Can you believe it, I sewed another sock bunny for the Easter!!! After the 2 versions of sock bunnies (this and this) I did 2 years ago by using a single sock, this year, I decided to sew a bigger version of sock bunny (14″ tall) which is more cuddly and huggable. Kids will love the size and the long lop ears of Lilac, the Sock Lop Eared Bunny has.
I am so hooked on designing and sewing sock toys. The inspirations just hit me while I am sewing: “Hey, I can sew a lion if I put up the mane here; use an extra sock to make the long ears for the lop ear bunny; If I shape the sock-like this, it can become a penguin, and owl… etc.” I hope the ideas continue to flow in and allow me to create more sock dolls to share.
Sock dolls aren’t hard to sew as you might think of. With the knit property of the sock, it is easy to manipulate. The tedious part is how to sew a straight and neat stitch which plays a big role to determine the workmanship of your handmade. I was once a newbie, my stitches weren’t decent looking when I started to sew my first sock doll. Your sewing skill improves over time with more practice. Perhaps you don’t know before I am able to come out with a decent looking creation and to develop it into pattern and tutorial for sharing, I need to make a few test pieces to find out which one has the best style in my eyes. There are a lot of hard-works you don’t see me working on; lots of late nights, lots of trial & error and of course producing lots of not-so-decent looking test pieces. Nevertheless… I completely enjoy every moment of the making with no complaint and no whining. The biggest motivation you will have at the very moment you’ve just finished a sock doll with your full effort, you will feel proud of yourself as you know someone will love it because it is handmade by you and they can’t find the second piece that looks the same as this!!! Don’t hesitate, pick some socks and start sewing!
Happy sock doll sewing!!!
Sock Lop Eared Bunny
Lilac
Difficulty: Intermediate / Avid Beginner
Finished size: approximately 7″ (W) x 14″ (H)
Materials:
Make: 1
1. Sock (crew length), colored, 1 pair
2. Sock (ankle length), matching or contrasting color, 1
3. Safety eye 5/8″ [15mm], black, 2; or button; or felt
4. Poly-fill stuffing material
5. Embroidery floss, maroon pink
6. Sewing threads (matching colors)
7. Ribbon, 2 ft
Tools:
1. Sewing machine (optional, you can hand-sew without a machine)
2. Sewing needle (prefer long, about 2″) and pins
3. Erasable fabric marker
4. Scissors
5. Blunt point tweezers
Seam Allowance: approx. 1/8 – 1/4″ (thinner sock material need to have bigger seam allowance as the loose-knit can be ripped off easily.)
Note:
In order to make different sizes of sock bunnies, you may use different sizes of socks, ie, baby socks, toddler sock, ladies sock, etc….
Since the sock is stretched after stuffed, thick sock yields better quality than a thin sock.
Gather all the necessary tools and materials as listed above.
I used a pair of crew length grey-lilac woolen sock and a single ankle-length matching purple cotton sock.
The ankle sock is slightly smaller than the crew length sock, but it is fine as long as it is not bigger.
Cut or rip open the hem seams with scissors or seam ripper if your main socks have folded hems.
Turn your socks wrong side out, press flat as shown in the picture.
If your sock has a pattern like stripes or lines, match both layers and pin them together.
Cut out the heel part from one of the socks, then split it into 2, as shown in the picture (left sock).
Sketch the pattern of legs and arms on both socks.
Sew on the lines and cut. You need to cut a little longer into the heel between the legs. That extra cut will become the opening for the turning and the stuffing.
a.) To sew the long lop ears for the sock bunny, get the foot piece of both main and matching socks.
b.) Align and press flat on the side. Cut into 2 pieces each.
c.) Sketch a teardrop shape on the wrong side of the main sock, with about 1″ opening on the top. Pin the matching sock with it with the right side facing each other. You will need to stretch the matching sock a little if the size is smaller.
d.) Sew on the sketch lines and cut. Turn right side out. You will find that the earpieces will curve into the smaller matching sock.
a.) Turn all pieces right side out. If the opening in between the legs is too small, snip a little to make it bigger so that your thumb can go in. Don’t cut too big because of the material the stretchy, a little cut will make a lot bigger opening.
b.) Stuff the head rounder, then body and legs. Stuff the arms too. Give them some massage to release the lumps and unevenness of the poly fiber.
c.) Sew the opening between the legs with slip or ladder stitch, don’t pull the thread yet until you have finished sewing to the end. This is to make the stitches straighter and neater.
d.) Push the raw edges in and pull the thread to close the opening. Knot the thread and hide it in the body.
a.) Turn the raw edges of the arms in and sew up the opening.
b.) Position the arms on the body (slightly below the head) and pin.
c.) Slip stitch around to attach the arms to the body.
d.) Repeat the same to the other arm.
a.) Trim the heel part of the sock to an ellipse shape. Sew running stitch along the raw edge. Pull halfway and stuff.
b.) Pull the thread tight and knot.
c.) Pin and sew the tail to the back of the body.
