🧶 Beautiful ✨ Detailed 💝 Adorable

Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern

Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern
4.4★ Rating
5-6 Hours Time Needed
2.7K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic knitting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

🐼

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern

Yumi the Panda is a charming amigurumi pattern that combines plush yarn for the soft body with semi-cotton yarn for delicate facial features, creating beautiful textural contrast. The pattern uses clever construction techniques including an oval-shaped head start, strategic limb attachment during body crocheting, and facial tightening with strong thread to create the distinctive panda muzzle shape. The dimensional eyes feature a unique three-color design with back loop only techniques, embroidered glares, and are set within larger black eye patches for that iconic panda appearance.

Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Standing 25-28cm tall with a cuddly plush body, this pattern includes detailed photo references for proper assembly and features like pink blushes, an embroidered smile, and an optional decorative bow. The head and body are worked as one continuous piece with color changes, making construction efficient while maintaining professional results.

Why You'll Love This Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this panda pattern because it perfectly captures that irresistibly cute panda personality that makes everyone smile. The facial tightening technique creates such a realistic muzzle shape that gives Yumi authentic panda character and dimension. I'm constantly amazed by how the three-color eyes with their embroidered glares bring so much life and expression to the face. The way the limbs attach during body construction is brilliant - no awkward sewing later, just seamless integration that creates perfect proportions. I find the contrast between the soft plush body and the detailed semi-cotton facial features incredibly satisfying to work with. The pink blushes and bow add such a sweet touch that transforms this from a regular panda into an absolutely precious character. Every time I complete the eye patches and see that iconic panda face emerge, I fall in love with the pattern all over again. The detailed instructions for proper marker placement ensure the limbs sit exactly right, making Yumi able to sit beautifully on display.

Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with different color combinations for Yumi to create unique panda personalities beyond the classic black and white. Try making a red panda using burgundy or rust instead of black for a warm, autumn-inspired version, or use navy blue with cream for a sophisticated nautical twist. The pink blushes and bow can be changed to match - lavender, mint, or even gold for special themed pandas.

For seasonal variations, I sometimes create holiday pandas with festive bow colors - red and green for Christmas, pastel rainbow for Easter, or orange and black combinations for Halloween. You could even add small embroidered details like snowflakes on the white body or tiny hearts on the eye patches for extra personality.

If you want to make Yumi more realistic, skip the blushes and bow entirely and use all-black eyes without the colored iris for a true-to-life panda look. Alternatively, go full kawaii by adding sparkly yarn for the bow, using safety eyes instead of crocheted ones, or embroidering additional details like paw pads on the bottom of the feet.

The pattern scales beautifully too - use sport weight yarn with a smaller hook for a palm-sized mini Yumi perfect as a keychain, or use super bulky yarn with a large hook for an oversized cuddle buddy. I've also experimented with making the muzzle tightening more or less pronounced to create different facial expressions, from subtle and sweet to more dramatic and expressive.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not shifting the stitch marker to the side before round 12 of the head, causing the muzzle increases to be off-center and creating an asymmetrical face ✗ Failing to fold the head detail in half along the start chain before placing increases, resulting in improper muzzle shaping and a distorted panda face ✗ Attaching the upper paws without checking marker placement carefully in round 22, leading to arms positioned too far forward or backward on the body ✗ Stuffing the entire length of the paws instead of only the bottom parts as instructed, making them too stiff and unable to pose naturally ✗ Placing eye patches without ensuring the upper edges are 2 rounds higher than the muzzle increases, throwing off the entire facial balance and expression ✗ Not using strong synthetic thread for the muzzle tightening, causing the characteristic panda snout shape to fail or come loose over time

Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern

Create this absolutely adorable 25-28cm panda bear with distinctive black eye patches, pink blushes, and a sweet embroidered smile that captures pure cuteness in every stitch. This intermediate pattern combines luxurious plush yarn with semi-cotton details to create dimensional eyes with embroidered glares, a perfectly shaped muzzle with facial tightening techniques, and carefully positioned limbs that are attached during construction for seamless integration. The pattern features detailed instructions for achieving the signature panda look including proper eye patch placement, muzzle shaping, and a charming pink bow accessory that adds the perfect finishing touch to this huggable companion.

