The Bunnies Go Marching

Easter is just around the corner for many of us. The holiday is likely to be different this year with many of us practicing social distancing and staying at home, but that doesn’t mean we cant still enjoy it! I have always loved this time of year, with the start of spring seeming to wake up the natural world from a long and cold slumber, a sentiment I am even more grateful for now. So as I stood in my office (aka yarn warehouse) looking for inspiration in my stash, I was drawn to the new yarn by Loops and Threads – Cotton Colours in the the colour Starfish. The pastel blues, aquas and yellows just scream spring and Easter to me. Being 100% cotton I decided it would be perfect for some Easter table decor, and after a few attempts (and frogging!) I designed some placemats using the bunny stitch that I created a few weeks ago. Using the same general pattern, this could also be easily adapted into a lovely table runner by just changing the dimensions to suit your table. Alas, I do not have a dinning room table to put it on, but the pattern uses a repeat of three stitches for anyone that wants to make one!

Materials

Approximately 200 yards of Loops and Threads Cotton Colours Yarn (or other Worsted Weight/#4 100% Cotton yarn)
- Colour used was Starfish
Approximately 50 yards of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in a contrasting colour
- Colour used was Silver
5.75 mm hook
Tapestry needle

Size

This pattern makes 1 placemat approximately 13″ by 18″

Gauge

15 stitches by 17 rows is 4″ by 4″ square

Stitches

ch – chain
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
Puff stitch – working in the same stitch, yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You will now have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You will now have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You will now have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You will now have 5 loops on your hook. Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You will now have 6 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all loops. This will form the bunnies body.
Double crochet V-stitch – working in the same stitch, double crochet, chain 2, double crochet. This will form the bunnies ears.

Pattern

Chain 58.

Row 1: with colour A, sc in second loop from your hook. sc across, chain 1, turn (57).

Row 2: sc in each stitch across, chain 1, turn (57).

Row 3: sc in each stitch across, change to colour B chain 2, turn (57).

Change colours in the last stitch by using the new colour to complete the single crochet.

Changing to the new colour to complete the last stitch gives a seamless look to the colour change.

Row 4: The chain 2 will count as the first stitch in the puff stitch. Working in the first stitch, complete the puff stitch (Ch 2 + 4 DC together. ch 2, skip 2. *Puff stitch, ch 2, skip 2* across. Chain 4 after last puff, turn (19 puff stitches).

The ch 2 at the start of Row 4 counts as the first DC of the puff stitch

The first dc of the first puff – when you have 2 loops left on your hook, start the next dc.

After the second dc of the first puff stitch you will have 3 loops on your hook.

After the third dc of the first puff stitch, there are 4 loops on your hook.

After the fourth dc of the first puff stitch, this is the last dc of this puff since we also count the ch 2 as a dc.

Yarn over and pull through all of the loops on your hook to complete the puff stitch.

Skip 2 stitches, yarn over and insert hook into the 3rd stitch from the last puff stitch to start the next puff stitch.

After completing the 5 dcs you will have 6 loops on your hook for the second and every subsequent puff stitch.

Finished row of puff stitches. These will be the bodies of the bunnies.

At the end of Row 4 you will ch 4 to start the first set of bunny ears.

Row 5: Double crochet in the first chain stitch. *dc, ch 2, dc* in each ch1 above each puff stitch. Change to colour A in the last stitch, ch 1, turn.

Place each V-stitch in the chain 1 from the previous row (shown by the black arrow, this is not the loop that finished the puff stitch and it is not the space made by the chains).

The v-stitch will form the bunnies ears.

The finished row of v-stitch (bunny ears). Remember to change colours in the last dc of this row.

Row 6: 1 sc in each double crochet and each chain space across, chain 1, turn (57).

In Row 6 you will place 1 sc in each of the dc stitches and 1 sc in each ch 2 space. You should have 57 sc stitches at the end of this row.

Row 7-35: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (57). Change to colour B in the last stitch of row 35.

Row 36: repeat row 4

Row 37: repeat row 5

Row 38: repeat row 6

Row 39-40: sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (57).

Border:

Row 1: Sc evenly around the piece, placing a sc in each row end and 2 sc in each corner. When working across the gap where the bunnies are, place 4 foundation single crochet stitches as follows. Chain 2, insert hook into first ch 1, draw up a loop (this will be the foundation loop that you will work the next stitch into), so that you have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 1st loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops (this is the sc). Insert hook into that foundation loop and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through one loop (this is the next foundation loop), yarn over and pull through both loops (the second sc). Repeat 2 more times to span the gap, then continue sc into the ends of each row. Once you have gone around the entire piece, slip stitch to the first stitch to join.

When single crocheting around the edge you will get a gap where the rows of bunnies are. We can bridge this gap by doing a stretch of foundationless single crochet. To begin this section chain 2.

Insert your hook into the first chain (2nd chain from hook) and pull up a loop. This new loop will form the foundation loop that we will work the next stitch into.

You will yarn over and pull through that first loop on your hook. The loop you just pulled through is what you will use as your foundation loop for the next stitch (black arrow). The 2 loops on your hook now will form the single crochet.

After pulling through the 2 loops on your hook you will have the foundation loop (black arrow) and the single crochet stitch (blue arrow). Next you will insert your hook into that foundation loop and pull up a loop (which will be the next foundation loop).

After pulling up the new loop – this new loop will be the next foundation loop. You will now pull a loop through the first loop on your hook to get the 2 loops of the next sc stitch.

Completing 4 foundationless sc is enough to bridge the gap, you can join by sc into the end of the next row.

Row 2: *ch 3, skip 1 stitch, slip stitch into next stitch*. Repeat around the entire piece. When you get to the last stitch chain 3.

Skip 1 stitch, slip stitch into the next stitch.

Row 3: slip stitch into the top of the first chain 3 of row 2. *Chain 3, slip stitch into the top of the chain 3 below* repeat around, fastening off when you slip stitch to the top of the first chain 3 in the third row.

To start row 3, slip stitch into the top of the first chain 3 of row 2.

I love how the different placemats look depending on your starting point with this long variegated yarn. I think the colour changes are fun and happy!

As always, feel free to make this for personal use or sale, however, remember to give me credit for the pattern by linking my FB of IG accounts (One Knotty Dog). Please do not distribute copies of the pattern or my photographs without my permission. I would love to see all of your creations! Tag me or use the hashtag #oneknottydog, #thebunniesgomarching or #bunnystitch. Send me an email to oneknottydog@gmail.com with any questions!

Happy making,

Britteny

The Bunnies Go Marching

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