Chinese New Year Rabbit Crochet Pattern

Let’s celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit with this adorable rabbit crochet pattern!

The pattern is sweet and simple and requires minimal sewing. It would make a lovely gift for rabbit lovers or those born in the Year of the Rabbit.

This pretty little bunny is complete with a bow and fluffy pom-pom tail. Now I’m not the best when it comes to making pom-poms so for me a pom-pom maker is a must but feel free to use whatever method you’re most comfortable with.

How to Make a Pom-Pom

Here are a couple of tips for making a good looking pom:

• Use acrylic yarn.
• Wrap. You still need to be able to close the pom-pom maker but the more you wrap the fuller your pom will be.
• Trim your pom-pom so it’s nice and round (this part always gives me anxiety). Go slowly and only take off small amounts at a time.

Rabbit Crochet Pattern

Materials

• DK weight yarn in rabbit colour, bow colour and a small amount of pink and white (I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK in Soft Fudge, Raspberry Pink, Bubblegum Pink and Paper White).
• Worsted weight acrylic yarn in rabbit colour or contrasting colour for the pom-pom tail (I used Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran in Soft Fudge)
• 2.5mm crochet hook
• 9mm safety eyes
• 1 3/8″ (35mm) pom-pom maker
• Polyester fiberfill
• Stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• inc – increase
• invdec – invisible decrease
• dec – decrease
• BLO – back loop only
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• sl st – slip stitch
• st/s – stitch/es
• […] – repeat the instructions in brackets
• (…) – indicates stitch count at end of round

Useful Links

• Invisible Decrease
• Invisible Fasten Off
• How to Close Amigurumi

Notes

• The pattern is written using US terminology and measures approximately 6″ (15.5cm) tall when using the materials listed.
• Pieces are worked in a continuous spiral starting with a magic ring unless otherwise specified. Mark the first stitch of each round with a removable stitch marker.
• Gauge is not important in this pattern. Use a hook size to match your chosen yarn. Make sure that your stitches are tight enough to prevent stuffing showing through and adjust hook size if necessary.

LET’S GET STARTED!

Head (rabbit colour)

R1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)

R2: [Inc] x6 (12)

R3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18)

R4: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, sc (24)

R5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)

R6: 2 sc, inc, [4 sc, inc] x5, 2 sc (36)

R7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

R8: 3 sc, inc, [6 sc, inc] x5, 3 sc (48)

R9-11: [Sc] x48 (48) 3 rounds

R12: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54)

R13-14: [Sc] x54 (54) 2 rounds

R15: 4 sc, inc, [8 sc, inc] x5, 4 sc (60)

R16-20: [Sc] x60 (60) 5 rounds

R21: 4 sc, invdec, [8 sc, invdec] x5, 4 sc (54)

R22: [7 sc, invdec] x6 (48)

R23: 3 sc, invdec, [6 sc, invdec] x5, 3 sc (42)

R24: [5 sc, invdec] x6 (36)

Insert safety eyes between R15 and R16, 10 sts apart.

R25: 2 sc, invdec, [4 sc, invdec] x5, 2 sc (30)

Start stuffing and continue to stuff as you go.

R26: [3 sc, invdec] x6 (24)

R27: Sc, invdec, [2 sc, invdec] x5, sc (18)

R28: BLO [sc, invdec] x6 (12)

R29: [Invdec] x6 (6)

Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the front loop only of the final round and pull to close. Hide the end inside the head.

Body (rabbit colour)

Join yarn in first leftover front loop from R28 of the head.

R1: Ch 1, sc in same st and in each front loop around (18)

R2: Sc, inc, [2 sc, inc] x5, sc (24)

R3: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)

R4: 2 sc, inc, [4 sc, inc] x5, 2 sc (36)

R5: [Sc] x36 (36)

R6: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42)

R7: 3 sc, inc, [6 sc, inc] x5, 3 sc (48)

R8-10: [Sc] x48 (48) 3 rounds

R11: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54)

R12-18: [Sc] x54 (54) 7 rounds

R19: [7 sc, invdec] x6 (48)

R20: 3 sc, invdec, [6 sc, invdec] x5, 3 sc (42)

R21: BLO [5 sc, dec] x6 (36)

R22: 2 sc, invdec, [4 sc, invdec] x5, 2 sc (30)

Start stuffing and continue to stuff as you go.

Tip: Try to keep the bottom as flat as possible by focusing stuffing towards the outer edges.

R23: [3 sc, invdec] x6 (24)

R24: Sc, invdec, [2 sc, invdec] x5, sc (18)

R25: [Sc, invdec] x6 (12)

I finished my piece here to create a flatter bottom. However, if the hole is still quite large and you’re worried about your sts gaping, you may want to do an extra round – [invdec] x6 (6)

Cut the yarn leaving a tail and pull through last st. Weave the yarn tail through the front loop only of the final round and pull to close. Hide the end inside the body.

Tip: To avoid stretching the sts too much, close in halves. Weave the yarn through the front loops of the first 6 sts and pull gently to start closing the hole. Weave through the last 6 sts and close the rest of the way.

Ears (make 4, rabbit colour)

Ch 10, sl st in second ch from hook, sl st in next ch, sc in next 3 chs, hdc in next 3 chs, [hdc, 3 dc, hdc] in last ch. Working down other side of ch – hdc in next 3 chs, sc in next 3 chs, sl st in last 2 chs (21)

Fasten off invisibly to first sl st. Weave in ends.

Take 2 ear pieces and place them wrong sides together. Join with a standing sc in first sl st making sure to go through the corresponding st on the piece that’s behind.

Continue crocheting around – [sc] x8, [inc] x3, [sc] x9 (24)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Repeat for the second ear.

Bow (bow colour)

R1: Ch 12, hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across (10)

R2-3: Ch 1, turn. [Hdc] x10 (10) 2 rounds

Pinch together in the centre. Using a long length of yarn (approximately 60cm), wrap around the middle of the bow until you have your desired look and tie ends in a knot at the back. Leave the tails long for sewing the tie to the back.

Tie (bow colour)

Leaving a longer starting tail, ch 20

Fasten off leaving a long tail.

You may need to add or subtract chains depending on your tension and yarn choice. The tie should fit snugly around the neck without stretching and the chain ends should meet in the back when the long tails are tied.

Using the yarn tails from the bow, sew the tie to the back of the bow.

Assembly

• Using pink yarn, sew a nose centred between the eyes and spanning over 3 sts. Go over it 4-5 times or until you have your desired look, then make a single vertical st 5 rounds down from the centre of the nose.
• Using white yarn, add a white accent to the outer edge of each eye.
• Sew the ears to the top of the head, approximately 2-3 sts either side of the magic ring.
• Place bow around the neck and tie in the back. Weave in ends. I positioned it to the side for a more feminine look.
• Using acrylic yarn, make a pom-pom using a pom-pom maker or method of your choice.  I used a 1 3/8” (35mm) pom-pom maker.
• Sew the pom-pom to the back of the rabbit. You want the pom-pom to be flush with the base of the bunny when sitting.

not ready to make this yet?

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