Bunny Candy Jar

This is a bunny candy jar that I made using an old shirt, a sock that had no mate, and a jar that once held cheese dip.











The jar in this picture is an old jelly jar.
Step one. Wash jar with hot soapy water and rinse with vinegar. Trace the lid on a piece of cardboard and cut it out (make two of these) and set aside.
Cut a circle out of the fabric that is at least a half inch larger than the lid all the way around. Glue the lid to the fabric, centered. Glue the edges of the fabric to the sides of the lid and trim off excess. Cut a piece of bias tape long enough to go around the lid. To find the width of the tape, measure the side of the lid and add 1/2 inch. Iron both edges in towards the center 1/4 inch. Glue around the side of the lid to hide the raw edges. Screw lid on the jar.
Step two. The head, hands, nose, and ears are cut from the sock. Cut a line straight across the sock about half way between the heel and toe (this is the head). Cut the leg part of the sock off, then cut the band off the top. cut straight up both sides making two equal sized rectangles (these are the ears). With the heel section that is left, cut a circle that is slightly larger than a quarter from the center of the heel (this is the nose). Cut two rectangles that are about one inch wide and two inches long from what is left (these will be for the hands.
Step three. From fabric cut two 5 inch squares (sleeves), and one large circle (hat). I used a large dinner plate and traced around it to make the large circle. Measure in from the sides of the circle about 1 inch, draw another circle in the large circle (I traced around a medium sized dessert plate to make this circle).

Step four. For each hand, fold the small rectangles in half with wrong side out and stitch from the open end in towards the folded edge, rounding both corners and back to the open end. Trim rounded corners and turn right side out. Stuff lightly with fiber fill.

For sleeves, make a shirt tail hem on the lower edge of each of the 5 inch squares. Then fold in half and stitch side seam. turn right side out and press. Run a basting stitch about 1/4 inch up from the hem . Slip hand into sleeve and pull on the basting string , adjust gathers and secure hand to sleeve with either stitches, or glue. Stuff sleeve lightly and gather across the top. Lap upper edge of sleeves over upper side edges of lid; glue in place.

Step five. For ears, fold rectangle in half lengthwise. Start stitching along the long open side. About half way down the side start aiming your stitching toward a center spot on the short side. Do not sew all the way to the edge, stop about 1/4 inch from edge. Turn and sew (using the same aiming technique) towards the folded edge about half way up. These aiming stitch lines should not be straight, but rather arched. Trim off excess fabric on both sides of the ear tips and turn.

Stuff head. Glue the two circles of cardboard together for extra stability. Slip cardboard circles into the neck. Glue the edges of the neck to the bottom of the cardboard. Make the nose by running a gathering stitch around the edge of the small circle and pulling the string while tucking the edges in (use extra poly fill if necessary to make the nose full). Attach nose to face. Attach Ears to top of head. Use buttons (I used pony beads because I didn't have any buttons) for eyes and attach to face. Use markers or embroidery to make mouth. Glue head to the center of the jar lid over the sleeves.

Step Six. Using a satin stitch, stitch around the outer edge of the large circle. Run a gathering stitch on the line drawn about 1 inch in from the edge. Cut slices in hat large enough for the ears to go through on each slide about 1/4 inch in from the gathering line.
Pull ears through and tuck raw edges down so they don't show. Pull gathering string and adjust gathers. Then secure it so gathers won't come out. Glue rick rack or any other trim you like to the jar. Make a tiny little sign and attach to both hands. Fill jar with candy.

I had a lot of fun making these. They can be made for any occasion. Dogs, cats, pigs, bears, or cows could be made with these same instructions just by changing the ears. You could even leave the ears off, add grey yarn for hair and change the mouth and make a Granny full of treats for the grand children.