Making Sweaters for Rabbits

It's getting cold but we still have to cut down the Angora if the coat is ripe or it could get matted or even cause the rabbit to have digestive stasis.   I have lots of leftover yarn from my own projects and others' projects, I use these leftover yarns to knit sweaters for the cut down buns.   I use big needles and two or three strands of yarns to increase the warmth but reduce the knitting time.  In the above photo, the lower part is from leftover yarns that Carol gave me.  The middle part is my handspun Angora with a fine commercial yarn.     The lower part covers the rabbit's butt thus does not need as much warmth as the middle part that is crucial as it covers the rabbit's neck, chest and back that need more warmth. 

   Cast on 10 stitches and add a stitch to each row until it gets to 22-26 stitches.   knit to desired length to make the armholes.  For the armholes, knit 3, cast off 4, knit the next stitches until there are 7 stitches left and cast off 4 then knit the last 3.   In the next row, knit 3, cast on 4 stitches, knit the rest to the next armhole to cast on 4 stitches then knit the last 3.  Knit the next row, you should have the same 22-26 stitches before the armholes.   Rib the next few rows before casting off.   Leave some yarn for sewing the sweater.

Use the yarn save at the collar to sew the Angora part together.  

This is the finished sweater view from the rabbit's back.  

 

Here are three finished leftover yarn rabbit sweaters.  The indentations on each side are the armholes. The sweaters don't have to be pretty or precise as the rabbits will destroy them in few wears.   It's a good use of the leftover yarn and at the same time keeping the rabbits warm after haircuts.     

French Angora Gifta is wearing one of such sweaters after being cut down.  
If one wonders whether the sweater should be made longer to cover the rear of the rabbit, you could make it longer on the back but not the underside.   If too close to the back legs, the back toenails could easily get hooked on the sweater and cause the whole sweater to slip off the rabbit.   As long as the chest and the back are covered and kept warm, it's quite enough to protect the rabbit from being chilled.