MEASUREMENTS: 3 months (to fit boot length approx 8cm); 6 months (to fit foot length approx 9.5cm).

MATERIALS: Cleckheaton Machinewash 5-ply Crepe (50g balls)
Main colour (MC): 2, 3 balls
Contrast colour (CC): 1, 1 balls
One pair of 3.25mm knitting needles or the required size to give correct tension (see Tension); DMC stranded cotton in suitable colours for embroidery of eyes and nose; 2 buttons; knitter's needle for sewing seams and embroidery.

TENSION
These bootees have been designed at a tension of 25sts and 50 rows to 10cm over garter st and 28sts and 36 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 3.25 mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS
Alt = alternate, beg = begin/ning; cm = centimeters; dec = decrease, decreasing; foll = follows, following; garter st = every row knit; inc = increase, increasing; incl.= inclusive, including; K = knit; 0 = (zero)-not sts, rows or times; P= purl; psso = pass slip stitch over; rem = remain, remaining; rep = repeat; sl = slip; st/s = stitch/es; stocking st = 1 row knit, I row purl; tog = together; yfwd = yarn forward-bring yarn under needle, then over into knitting position again, thus making a stitch.

Bunny bootees (make 2-beg at sole) Using 3.25mm needles and MC, cast on 13 (17) sts.
Working in garter st, inc one st at each end of 3rd and foll alt rows until there are 21 (25) sts, then in foll 4th row once.. 23 (27) sts.* Work 3 rows garter st. Dec one st at each end of next and foll 4th row, then in foll att rows until 13 (17) sts rem. Knit 1 row (wrong side).

SHAPE HEEL: Next row: Cast on 7 sts, knit to end…20 (24) sts.
Knit 1 row (wrong side).
Inc one st at end (toe edge) of next and foll alt rows until there are 26(30) sts.
Knit 1 row (wrong side).

SHAPE ANKLE: Next row: Cast off 14 (16) sts, knit to end…12 (14) sts.

SHAPE INSTEP: Work 7 rows stocking st on these 12 (14) sts, beg and ending with a purl row.
Tie a marker at each end of last row for position of ears. Work a further 8 rows stocking st.

SHAPE ANKLE: Next row: Cast on 14 (16)sts, knit to end…26(30) sts. Knit 1 row (wrong side).
Dec one st at end (toe edge) of next and foll alt rows until 20 (24)sts rem. Knit 1 row (wrong side). Cast off loosely.

Bunny inside ears
Beg at base: Using 3.25mm needles CC, knit up 8 sts evenly between side edge of instep and central marker.
Work 3 rows stocking st on these 8 sts, beg with a purl row (1st row is wrong side).
Beg shaping: **1st row: K2, inc in next st, K2..10sts.
2nd and foll alt rows: Purl.
3rd row: K2, inc in next st K4, inc in nest st, K2…12sts.
5th row: Knit.
7th row: K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K6, K2tog, K1….10 sts.
9th row: K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K4, K2tog, K1….8sts.
11th row: K1, sl 1, K1, psso, K2, K2tog, K1….6sts.
12th row: (P2tog) 3 times.. 3sts.
Break off yarn, thread through rem sts, draw up and fasten off securely.** Work other inside ear to correspond, knitting up sts from central market to other side edge of instep.

Bunny outside ears (knitted separately- make 2)
Using 3.25mm needles and MC, cast on 8 sts.

Beg at base: Work 4 rows stocking st.

Bunny ankle strap
Using 3.25mm needles and MC, cast on 40 sts. Work 2 rows garter st.
3rd row: K2, K2tog, yfwd (to make a st), knit to end.. buttonhole. Work 3 rows garter st. Cast off loosely.

To make up bunny bootees
Join straight edges at back of shoe from ankle to heel. Sew sole evenly into position, gathering instep edge slightly to form a slight point at toe edge. Fold ankle strap in half and mark centre. Sew ankle strap to back of foot, matching heel seam to marker and stitching for 8 sts either side of heel. Sew button in position on strap. Sew outside ears to inside ears, nothing that the contrast colour faces front of the bootee. Using DMC stranded cotton and straight stitch, embroider the whiskers, nose and mouth. Using French knots, embroider eyes on the instep as in photograph.