How to Make Nele the Little Panda: A Complete Construction and Assembly Tutorial

Nele the little Panda is a charming amigurumi project built from several carefully shaped crochet components. The finished character combines a white head, black ears and limbs, a light pink and white body, a ruffled tutu, a pair of dress straps, and a floral headpiece made from light pink and light green crochet pieces. The face is completed with 12mm safety eyes and felt details.

This fourth version of the tutorial takes a construction-first approach. Instead of presenting the project only as a sequence of rounds, it follows the physical order in which the panda comes together and highlights the moments where orientation, color changes, stitch counts, stuffing, and sewing matter most. All technical pattern information below is retained from the supplied Amalou.Designs source. No finished size, gauge, or yarn yardage is added because those values are not provided in the source.

What You Need Before Starting

Prepare everything before beginning so you can move from one construction stage to the next without interrupting the work.

• Schachenmayr Catania in white
• Schachenmayr Catania in black
• Schachenmayr Catania in light pink
• Schachenmayr Catania in light green
• 2.5mm crochet hook
• Soft stuffing (Polyfill)
• Scissors
• Pins
• Stitch marker
• Light pink felt
• Black felt
• White felt
• 12mm safety eyes

Abbreviations Used in the Pattern

• Mc = Magic circle
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• ch = chain(s)
• inc. = increase
• dec. = decrease
• (…) = repeat
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet

Part One: Build the Two Black Feet

The lower structure begins with two black legs. Although the two pieces use the same twelve-round instructions, they are handled differently at the end because the second leg continues directly into the body.

First Leg

1. Rd. 1: 6sc in Mc (6)
2. Rd. 2: 6 inc (12)
3. Rd. 3: (1sc, inc.) (18)
4. Rd. 4: (2sc, inc.) (24)
5. Rd. 5: sc (24)
6. Rd. 6: dec, dec, 9sc, inc, inc, 9sc (24)
7. Rd. 7: sc (24)
8. Rd. 8: dec, dec, 9sc, inc, inc, 9sc (24)
9. Rd. 9: sc (24)
10. Rd. 10: sc (24)
11. Rd. 11: dec, dec, 9sc, inc, inc, 9sc (24)
12. Rd. 12: sc (24)

Cut the yarn and sew it up.

Second Leg

Repeat Round 1 through Round 12 in black. This time, do not cut the yarn. The second leg is the starting point for the body.

Construction check: Before joining, compare the two legs. They should be matching pieces, and the second leg must still have its working yarn attached.

Part Two: Join the Legs Into One Body

The leg connection is a key structural step. After completing the second leg, crochet 2sc, change to light pink, and crochet 6ch(s). Then continue by joining the legs with a sc in the first leg.

The source gives the complete joining sequence as:

23 sc around the first leg + 6sc in the chains + 24sc around the second leg + 6sc in the chains = 60 sc.

Pay particular attention to the orientation here. The tips of the feet should look at each other. This is the position to verify before continuing into the body.

Part Three: Shape the Body

The body starts broadly and gradually becomes narrower through carefully placed decreases. It also contains two back-loop-only rounds that are important to the construction and the appearance of the clothing.

1. Rd. 1: sc (60)
2. Rd. 2: sc (60)
3. Rd. 3: sc (60)
4. Rd. 4: sc (60)
5. Rd. 5: sc (60)
6. Rd. 6: 12sc, dec, 28sc, dec, 16sc (58)
7. Rd. 7: sc (58)
8. Rd. 8: 12sc, dec, 27sc, dec, 15sc (56)
9. Rd. 9: sc in back loops only (56) change to white
10. Rd. 10: 12sc, dec, 26sc, dec., 14sc (54)
11. Rd. 11: sc (54)
12. Rd. 12: 12sc, dec, 25sc, dec., 13sc (52)
13. Rd. 13: sc (52) change to light pink
14. Rd. 14: 12sc, dec, 24sc, dec, 12sc (50)
15. Rd. 15: sc (50)
16. Rd. 16: 12sc, dec., 23sc, dec, 11sc (48)
17. Rd. 17: sc (48)
18. Rd. 18: 12sc, dec, 22sc, dec, 10sc (46)
19. Rd. 19: sc (46)
20. Rd. 20: 12sc, dec, 21sc, dec, 9sc (44)
21. Rd. 21: sc (44)
22. Rd. 22: 12sc, dec, 20sc, dec, 8sc (42)
23. Rd. 23: 12sc, dec, 19sc, dec, 7sc (40)
24. Rd. 24: 12sc, dec, 18sc, dec, 6sc (38)
25. Rd. 25: 12sc, dec, 17sc, dec, 5sc (36) in back loops only! Change to black
26. Rd. 26: 12sc, dec, 16sc, dec, 4sc (34)
27. Rd. 27: 12sc, dec, 15sc, dec, 3sc (32)
28. Rd. 28: 12sc, dec, 14sc, dec, 2sc (30)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the body!

