This crochet panda is a charming plush amigurumi project made with soft chenille yarn, a simple rounded body, contrasting black details, pink feet, and a removable-looking brown hat crocheted as a separate piece. The pattern is designed by Rosalie_Toys and combines several interesting techniques, including color changes, increases and decreases, crocheting limbs directly into the body, attaching ears while crocheting the head, and shaping the facial area.
Before You Begin the Panda Pattern
This project is best approached as a construction sequence rather than as a collection of unrelated pieces. The ears, tail, arms, legs, body, head, and hat each have their own instructions, but the pattern specifically explains that most pieces are attached while crocheting continues. Only the head and tail are sewn on. This is an important point to keep in mind before starting, because you should not automatically leave long sewing tails on every finished piece.
The original pattern also provides two approaches for the legs. The PDF uses the version without joints, while the designer’s video tutorial demonstrates how to work the legs with 30 mm joints. If you follow the written PDF version, use the no-joint construction exactly as written. The optional joint information should not be mixed into the written leg construction unless you intentionally choose the jointed method.
Materials and Tools
Prepare all of the following before beginning:
- Crochet hook: 4 mm.
- Main yarn: Himalaya Dolphin Baby in white.
- Secondary yarn: Himalaya Dolphin Baby in black and pink.
- Hat yarn: brown.
- Safety eyes: 16 mm.
- Safety nose: 15/22 mm.
- Joints: 30 mm, optional.
- Yarn needle.
- Scissors.
- Hollowfiber stuffing.
- Stitch marker.
The pattern does not provide a finished size, gauge, or total yarn yardage. Those measurements should therefore not be substituted with estimates. Using the specified hook and yarn is the safest way to stay faithful to the written pattern.
Abbreviations Used in the Pattern
The pattern uses standard crochet abbreviations throughout the instructions:
- MR: magic ring
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- dec: decrease
- inc: increase, meaning 2 sc in one stitch
- BLO: back loop only
- cc: color change
- FO: fasten off
- (…): repeat the instructions inside the parentheses
- *…: repeat the indicated instructions the number of times shown
Construction Rule You Should Remember
One of the most important notes in the original pattern is that you should not leave yarn tails for sewing on pieces unless the instructions specifically tell you to do so. The head and tail are sewn on, while the other parts are attached during crocheting. Keeping this rule in mind will make the finished project cleaner and will prevent unnecessary yarn ends from accumulating.
Step One: Crochet the Two Black Ears
The ears are made first in black yarn. Make two identical ears. They are deliberately shaped as compact pieces and are not stuffed.
Begin with a magic ring.
- R1: 8 sc in a MR
- R2: 8 inc (16)
- R3: 3 sc, inc, 7 sc, inc, 4 sc (18)
- R4: 18 sc around
- R5: 4 sc, dec, 6 sc, dec, 4 sc (16)
- R6: 2 sc, 2 dec, 4 sc, 2 dec, 2 sc (12)
After completing the final round, work 2 sc, then fold the ear in half. Crochet 6 sc through both sides. Cut the yarn and fasten off. Do not stuff the ears.
Because the ears will later be incorporated into R16 of the head, there is no need to prepare them with a long sewing tail. This is one of the places where following the pattern’s attachment method matters.
Step Two: Shape the Tail
The tail is crocheted separately in black yarn and is lightly stuffed.
- R1: 6 sc in a MR
- R2: 6 inc (12)
- R3: 12 sc
- R4: (sc, dec)*4 (8)
Stuff the tail lightly. Cut the yarn and fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing. The finished tail is placed between R7 and R9 of the body.
Do not overstuff this small piece. The instruction specifically says to stuff it lightly, so the goal is to give the tail some shape without turning it into a rigid or oversized element.
Step Three: Crochet the Arms
Make two black arms. The pattern instructs you to stuff the arms as you go from R1 through R12. This makes the stuffing part of the construction rather than something done only after the piece is completely finished.