Position and sew the ears to the head, make a few stitches to the side of the ears so that they stay closer to the head.
If you want the ears to look flat, sew around the ear with pick stitch (about 1/4″ from the edge) to bring the 2 layers together.
a.) Cut a small piece from a scrap of the matching sock, about 1″ x 1/2″ to make the nose. Trim it to ellipse shape.
b.) Sew running stitch around.
c.) Pull the thread and push the raw edges in with blunt tweezers to gather the sock into a small ball.
d.) Sew a few stitches to bring the little nose into shape.
Mark the eyes, nose and philtrum of the mouth with an erasable fabric marker.
Sew the nose onto the face.
a.) Embroidery the philtrum with maroon pink floss, by using branch stitches. knot the floss at the eyes marking so that the knots can be hidden away once the button eyes are sewn.
b.) Sew the button eye on the marking. Let the needle come out from the other eye’s marking.
c.) Sew another eye, pull the thread to make the eyes set in.
d.) Depend on how deep you want the eyes to set in, pull the thread according. Knot and cut.
Tie a ribbon on the neck and put up some blushers on the cheeks to complete the lop-eared sock bunny, Lilac.
Lilac, the sock bunny is resting in the garden. She was rewarded with a felt carrot after a day of hard work of Easter egg hunting. She is going to share this special carrot with her TLC loved ones.
Thank you for all your sock animals, I pack Shoeboxs for
Samaritans Purse, and your designs will go in my boxes.
So many cute designs made out of socks.
Thanks, Nancy
So many adorable animals. I have only made monkeys so I am really excited to try others. I am curious if anyone has found a good place to purchase the traditional socks used for sock monkeys, but in other colors. I am looking specifically for blue and dark orange 🙂
Thank you for the tutorial. I used a floral knee-high sock, so my bunny is a little taller, but perfect for my granddaughter who is 2 1/2. I have a picture on my Pinterest board – Easter.
Do you sell these on Etsy by chance? Would love to purchase 6 of them.
Hi thanks for sharing, this is adorable!!
What did you use to create blusher?
Thank you, Capri. If I didn’t remember wrong, I used brush it with pink ink from an ink pad. You may use cosmetic brusher too.
The only thing that might have been more helpful would be for there to a template for ears, nose, and tail. Otherwise great project!
I just finished making a bunny for my son using this tutorial. It turned out pretty cute and was surprisingly easy. I wish I could attach a picture here. Thanks so much!
Happy to know this, Stacey. You can send the photo via the contact form or post it to Craft Passion social media 🙂 Can’t wait to see your sock bunny.
Hi! Good day. I can’t find the pattern. I would love to recreate this bunny for a friend. Where can I find the pattern? Thank you
Hi – your sock animals are adorable and thank you so much for giving the patterns to us. I love the bunny, and the kangaroo mama and baby. Hope to make some more of your lovely critters. I must tell you that your tutorials are fantastic – the drawings and photographs are very helpful and explain perfectly what to do. Thank you
Pauline
There is no sewing pattern on this page. Please include one since you say there is one here. A little frustrating seeing as I want to make this.
There is sewing pattern, Leah, just scroll down to the end of 1st page and click on “page 2′, or “Click Here” or the small preview photos of the pattern page. Please refer the photo below on where to click.
I can’t find the pattern either. There is no page 2. There is no sentence that says, “CLICK HERE to get pattern…”. When I place my cursor over the small instruction photos, it just pops up F and P, and if I click on those it just opens another tab with that same small photo. I’ve scoured this craft passion page and there is no link to a pattern.
That was the old web design in my reply to Leah, here is the latest one as shown below. Avoid clicking the F and P, click slightly at the corner of the small picture or click at the blue bar will bring you to the pattern page. Sometimes it will flip back to the current page, if it does click again and you will be definitely going to the pattern page.
Thank you! Your bunny Is precious! God bless you darling!!
Glad that you like it. Thanks for letting us know 🙂
This bunny is precious. Thank you for such a detailed and well-illustrated tutorial. I’m not much of a seamstress, but I’m most of the way through making this bunny already. You are absolutely the best! I can only hope my bunny comes out as darling as yours has.
Happy sewing it, Kat. Wish you all the best 🙂
A friend wants me to make this bunny for her twin daughters, but wants the color socks in your picture. I’ve searched the Internet for grey/lilac argyle socks and no luck. Could you please direct me to where I could find them, where you got them. Thanks. Can’t wait to make them, they are so adorable.
