Free Crochet Bunny Puppet pattern

Crafting can be a therapeutic and rewarding endeavor, especially when the end result is as adorable as a bunny puppet. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of crocheting a bunny puppet without the hassle of sewing. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or a complete beginner, our free pattern and detailed instructions will make this project a breeze. So, gather your supplies and let’s embark on this creative journey together!

Gathering Supplies

Before you dive into crocheting, it’s essential to gather all the necessary supplies. You’ll need:

• Bulky velvel yarn in your preferred bunny colors.
• Medium weight yarn for face features
• 5 mm Crochet hook 
• Stitch markers
• Fiberfill stuffing for the puppet’s head
• Safety eyes or buttons for the eyes
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends and embroidery
• Scissors

Ensure you have all these items within arm’s reach before you begin.

Understanding Crochet Basics

For this bunny puppet project, you’ll only need to know basic crochet stitches below. If you’re unfamiliar with these stitches, you can easily look them up in the tutorial links provided.

• Chain
• Single crochet
• Single crochet increase
• Invisible decrease
• Front loop only 
• Back loop only

Crochet Bunny Puppet Pattern

Follow the pattern below to bring to life your own crochet bunny.

Pattern Reading And Interpretation

Before you start crocheting, don’t forget to check the abbreviations and indications specific to this pattern. It will help you to crochet this rabbit without any confusion.

Abbreviations

Ch: chain

Sc: single crochet

Inc: single crochet increase

Dec: invisible decrease

Flo: front loop only

Blo: back loop only

(…) rep n times: repeat the instructions in brackets n times

General Indications

• All parts of the crochet rabbit are worked in spiral.
• You will start with the body. The other parts you will crochet on top of it later.
• The size of the finished product is around 25 cm. The width of the glove is 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow the pattern below to bring to life your own crochet bunny!

Creating a Body

1. Chain 28. Put a stitch marker into the last chain (28 sts).

2. Start crocheting this row in the first chain of the first row. It’s the one next to the slip knot.  Sc 28 (28 sts).

3. (Inc, sc 13) rep 2 times (30 sts).

4. Sc 7, inc, sc 14, inc, sc 7 (32 sts).

5. Sc 32 (32 sts).

6. (Sc 15, inc) rep 2 times (34 sts). 

7 – 9. Sc 34 (34 sts).

10. Sc 8, inc, sc 16, inc, sc 8 (36 sts).

11 – 13. Sc 36 (36 sts).

14. Sc 20, inc, sc 15 (37 sts).

15. Sc 2, inc, sc 34 (38 sts).

16. Sc 13, inc, sc 18, inc, sc 5 (40 sts).

17. Sc 40 (40 sts).

18. Sc 4, inc, sc 19, inc, sc 15 (42 sts).

19. Sc 14, inc, sc 20, inc, sc 6 (44 sts).

In this next row you’ll need to add 3 extra markers. Try to use different colors to make it easier for you to follow instructions. They will help you find where to start arms and head.

20. Sc 8, sc (put marker 1 here), sc 9, sc (put a marker 2 here), sc 7, sc (mark this stitch. You will start the second arm here), sc 3, sc (use marker 2 here. Keeping it in the stitch it’s already in, put it in this stitch too), sc 9, sc (use marker 1 here. Keeping it in the stitch it’s already in, put it in this stitch too), sc 3 (44 sts).

Note: Don’t tighten the last stitch and keep the row marker in. You will crochet a hand from this stitch.

Arms

First Arm

Start crocheting this arm with the working stitch left from the body.

1. Sc 9 (last sc should be in the stitch where marker 1 is), sc (single crochet on the other side where the marker is) and sc 3 until the row marker to finish row 1. Now you should have crocheted the base for the first hand. (13 sts).

2. Sc 8, dec, sc 3 (12 sts).

3 – 4. Sc 12 (12 sts).

5. (Sc 2, dec) rep 3 times (9 sts).

6. Sc 3, *dec, sc* rep 2 times (7 sts).

Tighten the stitch and cut the yarn leaving a longer tail. You will use the tail to sew the stitches together to close the hand.

