P161 Georgie the Bunny

How to Knit Georgie the Bunny

Georgie the Bunny is a soft, generously sized knitted toy made from separate flat pieces that are shaped, seamed and stuffed. The design features a rounded body, long floppy ears, shaped arms and legs, and a softly sculpted head formed with two side pieces and a central gusset.

This intermediate project is a rewarding introduction to knitted toy construction. It uses stocking stitch, paired increases and decreases, mattress stitch and careful assembly to create the finished shape.

Finished Measurement

The finished bunny measures approximately 40 cm high.

What You Will Need

Yarn

The original pattern uses Makr Cuddles yarn in 100 g balls:

• Main colour: 3 balls
• Contrast colour: 1 ball for the inner ears
• A small amount of brown yarn for the embroidered face

Needles and Equipment

• One pair of 3.5 mm knitting needles
• Optional 4 mm crochet hook for joining
• Stitch markers
• Stitch holder
• Wool or tapestry needle
• Suitable toy stuffing
• Optional safety eyes
• Optional short length of dowel for neck support
• Scissors

Tension

Using 3.5 mm needles, work to the following tension:

23.5 stitches and 32 rows over 10 cm in stocking stitch.

Knit and wash a tension square before beginning. A tighter fabric is preferable for toys because it helps prevent stuffing from showing through the stitches.

Abbreviations

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together
• Kfb: Knit into the front and back of one stitch
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit
• P2tog: Purl two stitches together
• P2togtbl: Purl two stitches together through the back loops
• Sl1: Slip one stitch purlwise
• PSSO: Pass the slipped stitch over
• RS: Right side
• WS: Wrong side
• St or sts: Stitch or stitches
• St st: Stocking stitch

Construction Overview

The bunny is made from the following knitted pieces:

• Right head side
• Left head side
• Head gusset
• Two body pieces
• Two outer ear pieces
• Two inner ear pieces
• Two legs
• Two arms

Every piece is knitted flat. The components are then seamed, stuffed and attached to form the completed bunny.

Knit the Head Sides

The head is formed from separate left and right side pieces. Begin each piece with 20 stitches in the main colour.

Work the first rows in stocking stitch, then use knit-front-and-back increases to widen the forehead and face. Additional stitches are cast on at the edges to create the lower head and muzzle area.

Continue increasing until each side reaches 40 stitches. Work straight through the widest section, placing the marker at the point indicated in the pattern.

Cast off stitches along one edge to create the rear head opening, then decrease at both ends at regular intervals until 16 stitches remain. Cast off.

Knit the Head Gusset

Cast on 11 stitches and work in stocking stitch.

Increase one stitch at each end of the twentieth row and every following twelfth row until 29 stitches are reached.

Work ten rows without shaping, then decrease one stitch at each end of the next row and every fourth row until 11 stitches remain.

Continue the final decreases until five stitches remain, work two rows straight and cast off.

The gusset runs from the lower muzzle over the top and back of the head, giving the face its rounded three-dimensional shape.

Knit the Body Pieces

Make two body pieces alike.

1. Cast on 14 stitches in the main colour.
2. Cast on two stitches at the beginning of each of the next four rows.
3. Increase one stitch at each end of every row until 32 stitches are reached.
4. Work one row straight.
5. Continue increasing on alternate rows until 48 stitches are reached.
6. Work without further shaping until the piece measures approximately 25 cm from the beginning.

The lower body is rounded using paired decreases worked symmetrically across each row. Continue the shaping sequence until six stitches remain, then cast off.

Knit the Outer Ears

Make two outer ear pieces in the main colour.

1. Cast on 14 stitches.
2. Increase one stitch at each end of the fifth row and every following fourth row until 36 stitches are reached.
3. Work straight until the ear measures approximately 19 cm.
4. Decrease one stitch at each end of alternate rows until 26 stitches remain.
5. Decrease at both ends of every row until six stitches remain.
6. Cast off.

Knit the Inner Ears

Make two inner ear pieces in the contrast colour.

1. Cast on 10 stitches.
2. Increase one stitch at each end of the fifth row and every following fourth row until 32 stitches are reached.
3. Work straight until the piece measures approximately 18 cm.
4. Decrease at both ends of alternate rows until 22 stitches remain.
5. Decrease at both ends of every row until four stitches remain.
6. Cast off.

The slightly smaller inner panel allows a narrow border of the main colour to remain visible after assembly.

Knit the Legs

Make two legs alike.

1. Cast on 15 stitches in the main colour.
2. Work 28 rows in garter stitch to create the sole.
3. Cast on 28 stitches at the beginning of each of the next two rows.
4. Work ten rows in stocking stitch.
5. Decrease one stitch at each end of each of the next ten rows.
6. Work 20 rows straight.

Shape the hip by working paired decreases through the centre and sides of successive rows until only three stitches remain. Cast off.

Knit the Arms

Make two arms alike.

