Deramores Woodland Creatures Harriet the Hare in Deramores Studio DK - Downloadable PDF

Deramores Woodland Creatures: Harriet the Hare Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry

Harriet the Hare is a charming knitted toy hare designed by Amanda Berry as part of the Deramores Woodland Creatures collection. This downloadable PDF knitting pattern guides knitters through creating an adorable stuffed hare standing 32cm tall including the ears, making her a generous and impressive handmade toy or decorative piece. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it a rewarding project for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to explore more refined construction and finishing techniques.

About the Design

Harriet the Hare is constructed as a three-dimensional knitted toy, with individual pieces knitted separately and then sewn together to create a fully formed hare figure. Her design captures the elegant proportions of a hare, complete with long ears, a softly shaped head, and a finished height that makes her a substantial and loveable handmade creation. The two-tone colour scheme — combining a cool grey body with crisp white accents — gives Harriet a naturalistic, woodland-inspired appearance entirely in keeping with the Woodland Creatures theme of the collection.

Materials Required

Yarn

• Deramores Studio DK in "Smoke" (grey) — 1 x 100g skein
• Deramores Studio DK in "Pearl" (white) — 1 x 100g skein

Deramores Studio DK is a double knitting weight yarn, offering a smooth, consistent fabric that is well suited to toy making. The DK weight provides excellent stitch definition, which is important when working the shaping rows and seaming sections that give Harriet her three-dimensional form.

Needles and Notions

• 3.75mm straight knitting needles (US size 5) — used throughout the pattern
• A darning or tapestry needle for sewing knitted pieces together
• 2 x 6mm domed black buttons for the eyes

Tension

The recommended tension for this pattern is 22 stitches x 28 rows over a 10cm x 10cm square worked in stockinette stitch on 3.75mm needles. Amanda Berry notes that knitters need not worry too much about achieving exact tension for this project, as small variations will not significantly affect the overall appearance of the finished toy — a reassuring note for those new to toy construction.

Techniques and Stitches Used

Core Stitches

• Stockinette stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side) — the primary stitch used to construct the body pieces, creating a smooth and even fabric surface
• Purl stitch — used on wrong side rows throughout the construction of the head and body sections
• Cast on — the pattern specifies a cast on of 9 stitches to begin the rabbit head, worked from the back of the head forward

Shaping and Construction Techniques

• Increasing and decreasing — used to shape the individual knitted pieces, including the head, body, and ears, giving Harriet her characteristic rounded, three-dimensional form
• Kitchener stitch grafting — a more advanced technique specifically highlighted in the pattern as part of the intermediate skill requirement; Kitchener stitch is used to join live stitches seamlessly without a visible seam, producing a smooth, professional finish on shaped sections
• Mattress stitch seaming — used to sew the knitted pieces together once complete; mattress stitch is worked along the edges of the knitted fabric and creates an almost invisible vertical seam, essential for achieving a neat, polished toy

Finishing

• Button attachment — the 6mm domed black buttons are sewn on as eyes, adding character and expression to the finished hare
• Seaming and assembly — all pieces are knitted flat on straight needles