Capsule Bunny 2.0

Here you go! A free amigurumi bunny pattern. Don't say I never gave ya nuttin'! ;p

Capsule Bunny v2.0

2010 Marya Diederichs

This pattern is for an amigurumi crocheted bunny. You can finish your bunny any number of ways, using multiple colors, stripes, or accents. For simplicity's sake, these directions are written for a solid color bunny, but feel free to let your bun-inspired creativity run wild!

This pattern is for non-profit, personal use only. Create as many bunnies as you like for yourself, or for gifts. Please do not sell toys made from this pattern. The bunny gods would be most displeased.

Supplies Needed:

• Yarn of your choice. The example pictured uses about 2/3 of a skein of inexpensive, aran weight acrylic.
• A crochet hook of an appropriate size for your yarn choice. I used a 5.5mm for the example. Since this is amigurumi, make sure that your stitches will be tight enough to contain the stuffing.
• One stitch marker
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Tapestry or yarn needle.
• 2 buttons, safety eyes, or black embroidery floss. Please note that if this bunny is to be given to a baby or to a child under 3 years old, you must either embroider the eyes, or use safety eyes.

Gauge:

Gauge is unimportant for this project. Obviously bulky yarn with a larger needle will make a bigger bunny.

Notes:

Each piece begins in typical amigurumi fashion, with either a six stitch magic loop, or six scs worked into one stitch. Pieces are then worked in spiral rounds. Use the marker to keep track of your rounds. The total stitch count for each round is noted in parentheses after each line of the pattern.

Pattern:

Head

Rnd 1: Begin with a six stitch magic ring. Alternatively: Make 1sc, then work 6 stitches into that 1.

Rnd 2: Make 2 sc into each st around. (12)

Rnd 3: *Sc into the next st, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (18)

Rnd 4: *Sc into the next 2 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (24)

Rnd 5: *Sc into the next 3 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (30)

Rnd 6: *Sc into the next 4 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (36)

Rnd 7: *Sc into the next 5 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (42)

Rnd 8: *Sc into the next 6 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (48)

Rnd 9: *Sc into the next 7 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (54)

Rnd 10: *Sc into the next 8 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (60)

Rnd 11: *Sc into the next 9 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (66)

Rnd 12: *Sc into the next 10 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (72)

Rnd 13: *Sc into the next 11 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (78)

Rnd 14: *Sc into the next 12 sts, make 2 sc in next st; rep from * around. (84)

Rnds 15 – 18: Work even. (84)

Rnd 19: *Sc in each of next 12 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (78)

Rnd 20: *Sc in each of next 11 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (72)

Rnd 21: *Sc in each of next 10 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (66)

Rnd 22: *Sc in each of next 9 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (60)

Rnd 23: *Sc in each of next 8 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (54)

Rnd 24: *Sc in each of next 7 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (48)

Rnd 25: *Sc in each of next 6 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (42)

Rnd 26: *Sc in each of next 5 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (36)

Rnd 27: *Sc in each of next 4 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (30)

Body

Work rounds 1-10 as you did for the head. (60)

Rnds 11-14: Work even. (60)

Rnd 15: *Sc in each of next 8 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (54)

Rnd 16: *Sc in each of next 7 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (48)

Rnd 17: *Sc in each of next 6 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (42)

Rnds 18-20: Work even. (42)

Rnd 21: *Sc in each of next 5 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (36)

Rnd 22: *Sc in each of next 4 sts, Sc2tog; rep from * around – (30)

Ears (make 2)

Rnd 1: Begin with a six stitch magic ring. Alternatively: Make 1sc, then work 6 stitches into that 1.

Rnd 2: Make 2 sc into each st around. (12)

Rnds 3-14: Work even.

Arms (make 2)

Rnd 1: Begin with a six stitch magic ring. Alternatively: Make 1sc, then work 6 stitches into that 1.

Rnds 2-10: Work even.

Legs (make 2)

Rnd 1: Begin with a six stitch magic ring. Alternatively: Make 1sc, then work 6 stitches into that 1.

Rnd 2: Make 2 sc into each st around. (12)

Rnds 3-4: Work even. (12)

Rnd 5: *Sc in the next 1 st, Sc2tog; rep from* around – (6)

Rnds 6-10: Work even. (6)

Tail

Rnd 1: Begin with a six stitch magic ring. Alternatively: Make 1sc, then work 6 stitches into that 1.

Rnd 2: Make 2 sc into each st around. (12)

Rnds 3-4: Work even. (12)

Finishing

Begin by pinching the ears flat, like empty glove fingers. Stitch the ears to the head with your tapestry/yarn needle. You may wish to pin them first, which allows you to try a few different positions until you find one you like best. If you are using safety eyes, attach them at this point. The inside fasteners will need to be in place before the head is stuffed.

Using fiberfill, stuff the head firmly.

Stuff the body.

Stitch the head and body together at the neck. If you have a loose length of yarn left at the end, use the eye end of your needle to push it into the fabric, where it will not be seen.

The arms, legs, and tail usually do not need to be stuffed. This may vary if you are using a very soft yarn, or working at a large gauge.

