There is something especially appealing about a small crochet animal with a carefully shaped face, tiny ears, soft limbs, and a decorative outfit. This Little Panda project brings all of those elements together in a compact amigurumi design that measures approximately 16 cm (6.3″) when finished. Rather than treating the project as one long sequence of stitches, this guide looks at it as a miniature construction workshop, where every component has a specific role in creating the final character.
The original pattern was designed by Marina Chuchkalova of MyCrochetWonders. The instructions use mainly spiral crochet, while the skirt is worked separately in closed rows. The construction includes two legs, two arms, a body, a head, three small pieces for the ears and tail, two crocheted eye pieces, and a decorative skirt. The finishing stage then brings these pieces together with sewing, thread fastening, embroidery, glue, and a small pompon.
The technical instructions in this guide follow the original pattern. Stitch counts, round numbers, color specifications, materials, and construction details are preserved rather than adjusted for convenience.
Before Picking Up the Hook
A small amigurumi project can look simple because the finished object is small, but the small scale actually makes accuracy more noticeable. A difference of one stitch in a shaping round can affect the width of a component, while uneven stuffing can change the silhouette even when every round has technically been crocheted.
For this reason, the best preparation is not to rush into the first chain. Put the yarn, hook, stuffing, needle, attachment thread, halfbeads, glue, and embroidery threads together first. Then keep the stitch abbreviations and the round-by-round instructions accessible while working.
Materials for the Panda Workshop
The pattern specifies Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi) yarn. The main panda colors are Yarn Art Jeans №05 in light beige and Yarn Art Jeans №28 in black. The dress is made with Alize Cotton Gold №385 in green and Yarn Art Jeans №35 in yellow. An alternative dress color combination is also given: Alize Cotton Gold №98 in orchid and Yarn Art Jeans №18 in pale pink.
- Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi) yarn
- Yarn Art Jeans №05 – light beige
- Yarn Art Jeans №28 – black
- Alize Cotton Gold №385 – green
- Yarn Art Jeans №35 – yellow
- Alternative: Alize Cotton Gold №98 – orchid
- Alternative: Yarn Art Jeans №18 – pale pink
- 2.00 mm crochet hook
- Stuffing (hollofayber)
- Two black halfbeads, 8 mm in diameter
- Cotton strong thread or jute twine for attaching the arms and legs
- Needle with a big eye
- Moment glue
- A little white thin thread
- A little pink thin thread
The finished toy is specified as 16 cm (6.3″) tall. All details except the skirt are crocheted in a spiral. This distinction is important because the skirt uses a different row construction method.
Abbreviation Desk
Keep this small reference list nearby throughout the project. The pattern uses the following terminology:
- st – stitch
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- inc – increase, crocheting 2 sc in one loop
- dec – decrease, crocheting 2 sc together
- sl st – slip stitch
- puff st – 4-hdc Puff stitch
- (sc, inc) × n – repeat those in brackets n-times
The abbreviation list is particularly useful for the skirt because puff stitches are introduced there, while the body and most of the other components rely heavily on single crochet increases and decreases.
Workshop One: Sculpting the Two Legs
The legs are the first major shaped components. Make 2 pieces in black yarn and stuff them in the course of crocheting.
Begin by crocheting 6 ch. The first round travels around the chain, which creates the initial foot shape.
- 1 rnd: begin crocheting from 2nd loop from hook – inc, 3 sc, 4 sc in the last loop of the chain. 3 sc, inc (14)
- 2 rnd: inc, 3 sc, 6 inc, 3 sc, inc (22)
- 3-5 rnd: 1 sc in each st around (22)
- 6 rnd: 5 sc, 6 dec, 5 sc (16)
- 7 rnd: 5 sc, 3 dec, 5 sc (13)
- 8-17 rbd: 10 rows – 1 sc in each st around (13)
Pull the opening with the needle and hide the end of the thread inside the detail.
Notice how the leg changes shape through three distinct stages. The first two rounds establish and broaden the foot. Rounds 3-5 hold the 22-stitch width. Rounds 6 and 7 then reduce the circumference before rounds 8-17 continue as ten rows of 13 stitches. This makes the stitch counts useful checkpoints as well as instructions.
Leg Checkpoint
Before moving away from the first leg, verify the sequence 14, 22, 22, 16, and 13. Once the second leg is complete, compare the two pieces side by side. Matching dimensions are especially helpful later when the legs are attached to the body.
Workshop Two: Shaping the Arms
The arms are also black and should be stuffed during crocheting. Each arm begins with a magic ring and gradually widens before narrowing toward the opening.
