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Friday, March 18, 2016

The Bunny Lovey: A Free Sewing Pattern with Illustrated Instructions


The Bunny Lovey is a sweet little blanket doll. It would be a lovely gift for a newborn! And it is quick to make if you have a sewing machine and some basic sewing skills. 

The pattern is FREE... just sign up for our mailing list on the sidebar. After you confirm your subscription, you will be sent a "Welcome" email that has a link to the pattern. 

With the free pattern, you can make as many bunnies as you like to give as gifts or for charity. If you would like to make bunnies to sell, please purchase the paid version of the pattern from my Etsy Store... it is just $5, and includes the right to sell your handmade creations. 

UPDATE August 2016... the PAID version on Etsy now includes downloadable, illustrated instructions. But once again, you can totally make this for free by subscribing to the newsletter and using the instructions here on the website.

If you sign up for the newsletter and you don't see the "Welcome" email, be sure to check your spam folder or the "Promotions" tab if you use Gmail.



Materials:

--1/4 yard or a fat quarter of your main fabric. I used an organic cotton fleece, but this could could be any fabric that is soft and snuggly. It would be lovely in a french terry or a velour!

--A very small amount of contrast fabric. I used colorful quilting cottons.

--The Bunny Lovey pattern. It is free-- just sign up for our newsletter on the sidebar. After you confirm your subscription to the email list, you will be sent another email with a link to the pattern. It is just two pages, and no taping necessary. 

--Embroidery floss for the eye.

 --Stuffing for the head and tail. I use wool batting or roving, but you could also use cotton batting or poly fill.


Instructions:

Sew all seams with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. 

Print out the PDF pattern on letter sized paper. Make sure the printer resize the page, I always set scaling to 100% on my printer. 

Cut out the paper pattern pieces,and lay them out on your fabric. Make sure the arrows on the pattern pieces align with the grain of your fabric. If you are using napped fabric like velour, the arrow should point in the direction that the fibers naturally lay down. Cut your pieces from your fabrics, as indicated by the directions on the pattern pieces. Transfer markings for the placement of the ears, eye, and tail. 


Sew together the two tail pieces, right sides together. Leave an opening at the base of the tail for turning and stuffing. Sew together the ears with each ear having one piece of main fabric and one piece of contrast fabric, right sides together. 


Clip the point of the ear straight across, close to but not touching the stitching.


Turn the ears and the tail right sides out. If you have hemostats, use them to grab the tip from the inside and pull it through. Otherwise, use your fingers and a stick (like a chopstick). Press them flat. 


Put the head pieces right sides together. Sew around the head leaving the neck open. Clip the curves, being careful not to cut your stitching.


Cut a slit in the head for the ears, where indicated by the pattern. Cut through both layers of the head.


Fold the ears in half, with the contrast fabric on the inside.


Stick the ears up through the neck into the head and through the holes you made. The fold should be to the back of the head.


Arrange the head so that the seam allowance is in the center, and the ears sit flat. The folds of the ears should point towards each other. Sew across the top of the head from ear to ear, catching the raw edges of the slits you made. 


Pull the ears to turn the head right side out. Smooth the seams flat with your fingers. Stuff softly with wool (or your choice of stuffing).


Sew the bunny nose and mouth. I used a double strand of white sewing thread to give just the shape of bunny cheeks and nose. You could also use pink embroidery thread to give a stronger impression of the face. Hide your knots inside the head.

Decide where you want the eyes. Use the markings on the pattern as a guide, but make sure it looks right for your bunny, with the personality you want to give it. I use a pin with a colored head to make sure I like the placement.



Sew the eyes with embroidery thread. I used blue on this bunny, but I also use brown or pink (albino bunny!). You could also just leave the eyes off to make a super minimal bunny. 

Hide the knots inside the head. Here I have knotted my strands, then threaded both ends through the needle and pulled them back through the head. I'll clip the strands close to the head and the ends will disappear into the stuffing. 


Attach the tail to the body. Cut a slit where indicated on the pattern, about two inches from the bottom of the bunny. Stuff the tail.


Slip the tail through the slit, with the tail of the tail on the inside. Sew across the base of the tail from the inside, catching the raw edges of the slit. Taper to nothing on either side of the tail. 


Sew the body together. Leave about two inches open at the center of the neck for turning and inserting the head. Clip curves.


Insert the head into the body. Push the stuffing up into the head so that the neck is as flat as possible. Make sure that the raw edges of the body pieces are turned to the inside. 

