International symbols of peace and harmony, Panda Bears are fascinating, mesmerizing black and white creatures that are native to the mountainous regions of China. These cute herbivores love to eat bamboo stems and have a gentle and playful demeanor!
Let’s begin!
MATERIALS
5 PLY COTTON BLEND YARN
COLOURS: BLACK AND WHITE
3 MM CROCHET HOOK
A PAIR OF SAFETY EYES
FIBERFILL
SCISSORS
DARNING NEEDLE
CREATING THE HEAD
With your 3 MM crochet hook and white yarn, create a Magic Ring (MR) and Chain (CH) 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 5 Single Crochets (SC) inside the MR and pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 5
ROUND 2: Single Crochet Increase (SC INC) in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 10
ROUND 3: * SC in the next stitch, SC INC in the next stitch. Repeat * 5 times (Photo 1). Total Stitches: 15
ROUND 4: SC in the next 2 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch, SC in the next stitch, SC INC in the next stitch, SC in the next 4 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch, SC in the next stitch, SC INC in the next stitch, SC in the next 2 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch. Total Stitches: 20
ROUND 5: SC in the next 2 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch, * SC in the next stitch, SC INC in the next stitch, repeat * one more time. SC in the next 7 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch, repeat * 2 times, SC in the next stitch. Total Stitches: 26
ROUND 6 to ROUND 7: SC in every stitch in the round (Photo 2).
ROUND 8: SC INC in the next stitch 4 times, SC in the next 8 stitches, SC INC in the next 4 stitches, SC in the next 10 stitches. Total Stitches: 34
ROUND 9: SC in every stitch in the round.
ROUND 10: SC in the next 2 stitches, Invisible Single Crochet Decrease (INV SC DEC) 4 times,SC in the next 8 stitches, INV SC DEC 4 times, SC in the next 9 stitches. Total Stitches: 27
ROUND 11 TO ROUND 14: SC in every stitch in the round (Photo 3).
ROUND 15: * SC in the next 2 stitches, INV SC DEC, repeat * 6 times, SC in the next 3 stitches. Total Stitches: 21
ROUND 16: SC in every stitch in the round.
ROUND 17: * SC in the next stitch, INV SC DEC in the next stitch. Repeat * 7 times. Total Stitches: 14
Fasten off and leave a 12 inch tail and set aside.
CREATING THE EARS (2)
With your 3 MM crochet hook and black yarn, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 5 SC inside the MR. Total Stitches: 5
ROUND 2: SC INC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 10
ROUND 3: SC in every stitch in the round. Fasten off and leave a 5 inch tail for sewing.
CREATING THE BODY
Using your 3 MM crochet hook and black yarn, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 7 SC inside the MR, pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 7
ROUND 2: SC INC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 14
ROUND 3: Single Crochet in the Back Loops Only (SC BLO) of every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 14
ROUND 4: * SC in the next 5 stitches, SC INC in the next stitch. Repeat * 3 times, joining your white yarn in the last stitch (Photo 4). Total Stitches: 21
ROUND 5: SC in every stitch in the round.
ROUND 6: SC in the next 6 stitches, CH 3, skip the next 3 stitches, SC in the next 3 stitches, CH 3, skip 3 stitches, SC in the next 6 stitches. Total Stitches: 21
ROUND 7 TO ROUND 10: SC in every stitch in the round.
ROUND 11: SC in the next 4 stitches, INV SC DEC in the next stitch, SC in the next stitch, CH 3, skip the next 3 stitches, SC in the next stitch, SC INC in the next stitch, SC in the next stitch, CH 3, skip the next 3 stitches, SC in the next stitch, INV SC DEC in the next stitch, SC in the next 2 stitches, joining your black yarn in the last stitch. Total Stitches: 20
ROUND 12 TO ROUND 13: SC in every stitch in the round (Photo 5).
ROUND 14: * SC in the next 2 stitches, INV SC DEC in the next stitch. Repeat * 5 times. Total Stitches: 15
ROUND 15: * SC in the next stitch, INV SC DEC in the next stitch. Repeat * 5 times. Total Stitches: 10
Fasten off and leave a 4 inch tail for sewing.
CREATING THE ARMS (2)
Using your 3 MM crochet hook and black yarn, create a Slip Knot and CH 3, Slip Stitch (SL ST) in the first CH to join.
ROUND 1: CH 1, hook in 4 SC inside the ring, joining your white yarn in the last stitch. Total Stitches: 4
ROUND 2 TO ROUND 4: Now using your black yarn, SC in every stitch in the round. Fasten off and leave a 5 inch tail for sewing.
CREATING THE LEGS (2)
Using your 3 MM crochet hook and your black yarn, create a MR and CH 1.
ROUND 1: Hook in 4 SC inside the MR and pull the ring close. Total Stitches: 4
ROUND 2: SC INC in every stitch in the round, joining your white yarn in the last stitch. Total Stitches: 8
ROUND 3 TO ROUND 4: SC in every stitch in the round. Fasten off and leave a 5 inch tail for sewing.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Take Phan Phan’s head, turn upside down and flatten, insert the safety eyes in between Rounds 8 and 9, spaced 5 stitches apart (Photo 6). Insert fiberfill until firm.
ROUND 18 (PHAN PHAN’S HEAD): INV SC DEC in every stitch in the round. Total Stitches: 7
Fasten off and leave a 6 inch tail for sewing.
Sew the opening closed, weaving in any loose ends.
Position the ears on the side of the head, between Rounds 3, 4 and 5, spaced evenly apart. Sew into place (Photo 7). Take the arms and sew into the upper portion of the body, sew around the opening for the arms. Do the same for the legs. Insert fiberfill into the body until firm. Weave in any loose ends. Position and center the head on top of the body and sew into place (Photo 8), weaving in any loose ends.
Using your black yarn, sew in a small x, one row below and in the center of the safety eyes.
