Jemima Rabbit
www.beakerbutton.co.uk @Jen Best 2015
Rabbit
Tension: 24 sts x 32 rows over a 10 x 10cm square using 3.5mm double pointed needles. With the DK this wil make a dense fabric. DK beaker button bountiful - 50g, about 110m, yarn needle for sewing up, stuffing, smallength of black for face.
Dress
Tension: 18 sts x 26 rows over a 10 x 10cm square using 4mm single point needles, DK beaker button bountiful in a contrast colour - 30g, about 70m, 5 x 1.5mm Dorset buttons, yarn needle for sewing in ends, two stitch markers.
Buttons
5 brass rings 1.5cm, approximately 1.5m of thread, blunt ended needle. Abbreviations K2tog - knit 2 together Kfb - knit into the front and back. sl1wyf - slip one stitch with the yarn in front K2tog tbl - knit 2 together through the back loop Sl1 - slip one stitch purlwise psso - pass slipped stitch over yrn- yarn round needle
Rabbit Body
Cast on 48 (12 on each needle). Join to work in the round. Knit every round until the body measures 9cm. (K2tog) for next round. Knit 1 round. Repeat last two round once more. Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 12 stitches.
Rabbit legs
Legs, make two Cast on 24 (6 on each needle). Join to work in the round. Knit every round until the leg measures 8cm. (K2tog) for next round. Knit 1 round. Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 12 stitches.
Rabbit Arms
Maketwo Cast on 20 (5 on each needle). Join to work in the round. Knit every round until the leg measures 4.5cm. (K2tog) for next round. Knit 1 round. Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 10 stitches. Rabbit Head - worked straight, but you might find it easier to spread the stitches over 4 double pointed needles, as the amount of kfb can be tight to work with. Cast on 4. kfb for whole row Purl 1 row kfb for whole row Repeat last two rows until you have 32 sts. Purl one row (kfb, K1) repeat to end (48 sts) Purl Knit Repeat last two rows four more times Spread stitches over 4 needles (if not already) and join to work in the round (12 sts on each needle). Knit every round until the head measures 6cm. (K2tog) for next round. Knit 2 rounds. (K2tog) for next round. (K2tog) for next round. Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 6 stitches.
Making Up
Stuff head, legs, arms and body and sew up the gaps. Sew limbs in place as shown in photo. Sew head in place as shown in photo. Note that the nose is the cast off end. Sew the face on using black thread as shown in the photo.
Rabbit Ears
Pick up 5 stitches across the left side of the head at the back, as shown in the photo. Sl1wyf, knit to end of row Sl1wyf, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, K1 Sl1wyf, knit to end of row for 3 rows Repeat the last four rows Sl1wyf, knit to end of row for 8 rows k2tog tbl, knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog Sl1wyf, knit to end of row Repeat last 2 rows until 3 stitches remain Sl1, K2tog, psso Break yarn, thread through last st to fasten off, weave tail down the back of the ear. Repeat ear pattern on the right side of the head as shown in the photo. To make the ears long and pointed you need to wet them well, stretch them out and pin them till they dry.
Dress
wanted. For best results use Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn to make 0-3 months size. If you wish to (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1 Repeat last row 4 more times (moss stitch border) Main dress pattern (K1, P1) × 2, knit to last 4 sts, (P1, K1) x 2 (K1, P1) × 2, purl to last 4 sts, (P1, K1) × 2 Repeat last two rows twice more Decrease and button hole rows. (K1, P1) x 2, K9, K2tog tbl, place marker, k2tog, K15, k2tog tbl, place marker, K2tog, knit to last 5 sts, K2tog tbl, yrn twice, K2tog, K1 (K1, P1) x 2, purl to last 4 sts slipping markers as you go, (P1, K1) x 2 make a larger size you could use a Dk yarn on larger needles. Repeat last two rows Decrease and button hole rows. (K1, P1) x 2, knit to 2 sts before marker, K2tog tbl, slip marker, k2tog, knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog tbl, slip marker, K2tog, knit to last 5 sts, K2tog tbl, yrn twice, K2tog, K1 (K1, P1) x 2, purl to last 4 sts, (P1, K1) x 2 This pattern is adapted from several different patterns so that I could get the exact shape and size that I (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1 removing markers as you get to them Repeat last row (K1, P1) to last 5 stitches, K2tog tbl, yrn twice, K2tog, K1 (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1 Repeat last row Cast off in moss stitch. Weave in tails and block dress gently. Sew 3 of the buttons on the moss stitch band opposite the holes.
Dress Straps
Do up the buttons. Pick up 4 stitches across the top of the dress at the front, 5 stitches in from the edge. Moss stitch for6cm. Cast offin moss stitch. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail. Use the tail to sew the strap to the back of the dress. Do the same for the opposite side 5 stitches from the edge. Sew a button at the bottom of the straps s on how to make a Crosswheel button, sometimes known as a Blandford Cartwhee
Materials
1 brass ring 1.5cm, approximately 1.5m of thread, blunt ended needle. There are four stages to making a Dorset Button on a ring. Casting, Slicking, Laying and Rounding. Hints and tips: If you find you are running out of thread simply thread the tail of yarn neatly through the back of the button and leave a long tail. Add new yarn by threading it back the opposite way to the first thread, leaving a long tail, and continue rounding, stitching over the tails as well. The tails can be woven into the back of the button at the end. When laying the spokes make sure the spoke you are laying is perfectly in the centre of the ring at the front. Don't worry about the back. This will help to make your spokes central. The holding stitches you put in will pull the back spokes into place. As you are stitching with single ply thread it helps to twist the thread every now and then to stop it unravelling.
Casting
Have a length of yarn approximately 2.5m long. Tie the yarn round the ring in a single knot, leaving a tail of about 1-2cm. Stitch round the entire ring in blanket stitch, covering the tail as you go. Bring the needle towards you through the ring and pass it away from you through the loop created. Make sure to cover the whole ring, moving the stitches along the ring so there are no gaps.
The first knot
Casting in blanket stitch
Slicking
Turn all the stitches so that they face inwards, leaving a smooth edge to the button. The thread should drop from the back of the hutton.
Laying
Bring the yarn towards you over the ring then back up. This forms one spoke. Turn the ring and repeat until there are several spokes around the ring. The spacing should be even. For a crosswheel button 8 spokes looks good. Make two or three stitches in the centre of the wheel to hold the spokes in place, being careful to catch allthe threads from the back into the middle. I make my second stitch across my first, so they look like a cross. If your spokes are not central and you want them to be, firmly tug the middle until it's placed centrally, using the side of the needle.
Laying
Rounding
Back stitch round the spokes. Bring the needle up from the back. Pass it back down clockwise over the spoke. Bring it back up two spokes anti-clockwise. Pass it down one spoke clockwise. Repeat this until you reach the start of you first round. Continue back stitching rounds in this way until the entire button is filled. To make the button more central push the stitches closest to the edge into the middle with your finger, but leave the stitches furthest away.
Rounding Completed button
Finishing off
Finishing
Thread the tail of the yarn at the back of the button into the middle and make one or two holding stitches. Leave the yarn tail for sewing onto a garment.