I bought these socks from a local sock shop but they do not have the stock anymore. I am sorry about this.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have longed to find something easy enough that even I could do it, but special and precious enough for each of my 11 grand children – and this is going to be just it! And because I am on a very limited fixed income – affordable as well. I am quite sure that I can get ALL of the items to make these except maybe the filling, at the Dollar Tree. I am one very happy grandma right now. Thanking you again, most sincerely!
Thank you Juanita. I am one happy craft designer after reading your comment. I am sure your grandkids will be very happy to receive the sock bunny for they beloved Grandma 🙂
Happy sewing!
I think you mean “ellipse” shape not “eclipse”.
Oh yes, it is ellipse… hahaha typo. Thanks for correcting it. I will amend the tutorial.
Thanks for the sock bunny! I’d love to see you do a sock dog! thanks
Other sock animals are in my list, I am designing and working on them one by one 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about sock
bunny. Regards
Many thanks for the pattern ! je l’adore merci beaucoup, bonne journée !
hello!
I’m expecting my first child and while I’m bedridden, I decided to make a stuffed toy…I found your pattern and I managed to make bunny!!it took me few hours, but it was easy to follow. I used 2 mismatched socks and some minky for ears, but it still turned out adorable! thank you so much!
Congratulations, reli!!! Your baby will love the first toy mommy made for him/her 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day!!!
I just made this and it came out sooo cute! My lil girl will love this!
Happy to know it, Kallista, wonder if you are able to show us the picture of your Sock Bunny 🙂 You can send their via contact form.
hola Estoy en Argentina ; me gusto mucho este conejito y voy a seguir el paso a paso del tutorial para poder realizarlo …seguramente saldra divinoo Gracias !! Sandy
Translation (by Google):
hello I’m in Argentina; I really like this bunny and I will follow the step by step tutorial to do it … surely will leave divinoo Thanks !! Sandy
How cute. Have made the monkeys but like this better. Would like to see a sock cat as I am a cat lover.
Hi Joanne, just found your site and am loving it! All of your sock creations are awesome. I am going to try this one ASAP for my granddaughter. Your eggs make this the perfect Easter gift. I am truly grateful there are creative sites like yours and you offer it all freely. Thank you-thank you for all the lovelies you share. I will be back time and time again. Penny=)
Hi Penny, you’ve made my day by telling me this. Thank you so much, please try out anything here!!!
I love this bunny but have search all over for the socks. What I have found had the print on the top of foot. Any suggestions?
Love this! I didn’t see the link to the pattern. Did I just miss it on the page?
There is a pattern in page 2 for every tutorial and pattern shared in Craft Passion. If you can’t find the link, add /2 at the end of the link to go the second page 🙂
hi, there is still no link for the pattern in page 2?!
The pattern is as shown on the picture next to it.
These are simply adorable! Can’t wait to make one!
This is absolutely gorgeous!!!
We made two sock bunnies and it’s adorable!!
Wow, can’t wait to see them. Would you mind to share some pictures with us? Please send over the pictures using the contact form. Thanks 🙂
This is awesome. You should sell these.
Hi, Your sock animals are excellent, I am a complete beginner when it comes to sewing and i am currently attempting make lilac, I’ve had a few hick ups, I was hoping you might be able to provide some tips on the best way to sew the tail and nose on.. I’ll really appreciate any tips you can give like I said I am a complete beginner
Thank you in advance :o)
Amanda
Oh my goodness toooooooooooo adorable for words! Honestly, I am not a sock animal person but YOUR sock animals are changing all that!!! Your sock animals are simply wonderful. And coming from this old sock animal crudgemugeon (no clue how to spell that) – you can take that as a huge compliment!!!
Thank you, Pam. I am glad I have changed your view of the old sock animal 🙂 More to come!
oh dear, this bunny is totally cute!
thanks for sharing your tutorial! i set a link and hope you agree.
best wishes, doro von Hand zu Hand
I love the bunny, but I also love the eggs in the last pic! Do you have a tutorial for that too?
The eggs are Sakura Easter Eggs I posted just before this. Have fun with them.
Thank you so much for sharing this, am sure it will be much appreciated by those that I make it for.
They are very lucky to have you sewing for them, cheers!
I love the sock monkeys. I am sock monkey mad, family and friends love them too. Look forward to more ideas. X
Hi Diane,
Lilac the sock bunny is cute too, please try to sew her as well 🙂
She is beautiful, I have to say ‘she’ because of her cute mouth! So talented, thank you so much for sharing the tutorial with us, my grandchildren are going to love her/him! God bless xxx
Hi Amanda, great guess, it is “she” and her name is Lilac 🙂 Hope to see you sewing her soon!
so cute. love your tut.
Thanks, Kim 🙂