Crochet bunny ears are one of the sweetest little details you can add to handmade baby gifts, toys, and accessories. Whether you love soft floppy ears or more upright styles, they’re surprisingly simple to create once you understand how the shaping works.
In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll walk you through the basic techniques used to make bunny ears, including how they’re shaped, how to keep them neat and soft, and how to attach them securely to your projects.
If you’d prefer a ready-made design, you can also find my free crochet bunny ears pattern here, which includes a link for a coordinating bonnet pattern if you’d like to create the full look. You can also find my free bunny lovey pattern here.
HOW TO SHAPE CROCHET BUNNY EARS
Most bunny ears are created using very simple shaping techniques.
The width of the ear is formed by working a small foundation row or round, then adding stitches evenly to build the shape.
As you move towards the tip of the ear, decreases are used to gently taper the ear so it looks natural rather than square.
Because the shaping is gradual, bunny ears are actually a lovely beginner-friendly project to practise increases and decreases.
DIFFERENT BUNNY EAR STYLES (FLOPPY VS UPRIGHT)
There are a few different styles of crochet ears, and the look you choose depends on the project you’re making.
Floppy ears are the most popular for baby items. They’re soft, flexible, and have that classic gentle bunny look. These are often worked in rounds with simple shaping at the tip.
Upright ears are firmer and hold their shape more strongly. These usually use tighter stitches or slightly smaller hooks to create structure and are often worked in rows.
Folded or attached ears are commonly used for bonnets and hats. These are designed to sit neatly against the fabric rather than sticking out. Folded ears are often created by beginning with just a few stitches at the base and increasing gradually until you reach the widest part of the ear. From there, decreases are used to taper the shape smoothly towards the tip.
Once you understand how shaping works, you can easily adapt the style to suit different projects.
BEST YARN FOR SOFT BUNNY EARS
The type of yarn you choose makes a big difference to how your bunny ears look and feel.
Cotton yarn is a popular choice because it holds its shape well and gives a neat, defined finish. It’s especially good for bonnets, loveys and structured designs.
Chenille or plush yarn creates beautifully soft, cuddly ears that are perfect for plushies and toys.
Acrylic yarn sits somewhere in between, offering good structure while still feeling gentle.
If you want ears to drape softly, choose a slightly larger hook size. For firmer ears, use a smaller hook for tighter stitches.
HOW TO STOP BUNNY EARS CURLING
One of the most common issues beginners notice is that bunny ears can sometimes curl or twist slightly.
This usually happens when stitches are worked very tightly, or when the hook size is too small for the yarn.
Using a hook that matches your yarn weight and maintaining an even tension will help ears lie smoothly.
If needed, very light blocking can also help the ears relax into a softer shape.
In most cases, though, gentle shaping with your hands after finishing is enough to create a lovely natural drape.
HOW TO ATTACH CROCHET BUNNY EARS
Attaching bunny ears securely is an important final step, especially for baby items that need to be durable.
Ears are usually sewn on using a yarn needle, working through several stitches at the base to keep them firmly in place. Ensuring you catch stitches from the ear as well as the item you are attaching the ears to.
I strongly recommend pinning the ears in to position first so you can check they’re evenly spaced before stitching.
For bonnets, ears are often attached slightly forward from the centre so they frame the face nicely.
Taking a little time with placement makes a big difference to the finished look.
READY TO MAKE YOUR OWN?
If you’d like a step-by-step design, you can find my free crochet bunny ears pattern here. You can attach these bunny ears to bonnets, hats and headbands for a perfect bunny look. You can also find my Free Crochet Bunny Lovey here.
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