This crochet panda lovey pattern combines a soft cream-and-sage comfort square with a small panda head at its center. The blanket stays flexible, while embroidered features and yarn-only joins keep the construction restrained.
Pattern Details
- Skill level: Easy
- Finished size: Approximately 18 inches square
- Construction: Flat center-out square with a lightly stuffed panda head secured through the blanket center
- Terminology: US crochet terms
Why You’ll Love This Pattern
The marked-corner system makes the square easy to count, and the panda head is small enough to hold without turning the lovey into another full stuffed toy.
Materials
- 260 yards cream DK cotton yarn
- 180 yards soft sage DK cotton yarn
- 45 yards black DK cotton yarn
- 3.5 mm hook
- Small amount washable fiberfill for head only
- Yarn needle, markers, scissors, and black embroidery yarn
Gauge and Finished Size
18 sc and 20 rounds = 4 inches. Gauge is useful for matching the stated size, though consistent dense tension matters most.
Abbreviations and Special Stitches
- inc: 2 sc in one stitch
- rnd: round
- sc: single crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet two together
- st(s): stitch(es)
Invisible sc2tog: insert through the front loop of each of the next two stitches, yarn over, draw through both front loops, yarn over, and complete one sc.
Important Notes
- The four marked corner stitches are the only increase locations.
- Change colors after a completed round and fasten each color securely.
- Use embroidered facial features and no detachable decorations.
- A lovey is not intended for unsupervised infant sleep; follow current safe-sleep guidance and inspect the item regularly.
Complete Crochet Instructions
- Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, work 8 sc, and mark stitches 1, 3, 5, and 7 as corners. (8 sts)
- Rnd 2: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (16 sts)
- Rnd 3: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (24 sts)
- Rnd 4: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (32 sts)
- Rnd 5: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (40 sts)
- Rnd 6: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (48 sts)
- Rnd 7: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (56 sts)
- Rnd 8: Sc along each side; work 3 sc in each of the four marked corner stitches and move each marker to the middle new corner stitch. (64 sts)
- Panda head: With cream, work a small continuous sphere using counts 6, 12, 18, 24, 24, 18, 12, and 6 stitches; each increase or decrease is evenly repeated six times. Stuff lightly before the final decrease.
- Ears: Join black yarn through marked crown stitches and surface-crochet a five-stitch semicircle for each ear; secure both tails inside the head.
Shaping and Assembly
Make the panda head as a small, lightly stuffed cream sphere using the same 6-to-24-to-6 shaping rhythm described in the Panda Head subsection, embroider it before closure, and secure its base to the exact blanket center with at least two complete rings of yarn stitches. Form black ears as surface semicircles so there are no loose separate rounds.
Facial Details
Embroider black oval patches, closed eyes, a tiny nose, and one short mouth. Keep knots inside the head and check that no thread loops remain loose.
Finishing
- Weave blanket tails through at least two directional changes.
- Attach the head through multiple center stitches and tug-test the join.
- Block the square flat without stretching the head attachment.
- Inspect regularly and discontinue use if yarn, seams, or stuffing become exposed.
Helpful Tips
- Move all four corner markers every round.
- Lay the square flat after each color change to catch missed corners.
- Stuff the head lightly so the blanket remains drapable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the lovey go in a crib overnight?
Follow current pediatric safe-sleep guidance; soft objects are not for unsupervised infant sleep.
Can I omit the sage color?
Yes. Work every blanket round in cream while preserving all four corner increases.
