Spring is in the air right now, and what's more a sign of spring than bunnies!? Whether you're celebrating Easter or just love a happy rabbit, the Long Eared Bunny Basket is perfect for your seasonal decor - and useful too!

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Does anyone remember Longaberger Baskets? I have to admit, I wanted to call this pattern the "Long-a-Eared-a-Bunny-Basket" - but I don't know if anyone else would get it, or if it would just confirm my insanity! I mean... creativity... yeah, that's the ticket...

But I do love this little fella! I used Lion Brand's LB Collection Natural Wool for the main yarn, and it gave the bunny a wonderfully natural look and feel. However, this yarn is only available at LionBrand.com (see the link below!) so if you would prefer to use a yarn available in stores, you can substitute Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. So let's hop to it!

Long Eared Bunny Basket

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• US - K, 6.5mm - Furls Crochet
• US - I, 5.5mm - Furls Crochet
• Lion Brand LB Collection Natural Wool (Super Bulky/yarn symbol "6"/UK: 14-16 ply; 131 yds/120 m; 7 oz)
  Color A - Linen (2 hanks, or 220 yds)
• Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (Aran/yarn symbol “4”/UK: 10 ply; 145 yds; 3oz)
  Color B - Pink (1 skein, or 15 yds)
  Color C - Chocolate (1 skein, or 5 yds)
• Stitch Markers - Clover
• Pom Pom Maker, Large - Clover (3-⅜" used)
• Gauge: 11 sts x 8 rows = 4"/10 cm in hdc, with larger hook and Super Bulky yarn
• Finished Size: 8" tall including ears, 8" long excluding legs and tail, 5" wide
• Crochet Abbreviations
• Helpful Tutorials: Magic circle; Making bag bottoms; hdc2tog - half double crochet decrease; FSC - foundation single crochet; FHDC - foundation half double crochet; FDC - foundation double crochet

Special Stitch: FTR (foundation treble crochet) - Work as for foundation double crochet, but begin with a chain 3 and make 2 yarnovers to start each stitch (and then work off one more pair of loops to finish the stitch)

NOTES: It is most helpful to make the pieces in the order presented below. You can assemble as you go, or assemble all the pieces after they are finished, EXCEPT for the legs and ears - those are added to the body as it's crocheted. Please take note of the yarn choice, hook size, and the number of pieces for each section.

LEGS: Use Color A, larger hook, make 2

Round 1: Make a magic circle, work 5 sc into the ring; join with a sl st in first sc to work in the round. (5 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around; join with a sl st. (10 sts)

Round 3 – 7: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join with a sl st. (10 sts)

Row 8: Folding leg flat, ch 1, sc through both layers closing up leg; break yarn and finish off. (5 sts)

BODY (MAIN PIECE): Use Color A, larger hook, make 1

Row 1: Ch 19, skip the ch closest to the hook, hdc in each of the remaining chs; turn. (18 sts)

Row 2 – 10: Ch 1, hdc in each st; turn. (18 sts)

Round 11: Ch 1, hdc 18, turn work 90°, hdc 12 along sides of previous rows, turn work 90°, hdc 18 along foundation chain, turn work 90°, hdc 12 along sides of previous rows; join to first hdc of round with a sl st. (60 sts) Place stitch markers on sts #19, 23, 26, and 30 - these mark where the legs will be attached.

Round 12: (ATTACH LEGS) Ch 1, hdc in the first 18 sts, then working through the sts of the first leg and the sts of the previous round (hold so that the hook goes through the leg before the stitch) hdc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, then working through the sts of the second leg and the sts of the previous round hdc in next 5 sts, hdc in last 30 sts; join with a sl st. (60 sts)

Round 13 – 20: Ch 1, hdc in each st around; join with a sl st and break yarn. (60 sts) Place stitch markers on sts #7, 22, 37, and 52 – make sure these line up as they will be the handle openings.

Row 21: (BEGIN EARS) From inside of basket (WS), ch 17, sc in 3rd marked st (#37), sc in each st to next marked st, sc in 2nd marked st (#22), ch 18; turn. (16 sc, 35 ch)

Row 22: Skip ch closest to hook, *[2 hdc in the next ch, hdc in the next 3 chs] 4 times, 2 hdc in next ch,** sc in next 16 sts; repeat from * to **, turn. (16 sc, 44 hdc)

Row 23: Ch 1, *[2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 4 sts] 4 times, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st,** sc in next 16 sts; repeat from * to **; turn. (16 sc, 54 hdc)

Row 24: Ch 1, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 24 sts, sc2tog, sl st in the next 14 sts, sc2tog, hdc in the next 24 sts, hdc2tog; break yarn. (66 sts)

MUZZLE: Use Color A, larger hook, make 1

Round 1: Make a magic circle, work 6 sc into the ring; join with a sl st in the first sc to work in the round. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around; join with a sl st. (12 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, *sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st; rep from *, join with a sl st. (18 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, *sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st; rep from *, join with a sl st. (24 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each st around; join with a sl st and break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing. (24 sts) Note: Add Nose before sewing to bag!

NOSE: Use Color B, smaller hook, make 1

Row 1: With Color B, ch 6, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in each remaining ch; turn. (5 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in the next st, sc2tog; turn. (3 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc3tog; break yarn leaving long tail for sewing. (1 st)

Sew nose to muzzle as shown adding mouth lines as desired, then sew muzzle to bag as shown.

EYES: Use Color C, smaller hook, make 2

Round 1: Make a magic circle, work 12 dc into the ring; join with a sl st in the first dc. (12 dc)

Round 2: Sl st in each st around; join and break leaving long tail for sewing. (12 sl sts)

Add “twinkle” with Color B and a yarn needle, then sew to bag as shown.

EAR LINING - RIGHT EAR: Use Color B, smaller hook, make 1

Row 1: FSC 2, FHDC 2, FDC 6, FTR 16, FDC 2; break yarn leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew to the outer right ear of the Body (right as from the bunny's perspective) as shown.

EAR LINING - LEFT EAR: Use Color B, smaller hook, make 1

Row 1: FDC 2, FTR 16, FDC 6, FHDC 2, FSC 2; break yarn leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew to the outer left ear of the Body (left as from the bunny's perspective) as shown.

Sew ends of ears to sides of Body right behind 1st (#7) and 4th (#52) marked sts as shown to finish handles.

TAIL: Use Color A, pom pom maker, make 1

Use a pom pom maker or your preferred method to make a large pom pom. Sew to the back end of the bunny, centered between the ears and down a bit.

And that's the Long Eared Bunny Basket! Ready for spring, holidays, rabid rabbit fans - or just for fun! I hope you enjoy this free crochet rabbit basket pattern!

Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2017, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. To print or download, use the Print Friendly button below. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this pattern!