Monday 5 March 2012

Bunny's lunch - free pattern

The arrival of the baby bunny in the playroom created much excitement but the dolls were very concerned when the little cutie refused to eat.

Kate offered bunny some cheese sandwiches but they didn't interest her. 


Then Lulu decided an apple might be just the thing, but bunny wasn't tempted.


Lucy was sure a ripe red tomato would make excellent bunny food, but it seems she was wrong.


Luckily our two new dolls, Fern and Flora, have lived in the wood and know exactly what baby bunnies like to eat.


They filled their little baskets with tiny carrots and juicy radishes and of course, when she saw them, baby bunny's appetite returned immediately.


The baby bunny and all the dolls in this blog post can made from my patterns which you'll find in my Dollytime Etsy shop. Meanwhile, if you have a little bunny who might enjoy a meal of radishes and carrots you will find a free pattern below. They are quick and easy to make and only take small amounts of yarn.

Radish and carrot pattern


Materials needed:
A pair of 2.75mm needles (US size 2)
DK (double knitting) yarn radish red, white, carrot orange and leaf green.
USA use worsted and Australia use 8 ply.
Small amount of stuffing

Abbreviations:
k2tog - knit two stitches together
p2tog - purl two stitches together
k3tog - knit 3 stitches together
st - stitch(es)
st-st - stocking stitch (stockinette stitch)
cast off (bind off)
All rows are numbered

RADISH
approximately the size of a standard radish


Cast on 12 stitches in radish red
1 - 6. st-st starting with a knit row
Break off red and join white
7 - 8. st-st (white)
9. k2tog across row (6st)
10. p2tog (x3) (3st)
11. k2tog, k1 (2st)
Cut the yarn leaving a 5cm (2in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the two remaining stitch from the needle onto the tail. Pull to tighten. This tail will form the root of the radish so cut to the required length (approx 2cm). With right side facing out, stitch the seam from the bottom to the top cast-on edge. Stuff the radish to make it firm and rounded (about the size of a small marble). To gather the top, whip-stitch around the stitch loops on the top edge and pull to tighten. Fasten off

Leaves
Cast on 10 stitches in green
Cast off
Pull to straighten and then weave each yarn tail down to the centre and cut it off. Fold the leaf in half to make a 'v' shape and stitch to the top of the radish.

CARROTS

Small excluding leaves and root approx. 5cm (2in)
Large excluding leaves and root approx. 7cm (2.5in )



SMALL CARROT
Cast on 14 stitches in carrot colour (orange)
1. knit
2. purl
3. k3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3 (12st)
4 - 6. st-st
7. k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10st)
8 - 10. st-st
11. k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (8st)
12. purl
13. k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1 (6st)
14. purl
15. k2tog (x3) (3st)
16. purl
17. k2tog, k1 (2st)
Cut the yarn leaving a 5cm (2in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the two remaining stitches from the needle onto the tail. Pull to tighten. This tail will form the root of the carrot so cut to the required length (approx 2cm). Stitch the seam from the bottom to the top cast-on edge. Stuff the carrot to make it firm but not too wide (use the end of a blunt pencil or point of scissors to push stuffing to the bottom). To gather the top, whip-stitch alternate loops on the top edge but before gathering you need to add the leaves (see below).

LARGE CARROT
Cast on 14 stitches in carrot colour (orange)
1 - 4. st-st starting with knit row
5. k3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3 (12st)
6 - 8. st-st
9. k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10st)
10 - 12. st-st
13. k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (8st)
14 - 16. st-st
17. k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1 (6st)
18 - 20 st-st.
21. k2tog (x3) (3st)
22. purl
23. k2tog, k1 (2st)
To make up follow the instruction for small carrot (above).

Leaves
For small carrot cut 8 lengths of yarn approximately 10cm (4in) long
For large carrot cut 12 lengths of yarn approximately 10cm (4in) long.

Tie a knot in the centre to hold the yarn bundle together (see below).


Push the knot into the open top of the carrot and pull the gathering yarn so the top encloses the knot. Pull the gathers to hold the knot firmly in place and fasten off. Trim the leaves to the desired length (I like to make them all slightly different lengths).