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GIANT ARM KNIT BUNNY<br />

by anne weil<br />

Imagine riding a gigantic <strong>bunny</strong> across<br />

the country side? Your kiddo will be over<br />

the moon with this fabulous oversized<br />

<strong>bunny</strong>. Let her imagination run wild while<br />

she snuggles and plays with her new<br />

favorite pal.<br />

Copyright 2015 Anne Weil<br />

www.flaxandtwine.com<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.


GIANT ARM KNIT BUNNY<br />

skill level<br />

Intermediate<br />

techniques<br />

:: Arm Knitting (See Arm Knitting How To PDF)<br />

:: Increase stitches (see page 4)<br />

:: Decrease stitches (see page 4)<br />

:: Mattress stitch (see page 5)<br />

materials<br />

:: Stuffing for head and body. Try quilting batting or old blanket<br />

or alternative down comforter in the color of yarn.<br />

:: 2 large black buttons<br />

:: 30-50 yds(27-47 m) of super bulky yarn for tail and nose.<br />

:: 5 yards 18 gauge wire for ears (optional)<br />

large <strong>bunny</strong><br />

730 yds (667m) of super bulky yarn (minimum of 2.0 stitches to<br />

the inch or fewer in traditional <strong>knit</strong>ting gauge). Hold 4 strands<br />

at one time. 4 x 185 yard (169 m) lengths req’d (instructions<br />

how to add yarn mid-project in Arm Knitting How-To PDF)<br />

small <strong>bunny</strong><br />

360 yds (329m) of super bulky yarn that is a minimum of 2.0<br />

stitches to the inch (or fewer) in traditional <strong>knit</strong>ting gauge.<br />

Hold 4 strands. 4 x 90 yard (82 m) lengths for pattern.<br />

tools<br />

:: darning needle<br />

:: piece of 4x5 inch cardboard for pom-pom tail<br />

:: scissors<br />

pattern<br />

large <strong>bunny</strong><br />

Body:<br />

Cast on 14 sts, leaving two yds to seam up the <strong>bunny</strong>.<br />

Knit 2 rows.<br />

Row 3: Increase 1 stitch at each end (16 sts).<br />

Knit 3 rows.<br />

Row 7: Increase 1 stitch at each end (18 sts).<br />

Knit 3 rows.<br />

Row 11: Increase 1 stitch at each end (20 sts).<br />

Knit 3 rows.<br />

Row 15: Increase 1 stitch at each end (22 sts).<br />

Knit 15 rows.<br />

Bind off. Set aside body piece.<br />

Head:<br />

Cast on 8 stitches.<br />

Knit for 7 rows.<br />

Dec. at each end of next row by <strong>knit</strong>ting two sts tog (k2tog) (6 sts).<br />

Dec. at each end of following row by k2tog (4 sts).<br />

Knit 1 row.<br />

Increase at each end of next row (6 sts).<br />

Increase at each end of following row (8 sts).<br />

Knit 7 rows.<br />

Keep 8 stitches on your <strong>arm</strong> and continue pattern making ears.<br />

pg 2<br />

yarn used<br />

large <strong>bunny</strong><br />

:: 6 skeins Cascade Magnum in Ecru, 123 yd (112.5m), 8.82 oz<br />

(250g), 100% wool for large <strong>bunny</strong><br />

:: 1 skein Madelinetosh ASAP in Molly Ringwald, 90 yd (82<br />

m),3.5oz (100g)<br />

small <strong>bunny</strong><br />

:: 8 skeins Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky in Porcupine (45 yd [41m]/<br />

31⁄2 oz [100g]) 50% alpaca/ 50% wool<br />

sizes and measurements<br />

20” widex36’” long x 18” high (o.6m w x 1.2m l x 0.5m h)<br />

abbreviations<br />

K: <strong>knit</strong>, P: purl; K1: <strong>knit</strong> 1 stitch, P1: purl 1 stitch; Sts:<br />

stitches; K2tog: <strong>knit</strong> 2 stitches together; Dec: Decrease<br />

yarn preparation<br />

Work with 4 strands of super bulky yarn at the same time.<br />

With the cascade magnum, I wound all the skeins into balls<br />

at the beginning. The <strong>bunny</strong> body takes approximately<br />

140-yards of 4 strands held together, so you will need the<br />

next two skeins before you’re done <strong>knit</strong>ting the body. To<br />

create four strands from my two extra skeins, I <strong>knit</strong> with the<br />

strand from the center and the strand from the outside of<br />

the wound ball at the same time. If you can’t work directly<br />

from the skeins, it may be easiest to divide your additional<br />

skeins in half (by measuring or by weight) before you start,<br />

so you always have 4 strands of yarn at hand to work with .<br />

Copyright 2015 flax & twine<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.


