little of that warmth with it, wherever you are in the world.

Below, you will find a full written pattern, tips for working through each section, notes on yarn and needle choices, and guidance on the finishing and stuffing stages that can make or break a small toy. A video tutorial is also available to walk you through each step visually, so whether you are a brand new knitter or someone returning to the needles after a long break, you will have everything you need to complete this project with confidence.

What You Will Need

Before you cast on, it is worth gathering your materials together. One of the nicest things about this pattern is that it requires very little. You do not need a large stash or an expensive yarn — in fact, some of the loveliest finished rabbits come from using up small remnants of double knit yarn left over from other projects.

Yarn: The pattern is designed for double knit weight yarn, sometimes called DK weight. You will need roughly 50 grams in your main colour for the body, head, legs, and ears. A small amount of a contrasting colour is useful if you want to knit a little scarf or bow, though this is entirely optional. Natural fibres like wool or a wool-cotton blend give a beautiful soft texture, but an acrylic DK works perfectly well and has the advantage of being machine washable — an important consideration if this rabbit is destined for a young child.

Needles: A pair of 3.25mm or 3.75mm straight needles, depending on your tension. The pattern is designed to be knitted at a fairly tight tension so that the stuffing does not show through the fabric. If your stitches look open or loose, try going down a needle size.

Stuffing: Polyester toy stuffing is the most practical choice. It is washable, holds its shape well, and is widely available. If you prefer a more natural alternative, you can use clean wool roving, though bear in mind that wool stuffing should not be machine washed.

Other notions: A tapestry needle or yarn needle for sewing up the seams, a pair of safety eyes or small black buttons for the eyes (for babies and very young children, you may prefer to embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, as buttons and safety eyes can present a choking hazard), and a small amount of pink yarn or embroidery thread for the nose.

About the Pattern

This rabbit is knitted flat in pieces and then sewn together. If you are used to knitting in the round or have made toys using a different construction method, this approach might feel slightly old-fashioned — but there is a reason it has persisted for so long. Seams add structure to a soft toy and help it hold its shape over time. They also mean that each piece is small and portable, which makes this an ideal project to pick up and put down.

The finished rabbit is approximately 25 centimetres tall when stuffed and assembled. This is a comfortable cuddle size — small enough to be carried around by a toddler but substantial enough not to get lost under a sofa cushion every five minutes.

The pattern is written for a standard tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 centimetres measured over stocking stitch using 3.75mm needles. Tension is not absolutely critical for a toy — a slightly larger or smaller rabbit will still be perfectly charming — but it is worth doing a quick check before you begin, particularly if you tend to knit very tightly or very loosely.

The Free Pattern

Body

Cast on 20 stitches.

Row 1 (RS): Knit to end.
Row 2 (WS): Purl to end.

Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 9cm from cast on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape top of body:
Row 1: K2, (k2tog, k2) to last 2 sts, k2tog. (15 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, (k2tog) to end. (8 sts)

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull up tightly and secure. This forms the top of the body. The cast-on edge will be gathered to close the bottom once the body is stuffed.

Make two pieces.

Head

Cast on 10 stitches.

Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb in every stitch. (20 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: (K1, kfb) to end. (30 sts)
Row 6: Purl.

Continue in stocking stitch until head measures 6cm from the increase rounds, ending with a WS row.

Shape top of head:
Row 1: (K2, k2tog) to last 2 sts, k2. (23 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: (K1, k2tog) to last 2 sts, k2. (16 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: (K2tog) to end. (8 sts)

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches as for the body.

Make one piece.

Ears

Cast on 6 stitches.

Work in stocking stitch for 6cm.

Row 1: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: (K2tog) twice. (2 sts)
Row 4: P2tog. (1 st)

Fasten off.

Make two pieces.

Optional inner ear: Using pink yarn, cast on 4 stitches and work in stocking stitch for 4cm. Shape and fasten off as above. Sew the inner ear to the front of the outer ear before attaching to the head.

Arms

Cast on 8 stitches.

Work in stocking stitch for 6cm.

Row 1: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, pull up and secure.

Make two pieces.

Legs

Cast on 10 stitches.

Work in stocking stitch for 7cm.

Row 1: K2tog, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches.

Make two pieces.

Tail

Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1: Kfb in every stitch. (8 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Kfb in every stitch. (16 sts)

Work 4 rows in stocking stitch.

Row 8: (K2tog) to end. (8 sts)
Row 9: (P2tog) to end. (4 sts)

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Sew the side seam and stuff lightly before fastening off.

Making Up and Assembly

This is the stage where the rabbit comes to life, and for many knitters it is also the most satisfying part of the process. It is also, if we are being honest, the part that most often gives beginners a moment of uncertainty. The pieces can look a little shapeless on their own, and it takes a leap of faith to commit to stuffing and sewing them together. Watch the video tutorial alongside this section if you want a visual guide to each step.