Important Body Transitions

• Round 9: back loops only, then change to white.
• Round 13: change to light pink.
• Round 25: back loops only, then change to black.
• Round 28: the body finishes at 30 stitches.

These are useful stopping points for checking the work. The numerical sequence should remain exactly as written rather than being adjusted to compensate for an earlier mistake.

Part Four: Prepare the White Head

The head is worked separately in white and is shaped from a six-stitch magic circle. It expands through Round 18, stays at 84 stitches for two rounds, and then narrows through the remaining decrease rounds.

1. Rd. 1: 6sc in Mc (6)
2. Rd. 2: inc. (12)
3. Rd. 3: (sc, inc.) (18)
4. Rd. 4: (2sc, inc.) (24)
5. Rd. 5: (3sc, inc.) (30)
6. Rd. 6: (4sc, inc.) (36)
7. Rd. 7: (5sc, inc.) (42)
8. Rd. 8: (6sc, inc.) (48)
9. Rd. 9: sc (48)
10. Rd. 10: (7sc, inc.) (54)
11. Rd. 11: sc (54)
12. Rd. 12: (8sc, inc.) (60)
13. Rd. 13: (9sc, inc.) (66)
14. Rd. 14: (10sc, inc.) (72)
15. Rd. 15: sc (72)
16. Rd. 16: (11sc, inc.) (78)
17. Rd. 17: sc (78)
18. Rd. 18: (12sc, inc.) (84)
19. Rd. 19: sc (84)
20. Rd. 20: sc (84)
21. Rd. 21: (12sc, dec.) (78)
22. Rd. 22: (11sc, dec.) (72)
23. Rd. 23: (10sc, dec.) (66)
24. Rd. 24: (9sc, dec.) (60)
25. Rd. 25: (8sc, dec.) (54)
26. Rd. 26: (7sc, dec.) (48)
27. Rd. 27: (6sc, dec) (42)
28. Rd. 28: (5sc, dec.) (36)
29. Rd. 29: (4sc, dec.) (30)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the head.

Part Five: Create the Panda Face

The face combines safety eyes with felt pieces. Start by cutting the black felt pieces. For the white felt, insert the safety eyes and cut with a distance of 1mm (0.039 inch) around the eyes. Insert the eye+white felt into the black felt.

Insert the safety eyes when you are ready with the head. Count 18 rounds from the MC, with a distance of 9 st. Close the safety eyes and sew the black felt onto the head. Cut circles (0,07 inch diameter) out of the light pink felt and sew them onto the black felt.

The facial placement is one of the areas where the finished character’s expression is established, so it is worth using the round count and stitch distance before permanently sewing the pieces.

Part Six: Crochet the Two Ears

The ears are made in black. Two identical pieces are required.

1. Rd. 1: 6sc in MC (6)
2. Rd. 2: inc (12)
3. Rd. 3: (sc, inc) (18)
4. Rd. 4: (2sc, inc) (24)
5. Rd. 5: (3sc, inc) (30)
6. Rd. 6–9: sc (30) 4 rounds

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Part Seven: Make the Long Black Arms

The arms are longer than the ears and use several shaping points. Keep the decrease rounds easy to identify while crocheting.

