Big panda little panda
Adorable knitted toys to treasure for ever
MATERIALS
Little Panda – One 50g ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in each of Black 300 (A) and White 100 (B). Pair of 2.75mm knitting needles.
Big Panda – One 50g ball of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Black 300 (A) and two balls in Ecru 25 (B). Pair of 4mm knitting needles.
Washable toy stuffing. Scraps of black felt and matching sewing thread. Two small safety eyes per panda (See Notes).
TENSIONS
28 sts and 58 rows in Baby Cashmerino on 2.75mm needles and 18 sts and 38 rows in Cashmerino Aran on 4mm needles, both to 10cm square over garter stitch. Tensions do not need to be exact, but the fabric needs to be firm so that stuffing does not show through and body parts keep their shape.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following; inc increase; k knit; m1 make one st by picking up and working into back of loop lying between st just worked and next st; p purl; patt pattern; psso pass slipped st over; rem remaining; rep repeat; RS right side; s2togkpo sl2tog, k1, pass 2 sl sts over; sl slip; ssk [slip 1] twice, insert tip of left hand needle from left to right through the fronts of both slipped sts and work 2 tog; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; tbl through back loop; tog together; WS wrong side.
NOTES
Both pandas are worked in garter stitch (k every row).
Little panda is made using Baby
Cashmerino and 2.75mm knitting needles throughout.
Big panda is made using Cashmerino Aran and 4mm needles throughout.
All the instructions are for both pandas, the size difference is made by using different sized needles and yarn.
If you are making a panda for a baby and don’t want to use safety eyes, embroider the eyes on to the eye patches or securely stitch on felt circles in a different colour.
BODY BACK
(Worked from neck edge) With 2.75mm(4mm) needles and A, cast on 12 sts and k 1 row.
Shape shoulders Next row Cast on 2 sts, k to end. Rep this row 3 times more. 20 sts. K 4 rows. Next row K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. 22 sts. K 5 rows. Change to B **. Rep the last 6 rows 5 times more. 32 sts.
Shape base Next row K1, [ssk, k11, k2tog] twice, k1. 28 sts. K 1 row. Next
row K1, [ssk, k9, k2tog] twice, k1. 24 sts. K 1 row. *** Next row K1, [ssk, k7, k2tog] twice, k1. 20 sts. K 1 row. Cont to dec 4 sts in this way on every alt row until 8 sts rem. K 1 row. Next row K1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3tog, k1. 4 sts. Next row
[K2tog] twice. 2 sts. Next row K2tog and fasten off.
BODY FRONT
Work as Body Back to **. Next row K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. 24 sts. K 5 rows. Next row K1, m1, k10, m1, k2, m1, k10, m1, k1. 28 sts. K 5 rows.
Next row K1, m1, k10, m1, k6, m1, k10, m1, k1. 32 sts. K 5 rows. Next row K1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1. 34 sts. K 5 rows. Rep the last 6 rows once more. 36 sts.
Shape base Next row K1, ssk, k6, ssk, k5, k2tog, ssk, k5, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k1. 30 sts. K 1 row. Next row K1, ssk, k5, ssk, k3, k2tog, ssk, k3, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1. 24 sts. K 1 row. Now work as Body Back from *** to end.
HEAD
(Worked from the snout to the back of the head) With 2.75mm(4mm) needles and B, cast on 4 sts. 1st row K 1 row. 2nd row K1, [m1, k1] to end. 7 sts. Rep the last 2 rows once more. 13 sts.
5th, 7th, 9th and 11th rows K to end.
6th row [K1, m1, k5, m1] twice, k1. 17 sts. 8th row K1, m1, k6, m1, k3, m1, k6, m1, k1. 21 sts. 10th row K1, m1, k7, m1, k5, m1, k7, m1, k1. 25 sts. 12th row K1, m1, k8, m1, k7, m1, k8, m1, k1. 29 sts. K 2 rows.
15th row K2, [ssk, k1] 3 times, k8,
[k2tog, k1] 3 times, k1. 23 sts. 16th row
K4, m1, k3, m1, k9, m1, k3, m1, k4. 27 sts. K 3 rows. 20th row [K4, m1] twice, k11, [m1, k4] twice. 31 sts. K 3 rows. 24th row
K4, m1, k5, m1, k13, m1, k5, m1, k4. 35 sts. K 1 row. 26th row K4, m1, k6, m1, k15, m1, k6, m1, k4. 39 sts. K 1 row. 28th
row K4, m1, k7, m1, k17, m1, k7, m1, k4. 43 sts. K 1 row. 30th row K4, m1, k8, m1, k19, m1, k8, m1, k4. 47 sts. K 1 row. 32nd
row [K4, m1] 4 times, k7, m1, k8, [m1, k4] 4 times. 56 sts. K 12 rows. 45th row [K9, k2tog] 5 times, k1. 51 sts. K 1 row. 47th
row [K8, k2tog] 5 times, k1. 46 sts. K 1 row.
