Hi guys!
After making the Binky pattern, I really wanted to continue to spread awareness about other animals that are on the endangered species list through my crochet. So for February, I decided on the adorable Red Panda and created Laya! She is named after the Himalayas where red panda populations have decreased by 40% in the last 50 years due to poaching and deforestation.
I chose to have Laya standing on her back paws in a playful position because videos of red pandas tackling each other are so adorable! However, red pandas are actually quite lazy and enjoying lying in tree branches for most of the day. They also do not like warmer weather! I’m beginning to think I am a red panda haha!
Red Pandas also eat a lot of bamboo, but this isn’t just because it is yummy to them. Pandas, both red and black, can not digest cellulose, and therefore need to consume large quantities of bamboo to survive. Sadly, more and more bamboo, and forest, is being destroyed for industrial reasons or by domestic livestock. This makes it hard for our furry friends to get the nutrition they need as well as a good place to sleep and call home!
There are ways you can get involved! Adopt a (symbolic) Red Panda from the World Wildlife Foundation is great because you also get a plushie!
I hope you enjoy Laya! Can’t wait to see your new friend!
Laya the Red Panda
By: Café del Craft
Materials
Yarns:
- Caron Simply Soft – Black
- Caron Simply Soft – Pumpkin
- Caron Simply Soft – Chocolate
- Caron Simply Soft – Cream
Tools:
- 3.00mm Crochet Hook, if you have tight tension, size up to a 3.5mm
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Other:
- Fiberfill
- 6mm Plastic Safety Eyes
Read Instructions thoroughly!
Most rounds are worked in a spiral, do not join unless instructed to.
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in Same Stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two Together(Decrease) |
| HDC | Half Double Crochet |
| HDCINC | Half Double Crochet two in Same Stitch (Increase) |
| HDCTOG | Half Double Crochet two Together (Decrease) |
| FLO | Front Loop Only |
| BLO | Back Loop Only |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | commas are used to indicate when stitches worked into one stitch slot ends. Example: 1 sc 1 dc 1sc, sl st = 1sc 1 dc 1 sc into one stitch and then 1 sl st into the next stitch. |
Special Techniques Used
Front Paws
Yarn Color: Brown
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , work 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat * to * x3. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3-9: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
Tie off leaving a tail for sewing the arm to the body. Stuff firmy but do not overstuff, set aside.
Ears
Yarn Color: Brown
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , work 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x2. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *3 sc, 1 scinc* repeat x2. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *4 sc, 1 scinc* repeat x2. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *5 sc, 1 scinc* repeat x2. | (14 stitches) |
Tie off leaving a tail for sewing onto head; set aside.
Inner Ear
Yarn Color: Cream
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , 1 sc, ch 2, 2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc, ch 2, 1 sc, join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 1 sc, 1 sc in ch 2 space, ch 2, 2 sc, 1 sc in ch 2 space, ch 2, 2 sc, 1 sc in ch 2 space, ch 2, 1 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Tie off, leaving a tail for sewing onto the ear; set aside.
Nose
Yarn Color: Cream
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , work 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 sc, 1 scinc* repeat x2.. | (9 stitches) |
Tie off, leaving a tail for sewing, set aside.
Tail
Yarn Color: Cream, Pumpkin, Brown
Begin with cream
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle , work 6 sc, join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 scinc* repeat x3, join. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 3: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3, join. | (12 stitches) |
Join and switch to Pumpkin Yarn, cut cream yarn.
| Round 4: | Ch 1, 12 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
Do NOT cut or carry Pumpkin yarm, Join and switch to Brown Yarn
| Round 5: | Ch 1, 12 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, *1 sc, 1 sctog, 1 sc* repeat x3, join. | (9 stitches) |
Do NOT cut or carry Brown yarn, Switch to Pumpkin Yarn
| Round 7-8: | Ch 1, 9 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Do NOT cut or carry Pumpkin yarn, Switch to Brown Yarn
| Round 9-10: | Ch 1, 9 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Do NOT cut or carry Brown yarn, Switch to Pumpkin Yarn
| Round 11-12: | Ch 1, 9 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Do NOT cut or carry Pumpkin yarn, Switch to Brown Yarn
| Round 13-14: | Ch 1, 9 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Cut Brown yarn leaving a tail to be tucked inside, Switch to Pumpkin Yarn and carry brown yarn for the first 3 sc to secure it.
| Round 15: | Ch 1, 9 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
Tie off and leave a tail long enough to sew piece to body; stuff and set aside.
Head
Yarn Color: Pumpkin
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, *2 sc, 1 hdc* repeat x2, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | *2 scinc, 1 hdcinc* repeat x2. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *3 sc, 1 scinc, 1 hdcinc, 1 scinc* repeat x2. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *4 sc, 1 scinc, 1 hdcinc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x2. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *5 sc, 1 scinc, 1 hdcinc, 1 scinc, 4 sc* repeat x2. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *6 sc, 1 scinc, 1 hdcinc, 1 scinc, 6 sc* repeat x2. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7-9: | 36 sc. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 10: | *6 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 hdc2tog, 1 sc2tog, 6 sc* repeat x2. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 11: | *5 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 hdc2tog, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc* repeat x2. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *4 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 hdc2tog, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x2. | (18 stitches) |
Add Safety Eyes between Rounds 7 and 8. (If you do not have safety eyes, you can use a french knot with black yarn) Begin stuffing the head so that it keeps its oblong shape
| Round 13: | *3 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 hdc2tog, 1 sc2tog,* repeat x2. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 14: | 6 sc2tog. | (6 stitches) |
Stuff head more before closing if needed, sew closed using the Amigurumi Close Method
Set aside.
