Introducing Daisy-The Fabric Easter Bunny that Will Make You Giggle

I call her “Daisy” the fabric Easter bunny because the daisy flower she represents brings a smile when you stumble upon a hill full of them.  Now imagine the face of your child or grandchild when the Easter eggs open and here comes Daisy out ready to play.  That would be worth a good Easter egg hunt I'd say.  I don't yet have a name for the male bunny, so feel free to come up with one.

If you read my last post on how to make an Easter egg that doubles as a bag from fabric scraps then you will want to make this little toy and place it inside the egg to hide in the garden or in the house if the weather is not cooperating for the annual Easter egg hunt.

Fabric Easter Egg Made with Fabric Scraps

I recommend using a fat quarter and make two bunnies at the same time.  Why you ask?  This is something that only mothers can really answer.  When your child gets attached to a toy and then she loses track of it, your child spends many nights crying about it.  Some people would argue that loss is something kids need to learn to deal with, but I argue that life is much too short to introduce sadness into a child's world.  Plus, you are making an Easter bunny made with fabric, not buying it.  Sell the other one to recoup your material expenditure.  That's how I used to sponsor my sewing habit.

This is a great little project for beginners just learning to sew.  It requires little in materials and can be done in about an hour.  But your child will play with it and cherish the memories for a long, long time.

Materials:

• 1/2 fat quarter for the body (full fat quarter makes two bunnies)
• thin fusible interfacing about the same size of the fabric
• thread to match
• polyester stuffing

Tools

• hand needle
• sewing machine (optional)

Pattern Download

Skill Level: DIFFICULT

How to Make Your Fabric Easter Bunny

If you have never made a toy before, arm yourself with a bit of patience and in no time you will have a beautiful little toy.

Step One: Cutting Out the Pieces

Fuse the interfacing to the fabric, then trace the pieces onto the fabric.  If the fabric is thick, there is no need for interfacing.

Cut out only the piece you are going to sew.  This is to keep track of the work since it is so small.  I spent 1/2 hour looking for one arm that fell into my fabric scrap catcher.

Mark all the notches.  They will help you when piecing the fabric Easter bunny together.

Optional and very helpful for those just starting to sew:  Trace the seam allowance, which is 3/8″, on the piece with an erasable pen or even a pencil.  (This will be inside anyway so the markings don't matter that much.)  This might seem like extra work but it will save a lot but it will save you time when sewing all those curves.

Step Two: Sew the Legs and Arms

Sew the legs and arms at 3/8″.  Turn the pieces right side out and iron.

Stuff the legs and arms leaving about 1/2″ at the top.  Put aside.

Step Three: Sew the Head and the Ears.

Sew the ears at 3/8″.  Fold the curved side in about 1/2″, pin and put aside.

Mark the middle of the head.  Fold in half and sew starting at 3/8″ and ending at 1/4″ then trim the seam allowance to 1/4″ as shown in the picture below.

Turn right side out.

Pin the ears to the middle of the head.  The folded part of the ear should be facing the right side of the bunny's face.

Pin the back side of the head and sew at 3/8″.

Step Four:  Attaching the Legs to the Body

Sew the dart on the back of the body.

Place the back of the body right side up.  Pin the legs feet side up.

Place the front of the body on top and sew this part until the first notch.  Do not sew past this notch because that is where the arms will go. Pull the legs out to turn to the right side.

Make a line on the back of the bunny and cut to be able to work through this new opening.  Insert the arms and pin. Sew the arm on the inside. 

Step Five: Finishing your Easter Bunny Made With Fabric

Arm yourself with needle and thread because this part is the trickiest and it will require nimble fingers or an outstanding ability to control your sewing machine –which sometimes I lack depending on the time of the day.  I say this because the parts are so small it can be frustrating to work at such small scale.  Just take your time and be patient.

Using your sewing machine, attach the front side of the bunny body to the front side of the bunny head using a straight stitch.  Then sew by hand the back of the head to the back of the bunny using the slit on the back of the bunny.  Stuff the head, then the body and close up your fabric Easter bunny by sewing with a needle and thread using a running stitch.  I have attached a fur pompom for a tail.  If you want to make one like this, just follow step six in this tutorial where I used the same technique on the fur scarf.

The good thing about a fabric Easter bunny is that you can clean it just by placing it in your laundry pile.  Also by making two with just one fat quarter, you have the ability to replace, gift or sell the other one.

Please enjoy and let me know if you would like to have the pattern for the clothes for the bunny.  I am happy to do a post with these next week. Until next time, have fun sewing this little number.

PS: Join me next week on a tutorial where I will be showing you how to make a super simple yet stylish top to wear with leggings, pencil skirts or jeans.  I think you will like this one a lot.  Until next time!