Crochet a Sweet Bunny Rattle for Baby

On Feb 11, 2025 6 0

Hello fellow crafters! Are you looking for a project that’s both adorable and beginner-friendly? Then you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re going to crochet the cutest little bunny rattle, perfect as a handmade gift for a baby or just a delightful addition to any nursery. Imagine the joy of creating something special with your own hands – it’s truly a magical feeling! And trust me, even if you’ve never picked up a crochet hook before, you can absolutely make this! We’ll go through each step together, nice and slow, so you can learn and create with confidence. Let’s get started and bring this sweet bunny to life!

Materials You’ll Need

Before we begin, let’s gather all our supplies. Having everything ready will make your crafting experience smooth and enjoyable. For this project, you will need:

🧶 Yarn: Choose a soft, baby-friendly yarn in a light pink color, like the one you see in the image. Cotton or a cotton blend is a great choice as it’s gentle and washable. We’ll be using a medium weight yarn, often called DK or worsted.
🪡 Crochet Hook: You’ll need a crochet hook that matches your yarn weight. For medium weight yarn, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook is usually perfect. Check the yarn label – it often suggests a hook size!
⭕ Wooden Ring: You’ll need a wooden ring, about 7-8 cm in diameter. These are readily available in craft stores and online, often marketed for baby toys as they are safe and natural.
🐑 Stuffing: You’ll need some soft toy stuffing to give our bunny its shape. Polyester fiberfill is commonly used and works wonderfully.
👀 Safety Eyes (optional): If you want to use safety eyes like in the image, get a pair around 6mm in size. These are plastic eyes that securely attach to your crochet work. If you prefer, you can also use yarn to embroider the eyes – we’ll explain how later!
🎀 Ribbon (optional): A small piece of thin satin ribbon in white or a pastel color to tie around the bunny’s neck adds a sweet touch, just like in the picture.
📌 Stitch Marker: This is a little plastic ring or clip that helps you keep track of your place in crochet rounds. It’s super helpful for beginners!
✂️ Scissors: For cutting yarn.
🧵 Yarn Needle: Also known as a tapestry needle or darning needle. This is a large needle with a blunt tip and a big eye, used to weave in yarn ends and sew pieces together.

Let’s Learn Basic Crochet

Now, let’s quickly go over some very basic crochet terms and techniques that we will be using. Don’t worry, it’s much simpler than it sounds! Think of crochet as creating fabric using yarn and a hook, like drawing with yarn!

Slip Knot

Every crochet project starts with a slip knot. This is like the very first loop on your hook. To make one, first make a loop with your yarn, making sure the tail of the yarn is behind the loop. Then, insert your hook into the loop from front to back, catch the yarn that is coming from the ball (we call this the ‘working yarn’), and pull it through the loop on your hook. Pull gently on both ends of the yarn to tighten the knot around the hook – but not too tight! You want it to move freely on the hook. Congratulations, you’ve made your first slip knot! This is the foundation for everything we’ll do.

Chain Stitch (ch)

The chain stitch is the most basic stitch in crochet. It’s like making a line of yarn loops, and it’s often used as the starting point for many projects. To make a chain stitch, hold your hook with the slip knot on it. Wrap the working yarn over your hook from back to front (this is called ‘yarn over’ or ‘yo’). Then, pull the yarn through the loop that is already on your hook. That’s one chain stitch! Repeat this – yarn over, pull through loop – to make a chain as long as you need. Think of chain stitches as the building blocks for rows or rounds of crochet.

Single Crochet (sc)

Single crochet is another fundamental stitch. It’s a short, tight stitch that creates a dense fabric. It’s perfect for making amigurumi (like our bunny!) because it keeps the stuffing inside. To make a single crochet, first, insert your hook into the stitch of the previous row or round that you’re working into. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over your hook), and pull the yarn back through the stitch. You will now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over again, and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. That’s one single crochet! It might feel a little awkward at first, but with a bit of practice, it will become second nature. Single crochet stitches are like small, sturdy bricks in your crochet wall!