pattern ctd.<br />

Ears<br />

Remove the work from your <strong>arm</strong> and turn<br />

the piece around so the purl side is facing<br />

you. Put the first 4 sts onto a piece of<br />

scrap yarn or paper towel tube (A).<br />

Place the next 4 sts onto your right <strong>arm</strong><br />

with the working yarn at your hand (B).<br />

Knit 1 row.<br />

Knit 1, K2 tog, <strong>knit</strong> 1 (3 sts).<br />

Knit 1, increase 1 stitch, <strong>knit</strong> 1, increase 1<br />

stitch, <strong>knit</strong> 1 (5 sts).<br />

Knit 4 rows.<br />

k2 tog, <strong>knit</strong> 1, k2tog (3 sts).<br />

Knit 1, k2tog (2 sts).<br />

Pull yarn through last two stitches (C).<br />

Place the 4 sts on your holder back on to<br />

your right <strong>arm</strong>. Bring new yarn into your<br />

right hand (D) and follow the steps above<br />

for the second ear. Weave in all ends.<br />

GIANT ARM KNIT BUNNY<br />

pg 3<br />

A B C D<br />

E F G H<br />

Body Assembly<br />

:: Lay out body piece with purl side up<br />

with the wider part towards you (E).<br />

:: Fold center of bottom edge towards<br />

middle forming two legs (F).<br />

:: Seam bottom legs together with the<br />

mattress stitch, sewing underneath a<br />

stitch on the left (G) then a stitch on the<br />

right (H) up the length of the leg.<br />

:: Fold center of top edge towards middle<br />

forming two front legs (I).<br />

:: Seam front legs together with the<br />

mattress stitch.<br />

:: Stuff body with quilting batting or twin<br />

alternative down comforter in color of<br />

yarn (if desired, wrap batting or filling in<br />

fabric in color of yarn). Seam up belly with<br />

mattress stitch (J).<br />

:: Fold back legs up towards front of<br />

<strong>bunny</strong> and secure to body with yarn (K).<br />

:: Weave in all ends.<br />

I<br />

J K L<br />

M N O P<br />

Head Assembly<br />

:: Fold head in half with ears in front (L).<br />

:: Use cast on tail to seam together sides of head with mattress stitch (M).<br />

:: Stuff head with quilting batting (wrap batting in fabric in color of yarn) and use mattress stitch to seam top of head (N).<br />

:: Use 4 strands of yarn to attach head to body by sewing around the head collecting a stitch from the head and a stitch from<br />

the body, creating a neck (O). Secure additionally to position head.<br />

:: Bring base of ears together with a loop of knotted yarn (P). Weave in all ends.<br />

:: Sew button eyes on to face. Embroider yarn in contrasting color multiple times across one stitch to create nose.<br />

:: Make a large pom pom for tail by wrapping 40 yards of yarn around 5” piece of cardboard. Remove cardboard. Tightly tie a<br />

short piece of yarn around center of bundle. Cut loop ends on both sides and trim to desired shape. Attach to <strong>bunny</strong> bottom.<br />

:: Optional: To allow ears to stand up and be shaped, thread wire in and around the stitches of the outside of each ear. Tuck in<br />

ends.<br />

Copyright 2015 flax & twine<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.