Intermediate 5-6 Hours

Materials Needed for Yumi the Panda Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Plush yarn (120m/100g) in White/Ivory color (main color, less than 1 ball)
  • 02
    Plush yarn (120m/100g) in Black color (for paws, ears, tail, eye patches - less than half ball)
  • 03
    Plush yarn (120m/100g) in Pink color (for blushes - small amount)
  • 04
    Semi-cotton or cotton yarn (~330m/100g) in Black color (for eyes, smile, eyebrows)
  • 05
    Semi-cotton or cotton yarn in White color (for eyes)
  • 06
    Semi-cotton or cotton yarn in Blue or Green color (for eye iris)
  • 07
    Semi-cotton or cotton yarn in Pink color (for bow)
  • 08
    Himalaya Dolphin Baby, YarnArt Dolce recommended for plush yarn
  • 09
    YarnArt Jeans, Alize Cotton Gold recommended for semi-cotton yarn
  • 10
    Thin cotton yarn matching plush yarn colors for sewing body parts

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 3.5-4mm (for the body with plush yarn)
  • 02
    Crochet hook 2-2.5mm (for the eyes and bow with semi-cotton)
  • 03
    Long needle for tightening
  • 04
    Large needle for sewing body details
  • 05
    Stitch markers
  • 06
    Pins with large heads
  • 07
    Scissors
  • 08
    Synthetic or tooth thread for facial tightening
  • 09
    Polyester fiber filling

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Upper Paws :

Infos :

Black plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Make 2 details. Stuff only bottom part of the paw.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 INC (12)

Round 3 :

(SC, INC)*6 (18)

Round 4 :

18 SC

Round 5 :

4 SC, (SC, DEC)*3, 5 SC (15)

Round 6 :

15 SC

Round 7 :

4 SC, 3 DEC, 5 SC (12)

Round 8-13 :

6 rounds 12 SC

Round 14 :

Work an incomplete round, about 10-11 SC, so that when folding in half, DECs are on one side of the detail. Work a CH, fold in half and crochet the sides together with 6 SC. Fix and cut the thread.

— Bottom Paws :

Infos :

Black plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Make 2 details. Stuff only bottom part of the paw.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 INC (12)

Round 3 :

(SC, INC)*6 (18)

Round 4 :

(2 SC, INC)*6 (24)

Round 5 :

24 SC

Round 6 :

6 SC, (2 SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC (21)

Round 7 :

21 SC

Round 8 :

6 SC, (SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC (18)

Round 9 :

18 SC

Round 10 :

6 SC, 3DEC, 6 SC (15)

Round 11-13 :

3 rounds 15 SC

Round 14 :

Work an incomplete round, about 12-13 SC, so that when folding in half, DECs are on one side of the detail. Work a CH, fold in half and crochet the sides together with 7 SC. Fix and cut the thread.

— Head-Body :

Infos :

Start with white/ivory plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Stuff in process, make sure the head shape is a bit flat, and the muzzle – convex (see photo in process). Work in spiral (without a turning CH and SS) as in all amigurumi toys (oval-shape detail).

Round 0 :

Chain 9

Round 1 :

(Start in the 2nd chain from the hook) 7 SC, 3 SC into the last chain from the hook, on the other side: 6 SC, INC (18)

Round 2 :

INC, 6 SC, 3 INC, 6 SC, 2 INC (24)

Round 3 :

SC, INC, 6 SC, (SC, INC)*3, 6 SC, (SC, INC)*2 (30)

Round 4 :

2 SC, INC, 6 SC, (2 SC, INC)*3, 6 SC, (2 SC, INC)*2 (36)

Round 5 :

3 SC, INC, 6 SC, (3 SC, INC)*3, 6 SC, (3 SC, INC)*2 (42)

Round 6 :

4 SC, INC, 6 SC, (4 SC, INC)*3, 6 SC, (4 SC, INC)*2 (48)

Round 7-8 :

2 rounds 48 SC

Round 9 :

5 SC, INC, 6 SC, (5 SC, INC)*3, 6 SC, (5 SC, INC)*2 (54)

Round 10-11 :

2 rounds 54 SC

Info :

Fold the detail in half, along the start chain. Shift stitch marker exactly on the side, on the bend (if necessary). It is important, because INCs in Round 12 should be exactly in the middle of the front part of the detail.

Round 12 :

11 SC, 6 INC, 37 SC (60)

Round 13-15 :

3 rounds 60 SC

Round 16 :

11 SC, 6 DEC, 37 SC (54)

Info :

Shift stitch marker on the side (if necessary), so that DECs in Round 16 are under INCs in Round 12.

Round 17 :

5 SC, DEC, 6 SC, (5 SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC, (5 SC, DEC)*2 (48)

Round 18 :

4 SC, DEC, 6 SC, (4 SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC, (4 SC, DEC)*2 (42)

Round 19 :

3 SC, DEC, 6 SC, (3 SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC, (3 SC, DEC)*2 (36)

Round 20 :

2 SC, DEC, 6 SC, (2 SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC, (2 SC, DEC)*2 (30)

Round 21 :

SC, DEC, 6 SC, (SC, DEC)*3, 6 SC, (SC, DEC)*2 (24)

Info :

Change thread color to black.

