Crochet Baby Rattle: Easy Bunny Gift in 18 Photo Steps
This crochet baby rattle is a small bunny head with two long ears, sewn onto a wooden ring that a baby can hold, and it rattles when shaken. It is worked in the round on a 1.75 or 2.0 mm hook in a thin cotton, from 24 head rounds, two 14-round ears and an 8-row stripe that covers the ring. Below you get a photo for every one of the 18 steps, the three round charts, a safety section you should read before you start, and a comparison with five more free patterns.
Two corrections up front. First, the head chart prints rounds 9 to 17 as 21 stitches, but the head has 48 stitches after round 8 and nothing is decreased until round 18, so those nine rounds must be 48. Second, the 1.75 to 2.0 mm hook sits below the 2.25 mm floor of the Craft Yarn Council’s thinnest regular-hook group. That is a deliberate choice for a tight cloth that hides filling, but it means you should swatch before you commit.
One more honest note: the photos show 6 mm safety eyes. For a baby under 3 we use embroidered eyes instead, for the reasons in the safety section, and every other step works the same either way.
- Crochet Baby Rattle at a Glance
- What You Need for a Crochet Baby Rattle
- Safety First for a Crochet Baby Rattle
- Crochet Baby Rattle Step by Step
- Crochet Baby Rattle Yarn and Hook Size
- Where a Crochet Baby Rattle Goes Wrong
- Five More Free Baby Rattle Patterns
- Crochet Baby Rattle FAQ
- More Small Baby Gifts to Crochet
Crochet Baby Rattle at a Glance
The crochet baby rattle has three parts that you make one after another: two ears, one stripe that wraps the ring, and the head. There is no shaping to invent, because every round of the head and the ears is printed with its stitch count.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Parts | 2 ears (14 rounds each), 1 ring stripe (8 rows), 1 head (24 rounds) |
| Hook | 1.75 mm or 2.0 mm |
| Yarn | Drops Safran, 100% cotton, 50 g and 160 m (175 yd) per ball |
| Wooden ring | 6.5 cm (2.5 in) |
| Stitches | Single crochet (sc), increase (inc, two sc in one stitch), decrease (dec, two sc worked together), magic ring (MR), chain |
| Stitch multiple | None for the rounds: each increase round adds 6 stitches to the one before. The stripe is 27 stitches wide on a chain of 28 |
| Total stitches | 1,506: head 816, ears 237 each, stripe 216 (our count) |
| Finished size | The design does not print one. Five other free rattles run 5 to 7 in (13 to 18 cm) tall |
Stitch names follow the standard crochet naming convention, so a single crochet is the shortest basic stitch: insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops. Every round is worked in a spiral, so keep a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
What You Need for a Crochet Baby Rattle
The list for this crochet baby rattle is short, and most of it is already in a yarn stash. Two items need a decision from you, the eyes and the rattle insert, and both are covered in the safety section.
- Yarn: Drops Safran, 100% cotton. One ball is 50 g and 160 m, which is 175 yd by our conversion. The design prints no total yardage, so we do not guess one.
- Hook: 1.75 mm or 2.0 mm. Use the smaller one if your stitches look loose.
- Fiberfill: polyester hollowfiber stuffing for the head.
- Wooden ring: 6.5 cm (2.5 in) across. Choose a smooth, unfinished one and look at the next section before you buy.
- Eyes: the design uses 6 mm safety eyes; we suggest black thread instead for under 3.
- Rattle insert: a plastic rattle ball or bell for the crochet baby rattle. The materials card lists it, but the steps never say what size it is.
- Also: sharp scissors, a yarn needle, a stitch marker and a length of black thread for the face.
Safety First for a Crochet Baby Rattle
A baby will chew on this crochet baby rattle, so the safe-making rules count more than any stitch. We are crafters, not a testing lab, so treat the points below as a checklist and not a safety certificate.
- Eyes. The designer of two free bunny rattles we checked says safety eyes and buttons pose a choking risk for children under 3, and uses embroidered eyes. Embroider black thread for any baby under 3. The photos in this article show safety eyes, but the steps work the same with thread.
- The rattle insert. Pick an insert with a sealed shell that cannot open. One designer advises gluing a container lid shut. Bury the insert in the middle of the filling, close the head tightly, and tug the finished toy hard in every direction before you give it away.
- The size test. The CPSC bans small parts in toys for children under 3, and its 1995 notice describes the test cylinder as 1.25 in (31.7 mm) across and 1 to 2.25 in deep (Federal Register, 1995). Anything that could come loose and fit inside is a hazard. The AAP adds that every toy and part should be larger than the child’s mouth (HealthyChildren guide).
