Button Bunnies

Button Bunnies Knitted Toys

What is Being Made

Button Bunnies is a downloadable knitting pattern for creating small stuffed bunny toys designed by Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter. This beginner-friendly project produces adorable amigurumi-style bunnies that are perfect for gift-giving or personal collection. The pattern includes instructions for three different sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, allowing crafters to customize their finished toys.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The construction uses the magic loop method or DPN (double-pointed needle) construction, which allows crafters to work in continuous rounds without seaming. The pattern incorporates increases in the early rounds to shape the bunny's body, creating a three-dimensional form from a flat piece of knitting. The toy is worked from the ground up using circular knitting, a technique that produces seamless, tubular fabric ideal for stuffed toys.

Stitches Used

The Button Bunnies pattern utilizes basic knitting stitches appropriate for beginner crafters:

• Knit stitch (k) – the foundational stitch used throughout the pattern
• Knit front and back (kf&b) – an increase technique used to expand the stitch count in early rounds, creating the rounded shape of the bunny's head and body
• Stockinette stitch – the primary fabric texture, created by alternating knit and purl rows in flat knitting or knit rounds in circular knitting

The pattern works at a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which helps ensure proper sizing and proportions for the finished toys.

Materials and Notions

Yarn: The pattern calls for worsted-weight yarn, which is a medium-thickness yarn ideal for beginner projects and toys. The designer used The Wool Dispensary Greater Poison in Mabel Stark for the primary color (one skein), with small amounts of The Wool Dispensary Greater Poison in Cirque Plum for accent details. A small amount of black worsted-weight yarn is also needed for additional embellishments.

Needles: Crafters will need a set of US #6 double-pointed needles (DPNs), which are the appropriate size for worsted-weight yarn and allow for seamless circular knitting.

Additional Notions: The project requires three pairs of safety eyes (available in various sizes; the designer used 2 pairs of 8mm and 1 pair of 7.5mm), removable stitch markers for tracking rounds, a stitch holder for managing stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and assembling the toy.

Pattern Overview

The Button Bunnies pattern begins with casting on 6 stitches and working in the round using double-pointed needles. The first three rounds focus on strategic increases using the kf&b technique to expand the stitch count from 6 to 12 to 24 to 36 stitches, creating the rounded foundation of the bunny's body. Additional rounds for Medium and Large sizes provide options for crafters who prefer larger finished toys. Safety eyes are incorporated to bring personality to each bunny, while the worsted-weight yarn ensures quick project completion and a sturdy, huggable finished toy suitable for children and collectors alike.