Sweet Panda Baby

Is there anything cuter than a baby giant panda?!?! I don't think so!!!

I wasn't satisfied with the panda crochet patterns I was finding online, so I decided to create my own. She turned out so chubby and sweet that I decided this pattern is worth sharing. Here you go!

Baby Panda

Each piece is crocheted in a continuous spiral, as is common in 3D amigurumi crocheting.

If you are unsure how to make the starting magic circle, there are some very good tutorials on YouTube you can check out. Be sure to close your magic circle once you have several rounds finished. I like to knot my magic circle tails on the wrong side (inside) of the piece, to ensure they are secure. 

It is helpful to place a marker at the beginning stitch of each round so you don't lose track of your rounds. After crocheting each body part, you will stuff the pieces and assemble the finished toy.

My baby panda is approximately 20cm from nose to tail. I used light worsted weight wool (DK weight), and a 3.75mm (F/5) crochet hook. The size of your finished panda may vary greatly depending on the type of yarn used. Just be sure that your stitches are tight so the stuffing won't come out!

This pattern uses American crochet terms.

Materials:

• yarn in two colors (black and white, for example)
• a crochet hook that enables you to tightly single crochet with your choice of yarn without leaving large gaps between stitches
• yarn needle
• two safety eyes
• scrap of white felt (optional)
• stuffing (polyester fiberfill)
• ribbon for a bow (optional)

Stitches Used:

• magic circle
• st = stitch
• sc = single crochet
• sc2dec = single crochet 2 decrease (use amigurumi-style invisible decrease: insert hook into front loop of next stitch then immediately into front loop of the following stitch, yarn over, pull yarn through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull yarn through both loops on hook)
• sl st = slip stitch
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet  

Body:

1. In White: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
5. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (30 st)
6. [1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches] x6 (36 st)
7. 1 sc in each stitch around (36 st)
8. [1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (42 st)
9. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
10. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches] x6 (48 st)
11. 1 sc in each stitch around (48 st)
12. [1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (54 st)
13. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
14. [1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches] x6 (60 st)
15. 1 sc in each stitch around (60 st)
16. 1 sc in each stitch around (60 st)
17. 1 sc in each stitch around (60 st)
18. [1 sc in next 4 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches] x6 (54 st)
19. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
20. [1 sc in next 7 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (48 st)
21. 1 sc in each stitch around (48 st)
22. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches] x6 (42 st)
23. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
24. Change to black:  [1 sc in next 5 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (36 st)
25. 1 sc in each stitch around (36 st)
26. 1 sc in each stitch around (36 st)
27. 1 sc in each stitch around (36 st)
28. 1 sc in each stitch around (36 st)
29. [1 sc in next 2 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches] x6 (30 st)
30. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
31. 1 sc in each stitch around (24 st)
32. [1 sc in next stitch, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
33. 1 sc in each stitch around (18 st)
34. Sl st in next stitch and finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff body well.

Tail:

1. In White: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. [1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x3 (9 st)
3. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
4. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
5. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
6. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
7. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
8. 1 sc in each stitch around (9 st)
9. Sl st in next st and finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold tail flat and whip-stitch the top opening closed

Back Leg: Make 2

1. In Black: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
5. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (30 st)
6. [1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches] x6 (36 st)
7. [1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (42 st)
8. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
9. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
10. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
11. 1 sc in each stitch around (42 st)
12. 1 sc in next 11 stitches, [sc2dec in next stitch, sc in next stitch] x7, 1 sc in next 10 stitches (35 st)
13. 1 sc in next 9 stitches, [sc2dec in next stitch, sc in next stitch] x6, 1 sc in next 8 stitches (29 st)
14. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
15. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
16. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
17. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
18. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
19. 1 sc in each stitch around (29 st)
20. Note: this step goes more than 1 round.  1 sc in next 10 stitches, [sc2dec in next stitch, sc in next stitch] x3, 1 sc in next 6 stitches, [sc2dec in next stitch, sc in next stitch] x3
21. Sl st in next stitch, and finish off, leaving a long tail
22. Stuff leg, firmly in the bottom but lightly in the top. Close top leg opening by folding leg opening flat, front-to-back, and whip stitching the opening closed.