Second Arm

Find a marker that you put in row 20 to indicate the start of the second arm. It should be 3 stitches away from marker 2. Put the crochet hook through this stitch. 

1. Slip stitch into the stitch where you have your hook in. Make this slip stitch quite large. You will need to crochet into it to start the second row. Then crochet 4 single crochets (the last one should be where marker 2 is).

Turn your work around and single crochet into the other stitch where the marker is. Complete the row with 7 more single crochets. Put your marker in the last stitch. It’s the end of row 1. (12 sc + 1 sl st = 13 sts).

2. Start the row by single crocheting in the slip stitch. Then sc 3, dec, sc 7 (12 sts).

3. Sc 12 (12 sts).

4. Sc 10, dec (11 sts).

5. (Sc 2, dec) rep 2 times, sc 3 (9 sts).

6. (dec, sc) rep 2 times (4 stitches made in this row + 3 left not crocheted = 7 stitches in total).

Tighten the last stitch and cut the yarn leaving a longer tail. You will use the tail to sew the stitches together to close the hand.

Forming the Head

The head consists of 2 parts. One will be a little arm-like shape inside the head and another the visible head.

There are 2 ways you can start this:

Method 1:

Make the first row of the outside head first, then crochet a full inside part and then come back to the outside part. 

If you’re a beginner choose this method. If you make mistakes locating front loops it will be for the inside part that is not visible.

Method 2:

Crochet the inside part first, and then start the outside part.

Choose this method if you’re comfortable at locating front loops of the stitches once the back loops are filled.

Part Inside the Head

You need to finish this part of the head before starting the first or second row of the outside head (depending on which method you chose). Locate marker 1 or marker 2. Slip stitch into the back loop of the stitch that is next to it.

Row 1:

Crochet using back loops only for this entire row. 

Make a decrease using the same base stitch where you’ve crocheted a slip stitch and the stitch next to it. Then single crochet 5 and make a decrease. Now turn the rabbit around and crochet on the other side dec, 5sc, dec. This is the end of row 1. 

You should have 14 stitches. 7 stitches on one side, 7 on the other and a slip stitch which we don’t add to the stitch count.

Crochet the rest of the rows normally (using front and back loops). 

2 – 4. Sc 14 (14 sts).

5. (Sc 5, dec) rep 2 times (12 sts).

6. (Dec, sc) rep 4 times (8 sts).

Close up this part, before you start crocheting the outside head.

Actual Head

Locate marker 1, marker 2 or the first stitch from either of the fingers. Slip stitch into the front loop of this stitch. 

Row 1:

Crochet using front loops only for this entire row. 

Single crochet into the same front loop as the slip stitch. Continue crocheting this row with 8 single crochets. Then turn the rabbit around and crochet 9 single crochets. This is the end of row 1. 

You should have 18 stitches. We are not counting a slip stitch to the stitch count.

From row 2 crochet using both loops.

2 – 3. Sc 18 (18 sts).

4. Inc, sc. inc, sc 4, (inc, sc) rep 3 times, sc 3, inc, sc (24 sts). 

5. Inc, sc 2, inc, sc 5, inc, sc, inc, sc 6, inc, sc 5 (29 sts).

6. Inc, sc 2, inc, sc 9, inc, sc 15 (32 sts).

7. Sc 5, inc, dec, inc, sc 7, inc, dec, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 9 (35 sts).

8. Inc, sc 5, inc, dec, inc, sc 6, inc, dec, inc, sc 4, inc, sc 10 (39 sts).

9. Sc 8, inc, dec, inc, sc 6, inc, dec, inc, sc 17 (41 sts).

10. Sc 10, inc, dec, sc 7, dec, inc, sc 18 (41 sts).

11. Dec, sc 39 (40 sts).

12. Sc 9, inc, sc, dec, sc 6, dec, sc, inc, sc 17 (40 sts).

13. Sc 22, dec, inc 3, dec, sc 11 (41 sts).

If you will be using safety eyes, you could add them here. But it is still possible to add them at the end. 