- 1 rnd: 6 sc magic ring (6)
- 2 rnd: (1 sc, inc) × 3 (9)
- 3 rnd: (2 sc, inc) × 3 (12)
- 4 rnd: (3 sc, inc) × 3 (15)
- 5-6 rnd: 2 rows – 1 sc in each st around. (15)
- 7 rnd: (3 sc, dec) × 3 (12)
- 8-13 rnd: 6 rows – 1 sc in each st around (12)
- 14 rnd: (2 sc, dec) × 3 (9)
- 15-16 rnd: 2 rows – 1 sc in each st around (9)
Pull the opening with the needle and hide the end of the thread inside the detail.
The arm reaches 15 stitches at its widest point, stays there for rounds 5-6, then reduces to 12 stitches. Six more rows maintain 12 stitches before another decrease brings the piece to 9 stitches. The final two rounds stay at 9.
For a clean pair, use the first arm as a visual comparison when completing the second. This does not replace the stitch counts, but it makes asymmetry easier to spot before assembly.
Workshop Three: Building the Body
The body is worked with white or light beige yarn and stuffed as you crochet. This is the central structure of the panda, and it also contains the transition into the dress section.
- 1 rnd: 6 sc in the magic ring (6)
- 2 rnd: 6 inc (12)
- 3 rnd: (1 sc, inc) × 6 (18)
- 4 rnd: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
- 5 rnd: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
- 6 rnd: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
- 7 rnd: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
- 8-13 rnd: 6 rows – 1 sc in each st around. (42)
- 14 rnd: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
- 15-16 rnd: 2 rows – 1 sc in each st around (36)
Change the yarn to the dress color.
- 17 rnd: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
- 18 rnd: back loops only – 1 sc in each st around. (30)
- 19-21 rnd: 3 rows – 1 sc in each st around (30)
- 22 rnd: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
Leave enough thread for sewing.
Why Round 18 Deserves Extra Attention
Round 18 is specifically worked through the back loops only. It should not be treated as an ordinary single crochet round. The instruction is part of the dress construction and should remain exactly where it appears in the pattern.
The body reaches 42 stitches in round 7 and stays at 42 through rounds 8-13. It then decreases to 36, remains at 36 for rounds 15-16, changes to the dress color at round 17, and continues through the dress section until the final 24-stitch round.
Workshop Four: Giving the Panda Its Head
The head follows a similar increase-and-decrease concept but becomes larger than the body. Work it in white or light beige and stuff it in the course of crocheting.
- 1 rnd: 6 sc in the magic ring (6)
- 2 rnd: 6 inc (12)
- 3 rnd: (1 sc, inc) × 6 (18)
- 4 rnd: (2 sc, inc) × 6 (24)
- 5 rnd: (3 sc, inc) × 6 (30)
- 6 rnd: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
- 7 rnd: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
- 8 rnd: (6 sc, inc) × 6 (48)
- 9-18 rnd: 10 rows – 1 sc in each st around (48)
- 19 rnd: (6 sc, dec) × 6 (42)
- 20 rnd: (5 sc, dec) × 6 (36)
- 21 rnd: (4 sc, dec) × 6 (30)
- 22 rnd: (3 sc, dec) × 6 (24)
Cut the yarn and fasten off. Sew the head to the body.
The head’s maximum stitch count is 48. After ten rounds remain at that width, the decrease sequence begins. The final count is 24 stitches. When checking your work, do not rely solely on appearance: the numerical progression gives you a much more dependable way to determine whether the shaping is following the original instructions.
Workshop Five: Ears and Tail
The ears and tail are made from the same basic pattern, producing 3 pieces in total.
- 1 rnd: 6 sc in the magic ring (6)
- 2 rnd: 6 inc (12)
- 3-4 rnd: 2 rows – 1 sc in each st around (12)
- 5 rnd: (dec, 4 sc) × 2 (10)
Leave enough thread for sewing. Stuff the tail. Fold the ears in half and do not stuff.
This is one of the simplest places to accidentally change the intended character of the project. The three pieces use the same crochet instructions, but their finishing treatment is different. The tail receives stuffing, while the ears are folded and left empty.
Workshop Six: Preparing the Eyes
Make 2 eye pieces in black. They begin with 6 ch and are shaped around the chain.
- 1 rnd: begin crocheting from the 2nd loop from the hook – 2 sc, 3 sc in the last loop of the chain. 1 sc, inc (8)
- 2 rnd: inc, 1 sc, 3 inc, 1 sc, 2 inc (14)
Leave enough thread for sewing.
