How to Make Cloth and Fabric Bunny Dolls

1. Bunny Doll Pattern

Here is my Bunny Doll Pattern! I have traced the pattern pieces on 1” square paper. The one quarter inch seam allowance is included on all pieces.

The completed bunny stands 12” tall from tip of ears to soles of feet when stretched out. This pattern is my original design, copyrighted, and may be used for personal use, but may not be reproduced for commercial use.

I embroider the eyes, nose and mouth in 6-strand floss before sewing doll together. I suggest a small print fabric. By the way, it makes a great first stuffed toy for a baby because they can grab any extremity and ears.

To make: sew seams of ears, arms, and legs. Turn all pieces right side out and loosely stuff arms and legs.

For ears, after sewing and turning right side out, fold sides together at center front of each ear – this makes them stand up from head. Carefully align ears together, pointing down across embroidered face of bunny and stitch across top. When doll is turned right side out the ears will stand up above head.

To stitch tops of legs and arms, bring seams to match at center rather than at sides. This lets the arms and legs move nicely.

Sew stuffed arms and legs to right side of fabric on doll front, at side of body at shoulder, and across lower body, right next to each other.

To finish: With extremities folded in toward center of doll front, place doll bodies right side together, and stitch around perimeter leaving a space for turning right side out between one armpit, and side of body down to top of leg.

Turn right side out and stuff; blind stitch opening. Have fun posing and playing with your new bunny!

2. Bunny Doll Girl's Costume

Here is a photo of a completed costume.

Girl bunny costume by Susan Kramer

To dress a 12” (30cm) long girl bunny I make a skirt using a piece of lace 4” (10cm) wide.

First I take the waist measurement of the bunny and then cut the length of lace twice that number.

If you are making a ballerina doll costume think of the skirt as a tutu, and sew 2 or more layers of lace or nylon net together along the top edge before gathering waist edge.

Now, one half inch in from the top edge of the skirt I gather the lace to just overlap the waist measurement and top stitch on a pretty one quarter inch narrow satin ribbon. I leave 6 inches (15cm) of ribbon extending from the skirt on each side to tie a bow in back.

Hint – the technique is like making an apron.

As a pretty finishing touch I use a use a 6 inch (15cm) length or longer of one quarter inch satin ribbon to tie at the base of each ear.

More ideas to make the skirt fit the occasion – various colors of wide ribbon sewn together along the long edge in a rainbow effect, to the desired skirt length. Red or green skirt and ribbons for Christmas. Gingham skirt and pastel ribbons for summer. On and on!

3. Bunny Doll Vest Pattern

Bunny Doll – Vest back view
Back view of bunny doll vest

Bunny Doll – Vest front view
front view of bunny doll vest

Bunny Doll – Vest Pattern
bunny doll vest pattern

For a 12” (30cm) long fabric bunny I use this pattern to make a simple lined vest that overlaps in front with just a button size piece of velcro sewed on at center front.

Here is the pattern. Each square equals 1 inch (2.5cm). And, one quarter inch seam allowance is included in the pattern pieces.

You may make the vest for personal use, but not for commercial use.

To construct the vest make 2 single vests by sewing together the side seams of each. Press seams open.

Then, put the 2 vests right sides together and sew around all edges, leaving an opening on the front center on one front edge for turning. Clip curves.

Turn vest right side out.

Hint – after turning right side out, I use the eraser end of a new pencil to go inside vest and work out any bunches in corners.

Blind stitch front and back shoulder seams together. Attach a velcro dot as front closure.

Hint – I use velcro dots for closures on items for children, to eliminate accidentally swallowing a button.

If sewing for a girl bunny, a nice finishing touch to complete the costume is to use a 6 inch (15cm) length or longer of one quarter satin ribbon tied at the base of each ear.

All doll reviews and content on this site are copyright Susan Kramer
and may not be used in any manner without express written permission.
Email: susan@susankramer.com

How to Sew Cloth Dolls and Costumes plus Traceable Patterns
Book by Susan Kramer

Medium Doll Clothes
with Full Size Patterns
Ebook by Susan Kramer

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My friend Mieke Blockland, here in Holland, does beautiful work with machine embroidery. Take a look at what she can embroider for you: http://www.miekeskreaateljee.nl/

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page updated March 10, 2009
Dolls sitemap with many patterns

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