You can smell the sawdust before you flick the shop light. That sweet mix of pine and coffee lingers in the air, promising something playful. Years back I felt that same smell curling around my jacket while I traced a floppy ear on scrap board. One evening later a chubby bunny sat on the mantel, grinning at the tulips. Friends pointed, kids begged for their own, and suddenly the house filled with wooden rabbits. You can jump into the same fun today because the internet serves up wooden easter bunny patterns free of charge, and your tool bench is probably ready right now.
Quick Hop For Readers In A Rush
Want results before the kettle whistles? Use this sprint plan.
- Pick a size: thirteen inches, twenty eight inches, or forty eight inches.
- Print the outline at one hundred percent, borderless setting on, no scaling tricks.
- Tape sheets edge to edge, trim only two sides per sheet for tight seams.
- Trace on pine, cedar, or plywood, grain running with the fattest part of the ear.
- Cut slowly with a jigsaw or scroll saw, sand the fuzz, wipe clean.
- Paint or stain, seal if the rabbit will brave weather, then set it on a base and smile.
Five bullets, one afternoon, one proud bunny.
Free Printable Templates And How To Size Them
I dropped three patterns into a single download folder, each broken into letter sheets so every home printer works fine.
| Pattern | Final Height | Sheet Count | Layout |
|———|————–|————|——–|
| A | 13 inches | 4 | 2 by 2 |
| B | 28 inches | 12 | 3 by 4 |
| C | 48 inches | 24 | 4 by 6 |
Printing tips:
- Open the file with any viewer that lets you pick Actual Size.
- Disable fit to page, those few millimetres twist the curve of the ear.
- Run one test sheet, measure the box on the corner, confirm scale.
- Tape sheets from the back first then flip and add tiny patches on the front so the pencil glides.
No printer at home? Grab brown paper from yesterdays parcel, draw a one inch grid, then copy each square from your screen by sight. It feels like grade school art class and it still works.
Picking Wood That Stays Flat And Looks Good
Wood choice sets the mood, so think about where the piece will live.
- Pine light, cheap, accepts paint, perfect for indoor shelves.
- Cedar richer grain, mild weather resistance, great for porch displays once you seal it.
- Plywood stable sheet, few knots, amazing for large silhouettes because seams vanish.
Reclaimed barn boards add character though they often twist, so screw a thin plywood backer on after cutting. Skip medium density fibreboard outside because morning dew bloats it.
A quick grain trick: roll the template until the ear lines run parallel with grain, that orientation keeps slender parts from snapping under saw vibration.
Tools You Actually Need
Skip the catalog overload. This list covers every build below.
- Jigsaw with fresh fine-tooth wood blade.
- Scroll saw for tight inner curves on mini versions.
- Bandsaw if you batch gifts and want speed.
- Cordless drill plus bits three, six, and ten millimetres wide.
- Orbital sander with one twenty and one eighty discs.
- Hand sanding block for edges.
- Carpenter square, tape measure, sharp pencil.
- White glue, gel super glue for tiny accents.
- Two L brackets and short screws for tall stands.
- Half sheet of foam insulation to protect the bench while cutting right through the panel.
That is itsimple gear many shops already own.
Cut Lists At A Glance
Keeping parts sized right prevents wasted lumber.
- Small Shelf Bunny*
Body blank ten by six inches, thickness eighteen millimetres.
Base board eleven by three point five inches, same thickness.
One dowel three eighths diameter, four inches long.
- Layered Bunny*
Mix of board strips thirty inches long to cover template.
Backer plywood twenty eight by sixteen inches, twelve millimetres thick.
Feet two blocks fourteen by five inches, twenty five millimetres thick.
- Porch Bunny*
Panel forty eight by twenty two inches, boards edge glued.
Stand twenty two by six inches, twenty five millimetres thick.
Cross braces four strips sixteen inches long, ten by twenty five millimetres.
Build One: Tiny Shelf Bunny On A Dowel
Children love this little fellow because they can paint without fear of ruining expensive lumber.
- Step One, Trace*
Sand the board face smooth, tape Pattern A on top, follow the line with a sharp pencil.
- Step Two, Drill*
Mark centre under the belly, bore through with a bit that matches the dowel, repeat on the base.
- Step Three, Cut*
Use a scroll saw for perfect curves, leave a whisker of wood outside the line, come back for a clean pass right on the mark.
- Step Four, Sand*
Run one twenty grit on flats, switch to one eighty on edges, roll the front edge between fingers so the profile feels soft.
- Step Five, Finish And Assemble*
Whitewash and wipe, or stain early American tone, let dry, glue dowel into base, press body onto dowel, hold one minute. Done.
Variation: tie a gingham ribbon round the neck, instant farmhouse vibe.
Build Two: Layered Reclaimed Bunny With Standing Feet
This version looks like you plucked it from an artisan market though it costs lunch money.
- Face Layer*
Sort strips by colour, alternate light and dark, glue them face down on the backer using a thin bead, shoot tiny brads from the back so no holes show.
- Trace And Cut*
Lay Pattern B on the glued panel, trace, cut slowly with a jigsaw, let the blade cool if resin builds.
- Trim Backer*
Place face cut out on new plywood, trace again, cut slightly inside the line so the backer hides behind the fancy face.