1. Rd. 1: 6sc in Mc (6)
2. Rd. 2: inc. (12)
3. Rd. 3: (sc,inc.) (18)
4. Rd. 4–7: sc (18) 4 Rounds
5. Rd. 8: decx2, 14sc (16)
6. Rd. 9–16: sc (16) 8 Rounds
7. Rd. 17: 10sc, dec., 4sc (15)
8. Rd. 18–24: sc (15) 7 Rounds
9. Rd. 25: 11sc, dec, 2sc (14)
10. Rd. 26: sc (14)
11. Rd. 27: sc (14)
12. Rd. 28: fold together and crochet both sides together.

Perhaps you have to crochet another sc first. It is important that the decx2 look tot the side.

Part Eight: Add the Ruffled Tutu

The tutu is worked on the back at Round 9 from the body and in the front loops. Turn Nele, feet to the top.

1. Rd. 1: (sc), sl st (56)
2. Rd. 2: 3ch(s)+2dc in same st, (3dc in next st),sl st (168)
3. Rd. 3: 3ch (s), (dc), sl st (168)

Cut the yarn and sew it up.

Because the skirt is worked into the front loops, this stage is also a good reason to preserve the back-loop-only construction at body Round 9 exactly as written.

Part Nine: Crochet the Flower

The light pink flower is built in two rounds.

1. Rd. 1: 12sc in MC, sl st (12)
2. Rd. 2: (2ch+5dc in same st, 3ch(s), sc in next st) (6 petals)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

The original pattern includes a specific note for the petal construction: do not crochet the dc from the petal completely through. At the end of every petal you will have 6 loops on your hook which you crochet all together = Bobble Stitch.

Part Ten: Make the Four Green Leaves

Use light green yarn and make four leaves.

1. Rd. 1: 7ch(s), insert in 2° st from hook, sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, 2ch(s), turn your work
2. Rd. 2: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sl st

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Prepare all four before moving into final decoration. Keeping the pieces together makes it easier to compare their shapes when arranging them on the head.

Part Eleven: Make the Two Pink Dress Straps

Make two light pink straps using:

12ch(s), sc in 2°st from hook, (3sc in next st) x9, sc in last st.

Make two straps. The final sewing position is shown in the pattern assembly photograph.

Assembly: Put Nele Together in Stages

Once the crocheted pieces are ready, use the long sewing tails to assemble the main character. A staged approach helps keep the face, body, and limbs aligned.

Attach the Head

Sew the head onto the body.

Attach the Ears

Sew the ears onto the sides at 3° round from the top of the head.

Attach the Arms

Sew the arms under the seam of the head.

Add the Light Pink Neck Detail

Crochet sl st with light pink on the body where the colour changes from white to light pink.

Stitch the Nose and Snout

Use black yarn to stitch the nose over 4 stitches oblique. Divide the yarn and stitch the snout over 4 rounds.

Stitch the Bellybutton

Stitch the bellybutton with black yarn.

Sew the Straps

Sew the straps as you can see in the picture.

Arrange the Headpiece Before Sewing

The source specifically recommends using pins to find the right position of the leaves. This is a useful finishing technique because the decoration should be checked visually before the stitches become permanent.

Once the position is correct, sew the leaves and the flower to the right side of the head.

Final Face and Body Inspection

Before declaring the project finished, inspect the face from the front. The two safety eyes should remain positioned according to the original round and stitch-distance instructions. The black felt eye areas and light pink felt circles should sit securely against the white head.

Then inspect the body from the front and side. The feet should remain directed toward each other, the arms should hang from under the head seam, and the tutu should form the ruffled lower edge shown in the source photograph.

Construction Troubleshooting

My Two Legs Do Not Match

Compare the rounds one by one. Both legs use the same Round 1–12 sequence. The difference is that the first leg is finished while the second remains attached to continue the body.

The Body Looks Too Wide or Too Narrow

Use the stitch counts as checkpoints. The body starts at 60 stitches and finishes at 30 stitches in Round 28. Recheck the decrease rounds rather than modifying later rounds.

