Greetings, my fellow artisan. I am so pleased we are proceeding with this vision. A functional piece of art is a joy to behold, and a joy to construct. The marriage of structured metal hardware with the organic, soft curves of our yarn requires a very specific tension and mathematical precision.
We will build the face with pronounced, bottom-heavy cheeks to anchor those wide-set eyes, perfectly capturing the essence of youth. The body will serve as a modest, tightly constructed pedestal for our grand strawberry skirt. Follow my instructions closely, count your stitches, and trust the process.
About This Creation
This design is a masterclass in balance. By leaving the crown of the head completely open, we create a seamless integration point for an 8cm semi-circular kiss-lock frame. The resulting piece is heavy at the top; therefore, we implement the strict 70/30 Baby Schema. The small, slender limbs do not compete for attention, allowing the dense ruffles of the dress and the meticulously placed botanical appliqués to shine.
Project Snapshot
🧶 Skill Level: Advanced
⏱️ Estimated Time: 12-14 Hours
📏 Finished Size: Approximately 20cm (8 inches) from boots to bonnet, excluding ears.
Materials
🧶 Yarn: Sport or DK weight cotton blend in Skin Tone, Bright Pink, Crisp White, Forest Green, and Chocolate Brown.
🪡 Hook: 2.5mm crochet hook (or size necessary to achieve tight, gapless fabric).
✨ Hardware: One 8cm semi-circular metal kiss-lock coin purse frame with sewing holes.
👁️ Eyes: 10mm safety eyes with pink irises.
🧵 Extras: Strong sewing thread (for the frame), tapestry needle, premium polyester fiberfill, thin wire for ear structure (optional), and tiny red beads for the boots.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
🧶 ch: chain
🧶 sc: single crochet
🧶 hdc: half double crochet
🧶 dc: double crochet
🧶 inc: single crochet increase (two stitches in one)
🧶 dc inc: double crochet increase
🧶 dec: single crochet invisible decrease
🧶 sl st: slip stitch
🧶 BLO: back loop only
🧶 FLO: front loop only
🧶 st(s): stitch(es)
The Pattern
The Head & Purse Cavity
We begin at the top opening, working downwards to the neck. This leaves the top open for the metal clasp.
R1: With Skin Tone yarn, ch 40. Join with a sl st to the first ch to form a ring, being careful not to twist. ch 1. sc in each ch around. (40)
R2: [9 sc, inc] x 4. (44)
R3: [10 sc, inc] x 4. (48)
R4: [11 sc, inc] x 4. (52)
R5: [12 sc, inc] x 4. (56)
R6: [13 sc, inc] x 4. (60)
R7-R13: sc in all 60 sts. (60)
Cheek Shaping Strategy: We now cluster increases to build volume exactly at the sides of the face.
R14: 15 sc, [inc] x 4, 22 sc, [inc] x 4, 15 sc. (68)
R15-R17: sc in all 68 sts. (68)
Eye Placement: Insert the 10mm safety eyes between R14 and R15. Place them exactly 9 stitches apart, centered across the front 22-stitch section.
R18: 15 sc, [dec] x 4, 22 sc, [dec] x 4, 15 sc. (60)
R19: [8 sc, dec] x 6. (54)
R20: [7 sc, dec] x 6. (48)
R21: [6 sc, dec] x 6. (42)
R22: [5 sc, dec] x 6. (36)
R23: [4 sc, dec] x 6. (30)
R24: [3 sc, dec] x 6. (24)
R25: [2 sc, dec] x 6. (18)
R26: [sc, dec] x 6. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff the lower cheeks and chin very firmly. Do not stuff the center cavity—this must remain hollow to function as a purse.
The Body
Worked from the neck down.
R1: With Skin Tone yarn, create a magic ring. 12 sc in the ring. (12)
R2: [sc, inc] x 6. (18)
R3: Change to Bright Pink yarn. [2 sc, inc] x 6. (24)
R4-R6: sc in all 24 sts. (24)
R7: [3 sc, inc] x 6. (30)
R8: BLO sc in all 30 sts. (30)
R9: [3 sc, dec] x 6. (24)
R10: [2 sc, dec] x 6. (18)
R11: [sc, dec] x 6. (12)
R12: [dec] x 6. (6)
Stuff the body firmly before closing. Fasten off and weave in the end.
The Strawberry Skirt
We attach this to the unworked front loops left behind on the body.
R1: Hold the body upside down. Attach Bright Pink yarn to the FLO of R8. ch 2. [dc, dc inc] x 15. Join with sl st. (45)
R2: ch 2. [2 dc, dc inc] x 15. Join with sl st. (60)
R3: ch 2. [3 dc, dc inc] x 15. Join with sl st. (75)
R4: ch 1. [sc, ch 2, skip next st] repeat 37 times. sc in the last st. Join with sl st. (38 sc, 37 ch-2 spaces)
The White Ruffle:
R5: Attach Crisp White yarn to the BLO of the stitches from R4. ch 1. [sc, ch 3, sl st in next st] repeat around the entire circumference. Fasten off and weave in ends.
