Every baby collection needs something to snuggle. And who can resist a bunny?
When Scheepjes approached me back in 2020 to create a collection of designs for new babies, I knew from the very start that I wanted a comforter in there. The garments, the booties, the bonnet, all of it was designed to be as simple and approachable as possible, built around garter stitch and gentle shaping. But a baby collection without something soft to hold felt incomplete. So the Bunny Best Friend was born, a knitted baby bunny blanket with a sweet stuffed bunny head at its centre, the kind of thing a baby refuses to go anywhere without.
This is the sort of knitted bunny blanket for babies that becomes a keepsake. Quick enough to finish before the new arrival, simple enough to make as a gift without anxiety, and charming enough to be truly special. Whether you call it a baby lovey, a bunny comforter, or simply a bunny blanket for the baby, this is one of those makes that will be loved for years.
Baby Bunny Blanket Knitting Pattern Overview
This baby bunny blanket knitting pattern combines four garter stitch squares worked in two alternating yarn colours to create a gentle chevron stripe effect, with a stuffed knitted bunny head, a pair of long floppy ears, and a knitted arm that wraps across the centre of the blanket. The whole piece is worked in garter stitch throughout, meaning knit every row with no purl stitch in sight, making it a wonderfully straightforward knit despite the impressive finished result.
The blanket measures 45cm / 18in square, a lovely size for little hands to hold and carry everywhere. Worked on 3.25mm and 4mm straight needles, it is a confident beginner make with simple shaping throughout, a little stuffing, and some sewing up to bring the bunny to life. If you have knitted a few smaller projects and are comfortable with basic shaping, this is absolutely within reach. It also makes one of the most beautiful baby shower gifts I know: personal, handmade, and genuinely useful from the very first day.
This is a free baby bunny blanket knitting pattern, part of my Scheepjes Merino Soft Baby Collection. You can browse the full set of free designs from the collection, and all my other free baby knitting patterns, here.
The Yarn
The original Bunny Best Friend uses two Scheepjes yarns from the same Merino Soft family.
Yarn A is Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush in shade 252 Toorop, a softly flecked grey with a gentle brushed halo. Yarn B is Scheepjes Merino Soft in shade 602 Raphaël, a clean cool white. Together they create the classic grey and white stripe that works for any baby, any nursery, and any occasion.
Both yarns are a buttery soft blend of 50% Superwash Merino Extra Fine, 25% Microfibre, and 25% Acrylic, at 50g/105m per ball. You will need 2 balls of each. If you can still find them, they are well worth seeking out.
If you cannot source the original yarns, two excellent Scheepjes alternatives are available with my affiliate links below, both widely available to buy online.
Scheepjes Softfun is a DK weight yarn in a 60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic blend, with 140m per 50g ball and 85 shades to choose from. Soft, easy to work with, and lovely for a summer baby or a gift for a warmer climate.
Scheepjes Stone Washed is a sport/baby weight in a 78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic blend, with 130m per 50g ball and 52 gorgeous stone-inspired shades. The subtle texture gives the garter stitch blanket a beautiful depth.
When substituting, always match the gauge rather than the yarn weight label, and knit a tension square first.
Please note: the affiliate links above are to Scheepjes yarn suppliers. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Materials
Yarn
Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush (50% Superwash Merino Extra Fine, 25% Microfibre, 25% Acrylic; 50g/105m)
Yarn A: 252 Toorop x 2 balls
Scheepjes Merino Soft (50% Superwash Merino Extra Fine, 25% Microfibre, 25% Acrylic; 50g/105m)
Yarn B: 602 Raphaël x 2 balls
You can of course substitute these yarns for any baby friendly DK weight yarn that matches the tension given. Why not check out my blog post which is all about knitting for babies and how to get it right.
Needles
- 3.25mm straight needles
- 4mm straight needles
Also Needed
- Stitch marker
- Oddment of dark grey yarn for eyes
- Oddment of dusky pink yarn for nose
- Toy stuffing
- Strong sewing thread and needle for reinforcing joins (see safety note below)
Tension
22 sts and 44 rows to measure 10 x 10cm over garter stitch using 4mm needles
24 sts and 48 rows to measure 10 x 10cm over garter stitch using 3.25mm needles
Finished Measurements
45cm / 18in square
Skill Level
Confident beginner
Abbreviations
New to some of the abbreviations in this pattern? Download my free guide here: Free Knitting Abbreviations Guide
A Note on Safety
This knitted baby bunny blanket is designed for babies and will be held, chewed, and loved. Before your little one gets their hands on it, please take a few extra minutes over the finishing.
When sewing the bunny head to the blanket and attaching the ears, secure every join with a strong sewing thread and needle in addition to the yarn itself. Work over each seam several times, pulling the thread firmly. The yarn alone is not sufficient for a piece that will be tugged and mouthed regularly.
The same applies to the arm piece. Sew it to the blanket centre using both yarn and sewing thread, and give every join a firm tug before handing the finished piece over.
If you plan to sell finished items made from this pattern, it is worth familiarising yourself with the toy safety guidelines that apply to handmade items for children. The UK Hand Knitting Association has a helpful overview of the relevant regulations, including guidance on materials and small parts.
Bunny Best Friend Knitting Pattern
Blanket Square (make 4)
Using 4mm needles and Yarn A, cast on 100 sts. Place marker after 50th st.
Row 1: K to 2 sts before marker, k2togtbl, slip marker, k2tog, k to end. [98 sts]
Change to Yarn B
Row 2: K to 2 sts before marker, k2togtbl, slip marker, k2tog, k to end. [96 sts]
Row 3: Knit.