- The ring. Use a smooth wooden ring with no splinters. One designer’s page asks for untreated wood; if you cannot tell what a ring is coated with, ask the seller. Sew the stripe on tightly so it cannot slide.
- Washing. Our advice: a wooden ring should not soak, so wipe the toy with a damp cloth instead of machine washing it.
The CPSC’s own page on small parts is here: Small Parts for Toys and Children’s Products. It prints no numbers, which is why we quote the 1995 notice for the cylinder size.
Crochet Baby Rattle Step by Step
Work everything in a continuous spiral unless a step says otherwise. The charts give the stitch count at the end of each round in brackets, so count after every round, because one stray stitch spoils the shape of the head.
Step 1: Start the first ear with a magic ring
Both ears of the crochet baby rattle are worked from the tip downwards, and you make two identical pieces. Make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it, then pull the tail to close the ring. You now have 6 stitches.
Step 2: Increase the ear to 21 stitches (rounds 2 to 7)
Round 2 is (sc, inc) three times (9). Then each round adds one more plain stitch before the increase: round 3 is (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12), round 4 is (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15) and round 5 is (4 sc, inc) x 3 (18). Round 6 is plain, 18 sc around. Round 7 is (5 sc, inc) x 3 and reaches 21.
Step 3: Work five straight rounds
Rounds 8 to 12 are simple: single crochet in each of the 21 stitches around, five rounds in total. This straight part is the length of the ear, so keep the count at 21 every round.
Step 4: Decrease the ear to a rounded base
Round 13 is (5 sc, dec) x 3 (18), and round 14 is (4 sc, dec) x 3 (15). The ear is now a long, slightly pointed oval with 15 stitches left at the bottom. The printed card gives no stuffing for the ears, so we leave them flat.
Step 5: Fold the bottom of the ear and close it
Fold the bottom of the ear in half and crochet 6 to 7 sc through both halves. Then fold the bottom in half once more and crochet 3 sc through both layers. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. The printed instructions give a range of 6 to 7 stitches, so follow your ear and not the number.
| Ear round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MR, 6 sc into the ring | 6 |
| 2 | (sc, inc) x 3 | 9 |
| 3 | (2 sc, inc) x 3 | 12 |
| 4 | (3 sc, inc) x 3 | 15 |
| 5 | (4 sc, inc) x 3 | 18 |
| 6 | sc in each stitch | 18 |
| 7 | (5 sc, inc) x 3 | 21 |
| 8 to 12 | sc in each stitch, 5 rounds | 21 |
| 13 | (5 sc, dec) x 3 | 18 |
| 14 | (4 sc, dec) x 3 | 15 |
That is 237 stitches per ear, our total from the table. Make the second ear of the crochet baby rattle exactly the same.
Step 6: Chain the ring stripe
The stripe is a flat strip that wraps around the wooden ring, so it is worked in rows. Chain 28. The design says to change the chain count if your ring is a different size, so lay the chain around your ring: it should reach once around the width of the ring without stretching.
Step 7: Work the stripe rows
For row 2, make 27 sc starting in the second chain from the hook. For rows 3 to 9, chain 1, turn and make 27 sc. That is 8 rows of 27 stitches, or 216 stitches, a strip about as wide as your ring is thick.
| Stripe row | Work | Stitches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chain 28 | 28 chains |
| 2 | 27 sc from the 2nd chain from the hook | 27 |
| 3 to 9 | Chain 1, turn, 27 sc in each row | 27 per row |
Step 8: Sew the stripe around the wooden ring
Wrap the stripe around the wooden ring of the crochet baby rattle so its two long edges meet, and sew them together. The design stresses that your stitches must be very tight, and we agree: this is the part a baby will pull on. Pull every stitch snug, then secure and cut the yarn.
Step 9: Start the head with a magic ring
Make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it, then close it with the tail. The head of this crochet baby rattle is worked from the crown down, so this ring is the top of the head.
Step 10: Increase the head to 48 stitches (rounds 2 to 8)
Round 2 is 6 inc (12). After that each round puts one more plain stitch between increases: round 3 is (sc, inc) x 6 (18), round 4 is (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24), round 5 is (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30), round 6 is (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36), round 7 is (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42), and round 8 is (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48). The pattern is the same six increases in every round, which keeps the circle flat.
Step 11: Work nine straight rounds
Rounds 9 to 17 are single crochet in each stitch around, nine rounds in total. Here the printed chart says 21 stitches, which is a typo: there is no decrease yet, so you still have 48 stitches in every round.
