Five Little Bunnies in Red Heart Gumdrop - LW4212 - Downloadable PDF

Five Little Bunnies in Red Heart Gumdrop (LW4212) – Free Knitting Pattern by Laura Bain

This free downloadable knitting pattern, LW4212 Five Little Bunnies, is designed by Laura Bain and published by Red Heart. It guides knitters through creating a set of five tiny, adorable stuffed bunnies, each measuring just 2 inches (5.08 cm) tall. These miniature knitted toys are perfectly sized to slip over a regular-sized egg or a small plastic egg, making them a charming seasonal decoration or a sweet handmade gift. The pattern is rated beginner difficulty, making it an excellent project for those who are new to knitting in the round or working with double pointed needles.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces five small stuffed bunny figures, each knitted in a different color to create a cheerful, coordinated set. Every bunny consists of two main components: a rounded body worked in the round and two small shaped ears worked flat and sewn on. Once assembled, each bunny is lightly stuffed with fiberfill to give it a soft, three-dimensional form. Embroidered eyes and a nose, worked in scrap yarn, add personality and detail to each finished figure. The result is a collection of tiny, whimsical knitted bunnies that are as fun to make as they are to display or gift.

Materials Used

Yarn

The pattern calls for Red Heart® Gumdrop® yarn (Art. E800), an aran weight yarn available in multicolor options. One ball each of the following colors is used across the five bunnies:

• 202 Lemon
• 501 Smoothie
• 750 Grape
• 930 Orange
• 620 Cherry

Each bunny is knitted in a single color of choice, so knitters can mix and match or substitute colors as preferred. A small amount of scrap yarn in a contrasting color is also needed for embroidering the eyes and nose.

Needles and Notions

• Susan Bates® double pointed needles, one set in 5mm (US 8) size
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle
• Embroidery needle
• Small amount of fiberfill stuffing

Gauge

The stated gauge is 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. Because the finished bunnies are very small, checking gauge is recommended to ensure the correct proportions. The pattern notes that any size needles may be used as long as the correct gauge is achieved.

Techniques and Construction

Knitting in the Round

The bunny body is knitted entirely in the round using double pointed needles, a technique that creates a seamless tube of fabric — ideal for small three-dimensional objects like stuffed toys. Working in the round eliminates the need for seaming along the body, producing a smooth, tidy exterior. A stitch marker is placed at the beginning of the round to track progress.

Cast On Method

The body begins with a long-tail cast on of 24 stitches, with a long yarn tail left for sewing and closing the bottom of the bunny. The long-tail cast on is a popular method among knitters for its neat, elastic edge and efficient technique — it creates both the cast on row and the first row of knitting simultaneously.

Shaping the Body

The body is worked over 19 rounds total. The first 14 rounds are worked in plain Stockinette stitch (knit every round when working in the round), building the cylindrical body of the bunny. Decreases are then worked progressively to close the top of the body:

• Round 15: (K2, K2tog) around — reduces to 18 stitches
• Round 16: Knit around