- R1: 6 sc in a MR
- R2: 6 inc (12)
- R3: 4 sc, 3 inc, 5 sc (15)
- R4: 15 sc around
- R5: 5 sc, 3 dec, 4 sc (12)
- R6: 12 sc around
- R7: 5 sc, inc, 6 sc (13)
- R8-R13: 13 sc around (6 rows)
- R14: 5 sc, dec, 6 sc (12)
- R15: 12 sc around
Next, work 2 sc, fold the arm in half, and crochet 6 sc through both sides. Cut the yarn and fasten off. The arm is now ready to be incorporated into the body later in the pattern.
Step Four: Build the Pink-and-Black Legs
The legs are especially important because the pattern gives specific instructions about their direction. Make two legs. Start in pink yarn, then change to black after R2.
- R1: 8 sc in a MR
- R2: 8 inc (16), cc to black
- R3: (sc, inc)*8 (24)
- R4: (3 sc, inc)*6 (30)
- R5: 30 sc (BLO)
- R6: 30 sc around
- R7: 9 sc, 6 dec, 9 sc (24)
- R8: 6 sc, 6 dec, 6 sc (18)
- R9: 7 sc, 2 dec, 7 sc (16)
- R10-R12: 16 sc around (3 rows)
- R13: dec, 14 sc (15)
- R14-R16: 15 sc around (3 rows)
- R17: (sc, dec)*5 (10)
Stuff the legs as you go from R1 through R15. After R17, work 2 sc and fold the leg in half. Make sure the feet face forward rather than toward the sides. If necessary, adjust the stitch position before crocheting the two sides together. Crochet 5 sc through both sides, then cut the yarn and fasten off.
The written PDF uses the version without joints. The designer also provides a jointed option in the video tutorial. If you choose the written construction, follow the no-joint body attachment described below.
Step Five: Crochet the Body and Attach the Legs
The body begins with the main white color. Unlike the separate limbs, the body becomes the central structure that connects the legs and later receives the arms.
- R1: 6 sc in a MR
- R2: 6 inc (12)
- R3: (sc, inc)*6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc)*6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc)*6 (30)
- R6: (4 sc, inc)*6 (36)
- R7: (5 sc, inc)*6 (42)
- R8: (6 sc, inc)*2, 2 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 7 sc (48)
For the written version without joints:
R9: 9 sc, 5 sc tog with leg, 18 sc, 5 sc tog with leg, 11 sc (48).
As you work this round, make sure the legs face forward and remain symmetrical. The original instructions specifically allow you to adjust the stitch if necessary.
For the jointed version, R9 is 48 sc around, and the jointed legs are attached after R12. The jointed process is demonstrated in the designer’s video tutorial.
- R10-R12: 48 sc around (3 rows)
- R13: (6 sc, dec)*6 (42)
- R14: (5 sc, dec)*6 (36)
- R15: 36 sc around
- R16: (4 sc, dec)*6 (30)
- R17: 30 sc around, cc to black
- R18: (3 sc, dec)*6 (24)
- R19-R20: 24 sc around (2 rows)
- R21: (2 sc, dec)*6 (18)
At R22, the arms are attached:
R22: 2 sc, 6 sc tog with arm, 3 sc, 6 sc tog with arm, sc (18), cc to white.
Adjust the stitch placement if necessary. Finish with:
R23: dec, 7 sc, dec, 7 sc (16).
Cut the yarn and fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Body Checkpoint Before Making the Head
Before moving on, take a moment to inspect the body from the front. The legs should point forward and sit symmetrically. The arms should be incorporated at R22 according to the pattern, and the black-and-white color transition should remain clear.
This is a useful checkpoint because the pattern relies on integrated attachment rather than sewing every limb afterward. Small placement adjustments are therefore easier to make while crocheting than after the body is closed.
