Bunny Crochet Pattern

And it's super simple.
The hardest part of the pattern, honestly, is me writing it up in a way that's understandable. I promise.

I was inspired by this post and the adorable little pastel-colored buns, except that the pattern was in Dutch. Yes, Google translate is awesome, but crochet terms are not quite so easy to copy from one language to another. Plus, I noticed that the pattern was made using a front and a back, then sewing up the sides. I'm a fan of using the least amount of knots and add-ons as possible, so that style wasn't for me. 

Which is why I cam up with this! And it can be made all in one go, no sewing-on necessary - my kind of pattern! 

Yes, I could have chosen a much more Spring-like color, and I almost went with bright yellow, but the purple called to me more. And considering I was "shopping my stash", it was really down to yellow or purple! 

Now, this does require you know how to crochet "in the round", though it's pretty simple beyond that - I assure you.

Oh, and as a note, this is worsted weight (or, weight 4) yarn, and I used a G hook (as I tend to crochet rather loosely). Whatever you choose will be fine, as there is no gauge for this pattern!

I also highly recommend a stitch marker, just to make it easier on yourself. I'm a fan of using a paperclip. Safety pins work well too! Just that way if you lose count along the way, it is that much easier to go back and recount your stitches.

Chain 17.

In second chain from hook, single crochet (from here on out, will be referred to as "sc"). Sc the next 15 chain spaces. Sc again in the 15th chain. DO NOT TURN. Instead, continue along the other side of the chain. Sc in the same ch, and then the next 15 again. Sc again in the last space, and Slip Stitch to the first sc.  You will end this row with a total of 34 sc stitches.

Chain 1, and sc in the same stitch that you made your slip stitch into. Sc 1 in each of the next 15 spaces. 3 sc in the next stitch (the 17th). Sc 1 in each of the next 16 spaces, and 3 sc in the next (the 34th). Slip stitch to first sc of this round (38 total sc).

Chain 1, and sc in slip stitch (here on out, will be referred to as "sl st") space. 1 sc in each of the next 37 spaces (38 total sc). Sl st to first. 

Repeat the last row another 5 times (for a total of 6 times).

Chain 1, and sc in sl st space. 1 sc in the next 17 stitches. Single crochet together (sc2tog) the 18th and 19th stitch of that row. Sc the next 17 stitches and sc2tog the 37th and 38th. Sl st with first stitch (36 stitches total at the end of this row). 

Repeat in this pattern for 9 more rows. Numbers are as follows: 

1st repeat - sc2tog the 17th with the 18th & the 35th with the 36th (ending with 34 stitches total). 

2nd repeat - sc2tog the 16th with the 17th & the 33rd with the 34th (ending with 32 stitches total).

3rd repeat - sc2tog the 15th with the 16th & the 31st with the 32nd (ending with 30 stitches).

4th repeat - sc2tog the 14th with the 15th & the 29th and the 30th (ending with 28 stitches).

5th repeat - sc2tog the 13th with the 14th & the 27th with the 28th (ending with 26 stitches).

6th repeat - sc2tog the 12th with the 13th & the 25th with the 26th (ending with 24 stitches). 

7th repeat - sc2tog the 11th with the 12th & the 23rd with the 24th (ending with 22 stitches).

8th repeat - sc2tog the 10th with the 11th & the 21st with the 22nd (ending with 20 stitches).

 9th repeat - sc2tog the 9th with the 10th & the 19th with the 20th (ending with 18 stitches).

That is the end of the body portion. I recommend taking a moment to stuff the body.
Take a deep breath, and let's power through.

Chain 1, and sc twice in the sl st space. 2 sc in each space around (ending with a total of 36 stitches).

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, then 2 sc in the next space. Continue in this manner - 1 sc, then 2sc in the next space until the end (for a total of 54 stitches).

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, and continue with 1 sc in each around (ending with 54 stitches.).

Repeat the last row 4 times - for a total of 5 rows with no increases or decreases at the 54 stitch count). 

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, and then sc2tog the next two spaces. Continue in this manner - 1 sc, then sc2tog until the end of the row (for a total of 36 stitches). 

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, and then sc2tog the next two spaces. Continue as the last row (for a total of 24 stitches). 

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, and then sc2tog the next two spaces. Continue as the last row (for a total of 16 stitches). 

And this is the end of the head - and also a great time to stuff the head, so you have the space to squish it all about, and maybe poke the stuffing of the body about if need be.

Chain 1, sc in the sl st space, and in each space around (for a total of 16 stitches).

Repeat the last row 8 times.

Stuff the ears. 

Sl st the top of the ears together.

For the ear detail - you will need a yarn needle and a foot and a half or so of yarn (yes, that is a lot more than you need, but always easier to thread things with more yarn than less!). With the yarn threaded through the yarn needle, put it around the stitch just to the right of the stitch in the middle of the base of the ear (that's a mouthful!). Then thread it behind the middle stitch, out the front of the piece, and then under again to come out in the middle...how about a picture instead!

So the three pink dots are the stitches in the middle of the ear, the left, and right.
Your knot goes at the far right red line (around the right stitch).
Then you go underneath the "fabric" with the needle, and come up to the left of the left stitch - red line.
Then back under the fabric to come up on the other side of the middle stitch (green line), to then go up to the top of the ears (yellow line).

Then go right underneath the slip-stitched-top, and down the back of the ears, to do the same in-and-out pattern. Then come back through the top and knot at the bottom (so both knots are on the same side, and you have two strands up the ear on both sides).
All of the weaving under and over is to create a bit more strength - with just the knot and then through the top it pulled too much at the base of the ears.

I used my crochet hook to poke through the fabric and pull the ends into the bunny so they weren't hanging around everywhere.

Seriously, the hardest part of getting this all done was figuring out how to write it - I took notes while making this little guy, but they're awfully messy!

Obviously, not everyone's cup of tea. But it only takes a few hours, and there are no extra seams to worry about!

I'm quite fond of him, and he has been hanging out on my desk ever since completion. I would love to give it to Tux (my adorable puppy) to cuddle with, but he would tear him up I'm afraid!

I'm thinking of crafting up a little bow tie for him...he looks like he would benefit from one!

~Havok

[edit: linking up to One Project at a Time via A Bowl Full of Lemons]