GIANT ARM KNIT BUNNY<br />

pg 4<br />

SMALL BUNNY PATTERN<br />

Assembly instructions are the same as for large <strong>bunny</strong>.<br />

Body<br />

Cast on 10 sts, leaving two yds to seam up the <strong>bunny</strong>.<br />

Knit 2 rows.<br />

Row 3: Increase 1 stitch at each end (12 sts).<br />

Knit 2 rows.<br />

Row 6: Increase 1 stitch at each end (14 sts).<br />

Knit 1 row.<br />

Row 8: Increase 1 stitch at each end (16 sts).<br />

Knit 11 rows.<br />

Bind off. Set aside body piece.<br />

Head<br />

Cast on 6 sts.<br />

Knit for 5 rows.<br />

Dec. 1 st at each end of next row by <strong>knit</strong>ting two sts together<br />

(k2tog) (4 sts).<br />

K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts).<br />

Knit 1 row.<br />

Increase at beginning of next row (4 sts).<br />

Increase at each end of following row (6 sts).<br />

Knit 5 rows.<br />

Keep 6 sts on your <strong>arm</strong> and continue pattern making ears.<br />

Ears<br />

Remove the work from your <strong>arm</strong> and turn the piece around so<br />

the purl side is facing you. Put the first 3 sts onto a piece of<br />

scrap yarn or paper towel tube.<br />

Place the next 3 sts onto your right <strong>arm</strong> with the working yarn<br />

at your hand. Knit 1 row.<br />

K2 tog, <strong>knit</strong> 1 (2 sts).<br />

Knit 1, increase 1 stitch, <strong>knit</strong> 1 (3 sts).<br />

Knit 3 rows.<br />

k2 tog, <strong>knit</strong> 1 (2 sts).<br />

Pull yarn through last two stitches.<br />

Place the 3 sts on your holder back on to your right <strong>arm</strong>. Bring<br />

new yarn into your right hand and follow the steps above for<br />

the second ear. Weave in all ends. Assemble small <strong>bunny</strong> in<br />

same manner as large <strong>bunny</strong>.<br />

techniques<br />

increasing stitches<br />

At the beginning of row, make the first<br />

stitch as you normally would. Then,<br />

reach through the stitch below the row<br />

you are working on and the stitch you<br />

just made (A). Pull the working yarn<br />

through that lower stitch (B). Add it to<br />

your hand as a regular stitch.<br />

At end of row, <strong>knit</strong> until 1 stitch remains.<br />

Before <strong>knit</strong>ting the last stitch, reach<br />

through the stitch on the row below the<br />

one you are working on (C). Pull the<br />

working yarn through that stitch (D).<br />

Add it to your hand as a regular stitch.<br />

Decreasing stitches<br />

To decrease a stitch, begin as if you are<br />

completing a regular stitch, but bring<br />

the first 2 stitches on your <strong>arm</strong> (E) over<br />

the working yarn (F). Move that new<br />

stitch (G) to your other hand (H).<br />

Copyright 2015 flax & twine<br />

A B C D<br />

E F G H<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.


GIANT ARM KNIT BUNNY<br />

pg 5<br />

techniques ctd.<br />

Mattress stitch End to End<br />

Join the bound-off and cast-on edge together with this<br />

invisible seam.<br />

A<br />

B<br />

Line the two ends next to each other stitch for stitch (A).<br />

Bring the seaming yarn under and around the first stitch or<br />

V shape on the left hand edge. Bring yarn across and go<br />

under and around the first stitch on the right hand side (B).<br />

Bring your seaming yarn from side to side up the entire<br />

length of the fabric (C). Tighten the seaming yarn as<br />

desired (D). Either match the size of the stitches throughout<br />

the whole work or pull the seaming yarn taut to bring the<br />

two edges together (don’t pull too tight or it will bunch your<br />

end). Weave in ends.<br />

C<br />

D<br />

Mattress Stitch End to Side<br />

Join one side and one end of two <strong>knit</strong> pieces of fabric<br />

together with this invisible seam.<br />

Line two pieces of <strong>knit</strong>ting up side to end. Bring your seaming<br />

yarn under the bottom of the first stitch on one side.<br />

Then go under and around the V shape on the other side.<br />

Alternate your seaming stitches from side to side. Pull taut.<br />

E<br />

F<br />

Mattress Stitch Side to Side<br />

Join the sides of two <strong>knit</strong> pieces of fabric together with this<br />

invisible seam.<br />

Line the two pieces up side by side, sitich for stitch (E).<br />

Bring your seaming yarn under the bottom of the first stitch<br />

on the left-hand edge, then go under the bottom of the first<br />

stitch on the right-hand side (F). Alternate your A seaming<br />

stitches from side to side (G). Pull taut (H).<br />

G<br />

B<br />

H<br />

C<br />

D<br />

Copyright 2015 flax & twine<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.


