Putting fear into the hearts of many, here comes The Grim Bunny! As the bringer of death with his scythe in hand, this bunny is ready to reap, but only in exchange for some carrots! (No one tell him that his blade is made of yarn, he thinks he’s the real deal!)
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
U.S. Terminology
Materials
Hook: 3.5 mm
Yarn: Worsted Weight: Approx. 100 yards- Fur Colour, Black, small amount of grey, orange and green (I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads)
10 mm Safety Eyes or Embroidered Eyes
Polyfill
Needle
Small straw, stick or wire
Optional: Stitch Markers and pins, embroidery thread for eyelashes
Other Notes:
Magic Ring alternative- if you do not feel comfortable doing a magic ring, you can also chain 2 and work the indicated number of stitches into the first chain
Continuous Rounds– each row is completed in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated
Scythe Construction: The Grim Reaper Scythe requires a thin straw to hold its shape. If you have trouble finding a straw the right diameter, you can cut a straw length wise and roll it tight to fit. Other options can include a thin dowel, wire (don’t use if giving to a child) or match stick. You can also opt to use nothing at all if you have stiff yarn!
Pattern:
Head:
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)
R7-R13: SC around (36 st)
R14: (4 SC, INV DEC) x6 (30 st)
Place 10 mm eyes between R10 &11, 5 st apart. If you wish to sew on eyelashes, do not add washers to back of the safety eyes yet! Remove the eyes once you like their placement, and using embroidery thread, sew on two or three eyelashes for each eye, starting where the safety eyes will go and out on an angle. Make sure they are long enough otherwise they will be hidden behind the eyes.
Reinsert the eyes and add washers to the back.
Using black yarn and a needle, stitch a nose, running the needle through several times horizontally, in line with the eyes, and one time vertically, 2 rows down.
R15: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
Start stuffing, making sure to stuff VERY firmly
R16: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18 st)
R17: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
FO, weaving in ends. Finish stuffing.
Hood:
In black colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6: (4 SC, INC SC) x6 (36 st)
R7-14: SC around (36 st)
R15: (5 SC, INC SC) x6 (42 st)
R16: (6 SC, INC SC) x6 (48 st)
R17: (5 SC, INC SC) x8 (56 st)
R18: SC around (56 st)
R 19: SL ST around (56 st)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing the hood to the head.
To attach, put the bunny head inside the hood with the hood angled further outward on the top of the head and the yarn tail at the bottom. The base of the hood should line up around round 2 of the head, towards the face. To sew on, start at the edge of the hood, but sew each subsequent stitch moving towards round 14 of the hood. Sew around the top at round 14 then back down the other side and towards the bottom edge of the hood again. Your hood should have a slight triangle shape to it. It will be further shaped when the ears are attached. See photos with yellow guide lines for further guidance.
Ears: (make 2)
Using fur colour yarn:
R1: 5 MR (5 st)
R2: INC SC around (10 st)
R3: (4 SC, INC SC) x2 (12 st)
R4-R6: SC around (12 st)
R7: (4 SC, INV DEC) x2 (10 st)
R8-R11: SC around (10 st)
FO, leaving long tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Flatten ears and pinch base in half, sewing back and forth a few times. Pin ears to top of head, around rounds 11-14 of the hood. You can use the ears to help further make a bit of a peak on the hood.
Body:
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (2 SC, INC SC) x6 (24 st)
R5: (3 SC, INC SC) x6 (30 st)
R6-10: (30 st)
R11: (3 SC, INV DEC) x6 (24 st)
R12: (2 SC, INV DEC) x6 (18st)
Start stuffing, making sure to stuff firmly as you finish subsequent rounds
R13: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
R 14: SC around (12 st)
FO, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.
Pin to the head, having the front of the body line up approximately with the base of the hood. Sew around to attach the head (making sure to go through both the hood and head of the bunny so that it is secure) and weave in ends.
Arms: (make 2)
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 5 SC in MR (5 st)
R2: INC SC (10 st)
R3-R4: SC around (10 st)
R5: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)
Stuff tip of hand lightly
R6- R9: SC around (8 st)
To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn. Pin arms to either side of body, 2-3 rows down from where the body meets the neck and sew on. Weave in ends.