The materials list also specifies two black halfbeads measuring 8 mm in diameter. These are used during the decoration stage and are glued in place.
The Dress: A Different Crochet Rhythm
After working the body, the skirt introduces a completely different visual rhythm. This is the only major section that is not crocheted in a spiral.
The first row is crocheted by grasping the front loops of the 18th row. The skirt is worked in closed rows. Each row begins with 1 ch and ends with a sl st in the first stitch of the row. The pattern also specifies making 4-hdc puff stitches with another color.
- 1 rnd: (4 sc, inc) × 6 (36)
- 2 rnd: (5 sc, puff st.) × 6 times (36)
- 3 rnd: (5 sc, inc) × 6 (42)
- 4 rnd: 1 sc in each st around (42)
- 5 rnd: 2 sc, puff st., (6 sc, puff st.) × 5 times, 4 sc (42)
- 6 rnd: (6 sc, inc) × 6 (48)
- 7 rnd: 1 sc in each st around (48)
- 8 rnd: 6 sc, puff st., (7 sc, puff. st.) × 5 times, 1 sc (48)
- 9 rnd: (7 sc, inc) × 6 (54)
- 10 rnd: 1 sc in each st around (54)
- 11 rnd: sl st in each st around
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
Skirt Count Map
The skirt starts at 36 stitches, stays at 36 in round 2, increases to 42 in round 3, remains at 42 through round 5, reaches 48 in round 6, stays at 48 through round 8, and then increases to 54 in round 9. Round 10 remains at 54, while round 11 consists of slip stitches around.
These changes are worth checking because the skirt has several decorative puff-stitch rows mixed with plain single crochet rounds. Counting after each shaping round makes it easier to distinguish an actual construction problem from the naturally decorative appearance of the fabric.
Putting the Character Together
Once all pieces have been crocheted, the panda moves into the assembly stage. This is where the project begins to look recognizable.
Securing the Legs
The original pattern instructs you to attach the legs using thread fastening. A video reference is provided in the source for this technique:
Leg attachment video reference
The strong cotton thread or jute twine listed in the materials is intended for attaching the arms and legs. Because these are functional attachment points, take care to secure the thread properly before hiding the ends.
Positioning the Arms
Attach the arms after the main body construction is ready for assembly. Compare both sides visually before making the final attachment. Symmetry at this stage has a strong influence on the finished appearance.
Joining Head and Body
The pattern specifically instructs you to sew the head to the body. The head should be securely attached before moving to the smaller facial and decorative details.
Adding the Ears and Eyes
Sew the folded ears into position. Sew the eye pieces and then glue the black halfbeads. Keep the 8 mm halfbead specification in mind when preparing this stage.
Creating the Face
Embroider the nose. Then add the cheeks using the pink thread. The original instructions note that a couple of stitches are enough for the cheeks, so this detail is intentionally subtle.
Finishing the Back and Neck
Sew the stuffed tail into position. Finally, make a small pompon and attach it to the neck.
How to Keep the Finished Panda Symmetrical
Symmetry is not created by adding extra stitches. It comes from consistent construction and careful placement. When assembling the panda, compare the two ears before sewing, compare the arms, and look at the eyes together rather than attaching them independently without checking the overall face.
A useful approach is to place pieces temporarily, step back, and inspect the character from the front. Once the placement looks balanced, complete the sewing or gluing operation.
The same principle applies to stuffing. The pattern calls for stuffing several components during crocheting, so the goal is to maintain a firm but controlled shape while the piece grows. Overly uneven filling can make one side appear fuller than the other.
Common Problems and Their Solutions
A Round Has the Wrong Number of Stitches
Do not compensate by changing the following round. Return to the round where the count first became incorrect and review the increases or decreases. The pattern gives explicit stitch counts throughout the shaping sections.
The Two Legs Do Not Match
Check the round sequence and compare the completed pieces. The leg pattern finishes its shaping with 13 stitches and then continues for ten rows at that count. A discrepancy usually becomes easier to locate by comparing the pieces round by round.
The Body Color Change Looks Incorrect
Remember that the body changes to the dress color before round 17. Round 18 is then worked through the back loops only. The sequence should not be rearranged.
The Skirt Is Not Forming Correctly
Review the attachment point first: the first row is worked through the front loops of the 18th row. Then verify that you are closing every row with a sl st and beginning every row with 1 ch.
The Ears Are Too Thick
The ears are not stuffed. Fold them in half after completing the specified five rounds.