14. Sc 4, dec, inc 3, dec, sc 11, dec, inc, sc 3, dec , sc 7, dec, sc 2 (40 sts).

15. Sc 4, dec, sc 3, inc, dec, sc 4, dec, sc 5, dec, sc, inc, sc 2, dec, blo sc 3, sc 6 (37 sts).

16. Blo sc 3, dec, sc 2, inc, sc, dec, sc 3, dec, sc 4, dec, sc, inc, sc 4, blo dec, blo sc, sc 6 (34 sts).  

17. Blo sc, blo dec, sc 4, inc, (sc, dec) rep 2 times, sc 2, dec, sc 3, inc, sc 4, blo dec (put a stitch marker on the front loop of the decrease’s second stitch), (sc, dec) rep 2 times (29 sts).

Start stuffing the head here.

18. Blo dec (put a stitch marker on the front loop of the decrease’s first stitch), sc, dec, sc 4, dec 4, sc 5, dec 3, sc (20 sts).

19. Dec 2, sc 2, dec 4, sc, dec 2 (11 sts + 1 left not crocheted).

Tighten the stitch and cut the yarn leaving a longer tail. You will later use the tail to sew the gap in the head.

Crafting the Ears

Left Ear

Find the stitch marker that you put in row 18 of the head. Insert your crochet hook into this front loop.

Row 1:

Crochet using front loops only for this entire row.

Slip stitch where your crochet hook is. Now make a single crochet in the same front loop. Continue crocheting clockwise. Crochet sc 2, inc, sc 2, inc. In total you should have 9 stitches.

From row 2 crochet using both loops.

2. Sc 3, inc 2, sc 4 (11 sts).  

3. Sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 6 (13 sts).

4. (Sc, inc) rep 2 times, dec, inc, sc, inc, sc 2, dec (15 sts).

5. Sc, inc, sc 7, inc, sc 2, inc, dec (17 sts).

6. Sc 2, inc, sc 6, inc, sc, inc, sc 2, dec, sc (19 sts).

7. Dec, sc 2, inc, sc 4, dec, sc, inc, sc 3, inc, dec (19 sts).

8. Sc 5, inc, sc 2, inc, dec, (sc, inc) rep 3 times, dec (22 sts).

9. Sc 14, inc, sc 4, dec, sc (22 sts).

10. Sc 17, inc, sc 4 (23 sts).

11. Dec, sc 8, inc, dec, sc 2, inc, sc 7 (23 sts).

12. Dec, sc 10, dec, sc, inc, sc 4, inc dec (22 sts).

13. Sc 11, dec, sc, inc, sc 3, dec, sc 2 (21 sts).

14. Dec, sc 7, dec 2, sc 4, inc, dec, sc (18 sts).

15. Dec, sc 6, dec 3, sc, dec, sc (13 sts).

16. Sc 5, dec 4 (9 sts).

Tighten the stitch and cut the yarn leaving a longer tail. Use the tail to close up the ear.

Right Ear

Find the stitch marker that you put in row 17 of the head. Insert your crochet hook into this front loop of the stitch.

Row 1:

Crochet using front loops only for this entire row.

Slip stitch where your crochet hook is. Now make a single crochet increase in the same front loop. Continue crocheting clockwise – sc 2, inc, sc 3. In total you should have 9 stitches.

From row 2 crochet using both loops.

2. Sc 4, inc 2, sc 3 (11 sts).

3. Sc 6, inc, sc, inc, sc 2 (13 sts).

4. Dec, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, dec, (inc, sc) rep 2 times (15 sts).

5. Dec, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 7, sc (17 sts).

6. Sc, dec, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 6, inc, sc 2 (19 sts).

7. Dec, inc, sc 3, inc, sc, dec, sc 4, inc, sc 2, dec (19 sts).

8. Dec, (inc, sc) rep 3 times, dec, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 5 (22 sts).

9. Sc, dec, sc 4, inc, sc 14 (22 sts).

10. Sc 4, inc, sc 17 (23 sts).

11. Sc 7, inc, sc 2, dec, inc, sc 8, dec (23 sts).

12. Dec, inc, sc 4, inc, sc, dec, sc 10, dec (22 sts).

13. Sc 2, dec, sc 3, inc, sc, dec, sc 11 (21 sts).

14. Sc, dec, inc, sc 4, dec 2, sc 7, dec (18 sts).

15. Sc, dec, sc, dec 3, sc 6, dec (13 sts).

16. Sc, dec 6 (7 sts).

Tighten the stitch and cut the yarn leaving a longer tail. Use the tail to close up the ear.