The Slender Arms (Make 2)
R1: With Skin Tone yarn, 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2-R9: sc in all 6 sts. (6)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Do not stuff.
The Elongated Legs (Make 2)
R1: With Skin Tone yarn, 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [sc, inc] x 3. (9)
R3-R14: sc in all 9 sts. (9)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Lightly stuff the bottom half only.
The Platform Boots (Make 2)
R1: With Chocolate Brown yarn, ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook: 3 sc, 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate to work down the opposite side of the chain: 2 sc, inc in the last st. (10)
R2: inc, 2 sc, [inc] x 3, 2 sc, [inc] x 2. (16)
R3: BLO sc in all 16 sts. (16)
R4: 4 sc, [dec] x 4, 4 sc. (12)
R5: 4 sc, [dec] x 2, 4 sc. (10)
R6: sc in all 10 sts. (10)
Fasten off. Slip the boots onto the bottom of the legs and sew securely. Using thin Bright Pink yarn, embroider an “X” lacing pattern up the front of the leg. Sew a tiny red bead at the top of the lacing.
The Coiffure (Hair Cap & Strands)
R1: With Crisp White yarn, ch 44. Join to form a ring. (44)
R2: [10 sc, inc] x 4. (48)
R3-R7: sc in all 48 sts. (48)
The Strands: We now create the curls directly off the cap edge.
Long Curls (Make 10 across the back): sl st into next st on cap. ch 35. hdc in 3rd ch from hook. hdc in remaining 32 chs.
Front Bangs (Make 6 across the front): sl st into next st on cap. ch 10. hdc in 3rd ch from hook. hdc in remaining 7 chs.
Fasten off and leave a very long tail for sewing the cap to the head.
The Bonnet & Frame Mount
R1: Attach Bright Pink yarn to the foundation chain (top opening) of the head. sc exactly 40 times around the edge. (40)
R2: [sc, inc] x 20. (60)
R3: ch 3 (counts as first dc). dc in same st. [ch 1, skip 1 st, dc inc in next st] repeat 29 times. ch 1. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. (60 dc, 30 ch-1 spaces)
R4: Attach Crisp White yarn to any ch-1 space. [3 sc in the ch-1 space, sl st in the space between the next 2 dc] repeat around. (90 sc)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
The Bunny Ears (Make 2)
R1: With Crisp White yarn, 6 sc in magic ring. (6)
R2: [sc, inc] x 3. (9)
R3: [2 sc, inc] x 3. (12)
R4: [3 sc, inc] x 3. (15)
R5-R10: sc in all 15 sts. (15)
R11: [3 sc, dec] x 3. (12)
R12-R14: sc in all 12 sts. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a tail. Flatten the ear. Embroider the inner ear with Bright Pink yarn using a chain stitch or satin stitch.
The Strawberries (Make 4)
R1: With Bright Pink yarn, 4 sc in magic ring. (4)
R2: [sc, inc] x 2. (6)
R3: [sc, inc] x 3. (9)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x 3. (12)
R5: [dec] x 6. (6)
Fasten off. Embroider tiny white seeds on the surface.
Leaf Cap: With Forest Green yarn, 4 sc in magic ring. Join. [ch 3, sl st back down ch, sl st into next sc] repeat 4 times. Sew onto the top of the strawberry.
The Daisies (Make 4)
R1: With Yellow yarn, 5 sc in magic ring. Join and fasten off. (5)
R2: Attach Crisp White yarn to any st. [ch 3, dc in same st, ch 3, sl st in same st, sl st to next st] repeat 5 times to create 5 petals. Fasten off.
The Greenery & Vines
Using Forest Green yarn, ch 40. Fasten off. You will weave and sew this chain around the skirt to act as a vine connecting the strawberries and daisies.
Assembly
- The Spine: Align the closed neck hole of the head (R26) with the open neck of the body (R1). Sew them together securely using the skin tone tail.
- The Limbs: Sew the arms symmetrically to the sides of the body at R3. Sew the legs to the bottom of the body at R10.
- The Coiffure: Slide the hair cap over the top of the head, positioning the bangs just above the eyes. Sew the cap securely to the head, ensuring the purse cavity remains completely unblocked.
- The Crown: Position the bunny ears on top of the head/bonnet, slightly angled outward. Sew them firmly in place. Attach one strawberry near the base of the right ear.
- The Garden Skirt: Drape the green chain vine across the front of the pink skirt. Tack it down with thread. Sew the remaining three strawberries and four daisies along the vine, clustering them towards the front for maximum visual impact.
- The Clasp: Open the 8cm metal frame. Insert the top edge of the head (the R1 pink bonnet row) into the metal channel. Using strong sewing thread and a sharp needle, backstitch through the holes in the metal frame, securing the crochet fabric permanently inside.