Infos :

Mark the place of attaching upper paws: 6 SC on the sides at a distance of 6 SC in the front and on the back. Make sure, the paws are on the sides of the head. A paw bend should be closer to the body. In Round 22, please, be sure to check this area by markers, because the beginning of the round may shifts differently. The place of attaching the first paw may goes on the previous/next Round (to do this, start attaching the paw earlier/later).

Round 22 :

6 SC with the paw, 6 SC, 6 SC with the paw, 6 SC (24)

Round 23 :

(7 SC, INC)*3 (27)

Round 24 :

27 SC

Round 25 :

(8 SC, INC)*3 (30)

Info :

Change thread color to white/ivory.

Round 26 :

30 SC

Round 27 :

(9 SC, INC)*3 (33)

Round 28 :

33 SC

Round 29 :

(10 SC, INC)*3 (36)

Info :

In the next Round (Round 30) we are going to work INCs on the belly: mark the middle of the belly and count 6 INC on the left and on the right from the middle – that is the area, where we are going to work INCs ((SC, INC)*6). Please, be sure to check this area by markers, because the beginning of the round may shifts differently!

Round 30 :

8 SC, (SC, INC)*6, 16 SC (42)

Round 31-32 :

2 rounds 42 SC

Infos :

Mark the place of attaching bottom paws: 7 SC on the sides at a distance of 14 SC in the front and on the back. A paw bend should be closer to the body. In Round 33, please, be sure to check this area by markers, because the beginning of the round may shifts differently.

Round 33 :

2 SC, 7 SC with the paw, 14 SC, 7 SC with the paw, 12 SC (42)

Round 34 :

(5 SC, DEC)*6 (36)

Round 35 :

(4 SC, DEC)*6 (30)

Round 36 :

(3 SC, DEC)*6 (24)

Round 37 :

(2 SC, DEC)*6 (18)

Round 38 :

(SC, DEC)*6 (12)

Round 39 :

6 DEC

Info :

Tighten the hole, fix the thread and hide the end inside.

Infos :

Do the muzzle tightening with strong synthetic thread: Mark 4 points: two at the bottom (on the color change line) and two at the top, between Rounds 11 and 12 between increases in Round12. Insert the needle in the lower point and withdraw it in the upper point. Insert the needle in the point from the other side and withdraw it at the bottom near the first point. Tighten the thread, tie endings and hide them inside the head.

— Ears :

Infos :

Black plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Make 2 details. Don't stuff.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 INC (12)

Round 3 :

12 SC

Info :

Work a CH, fold in half and crochet the sides together with 6 SC. Fix the thread and leave a long ending for sewing.

— Tail :

Infos :

Black plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Stuff a bit.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 INC (12)

Round 3 :

12 SC

Round 4 :

6 DEC (6)

Info :

Fix the thread and leave a long ending for sewing.

— Nose :

Infos :

Black semi-cotton yarn, 2.25mm hook. Work in spiral (without a turning CH and SS).

Round 0 :

Chain 6

Round 1 :

(Start in the 2nd chain from the hook) INC, SC, 3 SC in one St, SC, 4 SC into the last chain from the hook, on the other side: 3 SC, INC (14)

Info :

Fix the thread and leave a long ending for sewing.

— Blushes :

Infos :

Pink plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Make 2 details.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Info :

Fix the thread and leave a long ending for sewing.

— Eye Patches :

Infos :

Black plush yarn, 3.75mm hook. Make 2 details. Work in spiral (without a turning CH and SS).

Round 0 :

Chain 6

Round 1 :

(Start in the 2nd chain from the hook) 3 SC, HDC, 5 HDC into the last chain from the hook, on the other side: HDC, 2 SC, INC (14)

Round 2 :

INC, 2 SC, HDC, 5 INC HDC, HDC, 2 SC, 2 INC (22)

Info :

Fix the thread. It is better to cut the thread, and then sew the detail with a black thin cotton thread.

— Eyes :

Infos :

Start with black semi-cotton yarn, 2.25mm hook. Make 2 details.

Round 1 :

6 SC in MR (6)

Round 2 :

6 INC (12)

Round 3 :

(SC, INC)*4, change color to white, back loops only: SC, 3 INC (20)

Round 4 :

Back loops only: INC, SC, SS (4)

Info :

Fix the thread and leave long ends of black and white yarn for sewing and embroidering the glare (leave more white thread). Work (blue) chain stitch under the white SC. Withdraw blue thread end on the wrong side, tie a knot and cut ends. Embroider the glare with white thread end.

— Bow :

Infos :

Pink semi-cotton yarn, 2.25mm hook. Make a turn and work 2 turning CH at the end of each row.

