Lisa Bunny Crochet Lovey

Note: This post was originally combined with Miss Maisy Rabbit for Easter 2021. The posts have been separated for easier navigating.

First is the number of points. Year of the Ox has 8 points - a lucky number in Chinese cultures. Lisa Bunny has 12, one for each of the Apostles (I told you this was an Easter post, right?). Second is the choice of colors. Lisa Bunny and Miss Maisy Rabbit are both a realistic shade of tan common to field rabbits. Lisa Bunny also has some very Eastery pastels. If you like symbolism, both the lavender and coral are Lenten colors used in the Church.

Lisa Bunny Lovey also served to help me better understand the mathematics of n-pointed stars in relation to crochet shapes. In the process of figuring out when to increase around, I did some geometry to arrive at a formula for the perimeter of an n-pointed star based only on radius and number of points. I then used the formula, my gauge, and a spreadsheet to determine for which rows I needed to increase based on the number of stitches added per increase. One very frustrating afternoon later, I have a formula that I *think* will work for any n-pointed star. Additional testing is needed. Eventually, this bit of math and procedure will be part of an e-book. So the real story here is that Lisa Bunny has helped me develop this section of my eventually-will-be-a-book.

Q: How much does this pattern cost?

A: This pattern is available for $5 USD (plus sales tax + site fee as applicable) from both my Ravelry and Etsy stores.

• Crochet hook - size G (4 mm) or whatever size is needed to meet the gauge

• 1 pair of 14 mm safety eyes (OR use yarn in the color of your choice to embroider eyes)

• 1 12 mm safety nose (OR use dark brown/black/pink yarn to embroider the nose)

• Stuffing - polyester, cotton, or any natural and dryer safe fiber are recommended for this project (I used organic cotton from Texas)

• Tapestry needle

• Snips

A note on yarn: these are the yarns I chose as the finished lovey is going to a home with a child. Acrylic is a good choice because it can be machine washed and dried. However, you can use any medium weight yarn in the colors of your choice.

Q: How do I care for a lovey?

A: A lovey is a cross between a blanket and an amigurumi. In cases like this, it's best to follow the care steps for the more delicate item (in this example, the amigurumi). For the yarn listed above, I would recommend machine washing in cold water with no softener or bleach. I would also recommend putting the lovey in a laundry bag or tied-off pillow case to protect the stitches from snagging on the washer drum. Laying flat to dry is best to preserve the shape of the plush and to keep the stuffing from clumping up over time. You can put the lovey in front of a box fan or below a ceiling fan to cut drying times. Read about amigurumi care and tips in my post here.

Design Process and Learnings

The foundation of this pattern was already worked out in the Year of the Ox Lovey, namely how to work the center of the blanket based on the number of points needed and the repeating round once the center has been established. Initially, I assumed (bad choice) that the rate of increase would be the same for a 12-pointed star as it was for an 8-pointed star. Wrong-o. After growing frustrated with the guess, check, and frog method of pattern writing, I did what I do best: I sat down to do some math.

Several corrections, rewrites, and additional incorrect formulas later, I had the actually correct formula for the perimeter. Why perimeter? Because the perimeter can be related to the number of stitches in each round. Knowing my gauge (which, by the way, I also incorrectly measured at least once), I was then able to figure out the number of stitches per round based on radius (also related to gauge) and the number of stitches per increase. I could then compare the number of "ideal" stitches per round to a multiplication table based on the number of stitches that would exist after increases, and use the comparison to figure out where the increases needed to go in order to work a flat star.

If that sounds like a lot - it was. It was a lot. Don't ask me how long I took to figure it out because I don't know and don't really want to know.

Side note: If you teach geometry, this would make a great extra credit problem. If you message me, I am happy to provide you with my solution.

In comparison, Lisa Bunny herself was monumentally easier. Lisa's head is simply a sphere and the arms are hemispheres connected to tubes which taper a bit towards the top. Ears were a tad tricky to get that little bit of a curve on one side, but the usual method of pattern writing (guess, check, frog until it's right) won out here.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how Lisa Bunny turned out. She is not only adorable, but helpful in that working on her really helped me start doing the foundational math for some of the shapes in my eventually-will-be-a-book.

My biggest learning here was a reminder to myself: it is OK to get it wrong, just keep working towards the goal. For you non-educators or educators who have somehow escaped this buzzword, I highly recommend checking out the phrase "growth mindset."