Amigurumi · Mixed construction
Crochet Panda Lovey Pattern for Babies
By Looplader · Tested row by row · Updated
- Skill
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn
- Light/DK cotton (CYC 3)
- Time
- Two relaxed evenings
This crochet panda lovey is a flat cotton comfort square with a low-profile panda face sewn through its center, so there is no stuffed head, plastic eye, button, or separate toy part. The square is worked in simple half double crochet rows; the face, ears, and eye patches are made separately and stitched down flat.
This is a handmade gift pattern, not a safety-certified product. Use it only with active adult supervision, inspect every seam and embroidered feature before use, and keep it out of an infant sleep space.
Why you’ll love this pattern
- The 48-stitch square is a calm, repeatable hdc fabric with no motifs to join.
- The face stays flat rather than becoming a bulky amigurumi head.
- All facial detail is yarn embroidery; the pattern deliberately uses no safety eyes, buttons, beads, or snaps.
- The pieces are small enough to make from a few balls of smooth cotton.
Instructions
- 1
Read the use note before beginning: this flat lovey is for supervised comfort time only. It is not sleepwear, bedding, or a safety-certified toy; do not place it in a crib, bassinet, or other infant sleep area.
- 2
Make a 4 in / 10 cm hdc swatch in the cream yarn. Aim for 16 hdc and 12 rows after washing and drying the swatch according to the yarn label. The square's finished measurement depends on this gauge, so change hook size now if needed.
- 348 sts
Comfort square foundation: with cream, ch 50. Row 1: hdc in the third ch from hook and in each ch across; turn.
- 4
Rows 2–36: ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn, hdc in each st across; turn. (48 sts each row) Keep the side edges square by working the last hdc into the top of the turning chain rather than the gap below it.
- 5
Measure the square before the border. At the stated gauge it should be about 12 in / 30.5 cm square. If it is noticeably smaller or larger, adjust your hook and remake the square; adding rows changes the face placement and the finished proportions.
- 6
Border: with RS facing, work 1 round of sc evenly around the square, placing 3 sc in each corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Work a second round of reverse sc from left to right, again placing 3 reverse sc in each corner; join and fasten off. The firm edge keeps the rows from rolling without making a thick ruffle.
- 724 sts
Panda face: with cream, make a magic ring. Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sts) Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts) Rnd 3: (sc, inc) six times. (18 sts) Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) six times.
- 8
Continue the face: Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) six times. (30 sts) Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) six times. (36 sts) Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) six times. (42 sts) Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) six times. (48 sts) Sl st to the next st, fasten off, and leave a long sewing tail. The face should lie flat at about 3 3/4 in / 9.5 cm across at stated gauge.
- 9
Ears, make 2: with black, make a magic ring. Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. (6 sts) Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts) Sl st to the next st and fasten off with a long tail. Fold each circle gently in half to make a flat semicircle; do not stuff it.
- 10
Eye patches, make 2: with soft gray, ch 7. Row 1: sc in the second ch from hook and in each ch across; turn. (6 sts) Row 2: ch 1, inc in first st, sc in next 4 sts, inc in last st; turn. (8 sts) Row 3: ch 1, inc in first st, sc in next 6 sts, inc in last st. (10 sts) Fasten off with a long tail. Shape each patch into a gentle oval while weaving in the starting tail.
- 11
Place the two ears across the top edge of the face, with about 1 in / 2.5 cm between their inner corners. Put each gray eye patch 1/2 in / 1.25 cm below the ears and slightly angled toward the center. Use removable markers to check that both sides mirror before sewing anything.
- 12
Sew the ears and eye patches down with small whip stitches all the way around each piece. Stitch through the face and back through the same edge loops, keeping the yarn tails on the WS. Do not leave any edge loose enough to lift from the face.
- 13
Using a doubled strand of black yarn, embroider two short curved eyes centered on the gray patches. Embroider a small triangular nose between the patches, then one short vertical stitch beneath it. Keep each embroidery stitch short and pull it just firm enough to sit flat; long loose floats can snag.
- 14
Center the finished face on the comfort square, about 4 in / 10 cm down from the top border. Pin or baste it in place, then sew all the way around the face with small, close whip stitches. Make a second pass through the four cardinal points of the circle for reinforcement, then weave every tail through several stitch columns on the WS before trimming.
- 15
Wash and dry the lovey according to the yarn label, then inspect the ears, eye patches, embroidery, border, and face seam. If any stitch shifts, catches, or loosens, repair it before supervised use; remove it from use if a component cannot be secured.
Tips for success
- Use smooth plied cotton rather than fuzzy yarn. It makes the embroidery and close seam stitches easier to inspect.
- Mark the exact center of the square by folding it in quarters before attaching the face. A face sewn even half an inch off-center is more noticeable than a tiny tension difference.
- If the face cup-shapes, your rounds are too tight. Move up one hook size for the face only, then check that it still lies flat before sewing.
- Do not substitute buttons, beads, safety eyes, ribbons, or a dangling loop for the embroidered features. The pattern is intentionally designed with yarn-only detail.
Pattern at a glance
- Time to make
- Two relaxed evenings
- Skill level
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn weight
- Light/DK cotton (CYC 3)CYC standard
- Yardage
- About 150 yd / 138 m total
- Gauge
- 16 hdc x 12 rows = 4 in / 10 cm, after washing and drying the swatch
- Finished size
- About 12 x 12 in / 30.5 x 30.5 cm at stated gauge; flat face about 3 3/4 in / 9.5 cm across
Free ebook
Get new patterns, and the ebook
New patterns as they land, plus our free beginner's crochet stitch guide. No daily blasts, unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a crochet panda lovey be used in a crib?
No. Keep this and other soft objects out of an infant sleep area. This pattern is for active, supervised comfort time only; it is not designed, tested, or labeled as sleep bedding or a safe-sleep product.
Why is the panda face flat instead of stuffed?
The flat face keeps the comfort square low-profile and avoids adding stuffing or a separate plush head. It is still essential to sew every edge securely and inspect the attachment before each supervised use.
Can I use safety eyes on this panda lovey?
No. This version uses yarn embroidery only. Do not add plastic eyes, buttons, beads, or other small attached components; embroidered short stitches keep the facial detail integral to the crochet fabric.
How can I make the comfort square larger?
Add an even number of hdc rows before working the border, then re-center the face. Keep the square shape by maintaining 48 stitches across each row; size changes alter yarn use and the amount of face-free space around the appliqué.
