Mochi is a chubby panda cub with black eye patches, round black ears, black arms and legs, and a little green bamboo stick to hug.
The eye patches are flat circles, so the colour work is easy, and the rest is the same round head and body as our other friends. Step-by-step photos show every part, and at the end you can make a rare brown panda with the same pattern.
Looking for another animal? See all our crochet animal patterns in one place, sorted by farm, wild, ocean, pets and fantasy.
Mochi the Panda Free Crochet Pattern
What You’ll Need
- Sport / fine (size 2) cotton yarn in white, black and two greens
- 2.5 mm crochet hook (a hook smaller than the yarn label suggests keeps the stitches tight)
- A pair of 10 mm safety eyes
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle, sewing pins and a stitch marker
The finished size depends on your yarn and hook: thicker yarn and a bigger hook make a bigger Mochi.
Abbreviations (US terms)
- MR magic ring
- sc single crochet
- inc increase: 2 sc in the same stitch
- dec decrease (use the invisible decrease for a smooth finish)
- sl st slip stitch
- ch chain
- R round; the number in brackets is the stitch count at the end of the round
Before You Start
- Work in continuous rounds and move a stitch marker to the first stitch of each round.
- New to safety eyes? See how to attach safety eyes to amigurumi.
- Stuff as you go; this guide on stuffing amigurumi keeps the shapes smooth.
Head
Eye patches (black, make 2)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- Slip stitch to join and fasten off. Make these before the head: push one safety eye through each patch.
Head (white, make 1)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: (1 sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
- R6: (4 sc, inc) ×6 (36)
- R7: (5 sc, inc) ×6 (42)
- R8-15: sc around (42)
- Insert the 10 mm safety eyes, already pushed through the black patches, between Rounds 11 and 13, about 8 stitches apart. Sew the patch edges down.
- R16: (5 sc, dec) ×6 (36)
- R17: (4 sc, dec) ×6 (30)
- R18: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
- Stuff the head firmly and keep stuffing as you close.
- R19: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
- R20: (1 sc, dec) ×6 (12)
- R21: dec ×6 (6)
- Fasten off, weave the tail through the front loops and pull the hole closed.
Face and Details
Muzzle (white, make 1)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: (1 sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- R4-5: sc around (18)
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Embroider the nose over Rounds 1-2, then sew the muzzle between the eyes, stuffing it lightly.
Ears (black, make 2)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3-4: sc around (12)
- Do not stuff. Flatten the ear.
- Close: 6 sc through both layers (6)
- Fasten off, leaving a tail. Sew the ears to the top of the head over Rounds 5-6, about 10 stitches apart.
Body and Limbs
Body (white, make 1)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: (1 sc, inc) ×6 (18)
- R4: (2 sc, inc) ×6 (24)
- R5: (3 sc, inc) ×6 (30)
- R6-10: sc around (30)
- R11: (3 sc, dec) ×6 (24)
- R12-13: sc around (24)
- R14: (2 sc, dec) ×6 (18)
- R15: sc around (18)
- Stuff firmly. Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the body to the head.
Legs (black, make 2)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3-4: sc around (12)
- R5: (4 sc, dec) ×2 (10)
- R6-8: sc around (10)
- Stuff the foot lightly, then flatten the top.
- Close: 5 sc through both layers (5)
- Fasten off and sew the legs to the bottom front of the body so the toy sits.
Arms (black, make 2)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: (2 sc, inc) ×2 (8)
- R3-9: sc around (8)
- Stuff only the bottom half. Flatten the top.
- Close: 4 sc through both layers (4)
- Fasten off and sew to the sides of the body just below the neck.
Tail (white, make 1)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2: inc ×6 (12)
- R3: sc around (12)
- Stuff lightly.
- R4: dec ×6 (6)
- Fasten off and sew to the back of the body near the bottom.
Bamboo stick (light green, make 1)
- R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
- R2-11: sc around (6)
- Stuff lightly. Embroider two dark green rings around it and sew it between the arms so Mochi hugs it.
Assembly
- Sew the white muzzle below the eyes and embroider a black nose.
- Sew the black ears to the top of the head.
- Sew the head to the body, then the black legs and arms.
- Sew the little white tail at the back.
- Sew the bamboo stick between the arms so Mochi hugs it.
For invisible seams, follow how to sew amigurumi pieces together, and for the nose see how to embroider faces on amigurumi.
Make a Brown panda
Swap black for chocolate brown everywhere and keep the white. It matches the rare brown pandas of the Qinling mountains.
FAQ
Why are the eye patches separate?
Flat black circles sewn on are much easier than colour changes in the round, and the eyes lock them in place.
Which yarn works best?
A smooth sport-weight cotton shows the stitches clearly and keeps the shape. Velvet yarn makes a softer, cuddlier toy but hides the stitches.
Is it safe for babies?
Safety eyes can come loose with hard play. For a baby, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.
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