Some cushions sit on a sofa looking decorative. Dandelion sits on a sofa looking smug. This bunny cushion knitting pattern makes a round, rabbit-shaped cushion in DK yarn, complete with fabric-lined ears, a pompom tail, and an embroidered face that suggests she has absolutely no regrets about anything.

This is a confident beginner bunny cushion knitting pattern. You will need to be comfortable working in the round, either on double pointed needles or using the magic loop method. If you are new to either technique, there are some helpful videos below before you cast on.

The finished cushion measures 46cm / 18in in diameter. Meet Dandelion.

What You Will Need

Yarn:

Option 1: King Cole Majestic DK (20% Polyamide, 50% Wool, 30% Acrylic), 121m / 132yds per 50g ball

• Yarn A: Taupe (2646) — available from Wool Warehouse
• Yarn B: Cerise (2659)
• Oddments of pink and black

Option 2: Knit Picks Swish DK (100% Superwash Merino Wool), 112m / 123yds per 50g ball

• Yarn A: Squirrel Heather (24948) — available from Knit Picks
• Yarn B: Heather Rose (28638)
• Oddments of pink and black

Needles:

4mm double pointed needles, or needles suitable for working in the round

Also needed:

• Fabric: 30cm x 50cm
• Lace ribbon: 2m / 2.1yds
• Cushion pad: 46cm / 18in diameter – From Amazon
• Zip: 30cm / 11.5in
• Sewing needle and thread
• Toy stuffing

Tension:

22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm using 4mm needles and stocking stitch

Before You Begin

Working in the round can feel a little daunting if you have not tried it before, but it is one of those techniques that clicks quickly once you get going. Steph from Very Pink Knits has two excellent tutorials that will walk you through everything you need to know. If you are new to magic loop, start with her getting started with magic loop video. If you prefer to work on double pointed needles, her getting started with DPNs video covers all the basics clearly and calmly. Either method will work beautifully for this pattern.

Abbreviations

For a full list of abbreviations used in this pattern, visit the Knitting Abbreviations Guide.

• k – knit

• k2tog – knit two together

• m1 – make one

• psso – pass slipped stitch over

• sl1 – slip one stitch

• st (s) – stitch (es)

• rep – repeat

Bunny Cushion Knitting Pattern Instructions

Body (make two)

Using 4mm needles and Yarn A, cast on 8 sts evenly over four DPNs, or needles for working in the round. Join into the round, taking care not to twist stitches.

Rounds 1-2: Knit.
Round 3: *K1, m1; rep from * to end. [16 sts]
Rounds 4-6: Knit.
Round 7: *K1, m1; rep from * to end. [32 sts]
Rounds 8-11: Knit.
Round 12: *K1, m1; rep from * to end. [64 sts]
Rounds 13-19: Knit.
Round 20: *K2, m1; rep from * to end. [96 sts]
Rounds 21-25: Knit.
Round 26: *K3, m1; rep from * to end. [128 sts]
Rounds 27-31: Knit.
Round 32: *K4, m1; rep from * to end. [160 sts]
Rounds 33-40: Knit.
Round 41: *K5, m1; rep from * to end. [192 sts]
Rounds 42-48: Knit.
Round 49: *K6, m1; rep from * to end. [224 sts]
Rounds 50-64: Knit.
Cast off loosely.

Ears (make two)

Using 4mm needles, cast on 40 sts evenly over three DPNs. Join into the round, taking care not to twist stitches.

Rounds 1-30: Knit.
Round 31: K19, k2tog, k19. [39 sts]
Round 32 and all rounds except those below: Knit.
Round 33: K18, k2tog, k19. [38 sts]
Round 35: K18, k2tog, k18. [37 sts]
Round 37: K17, k2tog, k18. [36 sts]
Round 39: K15, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k15. [32 sts]
Round 42: K13, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k13. [28 sts]
Round 47: K11, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k11. [24 sts]
Round 52: K9, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k9. [20 sts]
Round 57: K7, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k7. [16 sts]
Round 60: K5, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k5. [12 sts]
Rounds 61-62: Knit.
Round 63: K3, (sl1, k2tog, psso) twice, k3. [8 sts]
Rounds 64-66: Knit.

Making Up

Sew the tops of the ears closed, keeping the decreases running up the centre front. Cut ear inserts from your chosen fabric and sew in place. Stuff the ears lightly.

Use a running thread to close the centre of each cushion panel. Cut a circle of fabric 25cm in diameter and sew to the front of the body panel, using the photo as a guide. Sew lace ribbon around the fabric circle.

Using oddments of black and pink yarn, embroider the face using the photo as a guide.

Sew the front and back panels together, leaving an opening for the zip. Sew the zip into position and weave in ends. Insert the cushion pad.

Pin the ears in place using the photo as a guide and sew securely. Using Yarn B, make a large pompom for the tail and sew in place.

A note on the fabric ears: the raw edges are left unhemmed and will develop a gently worn look over time, which suits Dandelion’s character rather well. If you prefer a neater finish, you can apply iron-on bonding to the fabric edges before sewing. Do not use iron-on interfacing directly on the knitting, as the heat will damage the acrylic content of the yarn.

For advice on finishing and blocking your knitting, visit the Essential Guide to Blocking Knitted Projects.

Share Your Dandelion

If you make Dandelion, I would love to see her. Share your finished cushion on Instagram and tag @jane.burns.designs, #janeburnsdesigns, or leave a comment below. Every Dandelion will be slightly different depending on your fabric choice, and that is entirely the point.

If you found this bunny cushion knitting pattern useful, sharing the pin below helps other knitters find it too.

Jane

Want the PDF Version?

If you would prefer a neatly formatted PDF to print or save to your device, Dandelion is available to download from the Jane Burns shop and from Etsy. Clear instructions, quick to knit up, and a lovely pattern to have in your collection.