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the rabbit

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It seems all of my friends are having babies lately and after so many pairs of baby socks, toques, and booties I was craving something a little more complex, yet still quick to knit. Add a good dose of rainy day boredom to the mixture and voila! A cute koala bear was born!

This tiny bear makes a great gift for kids of all ages, and young-at-heart grown-ups.

You can even make your bear a bunny rabbit by lengthening the ears and sewing on a pompom tail.

photos: Vanessa Carter

SIZE
One
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Height : Approx. 7 inches

 

MATERIALS

Bernat Berella [100% acrylic; 195yd/175m per 100g skein]; color: Dark Oxford Heather; 1 skein (Approx. 1/4 of the skein was used)

1 set US #3/3.25mm double-point needles
1 set US #3/3.25mm straight needles
Tapestry needle
Fleece or extra yarn scraps for stuffing (about 1 cup)
Small ribbon for bow tie
Several strands of black worsted yarn for eyes and nose

GAUGE
24 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

 

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

The body, head and legs of the bear are worked in the round in one piece, the ears (worked on straight needles) and arms (worked in the round) are worked separately.

This fabric is knit using a worsted weight yarn, worked on small needles to produce a nice, firm fabric.

 
DIRECTIONS

Body
Using double-point needles, CO 24 sts. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rounds 1-16: K all sts.
Round 17: [K6, k2tog] 3 times. 21 sts rem.
Round 18: K all sts.
Round 19: [K5, k2tog] 3 times. 18 sts rem.
Round 20: K all sts.
Round 21: [K4, k2tog] 3 times. 15 sts.
Round 22: K all sts.
Round 23
: [K3, k2tog] 3 times. 12 sts.
Round 24: K all sts.
Round 25: [K2, k2tog] 3 times. 9 sts.
Round 26: K all sts.
Round 27: [K1, k2tog] 3 times. 6 sts.
Rounds 28, 29: K all sts.

Head
Round 30: [K1, m1, k1] 3 times. 9 sts.
Round 31: [K1, m1, k2] 3 times. 12 sts.
Round 32: [K1, m1, k3] 3 times. 15 sts.
Round 33: [K1, m1, k4] 3 times. 18 sts.
Round 34: [K1, m1, k5] 3 times. 21 sts.
Round 35: [K1, m1, k6] 3 times. 24 sts
Rounds 36-40: K all sts.
Round 41: [K6, k2tog] 3 times. 21 sts rem.
Round 42: [K5, k2tog] 3 times. 18 sts rem.
Round 43: [K4, k2tog] 3 times. 15 sts.
Round 44: [K3, k2tog] 3 times. 12 sts.
Round 45: [K2, k2tog] 3 times. 9 sts.
Round 46: [K1, k2tog] 3 times. 6 sts.
Round 47: [K2tog] 3 times. 3 sts rem.
Break yarn and draw through rem sts, pull tight.

Lightly stuff head. Weave in end at top of head.

Ears
Using straight needles, pick up and k 4 sts on left side of head in appropriate position for ear.
K 3 rows.

Next Row: [K2tog] twice. 2 sts rem.
Break yarn and draw through rem sts, pull tight. Weave in ends.

Work Right Ear in the same way.

Arms (Make 2)
Using double-point needles, CO 10 sts. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
K 19 rounds.

Next Round: [K2tog] 5 times. 5 sts rem.
K 1 round.
Break yarn, graft remaining 5 sts together.
Stuff arms, using less filling near shoulders (CO ends of arms).
Sew arms to body near neck, slightly towards back of bear.
Weave ends into body.
Stuff bear's head firmly and stuff body lightly.

Right Leg
Using 3 double-point needles, pick up and k 12 sts along lower edge of right side of body.
Distribute sts and designate needles as follows:
Needle 1: Back edge of leg
Needle 2: Right edge of leg
Needle 3: Front edge of leg

Join sts at center (bottom of bear) to begin working in the round, beginning with Needle 1.

Rounds 1-12: K all sts.
Round 13: K9, [k1, m1] 3 times. 15 sts.
Rounds 14-16: K all sts.
Round 17: K2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k to end. 12 sts.
Round 18: K2tog, k1, k2tog, k to end. 10 sts.
Round 19: K2tog, k8. 9 sts rem.
Stuff leg, divide sts between 2 needles so that opening between needles runs front to back of foot, graft foot closed. Weave in ends at foot and top of leg.
Stuff body more firmly.

Left Leg
Using 3 double-point needles, pick up and k 12 sts along lower edge of left side of body.
Distribute sts and designate needles as follows:
Needle 1: Front edge of leg
Needle 2: Left edge of leg
Needle 3: Back edge of leg

Rounds 1-12: K all sts.
Round 13: [K1, m1] 3 times, k to end. 15 sts.
Rounds 1-16: K all sts.
Round 17: K7, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog. 12 sts.
Round 18: K7, k2tog, k1, k2tog. 10 sts.
Round 19: K8, k2tog. 9 sts rem.
Stuff leg, divide sts between 2 needles so that opening between needles runs front to back of foot, graft foot closed.
Add stuffing to body if necessary, sew body closed at bottom.
Weave in rem ends.

 
FINISHING

Embroider eyes and nose onto your bear's face and tie a ribbon around its neck!

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Vanessa Carter currently resides in Burnaby, BC, with her sexy husband, their naughty orange tabby, and her unruly yarn stash.

She spends most of her free time deviating from knitting patterns. She keeps a journal here.