Back Legs
Yarn Color: Brown
Left Leg
| Round 1: | Ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 4 sc, 1 scinc, turn work 180 degrees to work down the other side of the starting chain, 1 sc in same space, 4 sc, 1 scinc, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 14 sc BLO, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 3: | Ch 1, 14 sc, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 4: | Ch 1, 2 sc, 5 sc2tog, 2 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 5: | Ch 1, 3 sc, 3 scinc, 3 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, 3 sc, * 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3, 3 sc, join. | (15 stitches) |
Mark 14th stitch
| Round 7: | Ch 1, 8 sc, join. | (8 stitches) |
Tie off and set aside.
Right Leg
| Round 1: | Ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 4 sc, 1 scinc, turn work 180 degrees to work down the other side of the starting chain, 1 sc in same space, 4 sc, 1 scinc, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 2: | Ch 1, 14 sc BLO, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 3: | Ch 1, 14 sc, join. | (14 stitches) |
| Round 4: | Ch 1, 2 sc, 5 sc2tog, 2 sc, join. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 5: | Ch 1, 3 sc, 3 scinc, 3 sc, join. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 6: | Ch 1, 3 sc, * 1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x3, 3 sc, join. | (15 stitches) |
Mark 1st and 6th stitch
| Round 7: | Ch 1, turn, 8 sc, join. | (8 stitches) |
Tie off. Continue to body.
Body
Color A = Brown Yarn
Color B = Pumpkin Yarn
Do NOT cut yarns until the end.
Tip: How to Change Colors
Attach Color A to the 1st stitch of Round 6 on the RIGHT Back Leg
| Round 1: | 1sc in same stitch, 1 sc, Ch 3, 1 sc into the 14th stitch(Round 6) on the Left back leg(the marked stitch), 1 sc into the 15th stitch(Round 6) on the Left back leg, 8 sc in Round 7 of the Left back leg, 2 sc in Round 6 of the Left back leg, ch 2 1 sc into the 6th stitch(Round 6) on the Right Back Leg(the second Marked stitch), 1 sc into the 7th stitch(Round 6) on the Right back leg, 8 sc in Round 7 of the Right back leg, | (25 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 2 sc, 1 sc in the back bar loop of each of the next 3 chains, 11 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc in the back bar loop of each of the next 2 ch, 10 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 3 sc, Switch to Color B, 13 sc, switch to Color A, 6 sc, switch to Color B, 8 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 4-5: | 15 sc, switch to Color A, 8 sc, switch to Color B, 7 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6-7: | 14 sc, switch to Color A, 10 sc, switch to Color B, 6 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 8: | 8 sc, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc, switch to Color A, 4 sc, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc, switch to Color B,. 4 sc, 1 sc2tog. | (27 stitches) |
| Round 9: | 7 sc, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc, switch to Color A, 3 sc, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc, switch to Color B, 3 sc, 1 sc2tog. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 6 sc, 1 sc2tog, 6 sc, switch to Color A, 4 sc, switch to Color B, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc, 1 sc2tog. Join with a sl st. | (21 stitches) |
Tie off leaving a long tail for attaching the head.
Turn the body upside down, attach Brown Yarn to the back loop of the first chain in the chain 3 of Round 1. 1 sc in same, 2 scblo, in each of the next two chains, 1 sc in the 1st open stitch on the left leg, 1sc2tog, 1 scblo in each of the chains in the chain 2 of Round 1, 1 sc in each of the 2 open stitches on the right leg, join.
Use the Mattress Stitch or Amigurumi Close Method to close the seam.
Stuff Body firmly but do not overstuff. Use the Amigirumi Piece Join Method to attach the head to the body, so that the “face” is slightly tilted upward.
Assembly
- Attach the front paws between Rounds 7-9 of the Body.
- Attach the tail to the bum of the Panda between rounds 1-3 of the body so that it covers the color change.
- Attach ears to the head so that they sit on top of the HDC’s on each side of the head between Rounds 2-6 of the Head.
- Attach the Inner Ear pieces to the front of the ears.
- Attach the nose centered between the eyes between Rounds 9-11
Face
For the face details you may copy how mine looks, or you can freestyle the markings on your Pandas face. Every Red Panda is unique, some have cream around the eyes, and some (like mine) do not. But I would at least give your panda the lil eyebrows like I did, making sure they slant upwards for an innocent expression.
Thank you for choosing my Pattern!
This pattern and all information contained in this post is the property of Tiffany Horton. You have permission to sell any finished product created using this pattern, a link back to this pattern is appreciated. The information contained in this post (the pattern, media,etc) may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in anyway. Rewriting, reselling, distributing, or copying this pattern electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations, is prohibited.
Socials
| Website | www.cafedelcraft.com |
| @cafedelcraft | |
| @cafedelcraft | |
| https://www.pinterest.com/cafedelcraft/ | |
| Ravelry | https://www.ravelry.com/designers/tiffany-horton |