Increase (inc)

An increase means making more stitches in a round or row to make your crochet piece bigger. In single crochet increase, you simply work two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. So, you insert your hook into a stitch, make one single crochet, and then insert your hook into the same stitch again and make another single crochet. Now you have increased one stitch! Increases are used to create curves and shaping in your crochet, like making the bunny’s head rounder.

Decrease (dec)

A decrease is the opposite of an increase – it means making fewer stitches to make your crochet piece smaller. A common single crochet decrease is called an ‘invisible decrease’. Don’t worry, it’s not really invisible, but it’s neater than some other decreases! To make an invisible decrease, insert your hook into the front loop only of the next stitch (you’ll see the stitch has a ‘V’ shape, and you’re only going under the front part of the ‘V’). Then, insert your hook into the front loop only of the next stitch as well. You will now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through both front loops. Now you have one loop left on your hook. Yarn over again, and pull through the last loop. You have decreased one stitch! Decreases are used to narrow shapes, like when we shape the top of the bunny’s head.

Magic Ring (MR)

The magic ring is a fantastic way to start crochet in the round, especially for amigurumi. It creates a tight, closed center, so there are no gaps in your work. To make a magic ring, wrap the yarn around your fingers to make a loop, crossing the yarn over itself. Insert your hook under the first part of the loop, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Chain one (this chain doesn’t count as a stitch, it just secures the ring). Now, you will work your stitches into the ring itself. For example, if the pattern says “6 sc in MR”, you will work 6 single crochet stitches into the ring you’ve made. After you’ve worked your stitches, gently pull the yarn tail to tighten the ring closed. Magic! This is how we start our bunny head.

Slip Stitch (sl st)

A slip stitch is a very short stitch that’s often used to join rounds together or to move your yarn without adding height. To make a slip stitch, insert your hook into the stitch you’re working into, yarn over, and pull the yarn through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one smooth motion. It’s a very flat stitch. We’ll use slip stitch to join rounds in our bunny project.

Fasten Off

When you’ve finished crocheting a piece, you need to fasten off to secure your work and prevent it from unraveling. To fasten off, cut your yarn, leaving a tail of about 6 inches. Yarn over and pull the yarn tail completely through the loop on your hook. Pull the tail firmly to tighten the knot. Now your stitch is secure! We will then use our yarn needle to weave in this tail and hide it neatly inside our bunny.

Step-by-Step Crochet Bunny Rattle Tutorial

Alright, are you ready to crochet our adorable bunny rattle? Let’s get started, step-by-step! Remember to refer to the image if you need a visual guide as we go.

Making the Bunny Head

We’ll start by making the bunny’s head. We’ll crochet in rounds, starting with a magic ring.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 single crochet stitches into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring tightly. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Increase in each stitch around. This means you will make 2 single crochet stitches in every stitch from the previous round. (12 stitches)

Round 3: *Single crochet in the next stitch, increase in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. (18 stitches) This means you alternate between making one single crochet and then an increase.

Round 4: *Single crochet in the next 2 stitches, increase in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. (24 stitches)

Round 5: *Single crochet in the next 3 stitches, increase in the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * around. (30 stitches)

Round 6-11: Single crochet in each stitch around. (30 stitches in each round) For these rounds, you’re just making single crochet stitches in every stitch, no increases or decreases. This will make the head grow taller and more rounded.

Round 12: *Single crochet in the next 3 stitches, decrease over the next two stitches (invisible decrease).* Repeat from * to * around. (24 stitches) Now we start decreasing to shape the top of the head.