Step 12: Place the eyes between rounds 11 and 12
Put the eyes in between rounds 11 and 12, leaving 8 stitches between them. The design places 6 mm safety eyes here. If the toy is for a baby, embroider two small black knots at the same spots instead, using a needle, once the head is closed.
Step 13: Decrease the head (rounds 18 to 22)
Round 18 is (6 sc, dec) x 6 (42), then round 19 is (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36), round 20 is (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30), round 21 is (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24), and round 22 is (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18). The head now starts to close.
Step 14: Stuff the head and add the rattle
Stop after round 22. Stuff the head firmly and put the rattle insert into the middle of the filling. Only two rounds remain, so this is your last chance. Check the insert is sealed, packed round with filling and cannot move to the opening.
Step 15: Close the head (rounds 23 and 24)
Round 23 is (sc, dec) x 6 (12), and round 24 is 6 dec (6). Fasten off with a tail, thread it through the remaining 6 loops, pull tight and tie off.
| Head round | Stitches | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MR, 6 sc | 6 |
| 2 | 6 inc | 12 |
| 3 | (sc, inc) x 6 | 18 |
| 4 | (2 sc, inc) x 6 | 24 |
| 5 | (3 sc, inc) x 6 | 30 |
| 6 | (4 sc, inc) x 6 | 36 |
| 7 | (5 sc, inc) x 6 | 42 |
| 8 | (6 sc, inc) x 6 | 48 |
| 9 to 17 | sc in each stitch, 9 rounds (the chart prints 21, a typo) | 48 |
| 18 | (6 sc, dec) x 6 | 42 |
| 19 | (5 sc, dec) x 6 | 36 |
| 20 | (4 sc, dec) x 6 | 30 |
| 21 | (3 sc, dec) x 6 | 24 |
| 22 | (2 sc, dec) x 6 | 18 |
| 23 | (sc, dec) x 6 | 12 |
| 24 | 6 dec | 6 |
Step 16: Shape the muzzle
The design shapes a small muzzle once the head is closed, but it prints no stitch counts for it, so we cannot give you any. The photo shows yarn stitches worked on the lower half of the face. Work a few small stitches, look at the face, then add more only if it needs them.
Step 17: Sew on the ears
Sew the ears to the head between rounds 2 and 3, counted from the crown where you started. Pin both ears first and check that they are level, then sew with small, tight stitches through the folded base. Because a baby will tug the ears, go through the fabric of the head twice.
Step 18: Embroider the nose and eyebrows
Embroider the nose and the eyebrows with a long piece of black thread. The head then sits on the wrapped ring in the finished photos, with a cream ruffle collar around the neck. The collar comes from the creator’s other work and is not part of this pattern, and the exact way the head is joined to the ring is not shown, so sew it through the stripe and the head with tight, doubled stitches (our advice, not a printed step).
Crochet Baby Rattle Yarn and Hook Size
The crochet baby rattle design names Drops Safran, a 100% cotton in 50 g, 160 m (175 yd) balls, and a hook of 1.75 or 2.0 mm. It prints no total yardage and no finished size, so here is what we can say without guessing: the whole rattle holds 1,506 stitches, and one ball is 175 yd.
The hook is thin on purpose. The Craft Yarn Council puts its super fine group on a regular hook of 2.25 to 3.5 mm (yarn weight system), so both hooks here sit just below that range. A tight fabric stops the filling and the rattle insert from showing through the stitches. If your fabric looks open, use the 1.75 mm hook.
| Pattern | Hook | Yarn | Size | Eyes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This rattle | 1.75 or 2.0 mm | Drops Safran cotton, 50 g / 160 m | Ring 6.5 cm; height not printed | 6 mm safety eyes (we suggest thread) |
| Cuddly Stitches bunny | 2.0 mm | Mercerised cotton, fine sport | 7 in | Embroidered |
| Sleepy Bunny | 3.0 mm | Cotton-bamboo, light worsted | 7 x 3 in | Embroidered |
| Punqa | 2.5 mm | Worsted cotton | 5 to 6 in with ring | Embroidered |
| Rito Hobby | 3.0 mm | Cotton 8/4 | 17 x 7 cm | Not stated |
Because the crochet baby rattle design prints no yardage, we do not estimate one. If you are unsure, buy a second ball from the same dye lot, since the thin yarn and 1,506 stitches use more than a first look suggests.
