Pepper and Salt Panda Crochet Pattern

The Pepper and Salt Panda crochet pattern is a softie that is small enough to tote on adventures yet large enough for little hands to hug. This cute creature can stand on its own thanks to weighted pellets in its feet.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. I am a King Cole Brand Ambassador and this post is part of our ongoing collaboration. Additional materials for this pattern were generously provided by Clover USA and Fairfield World.

Ever since I stuffed the feet of Duke the Teatime Teddy and realized that I could create a softie that was guaranteed to stand on its on, I have been thinking about the next little amigurumi I would crochet. When I got my hands on these skeins of King Cole Fashion Aran, I knew that a panda crochet pattern would be in my future! King Cole Fashion Aran is available from your local yarn shop or online at LoveCrafts or Wool Warehouse UK. It’s a soft, wool and acrylic blend yarn that can be used for garments but also for little friends that your children may want to hug closely.

Pepper and Salt Panda was designed as the second pattern in the Weekend Mystery Crochet Alongs with Underground Crafter, and the original pattern was released in three parts. This post has now been updated to include more pictures and the full pattern.

If you make your own Pepper and Salt Panda, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook group. Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and private access to my vault of subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

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Underground Crafter on Ravelry

Pepper and Salt Panda

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

Updated April 26, 2022

Pepper and Salt Panda was the second pattern in the Weekend Mystery Crochet Alongs with Underground Crafter. This adorable panda crochet pattern is able to stand on its own, thanks to weighted pellets in its feet. Pepper and Salt is small enough to travel on adventures but large enough for small hands to hug.

Finished Size

  • Approximately 7” (18 cm) tall after stuffing.

Materials

Gauge

  • Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern. Stitches should be tight so that fiber filling doesn’t show through.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • bob – 5-repeat bobble stitch – [Yo, insert hook into st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] 5 times in the same st, yo and draw through all 6 loops on hook. See below for a video tutorial for the bobble.
  • If you can’t see the video tutorial for the bobble stitch above, click here to watch it on Instagram.
  • CA – Color A
  • CB – Color B
  • ch – chain
  • invdec – invisible decrease – Insert hook in front loop only of each of next 2 sts, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops. Planet June has a great invisible decrease tutorial here.
  • pm# – place stitch marker#
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • sc – single crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • yo – yarn over
  • [] Repeat instructions between brackets as indicated.

Pattern Notes

  • Crochet over the yarn tails as you work. Fiber Flux has a helpful tutorial explaining how to do this here.
  • Oombawka Design has a helpful video tutorial for starting with the magic adjustable ring here.
  • Planet June has a helpful video tutorial for changing colors in the last yarn over of a stitch here. Use this method for changing colors for the Nose in Rnd 19 of the Head.
  • A helpful tutorial for seaming with the whipstitch is available here.

Pattern Instructions

Pattern Instructions

First Leg

  • With CA, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
  • Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull yarn tightly to close ring, pm#1 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2:  2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnds 6-9: Rep Rnd 5, 4 more times. Fasten off CA.

Second Leg

  • Follow instructions for first leg but do not fasten off.
  • Identify the twelfth and thirteenth stitch from the hook. With pm#2, mark the twelfth stitch on the Second Leg and a stitch on the First Leg. With pm#3, mark the thirteenth stitch on the Second Leg with the next stitch on the First Leg as shown in the photo below.

Join Legs

  • Rnd 10: As shown in photo below, sc in next 11 sts on Second Leg, sc through both sts on both Legs marked by marker#2, remove marker, continue on the outer edge of First Leg, sc in next 22 sts, sc through both sts on both Legs marked by marker#3, replace marker, continue on the outer edge of Second Leg, sc in next 11 sts, fasten off CA. (46 sts)
  • With yarn needle, weave in CA yarn tails from start of Legs on the inside.