Stitch the arms to the body. As with the ears, play with several different placements to find the best look for your bunny.

Stitch the legs to the body. The bunny shown in the photo example is sitting. The legs were placed at the front “edge” of the body. The two legs and the tail provide a 3-point support which allows the bunny to sit on its own, on a table or shelf. An alternative is to sew the legs in the middle of the body, as if the bunny is standing up. If you do this, your bunny will not be able to stand unsupported, but it's still a cute look.

Stitch the tail to the body. If your bunny is sitting, play with the tail placement to make sure it balances out with the legs.

If you didn't already affix eyes to your bunny's face, do that now.

Enjoy your new friend!

Just in time for Easter...

I've just finished my amigurumi bunny pattern. It is an updated version of the "Capsule Bunny" stufftie that is viewable on my Ravelry projects page. Consider it Capsule Bunny Version 2.0!

The pattern and photos will be posted before Sunday.

In addition, I am doing a free drawing for a special edition Capsule Bunny, completed by me, but adorned with some extra beading and bling!

Stay tuned. Same yarn time, same yarn channel!

Small Update

Whew! Things have been a little crazy around here for the past few weeks, and I haven't gotten much done. I'm still plugging away on the "Spinners" scarf.

In other news, the "Homespun Yarn Party" will be held on March 21st, at Historic Savage Mill, in Savage, MD. It looks like I may not make it, as my daughter's birthday is coming up, and I don't have much extra cash to splurge on yarn. The event is highly recommended for anyone who can check it out. Score yourself some gorgeous stash additions in my honor!

Coming soon: I'm working on writing down one of my amigurumi patterns. I'll post it here, for free download, hopefully within the next week!

"October is for Spinners" scarf. Pt. 2

Between the snow and a weekend out of town, my progress on this scarf slowed to a crawl for a while. But, last night I finished the spider. I have a tip for those working on this project who are having trouble with the Left Purl Twists. They are indeed a bit of a pain. If you're struggling to get that stitch pulled through, use a small crochet hook to help you.

Also, take note that there are errors in the pattern as it appears on the website. A discussion thread with corrections can be found on Ravelry, in the "October is for Spinners" Knit-a-Long group.

Onward and upward with this project! Judging from other knitters' project notes, from here on out is where things get a little crazy.

"October is for Spinners" scarf. Pt. 1

This is my current WIP. The "October is for Spinners" scarf by Sharon Emery. The pattern was originally published in chart form, in the book "Barbara Walker's Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns." It is currently available in a text version, as a free download from Ravelry. The scarf starts on size 6 needles, with four strands of fingering or lace weight yarn held together. There is a seed-stitch border, and a formidable looking, twisted-stitch spider motif. As you progress down the length of the scarf, you gradually drop strands and increase needle size. The result is a piece that looks like its dissolving, or fraying away to nothing.

I saw this pattern early last year, and added it to my Ravelry queue. The four strands at once element was intimidating. Now that I've started, I'm pleasantly surprised at how friendly project this is. I think the only fiddly bits are the purl-left-twists. Purling through the back loop with four strands of yarn at once, isn't my favorite.

One funny thing. I read reviews on Amazon for the book in which this pattern was originally included. One reviewer remarked that while the patterns are unique and well charted, many of them don't seem appealing, for example: "Who wants a scarf with a realistic spider on it?"

I do!

ETA: I realize I forgot one detail here. I'm making this with Jojoland Ballad, fingering weight yarn. Colorway 205. It's got more of a brownish-pink cast to it than this photo indicates.

Spiral Scarf

Knitting was on hold for a while following the birth of my second child. I had no time, no sleep, and no desire to do anything superfluous. When I decided to start back again, I went looking for a project that would be simple and low impact. Ideally, something that could be picked up and put down without much fuss.

I'd picked up a hank of Schaefer Yarns Danya mohair this past September. The colorway is called "Hermione". It's funny how yarn can look like one thing when it's swirled together in a smooth little bundle, something else once it's balled, and something entirely different again when you start working with it.

I chose to use the mohair in a scarf, from the book "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders". The pattern was the "Lace Spiral Scarf" by Gail Owens. It's an easy 12 line repeating pattern, with a lacey edge. I can't recommend the pattern enough, even though mine isn't doing so well.

The Hermione Danya is a BRIGHT colorway anyway you slice it. Prior to balling, it looked like a neon sort of orangey red, with big pockets of turquoise blue. Once I started working, the red tones completely overtook the blue. The effect would probably have been nice in something super airy, like the Belinda wrap from the second Mason-Dixon book. In the slightly more dense fabric of this scarf - it's a bit like a circus run amok. Seriously, I feel like this scarf is yelling at me. I also found that the hairiness factor obscures the lace edge, as well as making the stitches near impossible to read. Oh, well.

I'm on the fence as to whether I'm going to attempt to frog this (a tough proposition with mohair), or whether I'll just put it aside for now and revisit the matter later. Although the color mix is a little manic for me, I think my daughter might like it. The pattern is a winner. I hope to try it again soon with a different yarn.