Bunnies Are Cute

Bunnies Are Cute Knitted Hat by Emily O'Brien

What is Being Made

Bunnies Are Cute is a bottom-up seamless knitted hat featuring stranded colorwork bunny motifs. This downloadable knitting pattern allows crafters to customize adorable bunny designs across their finished hat using two contrasting yarn colors. The pattern is available in three sizes: baby, small, and large, with finished hat circumferences of 16 inches (40 cm), 19.2 inches (48.8 cm), and 22.4 inches (56.9 cm) respectively.

Techniques Used

Stranded colorwork is the primary advanced technique featured in this pattern. Stranded colorwork, also known as Fair Isle knitting, involves carrying two colors of yarn across the back of the work while knitting with the active color in the foreground. This method creates the detailed bunny motifs that appear on the hat's surface. The pattern is constructed using a bottom-up seamless construction, meaning knitters begin at the brim and work upward toward the crown, eliminating the need for seaming. Crown shaping is accomplished through strategic decreases that taper the hat to a finished point at the top.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout this pattern is knit stitch worked in the round. Knitters will work the stranded colorwork pattern stitch, which combines knit stitches with color changes to create the bunny design. The pattern includes decrease stitches for crown shaping to transition from the main body of the hat to the tapered crown.

Materials and Yarn Weight

Bunnies Are Cute is designed for fingering weight yarn, which is ideal for creating fine, detailed colorwork. The pattern accommodates multiple yarn weights within the fingering category, including 3-ply, 4-ply, lace, and sport weight options, providing flexibility for yarn substitution.

Yarn Requirements:

• Main Color (MC): 150 yards/137 meters for baby size; 175 yards/160 meters for small size; 225 yards/206 meters for large size
• Contrast Color: 150 yards/114 meters for baby size; 150 yards/137 meters for small size; 200 yards/183 meters for large size
• The pattern was photographed using Knit Picks Stroll Sock yarn in Sapphire Heather and White

Needles:

• US 2 (2.75 mm) 16-inch circular needle for casting on and initial rounds
• US 3 (3.25 mm) 16-inch circular needle for main pattern work
• US 3 DPNs (double-pointed needles) or longer circular needle for magic loop technique during crown decreases

Additional Notions:

• Stitch markers (optional)
• Darning needle for weaving in ends
• 2.5-inch pompom maker (optional) for adding a decorative pompom to the crown

Gauge and Construction Details

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 30 stitches over 4 inches when measured in the stranded pattern stitch and blocked. Knitters begin by casting on 120 stitches (144 for small size, 168 for large size) using the main color and smaller needles. The hat is worked seamlessly in the round, with the stranded colorwork bunny motifs introduced after the initial rounds. Crown shaping occurs through a series of decreases that gradually reduce stitch count until the hat is complete.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced due to the complexity of stranded colorwork knitting. Knitters should be comfortable with circular needle techniques, reading colorwork charts, managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously, and executing decreases for shaping. Prior experience with Fair Isle or stranded colorwork is recommended before attempting this design.