Shabby Bunny DIY

During this season of Lent, we look forward with earnest to Easter day. I love Easter day and have fond memories of Easters of the past. I’ve celebrated Easter in Illinois, South Africa, Minnesota and this year, we’ll be celebrating Easter in California where it’s almost guaranteed to be beautiful weather. (It’s always hit or miss in the Midwest!) I love celebrating and remembering the glorious resurrection of our Lord and I love to imagine what it must have been like to be present on the first Easter. I also really enjoy all the cultural symbols of rebirth and new beginnings: the eggs, bunnies, flowers and the general joy of spring. With that in mind, today I’ll show you how to make a sweet, shabby bunny that would make a wonderful addition to any child’s Easter basket or just a whimsical face to decorate your home for the springtime season.

For this project you’ll need some fabric scraps, a scrap of heavyweight interfacing such as Peltex 70 Ultrafirm Stabilizer, a piece of string or ribbon, polyfill, fabric paint and your sewing supplies.

First, cut out your pieces. Your main body panel will be about 3″x11″ with rounded corners. Cut out an ear shape about 1 3/4″ at widest point x 5 1/2″. You may also cut out arm and leg pieces if you wish.

Cut two body pieces, four ear pieces, and two ear pieces cut out of the interfacing, slightly smaller than your main ear pieces.

Sew your ear pieces together and turn right side out. Stuff the interfacing into the ear. If your interfacing isn’t firm enough, sew it into the inside of the ear, then sew ear pieces together and turn.

Place your body pieces right sides together with the ears positioned like so, on the inside, so when you turn it right side out, they will stick up. Sew all around the edge of the body, leaving a hole for turning at the bottom of the bunny.