How to Knit Plush Animals

Plush knitting yarn will produce a final product as soft as a baby kitten.

Equipped with only a beginner's understanding of a few basic knit stitches, you can create a plush knit animal. The plush knit bunny is a soothing toy for young children and its durability will make it a family heirloom for many generations. A softer knitting yarn, like chenille, is used to form the body of the animal, giving it a softer, more comforting appearance. The plush bunny makes an ideal baby or infant gift, as the soft material not only provides a sense of security for a young child but produces a gift that is truly distinctive.

Things You'll Need

• 2 skeins of plush chenille knitting yarn
• Pair of knitting needles, size 7
• 5mm black buttons for eyes
• 1 yard of cotton thread
• Sewing needle, size 12
• 3 yards of black embroidery thread

Instructions

1. Cast on 41 stitches to the left needle to start the body of the bunny. Form a moss stitch by knitting one stitch, purling the next and then following with a knit stitch. Moss stitch until the end of the row. Repeat this stitching pattern to create 10 additional rows.

2. Cast off 12 stitches in the eleventh row to start the leg. Moss stitch until the end of the row. Stockinette stitch the following row. Continue to alternate moss and stockinette stitching for 25 rows.

3. Bind off the stitches at row 25. Select location for additional legs and arms. Cast off 12 stitches at each location and alternate moss and stockinette stitches for 25 rows. Repeat this process to complete two arms and two legs. Weave the additional arms and leg through the body with a garter stitch.

4. Cast on two stitches and moss stitch until the end of the row to start the head. Add two additional stitches to each row until the seventh row. Decrease rows by two stitches in rows eight through 14 to complete the circular head.

5. Cast on three stitches to start the ears. Moss stitch until the end of the row. Continue moss-stitching until ears reach roughly five inches in length. Repeat to complete the second ear. Connect the ears to the body with a garter stitch.

6. Sew the bead eyes to the face of the body with the cotton thread. French knot six knots to complete the bunny nose with the embroidery string. Straight-stitch the bunny mouth with the embroidery string. Add any additional decorative elements.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase an alternate color of chenille yarn to add accent pieces to the face, such as the insides of the ears or to make a bunny tale.

References

• "Knitted Wild Animals: 15 Adorable, Easy-to-Knit Toys"; Sarah Keen; 2010
• "World of Knitted Toys"; Kath Dalmeny; 2001