Where a Crochet Baby Rattle Goes Wrong
The head is the wrong width
This is the most likely slip in a crochet baby rattle, and it is easy to miss. If you follow the chart’s 21 for rounds 9 to 17, the head shrinks into a narrow cone. Keep 48 stitches from round 8 until round 18 and count at the end of each round.
The rattle works its way out
A loose insert or a head that is not firmly stuffed lets the rattle in a crochet baby rattle shift to the opening. Pack the filling tightly around it, and use a sealed insert. Pull the closing tail hard and weave it in twice.
The stripe slips on the ring
On a crochet baby rattle, a stripe that is too wide for the ring will rotate, and one that is too short will gap. Lay the chain of 28 around the ring before you work the rows, and change the chain count if you need to. Then sew with very tight stitches, as the design says.
Five More Free Baby Rattle Patterns
If you want to compare this crochet baby rattle with other free designs, the five below were checked on the designers’ own pages. Each figure is theirs, and where a page prints nothing, we say so.
- Free Crochet Bunny Rattle Pattern, Cuddly Stitches: a 7 in bunny on a 2 mm hook in fine cotton, with embroidered eyes. The page warns that safety eyes and buttons are a choking risk under 3 and advises gluing a rattle container lid shut.
- Sleepy Bunny Rattle, Cuddly Stitches: 7 in high and 3 in wide on a 3 mm hook. The rattle goes into the head around round 21, and the stuffing goes around it.
- Amigurumi Bunny Rattle, Punqa: a bunny on a wooden ring of about 7 cm, 2.5 mm hook, closed eyes embroidered, 5 to 6 in tall. No rattle method is printed.
- Bunny Rattle, Rito Hobby: about 17 x 7 cm on a 3 mm hook. A 21 mm rattle box or a 25 mm bell goes in after stuffing, and the 70 mm wooden ring is optional.
- Bernat Crochet Ice Cream Cone Rattle, Yarnspirations: not a bunny, but a free rattle of about 7 in. The page advises safety eyes, which is the opposite of the advice above, so decide for yourself.
Another page we found, on a large craft site, returned an error when we tried to read it, so we left it out.
Crochet Baby Rattle FAQ
How do you make a crochet baby rattle?
You crochet a head in the round, two ears and a flat stripe, sew the stripe around a wooden ring, put a sealed rattle insert into the filling of the head and sew the head and ears together. This crochet baby rattle uses 24 head rounds, 14 ear rounds and 8 stripe rows.
What hook size is best for a crochet baby rattle?
This crochet baby rattle uses a 1.75 or 2.0 mm hook with a thin cotton. Other free rattles use 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm. A small hook makes a tight fabric, which keeps the filling and the insert inside the toy.
Can I use safety eyes on a crochet baby rattle?
The crochet baby rattle design uses 6 mm safety eyes, but the designer of two free bunny rattles says safety eyes and buttons are a choking risk under 3. For a baby, embroider the eyes with black thread instead.
How do you put a rattle inside a crochet toy?
Stuff the head until two rounds remain, put a sealed rattle insert into the middle of the filling and pack more stuffing around it. Then close the last rounds tightly. This crochet baby rattle puts the insert in after round 22.
What size wooden ring does a crochet baby rattle need?
This crochet baby rattle uses a 6.5 cm (2.5 in) ring and says to change the chain count of the stripe to suit it. One other bunny rattle uses a 70 mm ring and one uses a ring of about 7 cm.
How much yarn does a crochet baby rattle need?
The crochet baby rattle design prints no yardage. One ball of Drops Safran is 50 g and 160 m (175 yd), and the rattle has 1,506 stitches by our count. If you are unsure, buy a second ball.
More Small Baby Gifts to Crochet
If you enjoyed making this crochet baby rattle, a few other small baby makes pair well with it. Browse the baby toys and accessories and the free crochet patterns, or read baby crochet patterns for a blanket, cardigan, lovey and booties. A matching crochet baby hat or a pair of crochet baby shoes makes a neat set, and how big is a baby blanket helps if you add a blanket.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council: yarn weight system for the hook range of each yarn group.
- CPSC, Federal Register, 27 February 1995 for the small parts test cylinder.
- CPSC: small parts for toys and children’s products
- HealthyChildren (AAP): how to buy safe toys
- Cuddly Stitches: free crochet bunny rattle pattern and Sleepy Bunny rattle
- Punqa: amigurumi bunny rattle
- Rito Hobby: bunny rattle
- Yarnspirations: Bernat ice cream cone rattle
Pattern credit: this crochet baby rattle design comes from the crochet channel Creative Hanna.
