Rabbit Rascals

Rabbit Rascals measure 18cm (7 ½in) to the tops of their ears. These cute little characters are quick
and easy to knit so you could have an ever growing family of them. But beware, they can be very
mischievous and will love to play with your balls of knitting yarn!

ETSY - http://dollytime.etsy.com

RAVELRY - http://www.ravelry.com/designers/wendy-phillips

© 2015 Wendy Phillips. This is a copyrighted design. All rights reserved. No part of this pattern
(illustrations or text) may be copied, reproduced or transmitted. Items knitted from this pattern can
be used for charity fund raising purposes but not for commercial gain.
Materials
Pair of 3.25mm needles (US 3).
Double knitting yarn in a variety of rabbit colours, plus other colours for clothes.
Suggested yarn weight for USA - light-worsted. Australia - 8 ply.
Black yarn (eyes).
Black and pink embroidery floss (nose).
Toy filler.

Abbreviations
K - Knit.
P - Purl.
St(s) - Stitch(es).
St-st - Stocking stitch.
K2tog - Knit two stitches together to make one.
P2tog - Purl twp stitches together.
Yrn – Yarn round needle.
* * - Repeat the pattern within asterisks.
Kfb - Knit in front and back to create a new stitch.

Dusty

Head
Cast on 6 stitches in pale grey.
1. Kfb across row (12st).
2. purl.
3. K1, *kfb* (x10), k1 (22st).
4 - 14. St-st.
15. *K3, k2tog* (x2), k2, *k2tog, k3* (x2) (18st).
16. Purl.
17. *K2, k2tog* (x2), k2, *k2tog, k2* (x2) (14st).
18. Purl.
19. K2tog across row (7st).
Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and using a needle take the 7 stitches from the knitting needle onto
this tail. This gathered end will be the rabbit’s nose so gather tightly to avoid a hole appearing once
the head is stuffed. Stitch the head seam but stop just before the centre. Now gather the 6 cast-on

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stitches at the back of the head and stitch the seam but stop before the centre so that there is a hole
just large enough to stuff the head. Stuff the head firmly making sure enough filler goes into the
nose to create a pleasing shape. A wide rounded head is much cuter than a long thin head, so push
extra stuffing into the sides. Close the remaining seam. The seam will be at the bottom.

Ear (knit two alike).

Cast on 5 stitches in grey.
1 – 9. Knit.
10. K2, k2tog, k1, (4st).
11 – 12. Knit.
13. K2tog, k2tog (2st).
Cut the yarn leaving a tail and using a tapestry needle take the 2 stitches from the knitting needle
onto this tail. Leave the tail in place at the top of the ear. Fold the cast on edge in half. Use the tail of
yarn on the bottom edge to over-sew the folded cast-on edge and hold the ear shape. Position both
ears towards the back of the head (see below) and stitch firmly in place. Fasten off below the head
on the seam line. Now thread the tail at the top of the ear back onto the needle and weave it down
through the stitches at the back until you reach the bottom. Push the needle right through the head
and out on the underside. Trim remaining yarn tail. Repeat process for the second ear.

Face
Position round-headed pins on the face to represent eyes and nose.

Nose
Use black embroidery floss to stitch the nose. Make a ‘V’ shape with the base of the ‘V’ positioned
over the centre of the gathered stitches. Next stitch a vertical line below to turn the ‘V’ into a ‘Y’.
Place a stitch on either side at the base of the ‘Y’ to create a mouth.
Finally, using pink floss, make two or three small stitches to create a tiny pink nose.

Eyes
Eyes can be done by embroidering French knots but the following method is one I use a lot as it
produces two identical eyes. If you don’t like the position of the eyes you can easily pull them out
and start again. You need to cut a 15cm (6in) length of black DK yarn for each eye. Tie a knot in the
centre of the yarn (below left). Now tie another knot exactly over the first. You now have two knots
one over the other and these will form the eye.

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Thread one of the yarn ends onto a needle and pass it through the position of the pin and out at the
base of the head (where it won’t be seen when the head is attached). Don’t fasten off.

