I’ve been pleased as punch with the way this month’s stitch turned out…so sweet! There’s something special about the pairing of bunnies and spring, and this new stitch exemplifies them both quite nicely. 🙂 Wouldn’t this be a fantastic stitch for a little girl’s jumper, or a baby layette? There is a bit of an unusual method for working the bunny ears, but it really is very simple to do. I have included a tutorial video for this one, since the technique may be new to you. Let’s dive in and learn this pretty design while whipping up an afghan square…
In this monthly column we’re going to be working on some exciting new stitch patterns, as well as a few new techniques thrown in for good measure. My intention for our yarn play is to provide all the know-how for you to be able to work the new stitch; any charts, photos, or videos you may need; as well as a pattern to create an 8” x 8” square. As we go along in our looming journey, we should be able to create lovely pieced afghans with our squares, as I like to know that we’re going somewhere while swatching, don’t you? You can think of it as our Stitch Sample Afghan—a stitch dictionary right at your fingertips, keeping your legs warm, lol. 😉 To find all the previous stitches in this column, simply click here.
Spring Bunnies Square
Items Needed
Loom: Authentic Knitting Board Adjustable Hat Loom: 2 rounded pieces + 3 peg connectors, with pegs in all holes for a 3/8” gauge. The Sock Loom 2 or the All-n-One Loom could also be used.
Yarn: approx. 75 yards Worsted Weight (Sample uses Berroco Vintage sakura)
Notions: Loom tool, crochet hook, yarn needle, scissors. (Also helpful: peg markers, row counter, and blocking pins)
Pattern Notes:
To work this pattern in the round, such as for a hat, use the Repeating Pattern Rows chart, and make sure to read it from right to left for each row, rather than alternating sides each time. Also, cast onto your loom in a clockwise direction, using a number of pegs that is divisible by 8—the number of stitches required for each pattern repeat.
For flat pieces of a greater size, simply increase the number of Repeating Pattern Rows inside the garter stitch edges for the length and width required, then complete with the Finishing Rows. The border edges may need to also be increased to coordinate with the number of increased Repeating Pattern Rows.
When the pattern uses the term “knit” or “k”, please use the true knit stitch or the u-stitch, not the e-wrap.
*For ease in reading the pattern’s directions below, the steps involving eyelets are placed inside brackets [ ] to let you know that they are all accomplished on just two pegs.
There are two types of decreases for creating the eyelets in this pattern: the Knit 2 Together (k2tog) for a right leaning decrease worked as a knit, and the Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk) for a left leaning decrease worked as a knit. The following dictates how to work these stitches as you will find them in the stitch pattern:
[k2tog, yo]: Work over 2 pegs: Move the loop from the yo peg to the k2tog peg. Using the working yarn, u-stitch knit the k2tog peg, knitting off the 2 loops as one, and then e-wrap the empty yo peg.
[yo, ssk]: Work over 2 pegs: Move the loop from the yo peg to the ssk peg. Using the working yarn, e-wrap empty yo peg, then u-stitch knit the ssk peg, knitting off the bottom 2 loops as one.
Making the Bunny Ears:
Where you see the symbol in the below charts for “Make new drop loop”, this is the peg which the bunny ears will be created and secured. The steps to do so are as follows: (The “bunny ears” pegs are worked from right to left, with the numbers in this direction: 1, 2, 3, 4.)
—Knit the first 2 pegs of the 4 bunny ears pegs (pegs 4 & 3).
—Insert a crochet hook between pegs 2 & 3 of the 4 and poke it through the eyelet directly below.
—Wrap WY around crochet hook and pull a new loop though the eyelet and out the front of the pegs.
—Lift the loop 3 and pass newly made loop behind the peg. Replace the loop 3.
—Lift the loop 4 and pass the right side of the newly made loop over the peg. Replace the loop 4. Cinch newly made loop in, but not too tightly.
—Knit pegs 2 & 1 of the 4.
—Again insert the crochet hook between pegs 2 & 3 and poke it through the same eyelet directly below.
—Wrap WY around crochet hook and pull a new loop through the eyelet and out the front of the pegs.
—Lift the loop 2 and pass newly made loop behind the peg. Replace loop 2.
—Lift the loop 1 and pass the left side of the newly made loop over the peg. Replace the loop 1. Cinch newly made loop in, but not too tightly.
—Continue with the rest of the row.
—The next row will work all pegs 1 and 4 of the bunny ears pegs as 2 over 1. Make sure that these 2 pegs are worked without much tension throughout.
Here are the Repeating Pattern Rows for the stitch itself, based on the chart above:
Row 1: p1, , k2, p1, k2tog, yo, yo, ssk.
Row 2: k8.
Row 3: k4, make a new drop loop (see above instructions in Pattern Notes), k2, make a new drop loop.
Row 4: k8, working drop loop pegs as 2 over 1.
Row 5: k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, p1, k2, p1.
Row 6: k8.
Row 7: make a new drop loop, k2, make a new drop loop, k4.
Row 8: k8, working drop loop pegs as 2 over 1.
Step by Step Instructions:
Cast onto your loom from left to right, using a total of 38 pegs. (Sample uses Chain Cast On)
Set Up Rows
Row 1: p38.
Row 2: k38.
Row 3: p38.
Row 4: k38.
Main Pattern Rows
Row 5: p2, k5, *k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, k4, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.
Row 6: k38.
Row 7: p2, k5, *make a new drop loop, k2, make a new drop loop, k4, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.
Row 8: k38, working drop loop pegs as 2 over 1.
Row 9: p2, k1, *k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, p1, k2, p1, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.
Row 10: k38.
Row 11: p2, k1, *make a new drop loop, k2, make a new drop loop, k4, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.
Row 12: repeat Row 8.
Row 13: p2, k1, *p1, k2, p1, k2tog, yo, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k1, p2.
Row 14: k38.
Rows 15-54: repeat Rows 7-14.
Rows 55-59: repeat Rows 7-11.
Finishing Rows
Row 60: k38.
Row 61: p38.
Row 62: k38.
Row 63: p38.
Bind off all stitches loosely. (Sample uses the Basic Bind Off) Weave in ends and trim close to work.
Block to an 8” x 8” measurement.
Afghan Notes:
If you are intending this square to be part of an afghan, you may wish to make up to 3 or 4 additional squares. We will be sharing at least 24 of these patterns for you to use in your blanket. Use the following general measurements to decide how many of each of the 8″ x 8″ squares you will need, rounding up as necessary:
- Baby Blanket: 30″ x 36″
- Children: 42″ x 48″
- Lapghan: 36″ x 48″
- Twin Bed Afghan: 60″ x 85″
- Queen Bed Afghan: 90″ x 95″
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave a note for Bethany Dailey below in the comments! 🙂