Easter Bunny Hand Puppet

Whether you are looking for crafts for kids to try or need to knit an easter bunny hand puppet this free knitting pattern may fit the bill.  The pattern quotes 4mm needles, but using 3mm, 3.25mm or 3.75mm needles will produce a smaller scale easter bunny hand puppet suitable for younger children.  This free knitting pattern can be used as a template for the more adventurous on which they can perhaps knit the markings of a family pet.  In this instance additional wool of the appropritate colour may be required.

Pattern:print free knitting pattern

Requirements:
1 pair of 4mm Needles
100g Rabbit coloured double knitting yarn for main glove
5g complementary colour for the inner ear
Length of black wool for features
Polyester stuffing for nose
POMPOM for tail (optional)
Sewing Needles



Abbreviations.
 Abbreviation
   
 Meaning
     
sts      Stitches      
[  ]
    All details enclosed in [ ] should be repeated as specified
     
    Knit (number after it refers to how many stitches to knit)
     
P
    Purl (number after it refers to how many stitches to purl)
     
M1
    Increase 1 stitch into the next stitch by knitting into the front and back of the stitch
     
S1 
  Slip one (slip the next stitch on to the other needle with out knitting it.)
     
 K2tog     Knit two together (knit next two stitches together as if they were a single stitch (decreasing a stitch)
     
K3tog
    Knit three together (knit next three stitches together as if they were a single stitch (decreasing 2 stitches)      
PSSO
    Pass slip stitch over next stitch to decrease a stitch

To make the Main Puppet:  (make 2)
Using 4.0mm needles, and yarn for main body of glove, cast on 23 stitches. 
Work 6 rows in moss stitch, then work a further 19 rows in stocking stitch starting with a knit row.

To shape top:
Row 1:  M1, P21, M1  (25sts)
Row 2:  M1, K23, M1  (27sts)
Row 3:  M1, P25, M1  (29sts)
Row 4:  M1, K27, M1  (31sts)
Row 5:  M1, P29, M1  (33sts)
Row 6:  Cast on 5 stitches at start of row, knit to end  (38sts)
Row 7:  Cast on 5 stitches at start of row, purl to end  (43sts)
Row 8:  K1, P1, K1, P1, K35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 9:  K1, P1, K1, P1, P35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 10:  K1, P1, K1, P1, K35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 11:  K1, P1, K1, P1, P35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 12:  K1, P1, K1, P1, K35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 13:  K1, P1, K1, P1, P35, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 14:  Cast on 12 stitches at start of row, knit to end  (31sts)
Row 15:  Cast on 12 stitches at start of row, purl to end  (19sts)
Work 16 rows in stocking stitch starting with a knit row.
Next row:  K1, S1, K1, PSSO knit to last 4 stitches, K2tog, K1  (17 sts)
Work 3rows in stocking stitch starting with a purl row.
Next row:  K1, S1, K2tog, PSSO knit to last 4 stitches, K3tog, K1  (13 sts)
Work 3rows in stocking stitch starting with a purl row
Next row:  K1, S1, K2tog, PSSO knit to last 4 stitches, K3tog, K1  (7 sts)
Cast off in purl, knitting the first two and the last two stitches together.

To make the Outer Ears:  (make 2)

Using 4.0mm needles and main body colour, cast on 9 stitches
Work 20 rows in stocking stitch starting with a knit row.
Row 1:  K1, S1, K1, PSSO knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1  (7 sts)
Row 2:  Purl to end
Row 3:  K1, S1, K1, PSSO knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1  (5 sts)
Row 4:  Purl to end
Row 5:  K1, S1, K2tog, PSSO, K1  (3 sts)
Cast off in purl

To make the Inner Ears:  (make 2)

Using 4.0mm needles and a complementary colour, cast on 7 stitches
Work 20 rows in stocking stitch starting with a knit row.
Row 1:  K1, S1, K1, PSSO knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1  (5 sts)
Row 2:  Purl to end
Row 3:  K1, S1, K2tog, PSSO, K1  (3 sts)
Cast off in purl

To make the Nose:  (make 1)

Using 4.0mm needles and main body colour, cast on 3 stitches
Row 1:  Purl to end
Row 2:  [M1] repeat to end  (6 sts)
Row 3: Purl to end
Row 4:  M1, K1, M1, M1, K1, M1  (10 sts)
Row 5:  Purl to end
Row 6:  Knit to end
Row 7:  Purl to end
Row 8:  Knit to end
Row 9:  Purl to end
Row 10:  K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog  (6 sts)
Row 11:  Purl to end
Row 12:  K2tog, K2, K2tog  (4 sts)
Row 13:  Purl to end
Row 14:  K2tog, K2tog  (2 sts)
Row 15:  P2tog
Cast off and secure final stitch


To make up

Carefully position the inner ear within the outer ear and over sew the two together. With right sides facing, sew together the sides of the main body of glove up to the end of the finger shaping, leaving ends of thumb and little finger open for fingers to protrude.  Position the ears onto the shaping at the top of the head and pin in place.  Carefully sew the top of the hand puppet together attaching the ears into place as you proceed around head.  Turn the puppet the correct way out and position the nose centrally onto the centre of the rabbits head with the pointed part angled to the top of the head, loosely attach the bottom and side of the nose allowing room for stuffing.  Add stuffing to the nose before completing the attachment.  Make or attach a POMPOM to the back of the puppet as a tail if desired.  Using black wool, embroider facial expressions onto the rabbit and it is ready to go…



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