Today we have Julie visiting and her Little Cotton Rabbits blog. You will find that both Julie and her blog are incredibly inspirational – not only is she the cleverest and cutest knitter I have recently come across, but she shares with you her day to day life with her family – the ups and downs of parenthood that we all experience – magnified by the challenges of an autistic child. I found her site via Cara’s Freckle Family‘s blog – who recently impressed me with her knitted moustaches.. what is she like.. I digress.
I also love the Christmas Tree Bears. And here are some gorgeous patterns to buy at VERY reasonable prices – check out the cupcake pattern and the adorable hedgehog. Over to Julie:
Here is a free pattern to make some teeny tiny toys – just under 2.5 inches (6 cms) tall.
It’s a wee bit fiddly but lots of fun!
What you will need:
some left-over scraps of 4ply yarn in pink, black and fur colour (brown/ cream / grey…) a small circle of felt (for the back of the face – to prevent the tiny stitches pulling through), 1 pair of 2.25mm needles and 2 double pointed 2.25mm needles.
With your fur colour yarn and 2.25mm needles cast on 13 stitches – leaving a tail of around 5 inches for sewing up later.
Purl the first row and knit the next. Continue in stocking stitch until work measures 1.5 inches (4cms), approx 18 rows in total.
Cut the work from the ball of yarn leaving around 6 inches for sewing up and thread a needle with this end. Thread the cast off end through the stitches on the needle.
Now take your small circle of felt and place at the back of the work behind where you plan to embroider the face. Using the pink yarn embroider a small nose in centre of face – I use 1 stitch across and 1 small stitch downwards. Knot the yarn at the back of the work and trim ends off. Now add the eyes with the black yarn – you can tie a small knot in the thread to make the eye stand out. Again knot the thread at the back of the work and tie ends securely trimming off excess.
Place a small ball of stuffing behind face and join the back seam of the body using mattress stitch (follow link & scroll down). Tie a length of yarn tightly around the body around half way up to give your toy a neck and thread ends through the body before trimming off excess (if you prefer a neater finish to the neck see an alternative method here). Stuff the body cavity. Thread a needle with the cast on tail and use this to catch up the loops around the bottom of the body.
Pull up tightly to gather seam and seal body cavity. Tie off tightly and thread ends through the body before trimming off excess.
Now make the limbs (4 the same). Cast on 4 stitches with the double pointed needles and knit a short i-cord – around 6 – 8 rows in length. Cut the work from the ball and thread end through the stitches on the needles and then through the middle of the work – knotting it securely to the cast on tail.
For rabbit ears cast on 5 stitches.
K1, P1, K1, P1, K1 – repeat this row 5 times more to give 6 rows from cast on.
7th row: K1, P3 together, K1
8th row: K1, P1, K1
9th row: K1, K2 together, pass 1st stitch over.
Cut the work from ball of yarn and thread the end through the last stitch to cast off. Using the cast off tail thread this through the centre of the ear and tie to cast on tail.
(To make ears for a bear cast on 3 stitches, knit 1 row, cast off 3. Tie cast on and cast off ends together tightly and sew in place.)
Assemble all of the body parts.
Join the ears to the top of the head with a few stitches. Knot ends securely together and thread through the body before trimming excess.
Repeat with all of the limbs. And there you have an itty, bitty bunny!
And if you fancy you could make your teeny tiny toy a little snack:
Teeny iced bun:
using a bun-coloured wool (preferably 4ply / fingering weight) and US 0 / 2.0 mm needles cast on 3 stitches
P3
K1, YO, K1, YO, K1
P5
K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1
P 9
K 9
P 9
K2tog through the back twice, K1, K2tog twice
P 5
K2tog through the back, K1, K2tog
P 3
K1, K2tog, pass 1st stitch over, and pull end through to cast off
Tie both cast on and cast off ends together and thread a needle with one end, gathering the edges in to make a ball – stuff with a short length of same colour yarn. Tie off the ends and thread through the ball before trimming off.
Cut a small circle of felt, sew a seed bead in the centre as a cherry, tie off and trim thread ends on the back. Sew the felt circle over the sewn up end of the knitted bun.
Isn’t Julie just simply to clever? And aren’t these the most adorable little bunnies and bears EVER? Now go and visit her site: Little Cotton Rabbits .
More from Red Ted Art – 20+ Bunny Crafts and 20+ Chick Crafts
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Oh I am in love! I have visited Little Cotton Rabbits before and Julie writes with such clarity. Her photos make everything clear and simple. Beautiful little project!
Oh yes, Julie’s site is beautiful, isn’t it?! 😉
They are absolutely adorable! If only I knew how to knit…
You must learn.. it is easier than you think!!!
These are super cute! I am going to have to make one or 6!!
Me too! Just got all my knitting bits and bobs together and about to make my first bunny! 🙂
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! I really must learn to knit! xx
How gorgeous!! Shame I can’t knit for toffee. If your bunnies keep breeding, I’d be happy to re-home one LOL
Want me to teach you guys??!?
these are so, so cute! 🙂
Aren’t they just? Have already made 5 (2 pandas, 2 white bunnies and a black one).. now moved on to the Christmas bears… addictive!
Hi there- found you through the Sunday Showcase hop and am a new follower. These are darling! I think I might have to try these for my nieces! I have posted a few fiber projects lately. I hope you have time to follow my life in South Africa by http://withoutcomplexities.blogspot.com
I hope you had a great weekend!
Gorgeousness! I never really learnt to knit properly (because my mum would always cast on and cast off for me) but I recently picked it up again with a simple scarf project. These little bunnies are a bit beyond me right now, but I will keep them in mind for the future! I love to crochet, especially in the winter months but I might just have time to squeeze in a bit of knitting!
cute!!!!!!!!!!!
I made 6 at the weekend and if you can “brave” the icord, they are really easy.. go on… you know you want to!
I love this blog!
Can never do anything on it but I aspire to!
xx
Love love love them. So cute! I would love for you to share this project on my Inspiration Board.
http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com/2011/07/inspiration-board-link-party.html
carolyn | homework
Northern Mum, I LOVE your comments 🙂
Carolyn, Done!
I never learn how to knit, but I want to learn so I can create this from your tutorial.
Don’t forget to add it to our weekly party for our readers to discover.
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/07/weekly-talent-search-with-linking-party.html
Thanks
Maggie
These are very cute. Though not an avid knitter myself ( I mostly crochet), I do enjoy seeing all the wonderful talent there is. I’ve knitted only potholders and scarves, but maybe some day will have enough nerve to branch out to these little critters.
Have a wonderful day,
Marianne
Ohhh how cute!! LOVE!!
Thank you for liking up to Handmade Thursday 🙂
I just wanted to let you know that I shared your gorgeous baby knit on my blog in this post: http://thecraftymummy.com/2011/08/simple-baby-knitting-patterns/
Aah thank you, very lovely of you and much appreciated!!!
I’ve always known how to cast on, knit and purl but never made anything before until yesterday and i made a massive bear (15 inch approx). I am so in love with these I’m going to make them for all my nieces and nephews. <3 Can't wait I'm so excited to start!
Awe how wonderful! So lovely to get excited about new projects! Have fun!
I love her patterns! I made my niece a cupcake shirt based on her cupcake pattern and she loves it! I wonder if I have time to make 5 tiny bunnies before Easter … LOL.
best project EVER!!!!!!!!! :):P