Legs: (make 2)
In fur colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC in MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC (12 st)
R3-5: SC around (12 st)
R6: (4 SC, INV DEC) x2 (10 st)
Stuff at base of foot, and continue to lightly stuff up to halfway up the leg
R7: (3 SC, INV DEC) x2 (8 st)
R8-R11: SC around (8 st)
To close, pinch sides closed and 4 SC across through top of stitches of both sides. Finish off, leaving length of yarn.
Pin the legs to the base of the body and sew on. Weave in ends
Tail:
In fur colour:
R1: 4 SC in MR (4 st)
R2: INC SC x4 (8 st)
R3: (3 SC, INC SC) x2 (10 st)
R4: SC around (10 st)
FO, leaving long tail for sewing. Put in a bit of stuffing and pin to back of body so it is positioned in a way that supports it sitting up (a few rows up from the base) and sew to body. Weave in ends.
Cape:
When starting your chain, leave a decent sized tail. You will use this as one of the ends of the ties for making the bow.
In black colour yarn:
R1: CH 21, SC in 2nd CH from hook and SC across (20 st)
R2: CH 1, turn. SC2TOG, (SC, INC SC) x7, 2 SC, SC2TOG (25 st)
R3: CH 1, turn. SC2TOG, (2 SC, INC SC) x7, SC2TOG (30 st)
R4: CH 1, turn. SC2TOG, (3 SC, INC) x6, 2 SC, SC2TOG (34 st)
R5: CH 1, turn. SC2TOG, (4 SC, INC) x6, SC2TOG (38 st)
R6: CH 1, turn. SL ST, (SL ST, skip 1 st, {HDC, DC}, {DC, HDC}, skip 1 st, SL ST) x6, SL ST (38 st)
FO, leaving long tail. Weave the yarn up through the cape to the top corner to use as the other tie. Wrap cape around the neck of your bunny and tie a bow. To keep the ends from fraying, you can tie a knot on each end. Cut off excess yarn.
Scythe:
In black colour yarn:
R1: 5 SC in MR (5 st)
R2-15: SC around (5 st)
If you wish for your scythe to be longer, add additional rows until it is your preferred height.
Place straw in centre of post and cut off any excess. FO, leaving a length of yarn. Whip stitch through the FLO of each stitch and pull tight to close the top of the scythe. Weave down through the scythe pole and out where you would like to attach it to the bunny hand.
In grey colour yarn:
R1: CH 9, SL ST in 2nd CH from hook. 3 SC, 2 HDC, 2 DC.
FO, leaving tail for sewing. Sew on to the top of the scythe.
Using a bit of black yarn, sew your scythe onto the hand of your bunny, or leave it unattached if you wish!
Pumpkin:
In orange colour yarn:
R1: 6 SC into MR (6 st)
R2: INC SC around (12 st)
R3: (SC, INC SC) x6 (18 st)
R4: (5 SC, INC SC) x3 (21 st)
R5-8: SC around (21 st)
R9: (5 SC, INV DEC) x3 (18 st)
Start stuffing, making sure to not stuff too firmly so that you can shape the pumpkin later (stiffer yarn will need even less stuffing)
R10: (SC, INV DEC) x6 (12 st)
R11: INV DEC around (6 st)
FO, leaving long tail. Pull the yarn with a needle through the centre of the pumpkin, around the outside of the pumpkin and down through the centre again. Pull the yarn tight, creating an indentation. Repeat several times until you have the number of indentations that you would like (I made 5). Run the yarn and needle up and down through the centre several more times so the yarn is secured and your indentations won’t come loose. Weave in ends.
Stem:
In green colour yarn:
R1: 4 SC into MR (4 st)
R2: INC SC around (8 st)
R3: In BLO, SC around (8 st)
R4: (2 SC, INV DEC) x2 (6 st)
R5: (SC, INV DEC) x2 (4 st)
FO, leaving long tail for sewing. Pin to top of pumpkin and sew on. Weave in ends.
Thank you so much for making this pattern! If you run into any problems or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through Facebook or Instagram! Please remember to tag me @thecozychipmunk #thecozychipmunk so I can see your completed creation! Consider adding your completed bunny to your Ravelry projects as well!