Starting about 1/2 inches before the opening in the neck, sew cross the base of the neck, catching the turned under edges of the body and the neck. Sew past the opening by 1/2 inch. I use a zipper foot on my machine to get as close to the head as possible. 

And you are done! You now have a beautiful toy that you can feel totally good about giving to some little person you love. 

Oh, and please send me pics if you make one, I would really enjoy seeing your creations! You can send me an image, or post on Instagram #bunnylovey








74 comments:

  1. Lovely little products to make as gifts.

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  2. These are so cute! I want to make some for upcoming babies in the family!

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  3. Hallo from Germany... Please, can I get the pattern from the lovely Bunny. My friend will become Grandma in july and I want to see something for the Baby. Your Bunny is so cute.
    Greetings from the Baltic sea

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  4. that a nice bunny, i'll be happy to make it for my nephew

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  5. I can't subscribe on my mobile. Could you possibly send a link via email please. Email address is
    tamarin06@googlemail.com
    I really love this bunny pattern. X
    Regards Vanessa

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  6. I can't subscribe on my mobile. Could you possibly send a link via email please. Email address is
    tamarin06@googlemail.com
    I really love this bunny pattern. X
    Regards Vanessa

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  7. Hi, where do I print off the pdf pattern? I don't see a link for it.

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  8. HI, I would love to make one of these bunnys, but cannot find the PDF link..

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  9. Hi, I loved these bunnys!!! Where do I find the pdf pattern?

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  10. would love to make a few of these bunnies for the new babies in our family but can't find the PDF link to the pattern...please help!

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  11. I would like to make these as my charity sewing for this year where is the pattern link plz.....we are having a huge natural disaster here in Canada ( massive forest fire destroying many many homes and I would like to make the children some of these plz)

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  12. Hi there! Thanks for you interest in this pattern! If you subscribe to the mailing list (there should be a link in the sidebar) then you will be sent a link to download the pattern in your email.

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    1. I would love to try making this for my grandbabies but can't find the free pattern. Has anyone else had any luck? I can't find the mailing list link in the sidebar.

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    2. I subscribed to the newsletter but did not get any email (and not in my junk folder).

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  13. Hi! I've subscribed to the mailing list and I did receive todays Monday motivation newsletter but as yet haven't received the pattern for the bunny lovey. Can you advise on how I can get this please? Many thanks Erica

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  14. Thank you very much for this tutorial. I made three bunnies for my children and I think they'll love them.

    I'm a beginner and a few steps were more difficult than I thought! Especially sewing the head to the body. The fabric at the back was difficult to hold in place - next time I'll baste it first.

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  15. I've subscribed to the mailing list and have not received the bunny pattern. Can you tell me if I need to do something else, please? Thank you :)

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  16. I've subscribed to the mailing list and have not received the bunny pattern. Can you tell me if I need to do something else, please? Thank you :)

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    Replies
    1. Have you recieved the pattern yet? I'm having the same problem...

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  17. I love them..i wanna make them for my babies...yeay

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  19. I, too, have subscribed and have not been sent the link to the pattern. My email address is Animanga237@aol.com. Could you please send it to me? I'm having a baby soon and would love to make this! Thank you!

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  20. Sweet! The email just took a while to come in. Thank you so much!!!

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    1. Could you forward the pattern on to me please? (S.m.harvey@live.co.uk) I still haven't received it :(

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  22. hi I signed up to the email but didn't receive the file, can you please advise? thanks

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  23. Thank you so much for this wonderful cuddle bunny pattern, my babygirl loves it!
    http://beletoile.blogspot.be/2016/09/cutiepie-alert.html

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  24. Signed up but still no received the file. Is this a scam ?

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  25. I signed up and did receive the welcome email with a link for the pattern! For once I feel computer literate ;) Thank you for sharing such a lovely pattern.

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  26. Still no file can someone please send it to me?

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  27. I am really excited about this project. I have two brand new "grand" nieces and this is a perfect gift. Looking forward to your newsletter and other sewing projects. Living in GA but born and raised in Western NY. Ithaca is almost home!

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  28. Hi. Thank you for sharing this project to us. We included it on our round-up post here, http://sewuber.com/make/easy-kids-sewing-projects/

    Please feel free to contact us if you want to add something.