Change to Yarn A
Rep Rows 2 and 3 until 14 sts remain, changing yarns every two rows.
Cut Yarn A. Continue to end using Yarn B only.
Rep Rows 2 and 3 until 2 sts remain.
Final row: K2tog, fasten off.
To finish the blanket
Join the side seams of the four squares to form a larger square, keeping the solid white squares together at the centre.
Head
Using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B, cast on 6 sts.
Row 1: Kfb in every st. [12 sts]
Row 2 (and all even-numbered rows): Knit.
Row 3: (Kfb, k1) 6 times. [18 sts]
Row 5: (Kfb, k2) 6 times. [24 sts]
Row 7: K1, kfb, (k3, kfb) 5 times, k2. [30 sts]
Row 9: K1, kfb, (k4, kfb) 5 times, k3. [36 sts]
Row 11: K2, kfb, (k5, kfb) 5 times, k3. [42 sts]
Rows 13 to 24: Beginning with a knit row, work 12 rows in garter.
Row 25: K2, k2tog, (k5, k2tog) 5 times, k3. [36 sts]
Rows 26 to 28: Knit.
Row 29: K2, k2tog, (k4, k2tog) 5 times, k2. [30 sts]
Rows 30 to 32: Knit.
Row 33: K1, k2tog, (k3, k2tog) 5 times, k2. [24 sts]
Rows 34 to 36: Knit.
Row 37: K1, k2tog, (k2, k2tog) 5 times, k1. [18 sts]
Row 38: (K1, k2tog) 6 times. [12 sts]
Row 39: (K2tog) 6 times. [6 sts]
Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight and fasten off.
To finish the head
Join the seam, stuffing firmly as you go. Work a running stitch around the cast-on stitches to close. Using the photograph as a guide, embroider the nose in dusky pink and the eyes in dark grey. Weave in all ends.
Ear (make 2)
Using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B, cast on 9 sts.
Rows 1 to 20: Knit.
Row 21: K1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1. [7 sts]
Row 22: Knit.
Row 23: K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1. [5 sts]
Row 24: Knit.
Row 25: K2tog, k1, k2tog. [3 sts]
Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches and pull tight to form the tip of the ear.
To finish the ears
Fold the base of each ear in half and secure with a few stitches to shape. Using the photograph as a guide, sew firmly to the sides of the head using both yarn and strong sewing thread. Weave in all ends.
Arm
Using 3.25mm needles and Yarn B, cast on 40 sts.
Rows 1 to 9: Knit.
Cast off.
Bring the cast-off and cast-on edges together and sew to form a tube.
Assembly
Place the arm across the centre of the white square section of the blanket and sew firmly into position using both yarn and strong sewing thread, working over the join several times.
Place the head in the centre of the arm and sew on securely, again using both yarn and strong sewing thread. Weave in all ends.
Give every join a firm tug before the bunny blanket goes to its new owner. If anything feels loose, reinforce it before gifting.
Wash according to the ball band instructions and lay flat to dry naturally.
Make the Matching Set
If you would like to make this knitted baby bunny blanket alongside something to wear, this is the perfect companion to my Billy Bear Jacket knitting pattern, also from this collection. Same whimsical character theme, perfect for a full matching gift set for a baby shower or a new arrival.
Find the Billy Bear Jacket pattern here. (coming very soon)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bunny Best Friend baby bunny blanket knitting pattern?
It is a knitted baby comforter combining four chevron-striped garter stitch blanket squares with a stuffed bunny head, floppy ears, and a knitted arm. Designed as a beautiful handmade gift for a new baby, it is also the perfect companion to the Billy Bear Jacket from the same collection.
What skill level is this pattern?
This is a confident beginner pattern. It uses simple increases and decreases, a little toy stuffing, and some sewing to finish. If you have knitted a few small projects before, you will be absolutely fine.
What yarn is used for the Bunny Best Friend?
The original pattern uses Scheepjes Merino Soft Brush as Yarn A and Scheepjes Merino Soft as Yarn B. If you cannot find these, Scheepjes Softfun and Scheepjes Stone Washed are both lovely substitutes at a similar gauge, with affiliate links to both above.
Can I use different colours for the bunny blanket?
Absolutely. Any two contrasting shades at the correct gauge will give the same chevron stripe effect across the knitted bunny blanket. Pastels, neutrals, and earthy tones all work beautifully.
How do I make the bunny blanket safe for a baby?
Reinforce every join with a strong sewing thread and needle in addition to the yarn itself, paying particular attention to the ears, the head-to-blanket join, and the arm seam. Give everything a firm tug before the finished piece goes to a baby. See the full safety note above for further guidance check out this article from the UK Hand Knitting Association guidelines.
Can I sell finished items made from this pattern?
Yes, finished items made from this free pattern may be sold in small quantities. Please credit Jane Burns Designs when selling. The pattern itself may not be reproduced or sold.
If You Love Knitting for Babies
Why not browse some of my other free baby knitting patterns here on the blog.
Show Me Your Bunny
If you make this knitted baby bunny blanket I would love to see it. Tag me or send a photo. There is something genuinely lovely about watching the same pattern turn into dozens of slightly different bunnies, each one a little different depending on the maker and the yarn.
You can find me on Pinterest @janeburnsdesigner, Facebook @JaneBurnsDesigns, and Instagram @jane.burns.designs.
About Jane
Jane Burns is a UK-based knitting and crochet pattern designer with 18 years of experience, specialising in whimsical, characterful patterns for babies and children. She is the founder of Jane Burns Whimsical Children’s Knits, with patterns that carry real personality and a focus on making knitting feel accessible, satisfying, and a little bit special.