The Tail Looks Flat
The tail is the opposite: it should be stuffed. Check the tail finishing instruction before sewing it onto the body.
A Useful Stitch-Count Audit
If you want a compact way to check the project as you work, use the following milestones:
- Leg: 14 after round 1, 22 after round 2, 22 through rounds 3-5, 16 after round 6, and 13 after round 7.
- Arm: 6, 9, 12, 15, then 12, and finally 9.
- Body: increases through 42, then decreases through 36, 30, and 24.
- Head: increases through 48, remains at 48 for rounds 9-18, then decreases through 42, 36, 30, and 24.
- Ears/Tail: 6, 12, 12, and 10.
- Eyes: 8 after round 1 and 14 after round 2.
- Skirt: 36, 36, 42, 42, 42, 48, 48, 48, 54, 54, followed by slip stitches in round 11.
This audit is particularly useful if you are working over several sessions. Instead of trying to remember where you stopped, write down the last completed round and its stitch count.
Finishing Checklist
- Two black legs completed.
- Two black arms completed.
- Body completed in white or light beige with the specified dress-color transition.
- Head completed and sewn to the body.
- Three ear/tail pieces completed.
- Tail stuffed.
- Ears folded and left unstuffed.
- Two black eye pieces completed.
- Skirt completed through round 11.
- Legs attached using thread fastening.
- Arms attached with strong thread.
- Ears sewn into position.
- Eyes sewn into position.
- Black 8 mm halfbeads glued.
- Nose embroidered.
- Pink cheek details embroidered.
- Tail sewn on.
- Small pompon attached to the neck.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Construction
What size will this panda be?
The finished toy is 16 cm (6.3″) tall.
What hook should I use?
The original pattern specifies a 2.00 mm hook.
What type of yarn is required?
The specified yarn is Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi). The main colors are Yarn Art Jeans №05 light beige and №28 black. Dress colors are Alize Cotton Gold №385 green and Yarn Art Jeans №35 yellow, with Alize Cotton Gold №98 orchid and Yarn Art Jeans №18 pale pink listed as an alternative.
Does the whole panda use spiral crochet?
No. All details except the skirt are crocheted in a spiral. The skirt is crocheted in closed rows.
How large are the halfbeads?
The pattern calls for two black halfbeads measuring 8 mm in diameter.
Should the ears be stuffed?
No. The pattern instructs you to fold the ears in half and not stuff them.
Should the tail be stuffed?
Yes. The tail is specifically stuffed before it is sewn into place.
When does the dress color begin?
The yarn changes to the dress color at round 17 of the body.
What makes round 18 of the body different?
Round 18 is worked through the back loops only, with 1 sc in each stitch around for a total of 30 stitches.
How is the skirt started?
The first skirt row is crocheted by grasping the front loops of the 18th row. The skirt then uses closed rows, beginning with 1 ch and ending with a sl st in the first stitch of the row.
The Last Details Matter
Small finishing elements can transform the personality of an amigurumi. The black and light beige palette already gives the panda its basic identity, but the dress, eyes, embroidered nose, pink cheeks, tail, and neck pompon provide the details that make the character feel complete.
At this stage, resist the temptation to add extra decorations that are not part of the original instructions. The strength of this design comes from the relationship between the prescribed crochet shapes and the small finishing touches.
Final Project Review
This Little Panda is a good example of how a relatively small amigurumi can contain several different crochet techniques. The legs begin with chains and are shaped with increases and decreases. The arms, body, and head use magic rings and controlled circular increases. The ears and tail share one basic pattern but receive different finishing treatments. The eyes use chain-based shaping, while the skirt introduces closed rows and 4-hdc puff stitches.
The project becomes much more manageable when each stage is treated as an individual checkpoint. Finish the limbs, verify their counts, construct the body, complete the head, prepare the smaller details, crochet the skirt, and then move into assembly. This method keeps the technical sequence intact while making the overall project easier to understand.
Most importantly, the pattern’s stitch counts should remain your guide. The visual appearance of a small crocheted piece can sometimes be misleading while it is still in progress. A piece may look slightly different before stuffing, or the final shape may not become obvious until the decreases are complete. The numerical checkpoints provide a reliable way to stay aligned with the original design.
Once the final pompon has been attached to the neck, the nose and cheeks embroidered, the halfbeads glued, and all components securely assembled, the Little Panda is ready to show off its finished dress and carefully shaped character.
For makers sharing their finished work on Instagram, the original designer asks you to tag @mycrochetwonders and use #design_by_chuchkalova.