Thread the second yarn end onto the needle and push it through the stitch which is next to the first
one. Bring the yarn end through to the base of the head as before. Pull the two ends until the eye is
in the correct position but don’t fasten off yet. Repeat this process for the second eye. Now you can
make sure that both eyes are well spaced and just where you want them. If not then simply take
hold of the knots and pull them out of the head and then insert them again in a better position.
When you are satisfied that the eyes are positioned correctly tie each pair of yarn ends together
(firmly) so that the eyes cannot be moved.

Body - (knitted from the bottom to the top).

Cast on 24 stitches in green.
1 – 10. St-st starting with a knit row.
Join white but don’t break off green.
11 - 12. St-st (white).
13 – 14. St-st (green).
15 – 16. St-st (white).
Break off white and continue in green.
17 – 18. St-st (green).
19. K2tog across row (12st).
20. Purl.
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm (6in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the 12st from the knitting
needle onto the tail. Draw up tightly and stitch the seam to the bottom cast-on edge. Stuff the body
(not too full) and over-sew the bottom to close it. Put aside for later.

Arm (make two).

Cast on 9 stitches in green.
1 – 2. St-st starting with a purl row.
Join white but don’t break off green.
3 – 4. St-st (white).
5 – 6. St-st (green).
7 – 10. Repeat rows 3 – 6 one more time.
Break off green.
11 – 12. St-st (white).
Break off white and join grey.
13 – 16. St-st (grey).
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm (6in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the 9st from the knitting
needle onto the tail. The arm is narrow so if you don’t like turning small items you might want to
stitch the seam with the right side facing out. Draw up the end of the grey paw and stitch the seam
stopping 3 rows before the top. Before stuffing, push your finger down into the arm and paw to
straighten and improve the shape. Now push tiny pieces of filler down into the paw (to do this use

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the end of a pencil or knitting needle). Work your way up the arm but don’t fill right to the top (leave
a small area of approximately 1cm at the top unfilled). Over-sew the top of the arm to close it and
leave the yarn tail attached ready for stitching to the shoulder.
Wrist
Using white yarn, start at the seam and pick up alternate stitch loops at the bottom of the sleeve.
Pull to form a wrist. Wrap the yarn 3 times round the wrist and fasten off. Put the arm aside for
later. Make a second arm.

Leg and shoe (make two).

Cast on 12 stitches in grey.
1 - 12. St-st starting with a knit row.
Break off grey and join red.
13 - 16. St-st.
17. K2tog across row (6st).
Cut the yarn leaving a 10cm (4in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the 6st from the knitting
needle onto the tail. Draw up tightly and stitch the pink foot seam to the start of the grey leg. Stitch
the leg seam to the top cast-on edge. Stuff the leg to the top. Leave the top open until you’ve made
the ankle.
Ankle
To make the ankle use pink yarn and, starting at the seam, pick up alternate stitch loops around the
top row of the foot (where red meets grey). Pull to gather and then wrap the yarn once round and
fasten off. Adjust the stuffing in the leg if necessary and then, with the seam at the side, over-sew
the top edges of the leg together. Leave the yarn tail attached ready for stitching to the body. Make
a second leg.

Stitch the top of each leg to the bottom of the body. Stitch the bottom of the head to the top of the
body. Stitch the top of each arm to bunny’s shoulders.

Trousers
Cast on 15 stitches in blue.
1 – 2. Knit.
3 – 12. St-st starting with a purl row.
Place these stitches on a stitch holder.
Knit a second leg repeating rows 1 to 12.
13. Purl.
Place the 15 stitches on the stitch holder back onto the empty needle and continue knitting so that
you have a total of 30 stitches on your needle.
14 – 24. St-st.
Cast off.

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Fold the legs in half lengthways and stitch each leg seam. Now stitch the body seam but stop 3 rows
before the top. With the seam at the back, place the trousers on the rabbit and close the remaining
seam. Stitch to the rabbit’s waist gathering slightly if necessary..

Trouser straps – knit two

Cast on 23 stitches in red.
Cast off.
Pull each strap to stretch and straighten and then stitch to the rabbit as shown. Two or three
stitched in yellow will create tiny buttons.

Scarf
The twisted cord scarf was made from yellow yarn. Plait the yarn or crochet a short chain for a
similar effect.

