Hoppy Easter! This post contains my alteration of a current free Bear pattern by Berroco. (Please note, there are no affiliate links here, and I do not have a relationship in any manner with Berroco. I want to share what I have created using their pattern and inspire you.)

The first time that I gave a non-blanket baby gift for a brand new baby was knit from this free pattern for this bear. I was nervous about making it, as I had never made a toy before, (it had dimension!) but I thought the worst thing that would happen is I would rip it out and end up making a blanket if it ended up terribly.

The bear ended up being easy and so much fun to do! It was also far cheaper and faster than making a baby blanket! I now am an advocate of not knitting baby blankets, but knitting a toy, so much more efficient!!

If you have never knit a toy, it is so exciting to go through the process. It would have taken probably half the time but I kept stopping and smiling and telling my husband to “come and look”! (The bum is probably my favorite part of the little bear!!)

The bear was so easy, and soft and just wonderful! I decided I would knit one for my first born. This is him above. My husband named the bear, his name is Grylls (named after Bear Grylls, the star of Man vs. Wild). I used Bernat Baby Blanket yarn, in the color Baby Sand. I love how soft it is. They also have White (which is what is shown in some of the photos), and Vanilla colors that are so pure and soft looking!

I have knit this bear for many new babies, and am amazed at how loved these are! (Well… looking at it, how could you not love it?!)

My second child was coming and I wanted to knit a toy again, but didn’t want to do the same bear, so I altered the pattern, it took a while, but I think he is cute and looks like a stuffed bunny rabbit! I have named him Wendel from a song off of “The Clock on the Shelf” by Chad and Terri Sigafus.

It may be difficult to see in the photo, but I extended his nose, and obviously made longer ears! The body is the same as the bear. I added a little more in the feet, but don’t think that it really mattered so I have not included that here.

Below I have included my alterations to the pattern. Again, I am not involved with Berroco and have changed the pattern to create this bunny for my son, and want to share that with you. I hope you enjoy!

Alterations to Barrison 2.0 from Grylls (Bear) to Wendel (Bunny):

The alterations are in the front head and ears. The rest of the pattern you follow the Barrison 2.0 pattern.

(I use size 8 needles, and Bernat Baby Blanket yarn. To create the bunny it took about 93 yards of yarn.)

Back: When knitting the back, complete the entire Body and Head using the Barrison 2.0 pattern. Complete Row 19 in the Head section, and put these stitches on a stitch holder. (You should have each ear on a holder.)

You will be knitting the entire ears in the round. Because of the firmness of the yarn that I used I had to create more floppy ears with short rows on the back side. If you use more floppy yarn, the ears might just fold over naturally, without short rows.

Front: Knit the front Body and Head (through Row 6) the same as Barrison 2.0 pattern.

Head: Instead of following Row 7, follow these directions for the bunny. Note, for the Bunny part some of the wrong side rows are not only purled. (“B Row #” indicates the Bunny Rows, and these are not within the Barrison 2.0 pattern, all abbreviations used below follow the Barrison 2.0 pattern abbreviations.)

B Row 7: k2, inc 1, k3, inc 1, k4, inc 1, k2, WTS, p11, WTS, k5, inc 1, k5, WTS, p10, WTS, k4, inc 1, k3, WTS, p7, WTS k2, inc 1, k2, WTS, p4, WTS, k6, inc 1, k2, inc 1, k2. [26sts]

B Row 8: p6, p2tog, p10, p2tog, p6 [24 sts]

B Row 9: k5, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k5 [20 sts]

B Row 10: Purl

B Row 11: k1, inc 1, k2, (k2tog) twice, k4, (k2tog) twice, inc 1, k1 [18 sts]

B Row 12: p8, p2tog, p8 [17 sts]

B Row 13: Knit

B Row 14: Purl

B Row 15: continue in Barrison 2.0 pattern, starting with row 17.

After Row 19, place live stitches on a stitch holder as you did previously with the back.

Follow the following finishing directions on Barrison 2.0 pattern. “Sew back and front of [bunny] together, leaving ears and bound-off sts at top of head open for stuffing. Stuff legs and arms first, making them quite firm. Stuff body next, being sure to stuff lightly so that bear is huggable. Stuff muzzle next, then head. This makes the muzzle stand out.” Now you have the ears to finish!

Bunny Ears: (Follow pattern for both ears.) Join the front and back of an ear in the round, placing markers on the two ends to distinguish the front and back. When holding the bunny, back facing you. We will call the right marker, Marker (A), and the left marker, Marker (B). The main idea is is to knit the back row twice for every front a few times at the start, to make the ears flop to the front. I use “Row” loosely here!

(If you just turn your work and start purling, you will end up with holes on the sides, so make sure to wrap the stitches a bit!)

B Row 1: Starting with back, at Marker (A) knit all 10 stitches.

B Row 2: K5, Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. P5. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 3: P10. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 4: Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. K5. You should be at Marker (B).

B Row 5: K10. You should be at Maker (B).

B Row 6: Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. P5. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 7: P10. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 8: Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. K10. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 9-10: Knit all, ending at Marker (A).

B Row 11: K5, Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. P5. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 12: P10. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 13: Bring yarn to front, slip next stitch purlwise, bring yarn to back of work. Turn work slip stitch back. K10. You should be at Marker (A).

B Row 14-22: Knit.

B Row 23: (ssk, k1, k2tog) repeat twice.

B Row 24: Cast off

Hug your soft bunny!

Options:

Since these ears are knit in the round, they are a tube, if you would like more flat you can always run a stitch through the middle of the ears to connect the two sides.

The ears are free and floppy, but you could always sew the ears to the face to have the ears more permanently flopped over. I would not do so if giving to a baby, as you don’t want fingers/arms/body parts caught.

If you want the ears longer, knit a few more rows!

If you like this Easter idea I have another pattern, for a felted Easter Egg here. Or if you are on a baby kick I have a Winnie the Pooh theme blanket (Honeycomb Blanket).

I also am in the process of sharing my stuffed bee pattern, so check back soon, or join my email list to be notified!

I’d also love to hear if you have altered a pattern and what you have created!