Round 13: *Single crochet in the next 2 stitches, decrease over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. (18 stitches)

Round 14: *Single crochet in the next stitch, decrease over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. (12 stitches)

Round 15: Decrease over the next two stitches around. (6 stitches)

Now, it’s time to add the eyes! If you are using safety eyes, carefully insert them between Round 9 and 10, about 6 stitches apart. Refer to the image to see the eye placement. If you are using yarn to embroider the eyes, you can do this later after stuffing.

Stuff the head firmly with toy stuffing. Make sure it’s nicely rounded and firm, especially the lower part of the head.

Round 16: Join the remaining 6 stitches closed. You can do this by threading the yarn tail onto your yarn needle, and then passing the needle through the front loop of each of the remaining 6 stitches. Pull tight to close the hole. Fasten off and weave in the yarn end, hiding it inside the head.

Creating the Ears (Make 2)

Now, let’s make the bunny’s ears. We will make two identical ears.

Round 1: Make a magic ring and work 6 single crochet stitches into the ring. Pull the tail to close the ring tightly. (6 stitches)

Round 2: Increase in each stitch around. (12 stitches)

Round 3-10: Single crochet in each stitch around. (12 stitches in each round) These rounds will make the ear long.

Round 11: *Single crochet in the next stitch, decrease over the next two stitches.* Repeat from * to * around. (8 stitches) This will shape the bottom of the ear to be a bit narrower.

Round 12: Single crochet in each stitch around. (8 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail of yarn for sewing. Do not stuff the ears. Flatten the bottom of the ear slightly for easier attachment.

Crocheting the Rattle Ring

Now, we’ll crochet around the wooden ring to make it soft and bunny-friendly.

Round 1: Make a slip knot and place it on your hook. Hold the wooden ring. Work single crochet stitches all the way around the wooden ring. You will be crocheting over the ring, encasing it in crochet. Aim for your stitches to be close together so the wood is fully covered. You will probably make around 40-50 single crochet stitches, depending on the size of your ring. Don’t worry about counting precisely, just make sure the wooden ring is completely covered with crochet.

Round 2: Slip stitch into each stitch around to join the round. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Assembling the Rattle

Now for the fun part – putting it all together!

Attach the Ears: Position the ears on top of the bunny’s head. Refer to the image to see where they are placed. Use the yarn tails left on the ears and your yarn needle to sew the ears securely to the head. Make sure they are firmly attached so they are safe for a baby.
Attach the Head to the Ring: Place the bunny head on top of the crocheted ring. Use the yarn tail from the ring and your yarn needle to sew the head securely to the ring. Sew all around the base of the head to attach it firmly. Again, make sure everything is very secure.
Embroider Eyes (if not using safety eyes): If you chose to embroider the eyes, now is the time. Use black yarn and your yarn needle to embroider small eyes in the same position where safety eyes would go (between Round 9 and 10). You can make a few small stitches to create each eye.
Add the Nose and Mouth: Using pink or black yarn, embroider a small nose and mouth below the eyes. In the image, you can see a simple ‘Y’ shape for the mouth and a small horizontal line for the nose. Keep it simple and sweet!
Add Ribbon (optional): If you want to add a ribbon, tie a small piece of ribbon around the bunny’s neck, just below the head, and tie it in a bow. This adds a lovely finishing touch, just like in the picture!

Finishing Touches

Once everything is assembled, double-check that all pieces are securely attached and that all yarn ends are woven in and hidden. Give your bunny rattle a gentle squeeze to make sure it’s nicely stuffed and shaped.

Congratulations! You have just crocheted your own adorable bunny rattle! Wasn’t that fun? You’ve taken yarn and a hook and created something truly special and handmade.

Share Your Creation!

We really hope you enjoyed making this sweet bunny rattle. It’s such a rewarding feeling to create something beautiful and handmade, especially for a little one. Don’t be shy – show off your amazing work! Share photos of your finished bunny rattle online – on Pinterest, Instagram, or your favorite crafting community.

And most importantly, keep on crafting! Every stitch you make is a step forward in your creative journey. Happy crocheting!