Cottontail the Sheep Free Pattern
Here’s a fantastic FAST crochet project for any time of the year.
Plush, soft, and round. Floppy ears to tug. My kids love this guy and all wanted him, even my teen! So I will definitely be making more in the future.
This toy paired with the Sheep Baby Sleep Sack would make an amazing gift set for a baby on the way.
Both patterns are made with Bernat Blanket yarn. It’s one of my favorites because of how soft, bulky, and versatile it is.
I would have made smiley eyes. Which are those eyes that are just curved lines. I love those eyes, they are so simple and sweet. There is an example of them near the end of the post.
But the little man I was making Cottontail for insisted he needed open eyes because he can’t battle when he’s asleep. Yes, battle.
So the free pattern to come includes instructions on these silly, fun round eyes. But I think smiley eyes would be even more adorable!
Materials you’ll need are:
- 1 – 10.5 oz. ball of Bernat Blanket Yarn in White or Vanilla (I used Vanilla)
- Small Amount of Black and White and Pink Medium Weight Yarn for the Inner Ears and Eyes
- 8mm Crochet Hook
- 5mm Crochet Hook
- Stuffing
- Darling Needle
Here is a link to the yarn. If you purchase through the link it can help make this site free to maintain and is greatly appreciated! Both Vanilla and White are in the color selection of that link.
This post contains affiliate links by which I could earn a commission. See the full disclosure HERE.
Instructions for Special Stitch: Puff Stitch
- Step 1: Yarn over the hook. Insert the hook into the stitch.
- Step 2: Yarn over. Pull the yarn through the stitch.
- Step 3: Bring the loop up to match the same height as the previous stitch. There should now be 3 loops on your hook.
- Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3, 3 more times, until you have 9 loops on the hook
- Step 5: Yarn over. Pull through all the loops on the hook.
- Stitch complete.
Stitch abbreviations:
Single Crochet = sc
Stitches or stitch = sts, or st
Single Crochet 2 Together = Sc2tog
Two Single Crochet in the Same Stitch = 2sc
Let’s get started!
I always start my rounds in the same stitch as the chain. The chain doesn’t count as a stitch.
With your White or Vanilla and 8mm hook. Make a magic ring.
Don’t know how to make a magic ring? CLICK HERE! It’s easy!
Round 1 – Ch.1. 10Sc in the ring. Tighten the ring. Join. (10sts)
Round 2 – Ch1. 2sc in each stitch around. Join. (20sts)
Round 3 – Ch1. *Sc1, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (30sts)
Round 4 – Ch1. *Sc2, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (40sts)
Round 5 – Ch1. *Sc3, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (50sts)
Round 6 – Ch1. *Sc4, 2sc in the next st.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (60sts)
Rounds 7-10 – Ch1. Sc in each st around. Join. (60sts)
Round 11 – Ch1. *Sc5, puff stitch in the next st.* Repeat * to * 10 times. Join. (60sts)
Round 12 – Ch1. *Sc2. Puff stitch in the next st. *Sc5, puff stitch in the next st.* Repeat * to * 9 times. Sc3. Join. (60sts)
Alternate rounds 11 and 12 for 8 rows, up to round 18.
Rounds 19 & 20 – Ch1. Sc around. Join. (60sts)
Round 21 – Ch1. *Sc8, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (54sts)
Round 22 – Ch1. *Sc7, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (48sts)
Round 23 – Ch1. *Sc6, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (42sts)
Round 24 – Ch1. *Sc5, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (36sts)
Round 25 – Ch1. *Sc4, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (30sts)
Round 26 – Ch1. *Sc3, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (24sts)
Stop either here or the next round an make your eyes, and nose and sew them on. Then stuff and continue. There are instructions to make the eyes and nose below.
I sewed my eyes on just below Round 25.
Round 26 – Ch1. *Sc2, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (18sts)
Round 27 – Ch1. *Sc1, sc2tog.* Repeat * to * around. Join. (12sts)
Round 28 – Ch1. Sc2tog around. Join. (6sts)
Add any extra stuffing if needed.
Round 29 – Ch1. Sc2tog around as able.
Tie off and sew up.
Eyes – Make the following round eyes, or consider making smiley eyes. Example below.
With the 5mm hook and white to make the centers of the eyes. Make a magic circle.
Round 1 – Ch1. 5sc into the circle. Tighten, join. Tie off.
With the 5mm hook and black to make the other layer of the eyes. Make a magic circle.
Round 1 – Ch1. Sc6 in the circle. Join. (6sts)
Round 2 – Ch1. 2Sc, 2hdc, 2dc, 2hdc, 2sc in each of the last 2sts. Join. (12sts)
Tie off. Make the whites of the eyes next, the instructions are just below. Then sew them together before sewing them onto the stuffy.
Here is an example of the smiley eyes I was talking about… All you have to do is make a tight chain to the length you think looks right, and sew it on! So easy, and I love how they look. I think they would look great on Cottontail too.
Nose
With the 5mm hook and pink. Make a magic circle.
Round 1 – Ch.1. Sc3, triple crochet, sc, triple crochet, sc, triple crochet. Tighten circle. Join.
Tie off and sew it onto the stuffy. Cut another strand of yarn approximately 4 feet long and double it up. I found that one strand just wasn’t visible enough. Sew on the mouth. I start at the nose. Come up from the inside of the stuffy at the bottom of the nose. Go down making the center line. Then make the sides by coming up at the farthest point and back towards the center line.
Ears
Outer Ears – Make 2
With white or vanilla and 8mm hook.
Ch. 10.
Round 1 – Sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Sc4, Hdc2, dc1, 5dc in the end stitch, then continue down the other side of the chain. Dc1, Hdc2, sc4. Join.
Round 2 – Ch1, Slip stitch around. Tie off.
Inner Ears – Make 2
With a 5mm hook. Repeat the pattern for the inner ears with a black worsted yarn.
Sew into the outer ears. Pinch and sew together the bottom of the outer ear so it almost hugs the tip of the inner ear. Then sew onto the body.
Your done! I hope you love your fun little fuzz ball. Did you like this pattern? If so, please share! And subscribe so you don’t miss any fun free or new patterns from Cute Little Crochet.
Happy Crocheting!