The White Band Is Missing

Confirm the color change at Round 9 after working sc in the back loops only. The source then changes to light pink at Round 13.

The Black Upper Band Is Missing

Check Round 25. It is worked in back loops only and then changes to black.

The Head Shape Is Not Symmetrical

Recount the increase and decrease rounds. The head reaches 84 stitches in Round 18 and stays at 84 in Rounds 19 and 20 before the decrease sequence begins.

The Ears Look Too Low

Check the assembly instruction: sew the ears onto the sides at 3° round from the top of the head.

The Arms Twist

Review the final arm construction. At Round 28 the piece is folded together and both sides are crocheted together. The source also notes that the decx2 should look to the side.

The Head Decoration Looks Off-Center

Use pins first. The source directs you to find the right position of the leaves before sewing them, and the finished decoration is sewn to the right side of the head.

Beginner Checklist: Before You Sew Anything Permanently

• Both black legs are complete.
• The feet point toward each other.
• The body reaches 30 stitches at Round 28.
• The body has been stuffed.
• The head reaches 84 stitches at Round 18.
• The head finishes at 30 stitches in Round 29.
• The head has been stuffed.
• Two ears are ready.
• Two arms are ready.
• The tutu is complete.
• The flower has 6 petals.
• Four leaves are ready.
• Two pink straps are ready.
• Safety eyes and felt pieces are prepared.

Final Sewing Checklist

• Sew head onto body.
• Sew ears onto the sides at the specified round.
• Sew arms under the head seam.
• Add the light pink slip-stitch detail.
• Stitch the black nose.
• Stitch the snout over 4 rounds.
• Stitch the black bellybutton.
• Sew both dress straps.
• Pin the leaves before permanent sewing.
• Sew the leaves and flower to the right side of the head.

How the Finished Character Comes Together

The completed panda is the result of several small construction decisions working together. The black feet and arms establish the animal silhouette, while the white head and black ears make the panda identity immediately recognizable. The pink body and tutu turn the simple amigurumi base into the dressed character shown in the source.

The face provides another layer of detail. The safety eyes sit inside the black felt shapes, white felt surrounds the eyes, and light pink felt circles create the cheeks. Black yarn then defines the nose, snout, and bellybutton.

The floral decoration completes the design. Four light green leaves and one light pink flower are arranged on the right side of the head, giving the finished character the distinctive decorative accent visible in the photographs.

Pattern Roadmap at a Glance

1. Make first black leg through Round 12 and finish it.
2. Make second black leg through Round 12 without cutting yarn.
3. Connect both legs and reach 60 sc.
4. Complete body Rounds 1–28 with the specified color changes.
5. Stuff the body.
6. Make the white head through Round 29.
7. Stuff the head.
8. Prepare the safety eyes and felt facial pieces.
9. Make two black ears.
10. Make two black arms.
11. Make the light pink tutu.
12. Make the light pink flower.
13. Make four light green leaves.
14. Make two light pink straps.
15. Attach the head, ears, and arms.
16. Add the neck detail, nose, snout, and bellybutton.
17. Sew the straps.
18. Pin and attach the leaves and flower.
19. Complete the final inspection.

Source and Usage Note

The supplied pattern credits Amalou.Designs. The source states that the pattern is for personal use only and may not be resold, shared, rewritten, or distributed. If the finished doll is sold, the source asks that the designer Amalou.Designs be pointed out.

The original source also invites makers to share pictures using #pandanele and @amalou.designs.

Conclusion

The easiest way to approach Nele the little Panda is to build the character in logical physical layers. Start with the two feet and make the leg connection carefully. Then shape the body while watching the three major color stages. Build the head separately and prepare its facial pieces before assembly. Once the ears and arms are complete, the clothing and floral details can be made independently and added during finishing.

The most useful habit throughout the project is to treat every stitch count and round number as a checkpoint. When a count matches the source, continue. When it does not, stop and review the previous work rather than changing the next instruction. Combined with the placement photographs, this method helps keep the finished Nele faithful to the original construction while making a long amigurumi pattern easier to manage from beginning to end.