Deramores Dutch Bunnies Toy Knitting Pattern

Deramores Dutch Bunnies Knitted Toy

What is Being Made

The Deramores Dutch Bunnies is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for creating a stuffed toy bunny. This downloadable PDF pattern from Deramores Studio, designed by Amanda Berry, provides instructions for constructing a charming knitted rabbit complete with safety eyes and soft toy filling. The finished toy measures 22cm in length and is suitable for crafters with some knitting experience.

Craft and Techniques

This knitting project employs several intermediate techniques to construct the three-dimensional toy form. The pattern uses mattress stitch seaming to join the knitted pieces together with an invisible, professional finish. Short rows are incorporated using the wrap and turn technique to create shaping and contours in the bunny's body and head. The design also features increases and decreases throughout the pattern to shape the toy, including knit-front-and-back increases and various decrease methods such as knit two together, purl two together, and slip-slip-knit decreases. A three-needle bind off technique is used for secure finishing. The long tail cast on method is specified for starting the project.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch throughout, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, providing a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Knit stitch (K) – fundamental stitch forming the fabric base
• Purl stitch (P) – creates the reverse side of stockinette
• Knit front and back (Kfb) – an increase method that creates additional stitches
• Knit two together (K2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Purl two together (P2tog) – a decrease worked on purl rows
• Slip-slip-knit (Ssk) – a left-leaning decrease for shaping
• Wrap and turn (W&T) – creates short rows for three-dimensional shaping

Materials and Specifications

The pattern calls for Deramores Studio Anti-Pilling DK yarn in two colors: one 100g ball in Frost (Yarn A) and one 100g ball in either Chocolate, Ebony, or Gingerbread (Yarn B). DK weight yarn is a medium weight suitable for creating detailed toy features. Three 3.25mm straight knitting needles are required for working the pattern. The recommended tension is 26 stitches and 34 rows per 10x10cm square in stockinette stitch on 3.25mm needles, which helps ensure the finished toy reaches the intended 22cm length.

Additional materials include 250g of toy filling for stuffing the completed bunny, a darning or tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, two 12mm toy safety eyes for facial features, and stitch markers to track position within the pattern rows. The use of anti-pilling yarn ensures the toy maintains its appearance through play and washing.

Pattern Structure

The pattern is organized into distinct sections, with separate instructions for the body and ears, each marked with specific row counts and stitch counts in parentheses. The pattern excerpt shows advanced shaping techniques, such as Row 68 which uses decreases to narrow the piece from 34 stitches, progressing through multiple decrease rows until only 9 stitches remain by Row 74, which are then secured by threading the yarn through remaining stitches and pulling tight.