You know what they say about big feet
Pattern: Big Footed Bunny, available here.
Fabric: The pants fabric is from Superbuzzy, the rest is misc cotton purchased locally
I like to think that my knitting is somewhat solid, execution-wise. Unfortunately I’m lacking in any sort of sewing skills, so we won’t be showing any closeups of bunny details. Take, for example, his club foot. Was it a sewing mishap or a poor stuffing job by yours truly? Who knows! And we won’t speak of the frankenstein-esque scar on his ass where I hand-stitched him shut. Good thing this bunny has pants.
When Mr. bunny isn’t propped up against our porch, you can see that his ears are floppy. Too floppy. The pattern said to stuff lightly, but I way understuffed. The ears back makes the bunny looks like our cat Joe when he’s up to something mischievous.
I cut the pieces out a few months ago and gradually pieced the bunny together over the past few weeks. I learned to really use my iron for this little guy, and that definitely made things a lot easier. Ironing is fun! The pattern is clearly written and easy to follow, but I’d say that it’s somewhat challenging to execute. I followed it to a T, only making minor modifications in embellishment - the eyes are embroidered rather than using buttons, and I left the suspenders off of the pants (they didn’t need them to stay up). I definitely did a bit of fudging to get things to work, including hand-stitching his widow’s peak to make it neat looking. My fabric frayed like crazy, and there were little wisps and threads that were itching to escape around the bunny’s face.
If you’re going to sew this pattern, you should seam the inner ears and topstitch the hands first - they look best using thread that matches the lighter fabric. Following the instructions in order leads to frequent machine rethreadings, which makes my old Kenmore 8 very cranky. I really need to get the machine serviced - rethreading the bobbin throws off the machine tension, and I spend forever mucking with it to get things evened out again.
Bunny butt!
Fabric wise, I chose the same pants fabric that the girl bunny in the pattern is wearing, total coincidence! The brown body fabric was a bit of a mistake - I chose it because the color was right, but it’s a cotton-poly blend and is somewhat thin and drapey. Drapiness isn’t such a good choice for softies, as every lump and bump of the stuffing is readily apparent.
Blackie wasn’t quite feeling the love. Hopefully baby-in-law (born last weekend, eep, I’m a bit late with the gifts) will heart the bunny!
RSS
Oh god, that is just adorable!!! Now looking at the fabric site, too dangerous…
So. Cute. I think you did a fab job - the bunny is adorable, and I’m sure baby-in-law will love him. That fabric you chose for the pants is too sweet.
Aw, he’s so sweet! Where you see imperfections, I see personality.
What a cutie! If I were a baby I would totally want to snuggle with him. Come to think of it, I kind of want to anyway.
He’s adorable! All the little mistakes (of which I see none) are soon forgotten in the face of such loveliness. :)
He is great! I love home made toys as the imperfections make them more lovable! (you should see some of the creatures I made for my son…!)
What an adorable little gift! I don’t think you need to disparage your skills - I never would have tried something like this as a novice. Learning to make the right fabric choices is tough - unless you pay a lot of attention to fiber content in general. It comes with experience and you’re getting it. Just keep doing it - baby in law will adore this little thing. I love the photo of the cat checking it out.
Well, I sure heart the bunny! I know the baby will, too. Digging the pants especially.
My sewing skills are remdial, but yours are anything but! That bunny is super cute, and I can’t help but love the French all over the little pants!
oh, I love it! (and your characterization of handstitching… i snort laughed and scared my houseguest.)
So cute! If nothing else, I heart the bunny! :D
Awww! Even if your sewing skills, as you claim, aren’t superb, he is so very cute. He barely looks as though he is homemade at all. Plus, with sewing, practice makes perfect. Trust me, I know, I’m still working on it after 11 years!
Ack!! I’ve just got to make a big footed bunny!!!!! He is sooo cute!