The flowers are started to bloom and the leaves are starting to bud. Easter is only a few weeks away now as winter melts away. As a Christian, Easter is always a special time of remembering Jesus Christ and celebrating His resurrection. Even in a temporal sense, this time of year is a time of renewal and rebirth.
It is so fun to couple this more serious celebration of Easter with candy, eggs, and the Easter Bunny, especially for kids! I made a couple of these Bunny Ball Amis (short for amigurumis) on a whim for my latest spring craft fair and they were the very first things to sell out! I thought others may be interested in this quick pattern as well.
This little rattle toy is the perfect addition to an Easter basket or as a new springtime critter in your little one’s collection. This bunny is small enough to be grasped by small hands and is safe to be gnawed on by a curious baby. The noisemaker on the inside provides an additional sensory experience or just adds a bit more fun when the bunny is hopped! This quick project is a great gift or spring craft fair make.
The free version of the pattern is on this blog post, but if you would like to support my little business by purchasing a low-cost PDF, you can find that on my website, Etsy shop, or Ravelry.
Materials
- Approximately 26 yards of main color yarn and scrap amounts of contrasting color, black, and pink yarn, all worsted weight yarn
- G/4.25 mm crochet hook
- Polyfil stuffing or stuffing of your choice
- Tapestry needle
Notes
This pattern has no gauge. As with all amigurumi patterns, the stitches should be made tightly to give more structure to the item and to prevent stuffing poking through.
My Bunny Ball is approximately 3.5” x 3.5” x 3.5”. Yours may differ slightly based on your own tension, hook size, and yarn weight used. If you want to use a different yarn than worsted weight CYC 4, I recommend using a hook at least an entire size smaller than what is typically recommended to use with that yarn.
Abbreviations
YO- yarn over
SC- single crochet
Inc- increase
Inv dec- invisible decrease
Instead of SC2tog (single crochet 2 together), insert your hook into FLO of the next two stitches. YO, pull up a loop through both front loops, YO, pull up a loop through the two loops on your hook.
FLO- front loop only
St- stitch
FO- fasten off
Bunny
BODY- in main color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12)
Round 3: [Inc, SC] x6 (18)
Round 4: [SC, Inc, SC] x6 (24)
Round 5: [Inc, 3 SC] x6 (30)
Rounds 6-11 (6 rounds): SC in each st around (30)
Round 12: [Inv dec, 3 SC] x6 (24)
Round 13: [SC, Inv dec, SC] x6 (18)
Round 14: [Inv dec, SC] x6 (12)
Stuff your body at this time. If you want to have a rattle or other noise-making device, put a little stuffing in first, then the rattle, and then finish with more stuffing.
Round 15: [Inv dec] x6 (6)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Pick up each FLO with your long tail threaded on a needle and pull to tighten. Weave in your ends.
FEET- make 2 in main color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: [Inc, SC] x3 (9)
Rounds 3-4 (2 rounds): SC in each st around (9)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Sew each FOOT on Round 12 of the BODY with 4 sts in between.
ARMS- Make 2 in main color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Rounds 2-3: SC in each st around (6)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Sew each ARM on Round 7 on opposite sides of the BODY and on the outside of the FEET.
EARS- Make 2 in main color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: [Inc, SC] x 3 (9)
Rounds 3-5 (3 Rounds): SC in each st around (9)
Round 6: [Inv dec, SC] x3 (6)
Rounds 7-8 (2 Rounds): SC in each st around (6)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Line the EARS up on the same plane as the ARMS and sew down between Rounds 1 and 4 of the BODY.
CHEEKS- Make 2 in contrasting color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Line the CHEEKS up centered in between the FEET and EARS and sew down between Round 8 and 11 of the BODY.
TAIL- in contrasting color
Round 1: SC 6 in MR (6)
Round 2: SC in each st around (6)
FO, leave a long tail for sewing. On the backside of the BODY, center the TAIL in between the EARS and sew down on Round 12 of the BODY.
Embroider the eyes with black yarn above and outside the CHEEKS on the BODY. With pink yarn, embroider the nose in between the CHEEKS on the BODY.
Now you can make your own Bunny Ball Ami. Hop to it!
Just a reminder, you can support my little business by purchasing an inexpensive PDF download on my Etsy, Ravelry, or website stores. As always, I really appreciate any support you give me for my little business.
Please share your own bunnies with me on Instagram @crowchetcreations or through the hashtags #crowchetcreations and #bunnyballami. I would love to see what you make!
XO, Emily