Step Six: Crochet the Head
The head starts with the main color and becomes the most visually detailed part of the panda. R7 through R10 use color changes, with the pattern indicating white yarn in the black text and black yarn in the red text. The designer recommends watching the video tutorial for these color-changing rounds.
- R1: 6 sc in a MR
- R2: 6 inc (12)
- R3: 2 sc, (3 sc in one st)*2, 4 sc, (3 sc in one st)*2, 2 sc (20)
- R4: 5 sc, inc, 8 sc, inc, 5 sc (22)
- R5-R6: 22 sc around (2 rows)
- R7: 6 sc, 3 inc, 3 inc, 3 inc, 7 sc (31)
- R8: 6 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, 2 sc, sc, inc, 2 sc, 2 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, 7 sc (36)
- R9: 7 sc, inc, sc, 3 sc, inc, 2 sc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, 2 sc, inc, 3 sc, sc, inc, 8 sc (41)
- R10: 9 sc, inc, 5 sc, inc, sc, 3 sc, inc, 2 sc, sc, inc, 6 sc, inc, 9 sc (46)
- R11: 13 sc, inc, 19 sc, inc, 12 sc (48)
Face Placement Checkpoint
The facial placement should be completed carefully because the head contains the main black-and-white visual pattern.
Place the 16 mm safety eyes between rows 8 and 9, with approximately 7 visible stitches apart. Place the 15/22 mm safety nose between rows 3 and 4.
These positions are part of the original pattern and should not be replaced with estimated measurements. If you are using the safety eyes and nose specified in the materials list, check their placement before continuing with the remaining head rounds.
Continue the Head and Add the Ears
- R12-R14: 48 sc around (3 rows)
- R15: (6 sc, dec)*6 (42)
In R16, the ears are attached while crocheting. The pattern instructs you to adjust the stitch if necessary and refer to the photo when adding them.
R16: 12 sc, 6 sc tog with ear, 7 sc, 6 sc tog with ear, 11 sc (42).
- R17: (5 sc, dec)*6 (36)
- R18: (4 sc, dec)*6 (30)
Start stuffing at R18.
- R19: (3 sc, dec)*6 (24)
- R20: (2 sc, dec)*6 (18)
- R21: (sc, dec)*6 (12)
- R22: 6 dec
Cut the yarn and close the hole. The head is then sewn to the body.
Stuffing the Head Without Losing Its Shape
The written instructions specify the start of stuffing at R18. It is useful to think of stuffing as a shaping step rather than simply filling an empty cavity. Add the hollowfiber gradually and keep checking the outside of the head as the final decrease rounds are completed.
Avoid changing the crochet structure in an attempt to alter the shape. The pattern already controls the head contour through its increases and decreases. The goal is simply to distribute the stuffing evenly enough to support that shape.
Step Seven: Make the Brown Hat
The hat is crocheted separately in brown yarn. Its construction begins with a small magic ring and gradually expands until it reaches 60 stitches. The chain spaces created in R7 form the openings that give the hat its distinctive shape.
- R1: 5 sc in a MR
- R2: 5 inc (10)
- R3: 10 sc around
- R4: (sc, inc)*5 (15)
- R5: (2 sc, inc)*5 (20)
- R6: (3 sc, inc)*5 (25)
- R7: 3 sc, ch 9, 6 st skip, 8 sc, ch 9, 6 st skip, 3 sc (32)
The pattern specifically instructs you to try the hat on the head at this stage and adjust the stitch if necessary. This is a fitting checkpoint rather than permission to alter the written pattern arbitrarily. Check the fit against the completed head before continuing.