Change Color

  • Rnd 11: Join CB with sl st to stitch marked by marker#3, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next st and in each st around, pm#3 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (46 sts)
  • Rnds 12-18: Rep Rnd 5, 7 times. Fasten off CB.
  • Rnd 19: Join CA with sl st to any st on Rnd 18, ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next st and in each st around, pm#3 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (46 sts)
  • Rnd 20: [Invdec, sc in next 21 sts] around. (44 sts)
  • Rnd 21: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnd 22: [Invdec, sc in next 9 sts] around. (40 sts)
  • Rnd 23: Rep Rnd 21.
  • Rnd 24: [Invdec, sc in next 6 sts] around. (35 sts)
  • Rnd 25: Rep Rnd 21.
  • Rnd 26: [Invdec, sc in next 5 sts] around. (30 sts)
  • Rnd 27: [Invdec, sc in next 4 sts] around. (25 sts)
  • Rnd 28: Invdec, sc in next 23 sts. (24 sts)
  • Fasten off CA.
  • With yarn needle, weave in CA yarn tail from end of Legs/Body on inside.

Stuff Legs

  • Cut off foot of each stocking. Pour 1-2 Tablespoons of Poly-Pellets Weighted Stuffing Beads into each stocking foot. Tie top of each stocking foot with knot.
  • Place one weighted stocking foot into each Leg. Stuff Legs firmly with Poly-Fil Fiber Filling.

Arms (Make 2)

  • With CA, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
  • Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull yarn tightly to close ring, pm#1 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2:  2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnds 5-7: Rep Rnd 4, 3 times.
  • Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming. With yarn needle, weave in CA yarn tails from start of Arms on the inside.
  • Stuff firmly with fiber filling.

Head

  • With CB, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
  • Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull yarn tightly to close ring, pm#1 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2:  2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] around. (30 sts)
  • Rnd 6: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts] around. (36 sts)
  • Rnd 7: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts] around. (42 sts)
  • Rnd 8: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts] around. (48 sts)
  • Rnd 9: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts] around. (54 sts)
  • Rnd 10: Sc in each st around.
  • Rnds 11-18: Rep Rnd 10, 8 times.
  • Rnd 19: Sc in next st changing to CA (see Pattern Notes), bob in next st changing to CB, fasten off CB, sc in next st and in each st around.
  • Rnd 20: [Sc in next 7 sts, invdec] around. (48 sts)
  • Rnd 21: [Sc in next 6 sts, invdec] around. (42 sts)
  • Rnd 22: [Sc in next 5 sts, invdec] around. (36 sts)
  • Rnd 23: [Sc in next 4 sts, invdec] around. (30 sts)
  • Rnd 24: [Sc in next 3 sts, invdec] around. (24 sts)
  • Fasten off CB with long yarn tail (approximately 18”/46 cm) for seaming. With yarn needle, weave in CB yarn tail from start of Head and CA yarn tail from bobble Nose on the inside.
  • Stuff firmly with fiber filling.

Ears (Make 2)

  • With CA, start with magic adjustable ring (see Pattern Notes).
  • Rnd 1: (Right Side) Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, pull yarn tightly to close ring, pm#1 in last st to mark position.  Move marker up each Rnd. (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2:  2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] around. (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts] around. (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts] around. (30 sts)
  • Remove stitch marker. Do not fasten off. Fold circle in half across diameter. As shown in the photo below, join curved edges together with single crochet join (see video below).
  • If you can’t see the video above for joining with a single crochet seam, click here to watch it on Instagram.
  • Fasten off with long yarn tail (approximately 12”/30.5 cm) for seaming.

Assembly and Finishing

  • Position first Eye at approximately Rnd 14 on Head as desired, to the side of Nose. When satisfied with position, secure by attaching washer firmly inside of Head. Repeat for second Eye.
  • Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail from first Ear. Seam to Head along straight edge/diameter of original circle with whipstitch (see Pattern Notes). With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of Head or back of first Ear. Repeat for second Ear.
  • Stuff Head firmly with fiber filling.
  • With locking stitch markers or pins, position Head to top of Body/Legs as desired. Thread yarn needle with long yarn tail in CB from end of Head. Join Head to Body with whipstitch seam (see Pattern Notes).
  • Thread yarn needle with yarn tail from start of first Arm. Seam arm closed with whipstitch seam (see Pattern Notes). Join first Arm to Body/Legs. (Optional: If desired, attach first and second Rnds of Arm to Body so it lays flatter at side of Body.) Repeat for second Arm.
  • With yarn needle, weave in all remaining yarn tails on inside.

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