Assembling the body: Take your two body pieces and sew them together along the side seams using mattress stitch or a simple whipstitch, leaving the bottom open for stuffing. Stuff the body firmly — you want it to feel solid and hold its shape — then gather the cast-on stitches at the bottom just as you did at the top, and sew the bottom closed securely.

Assembling the head: Sew the head piece into a ball by joining the side seam, stuff firmly, and close the bottom by gathering the cast-on stitches. Before you sew the head fully closed, attach your safety eyes or embroider the eyes in position on the front of the head. For a classic look, position the eyes about one third of the way down the head, spaced evenly apart. Use a small amount of pink yarn to embroider a simple nose just below the centre of the face — a few small vertical stitches or a tiny cross stitch works beautifully.

Assembling the ears: Fold each ear piece so that the side seams meet at the back and sew up the seam. Do not stuff the ears — they look far better left flat, which also gives them that slightly floppy quality that makes a knitted rabbit so endearing. If you have made inner ear pieces in pink, sew these to the front of each ear using a few small stitches around the edge.

Assembling the arms and legs: Sew the seam of each arm and leg, leaving the cast-on end open. Stuff each limb lightly — less stuffing than you might expect is the right amount here. Over-stuffed limbs tend to stick out stiffly at odd angles, whereas lightly stuffed ones hang more naturally. Close the open ends.

Putting it all together: Pin everything in position before you start sewing. Place the head on top of the body and check that it sits straight. Pin the ears to the top of the head, slightly back from the centre, with a small gap between them. Position the arms on either side of the upper body and the legs at the lower body. Stand the rabbit up (or sit it down, depending on the angle of your legs) to check the positioning looks right before committing to any stitches. Sew each piece in place using matching yarn, making sure your stitches go through both the piece and the body or head, and are pulled firmly enough to hold everything securely.

Finally, sew the tail to the back of the body, just below the midpoint. This is the finishing touch that somehow completes the whole thing — a rabbit without a tail looks rather incomplete.

Tips for Getting Great Results

A few things that make a real difference with this kind of project:

Weave in your ends as you go. There is nothing more dispiriting than finishing the knitting and sitting down to assembly, only to find that you have thirty ends to deal with before you can even begin. Weave each end in as you cast off each piece and you will thank yourself later.

Use matching yarn for seaming. If you are working in a variegated or heathered yarn, pull a length of yarn from the ball and use that for all your sewing up. It will blend far better than a single contrasting shade.

Do not rush the stuffing. Take your time pushing the stuffing right down into the bottom of each piece using the eraser end of a pencil or a chopstick. Lumpy stuffing is the main culprit behind a sad-looking soft toy, and a bit of patience here makes all the difference.

Give it a little steam. Once your rabbit is assembled, a very light press with a damp cloth or a quick steam from an iron held an inch or two away from the surface can smooth out any uneven patches in the fabric and give it a neater, more finished look. Do not apply the iron directly to the yarn.

Personalising Your Rabbit

Part of what makes this pattern such a lovely one to give as a gift is how easily it lends itself to personalisation. You can knit the rabbit in any colour you like — classic grey or stone gives it a very natural look, white is sweet and traditional, and a dusty sage green or soft terracotta can be unexpectedly beautiful. If you want to give your rabbit a little more personality, try knitting a tiny garter stitch scarf in a contrasting colour, or add a small bow tied around the neck using a length of ribbon.

You can also embroider small details onto the face once it is assembled — a subtle smile with a few backstitch stitches, or delicate eyelashes, can transform the expression entirely and make each rabbit feel genuinely unique.

A Note on Gifting Handmade Toys

If you are making this rabbit as a gift for a baby or young child, it is worth checking that all components are completely secure before handing it over. Tug firmly on the eyes, ears, and limbs to make sure nothing can be pulled off. For babies under twelve months, it is safest to embroider all features rather than using any kind of button or plastic attachment.

Handmade toys carry something that shop-bought ones simply cannot — the time and care and attention of the person who made them. That is not a small thing. In a world where almost everything can be ordered and delivered the next day, the gift of something made by hand, stitch by stitch, is quietly extraordinary.

Watch the Video Tutorial

The written pattern above gives you everything you need to complete this rabbit, but if you prefer to learn visually, the accompanying video tutorial walks you through each section in real time. You will be able to see exactly how the pieces are shaped, how the assembly goes together, and a few extra little tips for getting clean, neat seams. The video is available on our YouTube channel — just search for From Britain with Love rabbit tutorial and you will find it.

Whether you are knitting this on a Sunday morning with a cup of tea, on your lunch break, or late at night when the house is quiet, we hope it brings you as much pleasure to make as it does to give. Happy knitting.