- R8: 3 sc, 9 sc on chain, 8 sc, 9 sc on chain, 3 sc (32)
- R9: (6 sc, inc)*3, 5 sc, inc, 5 sc (36)
- R10: (5 sc, inc)*6 (42)
- R11: (6 sc, inc)*6 (48)
- R12: (7 sc, inc)*6 (54)
- R13: (8 sc, inc)*6 (60)
- R14-R15: 60 sc around (2 rows)
- R16: 60 sl st
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
Hat Fitting and Finishing Check
The hat should be checked on the completed head before you consider the project finished. Because R7 contains two chain sections and skipped stitches, it is particularly useful to make sure these openings and the surrounding stitches have the intended placement.
Do not add extra rounds or change the stitch counts simply to make the hat larger or smaller. The original pattern specifically provides the instruction to try it on and adjust the stitch if necessary, so any adjustment should be based on that fitting instruction rather than an invented new pattern.
Final Face Shaping and Embroidery
After the head is completed and attached to the body, the facial finishing becomes the final visual stage. The designer demonstrates the face-shaping and embroidery process in the video tutorial. The written pattern does not provide a separate numerical embroidery chart, so the video and the photographs supplied with the pattern are the appropriate references for this stage.
This is also why it is important to keep the eye and nose positions consistent with the written instructions before beginning the final shaping. The placement of the safety features establishes the basic expression, while the additional shaping and embroidery complete the facial appearance.
Common Construction Checkpoints
- After the ears: Confirm that both ears are identical and remain unstuffed.
- After the tail: Make sure it is only lightly stuffed and keep the sewing tail.
- After the arms: Confirm that stuffing was added through R1-R12 as instructed.
- After the legs: Check that both feet face forward rather than sideways.
- At body R9: Verify that the legs are forward-facing and symmetrical.
- At body R22: Check that both arms are incorporated in their intended positions.
- At head R11: Confirm the head has reached 48 stitches.
- Before head R12: Place the eyes between rows 8 and 9 and the nose between rows 3 and 4.
- At head R16: Check both ear placements while crocheting them into the head.
- At head R18: Begin stuffing.
- At hat R7: Try the hat on the head and check the fit.
- At hat R16: Finish with 60 sl st and fasten off.
Troubleshooting the Most Important Areas
The Feet Are Pointing Sideways
The pattern specifically warns about foot direction. Before closing each leg, make sure the feet face forward. If necessary, adjust the stitches before crocheting the two sides together.
The Legs Do Not Look Symmetrical
Symmetry is especially important during body R9. The no-joint version joins each leg directly into the body, so check the orientation before continuing through the remaining body rounds.
The Arms Do Not Line Up Correctly
R22 is the attachment round for the arms. The written sequence is 2 sc, 6 sc tog with arm, 3 sc, 6 sc tog with arm, sc. If the attachment needs an adjustment, the original pattern explicitly allows the stitch position to be adjusted if necessary.
The Face Looks Uneven
Check the eyes before completing the head. They belong between rows 8 and 9 and should have about 7 visible stitches between them. The nose is placed between rows 3 and 4. It is much easier to correct the placement before the head is completely closed.
The Hat Needs Checking
Try the hat on the head at R7 as instructed. The pattern deliberately includes this fitting checkpoint because the hat contains chain sections and skipped stitches that contribute to its shape.
Quick Pattern Reference
The project follows this overall sequence:
- Make two black ears.
- Make the lightly stuffed black tail.
- Make two black arms and stuff them as instructed.
- Make two pink-and-black legs and keep the feet facing forward.
- Build the white body and attach the legs and arms while crocheting.
- Make the detailed black-and-white head.
- Place the eyes and nose at the specified rows.
- Attach the ears during head R16.
- Stuff from R18 onward and close the head.
- Sew the head to the body.
- Make the separate brown hat.
- Try the hat on the head at R7 and finish through R16.
- Complete the face shaping and embroidery using the designer’s tutorial.
Pattern Notes About the Optional Joints
The materials list includes 30 mm joints as optional. The written PDF presents the legs without joints, while the designer’s video tutorial includes instructions for the jointed version. For the written body pattern, R9 contains the two leg attachments, while the jointed alternative uses 48 sc around at R9 and attaches the jointed legs after R12.