1. Cast on six stitches.
2. Increase into every stitch to create 12 stitches.
3. Work one row straight.
4. Increase into every stitch again to create 24 stitches.
5. Work one row straight.
6. Continue increasing according to the pattern until 45 stitches are reached.
7. Work 31 rows in stocking stitch.

Shape the upper arm and shoulder socket using paired decreases on every row until only three stitches remain. Cast off.

Prepare the Pieces for Assembly

Before sewing, check that you have:

• Two head side pieces
• One head gusset
• Two body pieces
• Two arms
• Two legs
• Two outer ears
• Two inner ears

Sew in any ends that will become difficult to reach after assembly, but retain long tails where they can be used for seaming.

Assemble the Body

1. Place the two body pieces together with the right sides facing.
2. Join the edges using mattress stitch or crochet slip stitch.
3. Leave the cast-on edge open for stuffing.
4. Turn the body right side out.
5. Add stuffing gradually, shaping the rounded belly as you work.
6. Close the remaining opening securely.

Do not overfill. Firm stuffing gives shape, but excessive filling can make the toy hard and may force fibres through the knitted fabric.

Assemble the Head

1. Pin one head side to one edge of the gusset, matching the shaping points.
2. Sew carefully from the lower muzzle around the top and back of the head.
3. Attach the second head side to the opposite gusset edge.
4. Check that both sides are aligned symmetrically.
5. Join the lower face and muzzle seam, leaving an opening for stuffing.
6. Stuff the head evenly, shaping the cheeks and forehead.
7. Close the opening securely.

The cast-on edge of the gusset forms part of the nose and muzzle area. Check the head against the pattern photograph before completing the seam.

Attach the Head to the Body

Position the head centrally over the body opening and pin it in place. Sew around the neck several times using strong matching yarn.

A short dowel is listed as an optional support in the original pattern. For a toy intended for children, use firm stuffing and secure stitching instead of a rigid internal support.

Assemble and Attach the Arms

1. Fold each arm with the right sides facing.
2. Join the seam, leaving a small opening for stuffing.
3. Turn right side out.
4. Stuff lightly, keeping the upper arm flexible.
5. Close the opening securely.
6. Position the arms evenly on either side of the upper body and sew them firmly in place.

Assemble and Attach the Legs

1. Fold each leg with the right sides facing.
2. Join the foot, lower leg and hip seams.
3. Leave an opening for stuffing.
4. Turn right side out.
5. Stuff the foot and leg evenly.
6. Close the opening securely.
7. Position the legs symmetrically at the lower body and sew them firmly in place.

Assemble the Ears

1. Place one inner and one outer ear together with the right sides facing.
2. Join around the curved outer edge, leaving the cast-on edge open.
3. Turn the ear right side out.
4. Repeat for the second ear.
5. Position the ears along the head-gusset seams, checking that they hang at matching angles.
6. Sew the open lower edges securely to the head.

Embroider the Face

Using brown yarn, embroider the eyes, nose and mouth.

1. Position the eyes evenly on either side of the face.
2. Work several small stitches for each eye.
3. Embroider a compact triangular nose at the centre of the muzzle.
4. Add a short vertical line beneath the nose.
5. Work two curved stitches to form the mouth.

Secure all embroidery ends inside the stuffed head.

Alternative Yarns for This Project

A suitable substitute should achieve approximately 23.5 stitches and 32 rows over 10 cm on 3.5 mm needles. It should also produce a firm fabric that will safely contain the stuffing.

• 8 ply anti-pilling acrylic – practical, washable and available in many colours.
• 8 ply wool and acrylic blend – combines softness, elasticity and durability.
• 8 ply machine-washable wool – creates a warm, natural toy with good stitch definition.
• 8 ply cotton and acrylic blend – produces a firmer, smoother bunny suited to warmer climates.
• Light 8 ply baby yarn – offers a soft finish, provided it can achieve the required tension.
• Two strands of fine 4 ply yarn held together – may work when a suitable 8 ply yarn is unavailable.

Choosing the Best Substitute

Choose a smooth yarn with good stitch definition. Very fluffy or loosely spun yarn may hide the shaping and allow stuffing fibres to work through the fabric.

For a toy intended for children, select a washable, colourfast yarn and make sure the finished fabric is dense.

Colour Ideas

• Blush pink with taupe inner ears
• Cream with pale pink inner ears
• Soft grey with white or silver contrast
• Caramel with oatmeal inner ears
• Pastel blue with cream
• Lilac with dusty pink
• Natural brown with a lighter muzzle and ears

Toy Safety

• Use embroidered eyes for babies and young children.
• Avoid buttons, beads and detachable decorations.
• Secure every seam with strong yarn and concealed knots.
• Check the arms, legs and ears regularly for loose stitching.
• Use stuffing specifically designed for toys.
• Do not include rigid neck supports in a child’s toy.

Care

Follow the care instructions on the selected yarn label. Hand washing is generally safest for a large stuffed toy.

Press out excess water gently without twisting. Reshape the head, ears and limbs, then allow the bunny to dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated area.