Finishing Details

Close Up Parts

Grab a tapestry needle. Thread the yarn’s tail through it. 

Insert the needle through the front loop of the first stitch from the front. Then do the same through the front loop of the next stitch, but from the back of it. Continue threading the needle through the front loops across the row, alternating the threading from the front and from the back. 

Once you reach the last stitch of the round, pull up the yarn’s tail. It should close up the arm.

Tighten and hide the yarn’s tail.

Sew Up the Head

You should still have a small gap at the top of the head. You need to sew it together. First add any extra stuffing needed to make the head nice and firm.

Take the tapestry needle and thread yarn’s tail left from the head.

There are two sides to the gap. Let’s call them left and right. 

Start with the stitch on the left side of the head closest to the yarn’s tail you’re using. Thread the needle through the front loop of this stitch from the side closer to the gap. Now thread the needle through the front loop of the stitch on the right side of the head that’s right in front of the stitch you just used. 

Repeat it for the rest of the stitches in the gap until you reach the end. Then pull on the thread. It should close the gap. Tighten the yarn’s end and hide it.

Shape the Head

1) Cut a long piece of yarn of the same colour as the head. Thread it through a tapestry needle. 

2) Point it on one side of the right eye. Thread it across the inside of the head to the left eye. 

3) Point the needle on the other corner of left eye. Thread the needle across the inside to another corner of the right eye. 

4) Now pull on the thread until it makes enough of the indent to the left side of the face. 

5) Repeat step 2

6) Pull on the thread until it indents the right side of the face to match the left.

Repeat the process until you’re happy with how much it is indented. Then secure and hide yarn’s ends.

Add Facial Features

Eyes

Follow these instructions if you choose to embroider the face.

Locate where you think you would want to have eyes and nose. I use the buttons or stitch markers to have a better idea how it will look once finished. 

Take a piece of black yarn. I used aran size yarn, but you can use any yarn you prefer. Thread it through the tapestry needle. Thread the needle where you want your first eye to be, but keep a longer tail. You want to leave the tail longer so that you can secure the yarn after. 

When embroidering the eyes, simply thread the needle back and forth over one of the single stitches. It should give you an eye-like shape. Once you finish one eye, thread the needle across the inside of the head to where you want the second eye to be. Again thread the needle back and forth across one of the single stitches.

Once you have both eyes, thread the needle where you want your nose to be. 

Nose

Pick two single stitches. The top corners of them will be the upper corners of the nose. The bottom of the side between them will be the bottom corner of the nose. 

Thread the needle first from the top left corner of the left stitch to the bottom corner between the 2 stitches. Do the same from the top right stitch. And then keep embroidering from top to the spot in the middle until you fill in the shape of the nose. 

After you can see a clear shape, thread the needle one stitch lower from the bottom corner of the nose. Then back to the bottom corner of the nose. This will make a little line from the nose. 

And that’s it! Now just tighten the loose ends on the inside of the head and you’re done!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What type of yarn is best for this project?

For this bunny we’ve used YarnArt chenille yarn. It’s cheap, soft and comes in a huge variety of different colors. 

If you can’t find it in stores available to you, try any other chunky sized plush yarn. Look for yarn labeled as “baby” or “soft” for a cozy finish.

How much yarn do I need for the bunny?

To crochet a bunny puppet, you’ll typically need less than 100 yards of chunky chenille yarn.

Can I modify the pattern for a smaller/larger size?

Yes, you can! To make it smaller use a lighter weight yarn, and to make it bigger – heavier. Use a hook that’s 1.5 mm smaller than the recommended size to make the stitches extra tight and durable.

What if I don’t have safety eyes? 

You can use buttons, embroidery thread, or even crochet eyes as an alternative.

Is this pattern suitable for beginners? 

Yes, this pattern is beginner-friendly and comes with detailed instructions to guide you through each step.

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