Meet Willow the Bunny! I made a bunny lovey some time ago but I just had to make the full bunny to go along with her. One of my favorite gift ideas for babies, besides baby blankets which take a long time to make, are gift sets of little items like plushies and loveys. I love the combination of a toy and a small blanket, and I think this bunny set is perfect for baby showers! So, let’s get into the free crochet plushie pattern!
Willow is a shy little bunny, so don’t be surprised if she’s a little hard to find sometimes! She loves her friends at the farm and having tea parties with the girls, but sometimes she’d rather take a nap in a shady spot by her favorite tree. Willow loves that part of the farm because it’s always covered in wildflowers, which she collects and weaves into beautiful flower crowns for herself and her friends. Doesn’t she look so cute in it?
This is part of my Farm Buddies Collection along with a couple of other patterns. Over the course of the month, I’ll be releasing 6 patterns for free on the blog here. You can check back every time I post a new pattern, OR you can grab the bundle of all the patterns at once, as premium ad-free PDF files, plus a bonus pattern! The pattern bundle is on sale below for $27, which is 40% off what it would be to get each other patterns separately. Click the image or the button below to check it out!
The full free pattern is written out below. For those who’d prefer to print the pattern and take it with you for on-the-go and to markup as you go, you can buy the inexpensive printable PDF from my Etsy and Ravelry shops. The PDF is formatted without ads or comments, so it’s easy to read.
Materials:
- 3.25mm crochet hook / D hook*
- #4 medium weight yarn – I used Yarn Bee Soft Secret in Biscuit, Pink, Lilac, Avocado Green
- stitch markers*
- tapestry needle*
- 8mm safety eyes*
- Polyfill stuffing*
*denotes affiliate link
Abbreviations:
- ch – chain
- SC – single crochet
- DC – double crochet
- HDC – half double crochet
- sl – slip stitch
Pattern Notes:
- Skill level: Intermediate – some amigurumi experience is helpful but not necessary
- Sizing: 9.5″ tall
- Gauge: 6S X 5R per inch
Willow the Bunny Plushie: Free Crochet Plushie Pattern
Head
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 6 SC into in. Pull the loop closed and use a stitch marker to mark the first space. You’ll be working in continuous rounds for the entire pattern.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Round 7: *SC 5, inc* around (42).
Rounds 8-16: SC around for 9 rounds.
Insert the eyes on the 5th round from the last increase round and about 6 stitches apart. You can play around with the placement, but once you’re happy with it, secure the backings. Start to add in the stuffing now.
Round 17: *SC 5, dec* around (36).
Round 18: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Round 19: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Round 20: *SC 2, dec* around (18). Finish adding stuffing.
Round 21: *SC, dec* around (12).
Round 22: Decrease around (6). Then cut the yarn and thread tail through a tapestry needle. Run the needle under the front loops of each stitch and secure yarn. Weave in the end.
Ears (make 2):
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 6 SC into in. Pull the loop closed and use a stitch marker to mark the first space. You’ll be working in continuous rounds for the entire pattern.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Rounds 5-12: SC around for 8 rounds.
Round 13: *SC 2, dec* around (18).
Rounds 14-20: SC around for 6 rounds.
Round 21: *SC 1, dec* around (12).
Rounds 22-25: SC around for 4 rounds. BO and leave a long tail to sew the ear onto the head. Loop a piece of pipe cleaner into the shape of the ear and insert it into the crocheted piece. If there’s some sticking out, twist the rest together and fold up the pointy ends. We’ll stick these into the head later.
Body
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 6 SC into in. Pull the loop closed and use a stitch marker to mark the first space.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Round 4: *SC 2, inc* around (24).
Round 5: *SC 3, inc* around (30).
Round 6: *SC 4, inc* around (36).
Rounds 7-13: SC around for 7 rounds. Start to add stuffing to the body now.
Round 14: *SC 4, dec* around (30).
Round 15: SC around.
Round 16: *SC 3, dec* around (24).
Round 17: SC around.
Round 18: *SC 2, dec* around (18).
Round 19: SC around. Finish stuffing. BO and leave a long tail for sewing the head onto the body.
Arms & Legs (Make 4)
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 6 SC into in. Pull the loop closed and use a stitch marker to mark the first space.
Round 2: Inc in each space by working 2 SC into each (12).
Round 3: *SC, inc* around (18).
Rounds 4-15: SC around for 12 rounds. BO leaving a long tail. Lightly stuff each piece with polyfill.
Tail
For the tail, use a pom pom maker or your fingers to make a pom. Trim it to make it even and leave the long ends for sewing it onto the body.
Skirt:
Rows 1-2: With green yarn, chain 27, turn, and SC along for 2 rows.
Row 3: Chain 2, work 3DC into each space.
Rows 4-5: DC into each space. BO. Weave in the ends and trim the excess yarn but leave two of the long ends for tying the skirt on.
Flower crown
Stem: With green yarn, chain 46, turn and slip stitch in each space along the row. BO and trim the ends.
Flowers (make 4):
Round 1: Create a magic loop and work 10 SC into it. Pull to close the loop.
Round 2: Ch3, *YO and insert hook into the same space, YO, pull up a loop* twice. You should have 5 loops on your hook now. YO, insert hook into the next space, *YO and insert hook into the same space, YO, pull up a loop* twice. Yarn over and pull through all loops on the hook (10 loops). Ch2, sl st into the next space. Repeat around for 5 petals.
Tie the flowers onto the stem and hot glue them into place. Trim the excess yarn to finish.
Assembly
With all the crochet bunny pieces made, all that’s left is to assemble!
Position the ears on the head, using pins to hold them in place if you need to. Then using the tail yarn and a tapestry needle, sew them onto the head.
Next, align the legs to the body and use the tails to sew them into place going through both layers of the leg and a corresponding space on the body. Then attach the arms the same ways as the legs.
Then, use the tail yarn from the body to attach the head. It helps to pin it in place so it doesn’t move around. Simply go through each stitch on the body and a corresponding space on the head. Then secure the yarn and hide the tail inside the head. Finally, sew the tail onto the back of the body and secure the yarn. Trim the excess and weave in any loose ends.
Use black embroidery floss to stitch on a Y shape for the mouth and fill the top of the Y in with pink for a nose. Finally, embroider on eyelashes to finish off your crochet bunny plushie!
And you’re done!
This bunny would be a great gift for Easter or for a new baby! You can make this bunny as is and pair it with the Willow Bunny Lovey to make an adorable set. Or, you can make the plushie for a big sibling and the lovey for a new baby as a matching set so they each get something. If you make this, be sure to share your photos with me on Instagram @_theblueelephants!
Related: Willow the Bunny Lovey Free Crochet Pattern
I hope you guys loved this pattern and if you’re excited about the rest of the patterns in the Farm Buddies collection, you can subscribe to the newsletter below for updates on when those patterns are released, or grab all of the patterns plus a bonus pattern in the shop here!
Farm Buddies Collections
- Bonnie the Cow Pattern
- Peter the Piglet Pattern
- Duncan the Duckling Pattern
- Lily the Lamb Pattern
- Willow the Bunny Pattern
- Freddy the Farmer Pattern
- BONUS: Finn the Fox Pattern
See you soon 🙂
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