Hi, friends! New pattern alert! It’s another ragdoll plushie pattern, of course. This time a panda! I have been getting lots of suggestions for patterns from all you lovely readers, which I just love. My ideas list is ever-growing and there have been a few requests for a panda lately so I thought it would be the perfect next project.
Sometimes it’s the projects you least expect that will give you the most trouble. I thought this one would be fairly straightforward, as I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to look. I quickly sketched out my plan, like I usually do, and quickly got started. However, executing the plan didn’t go quite as smoothly. I think I frogged, remade, and redesigned every piece of this panda at least three times, sometimes as many as six or seven times until I was happy with it, which is kind of funny considering it’s basically a giant square. But the first challenge was the tapestry crochet rows. I tried several different techniques, stitch counts, row counts, etc until I settled on the final design to give that very gentle curve between the black and white of the panda’s “head”. I also redid the eye patches and paws several times until I was happy with their shape.
After all that, I breathed a sigh of relief to have finally finished it. Then I started taking photos in some bright, natural light the other morning and, lo and behold, staring me in the face were two starkly different shades of white on the front panel of my panda from where I had joined a new skein of yarn. Ugh. So, the moral of the story is: check your dye lots or else you’ll have (and be) a sad panda, like me. Needless to say, sometimes the crochet life can be really defeating, but with each project you get better and you learn something! So onward we go!
Let’s get started! As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as our Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. This plump pal has 18 separate pieces. As mentioned earlier, this pattern also uses the tapestry crochet technique, so stay tuned for the details!
His finished measurements are approximately 35 cm (14 inches) from the bottom of his paw to the top of his ear, and 37 cm (15 inches) from the tip of each arm across.
Here’s what I used:
**If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE.**
- 3.5mm hook (I use THESE hooks!);
- Bernat Handicrafter (worsted weight) in White (200g);
- Bernat Handicrafter (worsted weight) in Black (150g);
- 12mm safety eyes;
- Safety nose or black embroidery thread or yarn;
- Stuffing;
- Tapestry needle.
*Ch 1 and turn at the end of each row*
Body (make 2 panels):
There will be colour changes throughout the body panel so keep an eye out for those! We will start with White.
Row 1: Ch 61, sc along (60 sts)
Rows 2-3: Sc along (60 sts)
Row 4: Dec, sc 56, dec (58 sts)
Rows 5-6: Sc along (58 sts)
Row 7: Dec, sc 54, dec (56 sts)
Rows 8-9: Sc along (56 sts)
Row 10: Dec, sc 52, dec (54 sts)
Rows 11-12: Sc along (54 sts)
Row 13: Dec, sc 50, dec (52 sts)
*Switch to Black*
Rows 14-23: Sc along (52 sts)
*Now we will start the tapestry crochet. I will use a “B” in front of stitch counts to indicate they are in black and “W” for white. All stitches are single crochet. You will want to have two different skeins of black going at the same time, as seen in the photos below, to avoid having to cut the yarn each time. Alternatively, you could split one skein before you begin. When switching colours, insert your hook into the last stitch of Colour A, yarn over and pull up a loop in Colour A. Then yarn over with Colour B and pull through both loops. Then continue with the first st of Colour B. When you switch colours, just drop the working yarn of the previous colour; you will pick it up again as you work back in the next row.*
Row 24: B17, W18, B17 (52 sts)
Row 25: B13, W26, B13 (52 sts)
Row 26: B8, W36, B8 (52 sts)
Row 27: B4, W44, B4 (52 sts)
Row 28: B2, W48, B2 (52 sts)
Row 29: B1, W50, B1 (52 sts)
Switch to white.
Rows 30-48: Sc along (52 sts)
Row 49: Inc, sc 50, inc (54 sts)
Rows 50-51: Sc along (54 sts)
Row 52: Inc, sc 52, inc (56 sts)
Rows 53-54: Sc along (56 sts).
Tie off. Repeat for second panel. Put these aside for assembly later.
