We love this cute crocheted rabbit hat and think it makes a brilliant Easter craft project, ready for kids to wear on their Easter egg hunt or on a weekend walk! With super soft Debbie Bliss yarn and floppy ears, kids will love to wear this bunny beanie, and we hope you’ll enjoy making Nicki Trench’s simple crochet pattern.
Herbie the Rabbit
This baby rabbit has lovely floppy ears – and with its cute little button nose, it’s very hard to resist!
Materials
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 55% merino wool, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere aran (worsted) yarn,
50g (1¾ oz) balls, approx 90m (98yd) per ball:
2 x balls of shade 027 Stone (light grey) (MC)
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK, 100% merino wool DK (light worsted) yarn, 50g (1¾ oz) balls, approx 105m (115yd) per ball:
1 x ball of shade 42 Pink (A)
Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky, 100% merino wool chunky (bulky) yarn, 50g (1¾ oz) balls, approx 60m (66yd) per ball:
Scrap of shade 001 Black (B)
4.5mm (US size 7) and 3.5mm (US size E/4) crochet hooks
Yarn sewing needle
Tension
15 sts x 11 rows over a 10cm (4in) square using 4.5mm (US size 7) hook, half trebles and Cashmerino Aran.
Size
To fit age 6–24 months
Finished measurements
Approx 40.5–46cm (16–18in) circumference, 16.5cm (6½ in) high
Abbreviations
approx approximately
beg begin(ning)
ch chain
dc double crochet
htr half treble
rep repeat
RS right side
ss slip stitch
st(s) stitch(es)
WS wrong side
Hat
Work in rounds, placing st marker at beg of each round.
Round 1: Using MC and 4.5mm (US size 7) hook, 2ch, 8htr in second ch from hook. (8 sts)
Round 2: 2htr in each st to end. (16 sts)
Round 3: *2htr in next st, 1htr in next st; rep from * to end.
(24 sts)
Round 4: *2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 2 sts; rep from * to end. (32 sts)
Round 5: *2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 3 sts; rep from * to end. (40 sts)
Round 6: *2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 4 sts; rep from * to end. (48 sts)
Round 7: *2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 5 sts; rep from * to end. (56 sts)
Round 8: *2htr in next st, 1htr in each of next 6 sts; rep from * to end. (64 sts)
Rounds 9–19: 1htr in each st to end. (64 sts)
Ss in next st.
Fasten off.
Outer ear
(make 2)
Work in rows, turning at end of each row.
Row 1: Using MC and 4.5mm (US size 7) hook, make 2ch, 3dc in second ch from hook. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1ch (does not count as a st throughout), 2dc in first st, 1dc in next st, 2dc in last st. (5 sts)
Row 3: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (5 sts)
Row 4: 1ch, 2dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in last st.
(7 sts)
Row 5: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (7 sts)
Row 6: 1ch, 2dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in last st.
(9 sts)
Row 7: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (9 sts)
Row 8: 1ch, 2dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 7 sts, 2dc in last st.
(11 sts)
Row 9: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (11 sts)
Row 10: 1ch, 2dc in fi rst st, 1dc in each of next 9 sts, 2dc in last st.
(13 sts)
Rows 11–25: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (13 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing Inner ear to Outer ear.
Inner ear
(make 2)
Work in rows, turning at end of each row.
Row 1: Using A and 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook, make 2ch,
3dc in second ch from hook. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1ch (does not count as st throughout), 2dc in first st,
1dc in next st, 2dc in last st. (5 sts)
Rows 3–4: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (5 sts)
Row 5: 1ch, 2dc in fi rst st, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 2dc in last st. (7 sts)
Rows 6–7: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (7 sts)
Row 8: 1ch, 2dc in first st, 1dc in each of next 5 sts, 2dc in last st. (9 sts)
Rows 9–25: 1ch, 1dc in each st to end. (9 sts)
Fasten off.
With RS together, pin and sew outside edges of Inner ear and Outer ear together leaving bottom edge open. Turn RS out.
Position ears on top of Hat, approx 2.5cm (1in) apart at top.
Shape outer edges of ears towards middle, and pin and sew in place.
Eyes
Using B, embroider eyes in satin stitch (see page 18), approx. 5 sts from each side of centre of hat and approx 9 rows up from bottom edge.
Nose
Work in rows, turning at end of each row.
Row 1: Using A and 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook, make 2ch, 3dc in second ch from hook. Turn. (3 sts)
Row 2: 1ch (does not count as st throughout), 1dc in each st.
(3 sts)
Row 3: 1ch, 2dc in fi rst st, 1dc in next st, 2dc in last st.
(5 sts)
Fasten off, leaving long yarn tail for sewing to hat.
Sew Nose to Hat between eyes, with tip of triangle facing downwards and approx 5 rows from bottom edging.
Mouth
Using B, embroider the mouth in straight stitch, using the photo as a guide.
Tips
When sewing on small pieces such as the Nose, use a yarn sewing needle with a sharp end. When making ears and nose details for the faces, leave ends long for sewing onto hat when fastening off.
This crochet pattern is taken from Nicki Trench's latest book, Crocheted Animal Hats.