I don’t know whether you remember my post about making something from a Japanese craft book but, if you don’t, and you care , here it is
Anyway, I have a Japanese speaking reader who not only offered to help me with the translation but also has now told me that these little rabbits can be used as bento which is an idea from Japan where lunch is packed into a divided box and is both nutritionally balanced and visually appealing. I know these rabbits are not boxes but, apparently that is what they are being marketed as in the book and, because my Japanese is limited to what I hear coming out of the computer when Madamoiselle Tialys the younger is watching her interminable Manga, I hadn’t realised and thought they were just for storage. Hoorah for helpful blog readers (thanks Jenn!).
I know that the Japanese are keen on ingeniously wrapping things in beautiful fabric so those long ears tied into a knotted handle for little children (or big ones with small lunches) to carry to school is a great idea.
Of course, bunnies being bunnies, they are multiplying and I am going to need to replenish my linen and Liberty cotton stocks soon. I got some coloured linen last time I was in the U.K. and, as I am going to visit my family next month, I will stock up on some like this lavender colour which I matched up with some Liberty cotton in the Strawberry Thief design to make this one.
Now that I know they can be lunch bags for tinies, I might well replace the buttons with stitches – just in case.
Also, I can’t wait for the little Easter eggs to come in to the shops here in France (where they don’t jump the gun as much as they do in the U.K.) so that I can pose the buns with some eggs inside.
Tialys 
#1 by UniqueNique on January 19, 2012 - 01:41
They are really cute ;~D
#2 by Ria on March 14, 2012 - 01:58
They are so cute! I want to make one for myself!
#3 by Vicki@Hitch&Thread on October 10, 2012 - 14:14
They are so sweet. How big do they turn out to be?
#4 by tialys on October 10, 2012 - 15:07
Hi Vicki and thanks for dropping by. I must see if I can get around to making some more of these as they seem to attract lots of interest. The lining is a bit fiddly to get right but I suppose I could persevere. Anyway, they measure (approximately!!) 4.5 inches high, 4.5 inches wide and 2.75 inches deep. The bunny ears are 9.5 inches long. I’ve just popped over to your blog and seen a couple of your awesome quilts so I’m sure this project would hold no fears for you.
#5 by Sandra L. on October 31, 2012 - 23:48
Are you using interfacing to stiffen the bag so it stands up? Would love to try some!
#6 by tialys on November 1, 2012 - 00:01
Hi there, thanks for dropping by. I haven’t used interfacing because, up to now, I’ve used fairly thick linen and it stands up O.K. by itself. However, although the pattern doesn’t specify it, I think it would probably be a good idea to use interfacing on the body section if you were using thinner fabric.
#7 by Emily on December 4, 2012 - 17:27
Emily here.
Is there anywhere I could find some DIY patterns for these?
#8 by tialys on December 4, 2012 - 18:20
Hi Emily, Yes but it is in Japanese. However, I worked it out and don’t speak Japanese so it is possible. Here’s my original post where I show the book that I got the pattern from https://thetialys.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/must-learn-japanese/
#9 by Kristin on April 6, 2013 - 06:31
Oh my goodness this is adorable! 🙂 I may have to make something similar as a gift for a bunny loving little girl. 🙂
#10 by tialys on April 6, 2013 - 09:32
Thanks Kristen, I keep going back to making these. They are a bit fiddly but I just love those ears!
#11 by Marie on March 8, 2014 - 02:52
Bonjour ! Ce bunny est trop mignon..malheureusement ce bouquin a l’air introuvable…je cherche désespérément un patron, vous auriez une idée ?
Je vis dans le Lot 🙂
Bon week end
#12 by tialys on March 8, 2014 - 10:44
Bonjour. J’ai acheté mon livre d’une Expo mais quelqu’un a trouvé ce lien http://www.isbns.sx/isbn/9784391628425. Ou vous pourriez regarder Etsy de temps en temps ici https://www.etsy.com/search?q=japanese+craft+book&ship_to=ZZ&page=3 Bonne chance!
#13 by createnic on March 25, 2014 - 04:19
these are so super cute. I have been wondering what to make for Easter and now I have it! And I am feeling brave how to figure out how to make them without a pattern. thanks for the inspiration. and your blog is really sweet. Oh what i would do to live in the South of France rather than Australia where I am from!
#14 by tialys on March 25, 2014 - 09:00
I’m sure Australia has lots of good things about it and I would like to visit but never have – Hong Kong is as far as I’ve got – I really don’t fancy that long flight. Good luck with the bunny – I’m sure you’ll do a good job. The only fiddly bit is attaching the ears to the body so that the lining lies nice and flat.
#15 by Kathleen Andrews on March 26, 2014 - 09:02
Hi!
Any chance you would share the pattern for the bunny bag? Or perhaps sell the pattern. I’m from the USA & would love to make one for Easter for a special little girl!
Thanks in advance,
Kathleen
#16 by tialys on March 26, 2014 - 09:58
Hi Kathleen. I’m sorry but it is not my pattern so I don’t feel it is ethical to pass it on. Here’s my original post where I show the book that I got the pattern from https://thetialys.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/must-learn-japanese/ I think I’ve mentioned the ISBN number somewhere so you could try doing a search for it and maybe find it on Etsy or Ebay.
#17 by desertsky on March 16, 2015 - 18:52
My son was born in Okinawa and has always loved anything Japanese, so we’ve had a lot of bento boxes over the years, but never anything as cute as these rabbits!
#18 by tialys on March 17, 2015 - 19:19
My daughter has never been to Japan but she is slightly obsessed with it – mostly in the form of Manga and some Japanese bands who all sound terrible to me but then what do I know?? I wish I could understand more of their patterns as they do design the most charming things. This was was done just going by the measurements and the diagrams which are very helpful, although very tiny.
#19 by Jessica on March 20, 2017 - 12:50
I know this is super old but I must ask because I’m so in love , can you share this pattern with me please please!!
THANKS BUNCHES😊😊😊
#20 by tialys on March 21, 2017 - 10:31
Hi Jessica. I’m sorry – I don’t feel I can share the pattern as I think it would be an infringement of copyright laws or something. I don’t know where you are in the world but I did find copies of the book on Amazon France and U.k. here or you could search for it using the ISBN number I put in one of my replies to another comment.