Free Crochet Bunny Pattern: Soft Plush Bunny Hand Puppet

A hand puppet is a toy and a story all in one, and this free crochet bunny pattern lets you make one from scratch in an afternoon. The finished bunny is a soft gray puppet about 28 cm (11 inches) tall, crocheted in chunky plush yarn that feels wonderful to hold and slides easily over your hand. It makes a warm handmade gift and a puppet that little ones will want at every bedtime.

Because the yarn is bulky and the body is left open, this project comes together faster than most stuffed toys. Give the pattern a quick read from top to bottom, then pick up your yarn and get comfortable.

A Quick Look at the Project

You are making a plush puppet with a stuffed head and a hollow body that your hand slips into. The head is worked in the round and stuffed firmly, the ears are shaped flat and folded before sewing, and the arms sit at the sides so the bunny can wave. The lower body switches to double crochet rows, which open the piece into a roomy puppet sleeve. A little embroidery adds the nose, brows, and lashes.

Here is the short version:

• Difficulty: Easy to intermediate
• Finished size: About 28 cm (11 in) tall
• How long it takes: An afternoon or two calm evenings
• Method: Stuffed head, folded ears, side arms, open body

What to Gather Before You Start

• Super bulky plush yarn (the sample uses Himalaya Dolphin Baby, 120 m / 100 g) in gray, roughly 1 skein
• A small amount of sport-weight cotton (such as Yarn Art Jeans) for the details:
• black for eyebrows and lashes
• pink for the nose
• gray for sewing the pieces
• One pair of 8 mm safety eyes
• Fiberfill stuffing for the head
• 4.5 mm crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch markers
• Scissors

Crochet Terms Used

Written in US terminology.

• R — round
• MR — magic ring
• sc — single crochet
• dc — double crochet
• inc — increase, 2 sc in one stitch
• dec — decrease, 2 sc together
• sl st — slip stitch
• ch — chain
• ( … ) * n — repeat the bracket n times
• ( n ) — stitch count for the round

Work in a continuous spiral, mark the start of each round, and keep your stitches firm so no stuffing shows through the plush.

Step-by-Step Free Crochet Bunny Pattern Instructions

Head

Gray plush yarn, 4.5 mm hook.

• R1: 7 sc in MR (7)
• R2: inc * 7 (14)
• R3: inc * 14 (28)
• R4: (3 sc, inc) * 7 (35)
• R5: (4 sc, inc) * 7 (42)
• R6: (13 sc, inc) * 3 (45)
• R7–11: 45 sc (5 rounds)
• R12: (13 sc, dec) * 3 (42)
• R13: (4 sc, dec) * 7 (35)
• R14: (3 sc, dec) * 7 (28)

Fix the safety eyes between rounds 10 and 11 from the top, about 9 stitches apart, then stuff the head firmly.

• R15: (2 sc, dec) * 7 (21)
• R16: (1 sc, dec) * 7 (14)
• R17: dec * 7 (7)

Pull the yarn through the last 7 loops, tighten to close, and secure.

Ears (Make 2)

Gray plush yarn.

• R1: 7 sc in MR (7)
• R2: inc * 7 (14)
• R3: 14 sc (14)
• R4: (1 sc, inc) * 7 (21)
• R5–8: 21 sc (4 rounds)
• R9: (1 sc, dec) * 7 (14)
• R10: 14 sc, sl st

Leave the ears unstuffed. Fold each in half and then in half again, and sew both to the top of the head 1 to 2 cm apart.

Shaping the Eyes

With gray cotton yarn, bring a thread from the back of the head out above the left eye. Pass under the left eye and out below the right eye, keeping the yarn tucked to the inner edge. Cross back over the right eye and out the back in the same place. Tighten both threads so the eyes sink slightly, knot, and hide the end inside. This gives the face its gentle expression.

Embroidery

Embroider a small pink nose under the eyes. With thin black yarn, add the lashes and a soft pair of eyebrows, keeping the stitches light.

Arms (Make 2)

Gray plush yarn.

• R1: 6 sc in MR (6)
• R2: inc * 6 (12)
• R3: (2 sc, inc) * 4 (16)
• R4–5: 16 sc (2 rounds)
• R6: (2 sc, dec) * 4 (12)
• R7–9: 12 sc (3 rounds)

Slip stitch, cut the yarn, and leave the arms unstuffed. Make two.

Body

Gray plush yarn. Leave a tail for sewing. Make 24 ch and sl st into the first loop to form a ring.

• R1: 24 sc
• R2: (3 sc, inc) * 6 (30)
• R3: (4 sc, inc) * 6 (36)
• R4: (5 sc, inc) * 6 (42)
• R5: join the arms here. Work 7 sc through the body and first arm together, 13 sc on the body only, 7 sc through the body and second arm, then 15 sc on the body only (42). Add an sc2tog at both sides of each arm to close gaps.
• R6: sc2tog, 4 sc on the arm only, sc2tog, 12 sc on the body, sc2tog, 4 sc on the other arm, sc2tog, 14 sc on the body (38)
• R7: dec, 2 sc, dec, 12 sc, dec, 2 sc, dec, 14 sc (34)
• R8: 34 sc, ch
• R9–14: 34 dc (6 rounds)

The double crochet rounds open the body into a soft puppet sleeve. Sew it to the head and the puppet is finished.

Assembling Your Bunny Puppet

1. Head to body: Match the neck of the head to the top of the body and sew right around for a secure join.
2. Ears: Fold and sew them on top, tilting them to your liking.
3. Face: Check the nose, lashes, and brows are even before weaving in ends.
4. Arms: Already crocheted into the body, so simply neaten the join stitches.

Handy Tips for a Neater Puppet

• Crochet firmly. Snug stitches keep the stuffing hidden behind the plush.
• Take round 5 slowly. The arm join is the fussy part, and the sc2tog at each side prevents holes.
• Go easy on stuffing. A lightly rounded head keeps the puppet from tipping forward.
• Check the opening. For adult hands, add a dc round or two for extra room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a beginner make this Free Crochet Bunny Pattern?

For the most part, yes. The head, ears, and arms are basic shapes. The only tricky bit is joining the arms in round 5, but with steady single crochet and careful counting it is very doable.

Which yarn should I use?

A super bulky plush or chenille yarn gives the softest, cuddliest result and works up fast on a 4.5 mm hook. Any comparable plush yarn is fine.

Is it safe for babies?

Make it baby-safe by skipping the plastic eyes and embroidering them in black yarn instead.

What size is the finished bunny?

It stands about 28 cm, or 11 inches, tall, which fits neatly over a child’s hand or an adult’s.

Wrapping Up

This bunny hand puppet is a quick, cheerful make that earns a smile every time. The plush yarn carries most of the effort, and the open body means very little stuffing. Made as a gift or kept for your own story nights, this free crochet bunny pattern is an easy project to fall in love with. Enjoy every stitch.