- Glue Sandwich*
Spread glue thin with an old card, clamp sandwich, wipe squeeze out with damp rag.
- Add Feet*
Cut two chunky feet, bevel the front edge so the rabbit leans back a hair, screw from below, fill holes with a dab of wood putty if you paint.
- Finish*
Brush gel stain across the grain to highlight the patchwork then seal with satin water based topcoat for a mellow sheen.
Accent idea: cut a tiny heart from leftover pine, paint blush pink, glue near the chest.
Build Three: Four Foot Porch Bunny That Stops Traffic
Neighbors stop twice, first to ask about the giant rabbit and second to ask for the pattern link.
- Glue Up Panel*
Rip straight edges on two or three cedar planks, brush glue on edges, clamp flat overnight, scrape dried squeeze out in the morning.
- Plan Cross Braces*
Mark brace lines now, avoid those spots when you drive screws later.
- Trace And Cut*
Spread Pattern C, trace, cut with a medium speed jigsaw, plunge relief cuts on tight arcs near ear notch.
- Attach Stand*
Line stand board under the belly, secure with two L brackets and short screws, predrill to dodge splits.
- Sand And Round*
Chamfer edges with orbital sander, this subtle curve catches sun and looks professional.
- Finish For Weather*
Wipe dust, flood surface with oil based stain, wait, wipe off, dry, brush marine polyurethane on both sides, sand light, add second coat, repeat for a third if your area sees heavy rain.
- Anchor Trick*
Drill a small hole in the stand, slide a tent stake through and into the flower bed, sudden gusts will not steal your art.
Paint And Stain Paths
- Warm Stain: medium brown over pine, buff the edges to bare wood so light halo appears.
- Whitewash Farmhouse: one part water, one part matte white paint, brush, wipe, repeat, scuff corners later for age.
- Gingham Fun: base white, tape stripes, roll powder blue, rotate tape, repeat, glaze overlapping squares with watered paint for plaid depth.
Seal every finish If the piece sees dew.
Simple Scaling Without Math Headaches
Open the PDF, look at print preview, it shows tile count. Compare with table above. If tiles match you are set. If not change scale by two points up or down, check again, hit print. Visual confirmation beats calculator work.
Grid method recap: draw one inch squares on paper, two inch squares on wood, copy each square. Double size, half frustration.
Safety And Clean Cuts
Stay safe so you can enjoy the final showpiece.
- Rest panel on foam so blade never kisses bench.
- Start saw before blade touches wood, finish cut before power off.
- Keep both hands on tool grips, pause if you feel chatter.
- Wear glasses and muffs because eyes and ears matter.
- Let kids sand parts at the table while you cut, they love the dusty art.
Troubleshooting Cheatsheet
- Plywood fuzz* stick masking tape on cut line, slower feed, fine blade.
- Burn marks* relieve tight curves, clean blade, steady pace.
- Pattern sheets misalign* trim only right and bottom margins, use daylight window as giant light box.
- Stand rocks* plane high corner, add felt dots.
- Panel cups next spring* cross brace, full sealer, store flat under bed.
Storage And Upkeep
Wrap finished bunnies in old cotton sheet, slide under guest bed through summer, toss in a silica packet if basement runs damp. Each March wipe with grey scuff pad, brush a fresh coat of clear, tighten screws, you are show ready.
Fun Tweaks To Make Each Rabbit Yours
- Paint surname across belly with stencil brush.
- Drill tiny hole near paw, stick miniature wooden carrot.
- Hot glue cotton ball tail on back for comic pop.
- Cut slot near ears, slip silk flowers for a crown.
- Swap toppers on the standing board so one base works for hearts in February or stars in July.
Creativity snowballs once sawdust is in your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I get wooden easter bunny patterns free?*
Grab the download linked in this post, click print, tape, trace, cut.
- Which wood stands up outside?*
Cedar lasts, pine survives with marine topcoat on every face, steer clear of compressed fibre sheet in damp air.
- Can beginners tackle the four foot version?*
Yes because big curves are forgiving, fresh blade and patient pace make success.
- How do I enlarge a pattern fast?*
Use the tile feature in your print menu or the grid trick described above.
- What finish keeps colour on a porch?*
Oil stain plus three coats of quality exterior polyurethane, gentle sand between coats.
- How do I keep paper template from slipping?*
Mist light spray adhesive or dot glue stick corners, peel after cutting while glue is still soft.
- Which jigsaw blade works best?*
Fine tooth clean wood type leaves smooth edge, keep extras and switch when speed slows.
Shop Notes Learned The Hard Way
- Sketch inner ear with pencil before paint, easier than taping narrow shape.
- Curl floral wire around pen to make even whiskers.
- Store ribbon in seal bag so sawdust does not cling.
- Keep cream and walnut stain on shelf, alternating tones makes group display lively.
- Always check kids hands for splinters after sanding session.
Small habits mean smoother builds every year.
A Final Nudge
Spring asks for light hearts and playful corners in the home. A simple wooden rabbit answers that call, standing as proof that you shaped raw lumber into something sweet. So print the template, pour fresh coffee, start the saw, breathe in the scent of pine, and let the shop heater hum while curls of wood fall at your feet. Post a photo when you are done, every maker loves seeing another family of rabbits hopping across a shelf.