Tail
Use a strip of card 2cm wide. Wind white yarn round 40 times. Thread your needle with a 35cm
(14in) length of matching yarn and knot the two ends together.

Push the needle through all the loops of yarn on the card. Pass the needle back through the knotted
loop in the stitching yarn and pull to tighten.

Remove loops from the card and pass the needle back through several times to secure. Leave the
stitching yarn in place and trim the loops to make a round fluffy tail. Stitch the tail to the rabbit.

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 Patch

Cute little Patch has floppy ears, a yellow scarf and a patch on his trousers. Each trouser leg has
been made 3 rows shorter than the pattern to make Patch look as if he’s outgrown his trousers and
needs a new pair.

Scarf
Cast on 38 stitches.
Cast off.
Stretch the scarf to straighten and weave in loose yarn ends.

The patch on trousers

Choose a contrasting yarn colour and cast on 5 stitches.
1 – 3. St-st starting with a purl row.
Cast off.
Over-sew the edges of the patch to the knee of the trousers before stitching them to the rabbit.

Carrot and Sooty

Boy’s short trousers

Cast on 28 stitches.
1 – 2. Knit.
3 – 13. St-st starting with a purl row.
Cast off.

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Stitch the seam. Place on the rabbit with seam at the centre back and the cast-off edge at the top.
Make several stitches (one over the other) between the legs. Stitch the cast-off waistband to the
body gathering slightly if necessary.

Candy and Minty

Candy - head, ears and face.

Using beige yarn, follow the instructions for Dusty’s head on page 2. To make Candy’s white nose,
use white yarn for the final three rows of the head. Two white rows will create a smaller white nose
and four white rows a larger one.

Body.
Using pink yarn, follow the instructions for Dusty’s body on page 4. Knit in pink throughout ignoring
the stripes.

Arms.
Using appropriate colours, follow the instructions for boy’s arms on page 4.

Legs and shoes.

Using beige and green yarn, follow the instructions for Dusty’s legs on page 4.

Join all body parts as shown on page 5. Make a fluffy white tail and stitch to the body as shown on
page 6.

Knitted skirt for Candy

Cast on 46 stitches in pink
1 - 2. Knit
Join green but don’t break off pink as you can carry the two colours up the side of the work.
Continue in green.
3. K1, *yrn, k2tog* repeat across row to last stitch, k1 (46st).
4. Purl (green).
Continue in pink but don’t break off green.
5. Knit (pink).
6. Knit (pink).
Break off pink and join white.

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7 - 8. St-st starting with a knit row (white).
9. Knit (green).
10. Knit (green).
Break off green and finish in white.
11 - 16. St-st .
17. K2tog across row (23st).
18. Purl.
Cast off.
Stitch the back seam from the bottom but stop 3 rows before the top. With the seam at the back,
place the skirt on the rabbit so that the top sits just under the arms. Close the remaining back seam
and back-stitch round the waist to secure the skirt to the body.
NB. Use different colour combinations and vary the stripes to create a different skirt for each girl
rabbit. Minty’s skirt is knitted in mauve, lemon and apricot pink.

Collar
Cast on 20 stitches in green leaving a 15cm (6in) yarn tail for a tie.
Cast off. Leave a 15cm (6in) yarn tail for a tie.
Place collar round the neck and use the yarn ends to tie a bow. Stitch the bow to the neck to secure.

Bow for ear.

Cast on 6 stitches in pink.
1. Knit.
Cast off.
Wrap yarn round the centre to make a bow shape and stitch to the ear.

Misty and Sky

Misty and Sky have skirts made from pretty floral fabrics. If possible, knit the rabbits’ bodies, arms
and shoes in yarn colours to match the chosen fabrics.

Fabric skirt
Small checks and floral fabrics are perfect for tiny skirts. Finished length is 5cm (2in) so you will
require a length of fabric measuring approximately 8cm (3in) x 30cm (12in). Make a narrow casing
for elastic at the top. Hem the bottom and adjust the length. Thread narrow elastic through the
casing and gather to fit the waist. Stitch the back seam.

Bows
The rabbits’ bows are made from narrow ribbon.

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