Bunny Hop Kitchen Trio Free Pattern – A Knitted Easter Dishtowel Set

Bring a touch of spring to your kitchen with this adorable knitted dishtowel set featuring a playful bunny motif. Each towel is crafted with soft cotton yarn and finished with a charming bunny face and ears, making it a delightful gift or seasonal decoration. Whether you're an experienced knitter or just starting out, this pattern is designed to be accessible and rewarding, resulting in a practical and heartwarming addition to any home.

This project is perfect for Easter gifting, spring cleaning motivation, or simply adding a handmade touch to your daily dish-drying routine. The combination of durable cotton and a whimsical design ensures these towels will be both loved and used for years to come.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Using the specified materials will ensure your dishtowels match the intended size, texture, and durability.

• Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g., Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton) in the following colors:
  • White (main color) – for the towel body and bunny face
  • Light pink – for the inner ears
  • Dark pink – for the nose and cheeks
• Knitting Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles
• Tapestry needle – for weaving in ends and sewing pieces together
• Scissors

Gauge: 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Always check your gauge to ensure your finished towel matches the intended dimensions.

Finished Size: Approximately 12 inches wide x 18 inches long (excluding hanging loop).

Abbreviations

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• RS: Right side
• WS: Wrong side

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed instructions carefully. The pattern is broken down into three main parts: the towel body, the bunny face motif, and the final assembly. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Part 1: Towel Body (Make 2)

This section creates the main rectangular towel with a shaped top edge and a hanging loop.

1. Cast On: CO 60 sts with white yarn. Leave a tail of about 6 inches for weaving in later.
2. Stockinette Body:
   • Row 1 (RS): K all stitches.
   • Row 2 (WS): P all stitches.
   • Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 16 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. This ensures the next row you work is a RS row.
3. Shape Top Edge: This creates a gentle taper toward the top of the towel.
   • Next row (RS): K2tog, K to the last 2 sts, SSK. (You will have 58 sts remaining).
   • Next row (WS): P all stitches.
   • Repeat these two rows until you have 40 sts remaining, always ending with a WS row. This means you will work the decrease row on the RS and the plain purl row on the WS.
4. Hanging Loop: This is a simple knitted tab at the top.
   • Next row (RS): K all stitches.
   • Next row (WS): P all stitches.
   • Repeat these two rows until the loop measures 3 inches from the last decrease row. This will be a total of about 6 rows of stockinette.
5. Bind Off: Bind off all sts loosely. A loose bind-off will make it easier to fold the loop over and sew it down later. Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and pull through the last loop.

Part 2: Bunny Face Motif (Make 2 Sets)

This section creates the adorable bunny face, including the ears, inner ears, and face base. You will make two complete sets, one for each towel.

Ears (Make 4)

These are the outer, white parts of the bunny ears.

1. Cast On: With white yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Stockinette:
   • Row 1 (RS): K all.
   • Row 2 (WS): P all.
   • Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
3. Shape Ear Tip:
   • Next row (RS): K2tog, K to the last 2 sts, SSK. (You will have 6 sts).
   • Next row (WS): P all.
   • Repeat these two rows until 2 sts remain. This will take 2 more decrease rows.
4. Finish: K2tog, cut yarn, and pull through the last loop. Weave in the end.

Inner Ear (Make 4)

These are the smaller, light pink pieces that sit inside the white ears.

1. Cast On: With light pink yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Stockinette:
   • Row 1 (RS): K all.
   • Row 2 (WS): P all.
   • Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 1.5 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
3. Shape Ear Tip:
   • Next row (RS): K2tog, K to the last 2 sts, SSK. (You will have 2 sts).
4. Finish: K2tog, cut yarn, and pull through the last loop. Weave in the end.

Face Base (Make 2)

This is the main white oval that forms the bunny's face.

1. Cast On: With white yarn, CO 20 sts.
2. Stockinette:
   • Row 1 (RS): K all.
   • Row 2 (WS): P all.
   • Repeat Rows 1-2 until the piece measures 2 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
3. Bind Off: Bind off all sts. Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail for sewing.

Part 3: Assembly and Finishing

Now it's time to bring all the pieces together to create your charming bunny dishtowel.

1. Weave in Ends: Use your tapestry needle to weave in all loose ends on the towel body and all face pieces. This is crucial for a clean, professional finish.
2. Position the Face: Lay the towel body flat with the RS facing up. Place the face piece centered on the towel, about 2 inches below the top edge (before the hanging loop). Use the tapestry needle and white yarn to sew the face piece securely to the towel. Use a whip stitch or mattress stitch for a neat edge.
3. Assemble the Ears: For each ear, take one white ear piece and one light pink inner ear piece. Place the inner ear on top of the white ear, aligning the bottom edges. The pink piece will be shorter and narrower, sitting at the bottom center of the white ear. Sew them together with light pink yarn, using small, neat stitches along the sides and top. Leave the bottom edge open.
4. Attach the Ears: Position the ears on the top of the face piece, spacing them about 1 inch apart. The bottom of the ears should overlap the top edge of the face piece slightly. Sew them securely in place using white yarn and a tapestry needle. Make sure they are firmly attached so they don't flop around.
5. Embroider the Face Details:
   • Nose: Using dark pink yarn, embroider a small triangle nose in the center of the face, just below the ears. Use a satin stitch to fill in the triangle.
   • Mouth: Add two small horizontal stitches of dark pink yarn directly below the nose to form a simple "w" or "y" shape for the mouth.
   • Cheeks: For the cheeks, embroider two small circles of dark pink yarn on either side of the nose. Use a French knot or a small satin stitch circle for each cheek.
6. Repeat for Second Towel: Repeat the entire assembly process for the second towel.
7. Create the Hanging Loop: Fold the hanging loop over towards the back of the towel. Position it so it forms a neat loop. Sew the end of the loop to the back of the towel using white yarn and a tapestry needle. Make sure the loop is large enough to fit over a cabinet knob or hook.
8. Block the Towels: Gently block the towels to even out the stitches and give them a professional finish. To block, wet the towels with lukewarm water, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring), lay them flat on a towel, and shape them to the correct dimensions. Allow them to air dry completely.

Your Bunny Hop Kitchen Trio is now complete! These adorable and functional towels are sure to bring a smile to anyone who sees them. They make wonderful gifts for Easter, housewarmings, or just because. Enjoy your beautiful, handmade creation!