Front Leg: Make 2

1. In Black: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
5. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (30 st)
6. 1 sc in each stitch around (30 st)
7. 1 sc in each stitch around (30 st)
8. 1 sc in each stitch around (30 st)
9. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
10. 1 sc in each stitch around (24 st)
11. [1 sc in next stitch, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
12. - 21. (10 rows) 1 sc in each stitch around (18 st). Sl st in next stitch, and finish off, leaving a long tail. Stuff leg, firmly in the bottom but lightly in the top. Close top leg opening by folding leg opening flat and whip stitching the opening closed.

Eye Patch: Make 2

1. In Black: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. Note: this step goes more than 1 round.  2 sc in next stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch, 1 dc and 1 hdc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, 1 hdc in next stitch, sc in next stitch 
3. Sl st in next stitch and finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
4. Do Not Close the magic circle too tightly, because you will insert the safety eye stem through the center.

Nose:

1. In White: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. 1 sc in each stitch around (18 st)
5. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
6. 1 sc in each stitch around (24 st) 
7. Sl st in next stitch and finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Head:

1. In White: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
5. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (30 st)
6. [1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches] x6 (36 st)
7. [1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (42 st)
8. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches] x6 (48 st)
9. [1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (54 st)
10. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
11. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
12. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
13. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
14. 1 sc in each stitch around (54 st)
15. [1 sc in next 7 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (48 st)
16. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches] x6 (42 st)
17. [1 sc in next 5 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (36 st)
18. [1 sc in next 2 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches] x6 (30 st)
19. [1 sc in next 3 stitches, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
20. Insert the safety eye stem through a round of white felt (trim so that it only shows on one side of the eye), then through the center of the eye patch, then into the front of the head. Adjust placement position until you are happy with the look of the face. You may want to use pins to hold the pieces down and pin the snout to make sure it fits before permanently finishing. Clasp the safety eye back on the inside of the head, and sew on eye patches using the long yarn tail.
21. [1 sc in next stitch, sc2dec in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st) 
22. Stuff head well.
23. [1 sc in next stitch, sc2dec in next stitch] x6 (12 st)
24. Add more stuffing if necessary.
25. [1 sc in next stitch, sc2dec in next stitch] x4 (8 st)
26. Finish off, leaving a long tail of yarn. Weave the extra yarn through the remaining stitches, pull them tight to close the hole, and sew around a few times to secure. Hide extra yarn inside the head. (This does not have to be beautiful, because it will be hidden inside the neck)

Ears: Make 2

1. In Black: 6 sc in a magic circle (6 st)
2. 2 sc in each stitch around (12 st)
3. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] x6 (18 st)
4. [1 sc in first stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch] x6 (24 st)
5. Fold ear in half and sl st the round top edges together. Leave a long tail, fold ear in half again along the bottom edge and whip-stitch the bottom edge to itself so the ear has a nice 3D shape.

Assembly:

• You may want to pin the pieces on before sewing, to ensure proper placement. Be sure to hide all yarn tails after attaching pieces.
• Lightly stuff the nose and stitch it to the face, between the eyes. To give the face a little shape, you can use a tail of yarn to cinch the eyes a bit closer together, giving the panda a nose ridge. 
• Using a piece of black yarn, embroider a nose onto the panda.
• Sew the ears to the top of the head.
• Sew the head onto the body, adding more stuffing to the body if necessary, and stitching around several times to ensure the head is secure.
• Sew the tail onto the back of the body.
• Sew legs onto the body, making sure the placement allows the panda to "stand" on its own. You can embroider toes onto the panda's feet if you'd like.
• Cut a length of ribbon and tie around the neck to make a bow (also a great way to "hide" the neck stitching!)

Thanks so much for checking out my panda pattern. I intend to make a second baby panda, and will take photos of the pieces as I go, then update this pattern with more detailed photos. Thank you for your patience.

You are free to use this pattern as you like, but I would appreciate it if you would link back to this pattern if you sell your finished pandas or post photos online.

Comments and questions are welcome. If you find any mistakes, please let me know!