    Cheers,
    Sandra

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  29. I cannot find how to sign up. My email is s.m.harvey@live.co.uk
    please sign me up and send me the pattern. It looks soooo cute :)
    Sam x

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  30. Lovely Gifts to make your kids happy really appreciated you shared such a beautiful tutorial with us.

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  31. I tried to subscribe to your newsletter, but haven't received a link :-( my email address is katemullooly@xtra.co.nz

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  32. I've subscribed to the mailing list and have not received the bunny pattern. Can you tell me if I need to do something else, please? :) have a nice day

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  33. Absoloutely adore this pattern - I have just made one for my sisters new baby and will be making many more as ut is so adorable.

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  34. I have a picture - where can I send it to - do you have an email? Thanks

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  36. I can't find the sidebar to register for the mailing list. Please can you add me - dawn.bonner@btinternet.com Thank you 😊

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  37. I need to make this and can't find the sidebar! If you added me that'd be totally awesome! I have all my stuff I need for it just not the pattern. My email is free.sparrow@live.com Thanks a million!

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  38. Hi... I went to your Etsy shop to purchase but it says sold. If it needs to be rest .. let me know when it is . Or .. Please email me the pattern. Thanks ! blu3233@me.com

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  39. Hi, I would love to make this but cannot find the sidebar to register for the newsletter. Can you please add me? cdessig@hotmail.com. Thank you!

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  40. I just subscribed and got the pattern immediately. Many thanks.
    Can't wait to start making this lovely bunny.

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  41. I cannot find sidebar as well, would love this pattern. please subscribe to your email...lholzhula2@gmail.com
    Thanks!

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  42. I finally found it by going to the desktop version of the website, then it appears at the top.

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  43. Just received the pattern!
    I can not wait to make this for my babygirl!
    Adorable!
    Thank you!

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  44. SO cute and I especially love that it is a baby safe toy. I made an orange one for a friend.

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  45. Very cute, I made one with cotton teddy. Very cuddly! Thanks for the free pattern!

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  46. Hello, I cannot see anywhere to subscribe. Has this changed?

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  47. I just signed up, and did not get bunny lovey pattern??

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  48. Can you tell us where you purchase your fabric? It looks
    so lovely. Thanks!

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  49. Hey, I found the secret to making the sidebar appear so you can subscribe! Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "view web version". I don't know why that isn't the default, even on a computer, but that worked for me.

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  50. Got the pattern, but unsure about the instructions regarding the eyes. What do you mean by leaving knots on the inside?

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    1. I have made several of these for my church to give as a welcome gift to a new babies. Plan to finish one today where I had the name monogrammed onto the ear. I really like the way it has turned out. Thanks for the pattern.

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  51. Thank you! To all having a hard time, scroll to the bottom and click view web version, then you can subscribe. I too had a hard time finding the pattern. The initial link to subscribe came through in my inbox, but the pattern was in my junk mail. Thank you, Christine, for mentioning to check it.

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  52. theres no link to download the pattern and i carnt subscribe from my mobile... so how am i supposed to get the pattern!!!

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  53. On the bottom of the page on the mobile, click view web version. It will switch to what you would see on your computer and you can subscribe as directed from the sidebar.

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  54. There is no sidebar where I can sign up. Is there another way to get this adorable pattern?

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    1. Carol,
      scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "view web version". The sidebar will show up and you can subscribe then.

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  55. Hello, I have just signed to your mailing list and newsletter but I did not receive the pattern of your " Bunny Lovey ". Would I have missed a stage? Good day since Paris !

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    Replies
    1. I signed up and confirmed but can’t find the free download. Is it available?

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  56. I’m excited to find this little pattern. First it’s a little different from others and second I’ve found it in time to make some fresh loves for my girls who are 2 and 3 and still love to sleep and nap with these.

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  57. just made this bunny turned out great thanks for the pattern

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  58. I just signed up for email and haven't received the bunny lovey pattern. Where do I go to get the free pattern?

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  59. I added a cereal bag to the contrast of the ear to make them crinkle! Perfect little bunny for Easter for my newborn boy!

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  60. Just made this pattern and it's wondeful, thank you!

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  61. I would love your pattern for the bunny, its for my great granddaughter who is arriving beginning of July. My email address
    is irene@scwireless.co.za. greetings from South Africa.

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  63. Patterns are NOT free if you subscribe to the newsletter unfortunately.

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  64. I cannot find the sidebar to sign up for newsletter. I'd like to make this bunny! Thanks

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  65. I signed up for newsletter but cannot find the free pattern link for bunny. Please help. Thanks

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