49th row [K7, k2tog] 5 times, k1. 41 sts.
K 1 row. 51st row [K6, k2tog] 5 times, k1. 36 sts. K 1 row. Cont to dec 5 sts in this way on next row and 4 foll alt rows. 11 sts. K 1 row. 61st row Sl 1, k2tog, psso, [k2tog] 4 times. 5 sts. Break yarn, thread through rem sts, pull up and secure. Join seam, leaving a gap, stuff firmly and carefully, then close gap in seam.
EARS
(make 2) With 2.75mm(4mm) needles and A, cast on 19 sts. K 1 row.
Next row [K1, ssk, k1, k2tog] 3 times, k1. 13 sts. K 1 row. Next row Ssk, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, k2tog.
7 sts. K 1 row. Next row K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts. Next row Ssk, k1, k2tog. 3 sts. Cast off.
LEGS
(make 2) With 2.75mm(4mm) needles and A, cast on 15 sts. K 1 row.
2nd row K1, m1, k4, m1, k1, m1, k3, m1, k1, m1, k4, m1, k1. 21 sts. K 1 row. 4th row K1, m1, k6, m1, k2, m1, k3, m1, k2, m1, k6, m1, k1. 27 sts. K 1 row. 6th row K9, m1, k3, [m1, k1] 3 times, m1, k3, m1, k9. 33 sts.
K 9 rows. 16th row K12, ssk, k5, k2tog, k12. 31 sts. K 1 row. 18th row K12, ssk, k3, k2tog, k12. 29 sts. K 1 row. 20th row K12, ssk, k1, k2tog, k12. 27 sts. K 1 row. 22nd
row K11, ssk, k1, k2tog, k11. 25 sts. K 1 row. 24th row K10, ssk, k1, k2tog, k10. 23 sts. K 1 row. 26th row K9, ssk, k1, k2tog, k9. 21 sts. K 27 rows. 54th row K4, ssk, k9, k2tog, k4. 19 sts. K 1 row. 56th
row K4, ssk, k7, k2tog, k4. 17 sts. K 1 row.
58th row K2, ssk, k2tog, k5, ssk, k2tog, k2. 13 sts. K 1 row. 60th row K1, ssk, k2tog, s2togkpo, ssk, k2tog, k1. 7 sts.
K 1 row. 62nd row K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts. Break yarn, thread through rem sts, pull up and secure.
ARMS
(make 2) With 2.75mm(4mm) needles and A, cast on 7 sts. K 1 row.
2nd row K1, m1, k2, m1, k1, m1, k2, m1, k1. 11 sts. K 1 row. 4th row K1, m1, [k3, m1] 3 times, k1. 15 sts. K 1 row. 6th row K1, m1, k4, m1, k5, m1, k4, m1, k1. 19 sts. K 1 row. 8th row K1, m1, k17, m1, k1. 21 sts. K 1 row. 10th row K1, m1, k7, ssk, k1, k2tog, k7, m1, k1. 21 sts. K 1 row. Rep the last 2 rows once more. 14th row
K8, ssk, k1, k2tog, k8. 19 sts. K 1 row.
16th row K7, ssk, k1, k2tog, k7. 17 sts. K 24 rows. 41st row K2, ssk, k2tog, k5, ssk, k2tog, k2. 13 sts. K 1 row.
43rd row K1, ssk, k2tog, s2togkpo, ssk, k2tog, k1. 7 sts. K 1 row.
45th row K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts. Break yarn, thread through rem sts, pull up and secure.
TO MAKE UP
Join body back to body front leaving neck edge open. Stuff firmly and run a thread around neck edge, pull up slightly and fasten off. Sew ears to head. Sew head to body at neck. Fold each arm and each leg in half, join seam, leaving a gap, stuff firmly and close gap.
Sew arms and legs in place to body.
WORKING FACIAL FEATURES
When making toys, the most important thing is the facial features, this is what makes a toy appealing; look at the photos to see where to position everything. Using the templates, cut 2 eye patches for each panda from felt. As felt is reversible, just turn one patch over for a mirror image. Make a small hole in each patch and insert the eyes, securing in place with the back plate (see Notes). Position the patches to either side of the snout and stitch securely in place. For the nose, cut a flattened triangle from felt and stitch in place. Then using fine black yarn or embroidery thread, work the mouth.