Row 0 :

Chain 28+2 turning CH (30)

Row 1-4 :

4 rows 28 HDC

Info :

Leave a long ending for wrapping and sewing. Fold the detail sides and crochet them together with SS. Wrap the thread end around the stitch.

Assembly Instructions

  • Perform the muzzle tightening using strong synthetic thread by marking 4 points and pulling thread between them to create the characteristic panda snout indentation.
  • Sew the ears to the head between rounds 5 and 10, positioning them on the sides of the head for proper panda proportions.
  • Attach the nose in round 13 directly under the increases from round 12, centering it on the muzzle for proper facial balance.
  • Embroider the smile by stretching thread under pins to create the curved shape, then fixing the two bottom points with thread for a permanent sweet expression.
  • Place eye patches so the upper edges sit 2 rounds higher than the muzzle increases, then attach eyes and blushes to the patches with pins before sewing.
  • Sew eyes using the black and white thread endings left from crocheting, then attach blushes with thin pink cotton thread, and finally sew the complete eye patch assemblies to the head.
  • Embroider eyebrows 2-3 rounds higher than the eye patches, sit the panda down to find the perfect tail position for body support, then sew the tail securely and attach the wrapped bow to complete the look.

Important Notes

  • 💡The yarn thickness ratio should be 2:1 - body yarn should be twice as thick as eye yarn for proper dimensional contrast
  • 💡Use a hook for eyes that is 1.5mm smaller than the body hook (example: 3.5mm body with 2mm eyes, or 4mm body with 2.5mm eyes)
  • 💡Fold the head detail in half along the start chain before round 12 and shift the marker to the side so increases are centered on the muzzle
  • 💡Stuff only the bottom parts of all four paws, leaving upper parts soft so they can fold and position naturally against the body
  • 💡Check marker placement carefully when attaching limbs as the beginning of rounds may shift - adjust paw attachment timing if needed for proper positioning
  • 💡The head should be slightly flat in shape with a convex muzzle - use proper stuffing and tightening techniques to achieve this characteristic panda look
  • 💡Always use strong synthetic or tooth thread for the muzzle tightening to ensure it holds the snout shape permanently without loosening over time

Yumi the Panda was designed to capture that irresistible panda cuteness that brings smiles to faces of all ages. This pattern masterfully combines soft plush textures with detailed semi-cotton features to create dimensional eyes with embroidered glares, a perfectly shaped muzzle, and sweet embroidered expressions that give Yumi true personality. The clever construction techniques including limb attachment during crocheting and facial tightening methods create professional results that showcase your growing amigurumi skills. Standing 25-28cm tall with pink blushes, a charming smile, and an optional decorative bow, Yumi is ready to become someone's most treasured cuddle companion. Happy crocheting and enjoy bringing this adorable panda to life! 🐼✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will my finished Yumi panda be?

Using the recommended plush yarn (120m/100g) like Himalaya Dolphin Baby with a 3.75mm hook, Yumi will stand approximately 25-28cm tall. The size may vary based on your individual crochet tension and style.

Why do I need two different hook sizes for this pattern?

The pattern uses a larger hook (3.5-4mm) for the plush yarn body and a smaller hook (2-2.5mm) for the semi-cotton details like eyes and bow. This creates proper proportion and allows the finer details to have tight, neat stitches while the body remains soft and cuddly.

How do I attach the paws during construction?

The paws are attached by crocheting through both the paw and body layers simultaneously at specific rounds. Upper paws attach in round 22 (6 stitches each), and bottom paws attach in round 33 (7 stitches each). The pattern includes detailed marker placement instructions to ensure proper positioning.

What is the muzzle tightening technique?

Muzzle tightening uses strong synthetic thread pulled between four marked points - two at the bottom on the color change line and two at the top between rounds 11-12. This creates the indented, dimensional muzzle shape that gives the panda its characteristic snout appearance.

Why do the eyes have three colors?

The eyes are worked with black for the pupil, white for the sclera using back loops only, and blue or green for the iris detail with chain stitch. This creates dimensional, lifelike eyes with embroidered glares that bring Yumi's face to life.

How do I position the eye patches correctly?

The upper edges of the black eye patches should be placed 2 rounds higher than the muzzle increases (from round 12). Pin the eyes and blushes onto the patches first, then sew everything as a complete unit before attaching the assembled patches to the head.

Should I stuff the paws fully?

No, only stuff the bottom parts of all four paws. Leaving the upper portions unstuffed allows them to remain flexible and position naturally against the body, creating better proportions and a more huggable panda.

What if my stitch marker keeps shifting during construction?

The pattern acknowledges that marker placement may shift depending on individual tension. The key is to check marker position before critical rounds (like limb attachment) and adjust by starting earlier or later in the round if needed to maintain proper alignment.