Arms (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Black:
Row 1: Ch 13, sc along (12 sts)
Row 2: Dec, sc 10 (11 sts)
Row 3: Inc, sc 8, dec (11 sts)
Row 4: Dec, sc 9 (10 sts)
Row 5: Inc, sc 7, dec (10 sts)
Row 6: Dec, sc 8 (9 sts)
Row 7: Inc, sc 6, dec (9 sts)
Row 8: Dec, sc 7 (8 sts)
Row 9: Inc, sc 5, dec (8 sts)
Row 10: Dec, sc 6 (7 sts)
Row 11: Inc, sc 4, dec (7 sts)
Row 12: Dec, sc 5 (6 sts)
Row 13: Inc, sc 3, dec (6 sts)
Row 14: Sc, hdc, dc 2, hdc, sc (6 sts).
Tie off first panel. Repeat rows 1-14 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides, and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, sc) in each corner of row 1. Begin stuffing the arm when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds around the entire piece. Continue stuffing a little after every few stitches. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off.
When making the second arm, you will need to single crochet around the entire piece in the opposite direction from the first. This will ensure that the arms are pointing in opposite directions and the single crochets around the arm are facing you on both.
Legs (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Black:
Row 1: Ch 13, sc along (12 sts)
Row 2: Inc, sc 10, inc (14 sts)
Rows 3-10: Sc along (14 sts)
Row 11: Dec, sc 10, dec (12 sts)
Row 12: Dec, sc 8, dec (10 sts)
Row 13: Sc along (10 sts)
Row 14: Dec, hdc, dc 4, hdc, dec (8 sts).
Tie off first panel. Repeat rows 1-14 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides, and sc around the entire piece. (Sc, ch, sc) in each corner of row 1. Begin stuffing when you’ve crocheted about two-thirds around the entire piece. Continue stuffing a little after every few stitches. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off. Repeat for second leg.
Ears (make 4 panels in twos as explained below) in Black:
*Work in continuous rounds*
Rnd 1: Hdc 8 into a magic ring (8 sts)
Rnd 2: In hdc, inc around (16 sts)
Rnd 3: [hdc, inc] Repeat around (24 sts)
Rnd 4: [hdc 2, inc] Repeat around (32 sts)
Slst to next st and tie off.
Repeat rounds 1-4 for second panel. Do not tie off second panel. Put both panels together, matching up all sides, and sc around the entire piece. Stuff once you’ve crocheted about two-thirds around. Slst to beginning st to close. Tie off. Repeat for second ear.
Eyes (make 2) in White:
Rnd 1: Hdc 10 into a magic ring.
Do not close it too tightly, as you will be inserting the safety eye later. Slst to next st and tie off. Repeat for second eye.
Eye patches (make 2) in Black:
Row 1: Ch 6, sc along (5 sts)
Row 2: Inc, sc 3, inc (7 sts)
Row 3: Sc along (7 sts)
Row 4: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts)
Row 5: Sc along (9 sts)
Row 6: Inc, sc 7, inc (11 sts)
Row 7: Sc along (11 sts)
Row 8: Inc, sc 9, inc (13 sts)
Rows 9-14: Sc along (13 sts)
Row 15: Dec, sc 9, dec (11 sts)
Row 16: Dec, sc 7, dec (9 sts)
Row 17: Dec, hdc, dc 3, hdc, dec (7 sts).
Do not tie off. Chain 1 and single crochet around the outside of the piece. Slst to first st and tie off. Repeat for second eye patch.
Assembly:
Step 1: Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
Insert 12mm safety eyes into the white eye circles. Appliqué the eyes onto the black eye patches at the widest end of the eye patch, around rows 14-16.
Appliqué the eye patches onto the front panel. The tops of the eye patches will be about 6 rows down from the top of the front panel and will have about 6 or 7 stitches between them at the narrowest part.
I used a safety nose but you can embroider a triangle nose between the patches if you prefer.
Stitch on a mouth below the nose.
Step 2: Arms, Legs, and Ears
Cut off four lengths of White yarn and two lengths of Black yarn about 30 cms (12 inches) each. Put them aside for later.
Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides.
**Make sure the front of your panda is facing you as you crochet around the outside of the piece.**
Starting on the bottom white section of the left hand side (below the black section), begin attaching the panels together by chaining one and single crocheting around the outside of the panels.
Stop when you get to the bottom corner. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now.
Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of white yarn that you set aside earlier, place the first leg between the panels and attach it by sewing through all three pieces; the top panel, the leg, and the bottom panel. When finished, tie a knot to secure and hide the tails between the panels of the body.
Now, picking up where you left off, continue single crocheting around the outside of the body. (Sc, ch sc) in the corner. When you get to the leg, simply sc in the stitches of the front panel only; since this portion is already sewn shut, it’s for aesthetics only. Once you are past the leg, continue single crocheting both panels together as normal.
Stop about half way across the bottom of the body. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now. Now, with your tapestry needle and a length of white yarn that you set aside earlier, place the second leg between the panels and attach them the same way you did for the first.
Continue crocheting around. Remember, when you reach the leg, sc in the stitches of the front panel only. Continue to sc both panels together as normal once you are past the leg. (Sc, ch, sc) in the corner.
When you get to the black section, switch to black yarn. When switching colours, insert your hook into the last stitch and pull up a loop in white. Yarn over with black and pull through both loops. Continue with black.
Stop after you’ve crocheted one or two stitches on the black section. Pull up a long loop and leave this for now. With a length of black yarn that you set aside earlier, attach the first arm by placing it between the front and back panels, lining it up with the top of the black curve (row 29 of the body panel) and sewing in place, just like you did for the legs.
Continue crocheting around the outside. Remember, when you get to the arm, simply crochet in the stitches of the front panel only.
Switch back to white when you get past the black section. Stop before you get to the corner. With a length of white yarn that you set aside earlier, attach the first ear between the panels. You will sew through about 4 stitches on either side of the corner, as shown by the pink line below, and right through rounds 3 and 4 of the ear.
Continue crocheting around the outside. Remember, when you get to the ear, sc in the stitches of the front panel only. (Sc, ch, sc) in the corner. Continue crocheting both panels together as normal once you are past the ear. Continue across the top of the head. Place the second ear the same way you did for the first. (Sc, ch, Sc) in the last corner.
Stop. Stuff firmly. You will want to stuff it well now, because it will be difficult to continue stuffing once the second arm is attached.
When you are finished stuffing, continue crocheting the panels together. Attach the second arm. Continue crocheting around the outside, switching colours where appropriate.
Top up stuffing if necessary. Close with a slst to first st. Tie off. With your tapestry needle, poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.
That’s it! You’re done! This pudgy little Panda would make such a sweet little throw pillow or cuddle buddy. Enjoy!
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Hello , i love your patterns, but in the panda pattern the last row of the arms its says hoc? do you mean half double crochet ??
thank you
Hi Josee,
Yes, so sorry about that! For some reason, “hdc” always autocorrects to “hoc”, argh! I’ve gone ahead and fixed it. Thank you!
OMYGOD I LOVE your patterns, they’re SO ADORABLE!! I can’t to make them, thank you for sharing Jillian. 💖😊
Thanks so much, Aida! So glad you’re enjoying them! 😀
When your pattern says to dec, what do you do? I automatically think of invisible decrease (though the next 2 front loops only), am I on the right path?
Hi Susan, “dec” just refers to a regular sc decrease. Since the panels are worked flat, you don’t need to do an invisible decrease but you certainly can if that’s what you prefer!
Hello! I really like your work and i love doing your patterns.
But in this pattern there is an effort in Row 27…you wrote “B8,W48,B8(52)”
But it would be rather “B8,W44,B8(52)”
Oh i make a mistake…. Its B4,w48,B4…. But it would be B4,W44,B4
Thank you so much for catching that error! Yes, it should read “B4, W44, B4 (52)”. It’s all fixed now! Thanks again! 😊
😀
Just made this for an Xmas gift for someone who collects pandas, thank you!
Yay! You are so welcome!