Tips & Tricks<br />

how to open an unwound skein of yarn<br />

When you purchase an unwound skein of yarn, you have to open it up and rewind it.<br />

1. Gently untwist the yarn and remove the label. The yarn will be in a large loop. Don’t try to use the yarn directly from the<br />

loop. You need to rewind the yarn into a ball you can <strong>knit</strong> from.<br />

2. The easiest way to rewind the yarn is to place the loop on a yarn swift (which basically holds the loop of yarn open to keep<br />

it from tangling) and then to rewind it into a ball. If you don’t have a swift, it’s easiest if you have a friend hold the loop on<br />

their hands while you wind the ball. Other options are to put the loop over a chair back. This helps keep the loop of yarn<br />

from tangling. Undo the ties that hold the loop.<br />

3.. If you don’t have a ball winder (which will make winding easier), start winding the yarn on your fingers. Start by wrapping<br />

the yarn around two or three of your fingers about 20 times. Once you get a bit of yarn wound around your fingers, slide<br />

the yarn off your fingers.<br />

4. Turn this small loop to the side and start to wrap the yarn around the middle of the loop.<br />

5. Turn the ball again and continue to wrap the yarn around the loop.<br />

6. Turn the ball again and continue to wind the yarn until your starter loop is covered.<br />

7. Continue to wind the yarn turning the ball in all directions so you end up with a round shape until all the yarn is wound.<br />

splitting a skein of yarn<br />

Because you are <strong>knit</strong>ting with multiple strands of yarn at the same time, sometimes it will be more cost-effective to split a<br />

skein of yarn in two so you don’t have to buy more yarn than you need. For example, if you need 4 x 60 yard lengths to<br />

finish a project, you can split two 120 yard skeins in half. If you use a ball winder to wind your skeins, you can work from<br />

both ends (one from the middle and one from the outside) at the same time. If you don’t have a winder, use a kitchen or<br />

mail scale to measure out half a skein (the weight of the skein is usually listed on the label).<br />

how to join yarn mid-project<br />

To join yarn mid-project, I like to use a sliding knot.<br />

If you’re <strong>knit</strong>ting or crocheting with 3-4 strands at<br />

the same time, when you knot the end of one skein<br />

to the beginning of a new one in the middle of the<br />

work, the knot is buried in the midst of the other<br />

strands. You will barely see the join. Make every<br />

effort to stagger the knots so they aren’t all in one<br />

place. This usually happens naturally because<br />

skeins vary in exact length. Trim the ends to vary in<br />

length if necessary.<br />

1) Place strands side by side.<br />

2) knot the bottom strand around the top strand,<br />

knotting it around and back through itself.<br />

3) Knot the top strand around the bottom strand in<br />

the same way.<br />

4. Tighten both knots.<br />

5. Slide the knots together and trim the ends close<br />

to the knot.<br />

1 2 3<br />

4 5<br />

This pattern is for home use only, not for resale.<br />

Copyright 2015 Anne Weil<br />

www.flaxandtwine.com


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Anne Weil designs <strong>knit</strong>ting and crochet patterns as<br />

well as craft projects for the modern maker. She<br />

writes the blog Flax & Twine (www.flaxandtwine.com)<br />

and is author of the book Knitting Without Needles:<br />

A Stylish Introduction to Finger and Arm Knitting.<br />

Anne teaches how to apply traditional <strong>knit</strong>ting and<br />

crochet techniques to by hand creations (no tools<br />

required! Anne is a freelance contributor for MarthaStewart.com.<br />

Her projects have been published<br />

in Woman’s Day, Sweet Paul Magazine and Mollie<br />

Makes. She has been featured on Design*Sponge,<br />

Camille Styles, Apartment Therapy and more. Anne<br />

teaches classes nationwide, as well as online at<br />

Creativebug.com.<br />

Want more great patterns? buy my book:<br />

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