Preppy Cable Knit Bunny Free Crochet Pattern
Preppy Cable Knit Bunny Free Crochet Pattern
Introduction
This preppy cable knit bunny is a sweet little amigurumi made from soft DK acrylic yarn in a single creamy shade, with just a tiny pop of white for the pom-pom tail. It's designed for crocheters who are comfortable with single crochet and ready to try one new stitch: the front-post double crochet, which creates a raised, braided cable texture around the bunny's body. The finished bunny stands about 7 inches tall with long, slender ears, a neat little collar, and a tiny bow at the neck, giving it a charming, buttoned-up look. It feels squishy and huggable in the hand and makes a lovely gift, shelf companion, or nursery decoration.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: DK weight (3) acrylic yarn — approximately 200 yards cream (Color A); a small amount of white (Color B) for the pom-pom tail.
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E/4) crochet hook.
- Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill stuffing, and a small pom-pom maker or a fork for the 1-inch pom-pom.
- Finished size: Approximately 7 inches (18 cm) tall, excluding ears.
Abbreviations
- MR — magic ring: an adjustable loop used to start working in the round.
- sc — single crochet.
- inc — increase: work 2 single crochet stitches into the same stitch.
- dec — decrease: work 2 single crochet stitches together into one.
- FPdc — front-post double crochet: a double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, from the front, to create a raised texture.
- ch — chain.
- sl st — slip stitch.
- sk — skip.
- sp(s) — space(s).
- FO — fasten off.
Gauge
20 single crochet stitches x 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). Work a small swatch in single crochet and measure it flat to check your gauge before starting.
Tips Before You Start
- Work all pieces in continuous rounds (spiral) unless a pattern row says otherwise, and use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.
- The FPdc stitches are worked around the post of the stitch directly below in the previous round, so keep your tension even — this is what makes the cable texture stand out.
- Stuff the head and body firmly but not tightly, adding stuffing gradually as you close each piece so the bunny keeps a smooth, rounded shape.
- Leave long tails on the ears, arms, legs, collar, and bow so you have plenty of yarn for sewing and positioning during assembly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Head (Color A)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts)
Rnds 6-10: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 11: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts)
Rnd 12: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts)
Rnd 13: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts)
Stuff the head firmly.
Rnd 14: dec x6 (6 sts)
FO, leaving a short tail to close the remaining hole.
Body (Color A)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts)
Rnds 6-8: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 9: [FPdc, sc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 10: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 11: [sc, FPdc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 12: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 13: [FPdc, sc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 14: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 15: [sc, FPdc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 16: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 17: [FPdc, sc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 18: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 19: [sc, FPdc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 20: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 21: [FPdc, sc] x15 (30 sts)
Rnd 22: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Rnd 23: [sc, dec] x10 (20 sts)
Rnd 24: [2 sc, dec] x5 (15 sts)
Rnd 25: [sc, dec] x5 (10 sts)
Stuff the body firmly.
Rnd 26: dec x5 (5 sts)
FO, leaving a short tail to close the remaining hole.
Ears (Color A) — make 2
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc (4 sts)
Rnd 2: inc x4 (8 sts)
Rnds 3-12: sc in each st around (8 sts)
Rnd 13: [2 sc, dec] x2 (6 sts)
Rnd 14: [sc, dec] x2 (4 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Arms (Color A) — make 2
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc (4 sts)
Rnd 2: inc x4 (8 sts)
Rnds 3-10: sc in each st around (8 sts)
Rnd 11: [2 sc, dec] x2 (6 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Legs (Color A) — make 2
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
Rnds 3-6: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Rnd 7: [2 sc, dec] x3 (9 sts)
Rnd 8: [sc, dec] x3 (6 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Tail (Color B)
Make a small pom-pom approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter using white yarn. Trim it neatly and set it aside for assembly.
Collar (Color A)
Rnd 1: Ch 18, join with sl st to form a ring, then sc in each ch around (18 sts)
Rnd 2: [sc, ch 1, sk 1] x9 (9 sc, 9 ch-1 sps)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Bow (Color A)
Row 1: Ch 6, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (5 sts)
Rows 2-4: sc in each st across (5 sts)
FO, leaving a long tail. Wrap yarn tightly around the center of the rectangle several times to shape the bow, then secure the wraps at the back.
Assembly and Finishing
Sew the head to the top of the body, matching the 6-stitch openings and stitching all the way around for a secure join. Sew the ears to the top of the head, spacing them evenly and angling them slightly outward. Sew the arms to the sides of the body just below the neck area. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, positioning them so the bunny sits or stands evenly. Sew the white pom-pom to the back of the body for the tail. Sew the collar around the neck where the head and body meet. Sew the bow to the front of the collar. Weave in all remaining ends, then gently shape and block the bunny by lightly misting it with water and smoothing the pieces with your fingers, allowing it to dry fully before displaying.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the cream yarn for a soft pastel or a tweed DK yarn to change the bunny's personality while keeping the cable texture visible.
- Add a tiny embroidered nose and eyes with black or brown yarn before assembly for extra character.
- Make the bow in a contrasting color, such as navy or dusty pink, to lean further into the preppy look.