If you choose the jointed method, it is important not to combine both construction methods. Follow one approach consistently so that the body and leg attachment remain compatible.
Credits and Pattern Use
The original pattern asks makers to credit @Rosalie_Toys as the pattern creator. It also states that the pattern should not be copied or redistributed as someone else’s work. Finished handmade items made from the pattern may be sold according to the creator’s stated terms.
The designer also provides a YouTube tutorial for difficult moments in the pattern, including the color-changing portion of the head and the alternative jointed-leg construction. The tutorial URL included in the source is https://youtu.be/7sWMN9BZDxg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What crochet hook size does this panda use?
The pattern uses a 4 mm crochet hook.
What yarn is specified?
The main body color is Himalaya Dolphin Baby in white. The secondary colors are Himalaya Dolphin Baby in black and pink, with brown used for the hat.
What size safety eyes are required?
The pattern specifies 16 mm safety eyes.
What size safety nose is used?
The pattern specifies a 15/22 mm safety nose.
Are 30 mm joints required?
No. Joints are listed as optional. The PDF uses the version without joints, while the designer’s video demonstrates the jointed version.
Which pieces are sewn onto the panda?
The pattern specifically states that only the head and tail are sewn on. The other parts are attached as crocheting progresses.
When should the head be stuffed?
Stuffing begins at R18 of the head.
When are the eyes placed?
The eyes are placed between rows 8 and 9, with approximately 7 visible stitches between them.
Where is the nose placed?
The nose is placed between rows 3 and 4 of the head.
When are the ears attached?
The ears are attached while crocheting head R16.
Does the pattern provide a finished size?
No finished size is specified in the source, so no size should be assumed or added.
Does the pattern provide a gauge?
No gauge is specified in the source.
Final Project Checklist
- Materials: 4 mm hook, specified Himalaya Dolphin Baby yarn colors, safety eyes, safety nose, optional 30 mm joints, needle, scissors, hollowfiber, and stitch marker.
- Ears: Two black ears, not stuffed.
- Tail: Black, lightly stuffed, with sewing tail left.
- Arms: Two black arms, stuffed through R1-R12.
- Legs: Two legs beginning in pink, changing to black after R2, with feet facing forward.
- Body: Legs and arms attached during crocheting.
- Head: White and black color changes through R7-R10.
- Eyes: Between rows 8 and 9.
- Nose: Between rows 3 and 4.
- Ears: Added during head R16.
- Stuffing: Head stuffing begins at R18.
- Hat: Brown, finished with 60 sl st in R16.
- Assembly: Sew the head to the body and sew the tail in its specified position.
- Finishing: Complete face shaping and embroidery using the designer’s tutorial.
Final Thoughts
This panda is a rewarding project because the construction combines straightforward amigurumi rounds with several more detailed attachment and color-placement techniques. The body grows through carefully controlled increases, the legs are integrated directly into the construction, the arms are joined later in the body, and the ears become part of the head during R16. The result is a cohesive plush design rather than a toy assembled entirely from separately sewn pieces.
The most important strategy is to treat each stitch count and attachment round as a checkpoint. Keeping track of the counts helps preserve the proportions created by the original designer. Pay particular attention to the forward-facing feet, symmetrical legs, eye placement, ear attachment, and the beginning of stuffing at R18 of the head.
The brown hat provides the final decorative element and has its own shaping sequence, including the chain sections in R7. Trying it on at the specified point gives you an opportunity to check the fit before completing the remaining rounds.
Most importantly, follow the original construction exactly where technical details are provided, and use the designer’s video for the difficult visual steps such as the head color changes, face shaping, and optional jointed-leg technique. With the stitch counts, colors, attachment points, and finishing instructions kept consistent, you can work through the project in a clear sequence from the smallest black ear to the finished panda wearing its brown hat.