How to Crochet Chubby Red Panda Plushie (No-Sew Plush for Fall)
Learn how to crochet a no-sew & chubby red panda plushie for this selling at craft fairs, this fall, with a FREE pattern. This crochet red panda aka fire fox plush is made just like a loaf cat in the body shape and also has a long stuffed crochet tail. So, kids will simply love it and you can also choose from two color-combos (red & brown or golden yellow and brown).
Crochet this red panda plush as an autumn desk buddy or Thanksgiving present. You will love its white face patch that is coupled with the white embroidery to make a life-like colorwork stripes on the tail. You can also use the glitter eyes for this crochet red panda plush and it will look simply adorable. Now, continue reading for the full pattern.
About the designer: The designer behind this crochet red panda plush is @antoninadegtyaryova – she recently came in collaboration with us and we have been loving her crochet plushies since! You will love her crochet animal plush and how she shared her experiences in crochet and in her life!
Crochet Red Panda Pattern
This project creates a cute, stylized “Red Panda” amigurumi using plush yarn. It’s designed to be a quick, “express” pattern, perfect for markets or fairs. The shape of the toy is built upon a base pattern by another creator (Angela from Slava Handmade), but adapted with different colors, ear shapes, and a striped tail to resemble a red panda.
Because the shape is somewhat ambiguous (it could easily look like a cat or bear), she says that choosing the right rusty-red or brick-red yarn color makes it look like a red panda. It uses “bobble” stitches for the little legs and features a cute, striped, no-sew tail.
Materials Needed
Yarn: Plush yarn (e.g., Wolans Bunny Baby, 100g/120m) in three colors:
White (for the muzzle)
Main Color (Brick red/Rusty orange, like Wolans color 27, for the body)
Brown/Dark Brown (for the ears, legs, and tail stripes)
Crochet Hook: 3.5 mm or 4.0 mm
Safety Eyes: 10 mm
Safety Nose: 7×9 mm (black oval or triangle)
Fiberfill stuffing
Yarn needle (for embroidery and weaving ends)
Scissors
Stitch markers
Optional: Strong thread for face sculpting, glue (if gluing eyes/nose instead of using washers), tweezers (for stuffing/making holes for eyes).
Abbreviations
MR: Magic Ring (or ch 2, work in 2nd ch from hook)
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: increase (2 sc in one stitch)
dec: decrease (invisible decrease recommended)
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
sl st: slip stitch
FLO: Front Loops Only
Bobble: 4-dc bobble stitch (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook—repeat 4 times in the same stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops on hook to complete).
st(s): stitch(es)
Full Crochet Pattern
Body (Starting with White yarn)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
Round 2: [inc] x 6. (12 sts)
Note: In the last stitch of Round 2, change color to the Main Color.
Round 3: [1 sc, inc] x 6. (18 sts)
Round 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6. (24 sts)
Adding the Ears (Round 5)
In this round, we will crochet the ears directly into the front loops of specific stitches using Brown yarn, while continuing the round behind the ears with the Main Color.
Round 5:
(Main Color): 3 sc. In the 3rd sc, change to Brown.
First Ear (Brown, working in FLO of the next 2 sts):
In FLO of next st: sl st, hdc, dc.
In FLO of next st: hdc, sc.
Change back to Main Color (pushing the ear forward to work in the regular loops behind/after the ear).
(Main Color): 2 sc. In the 2nd sc, change to Brown.
Second Ear (Brown, working in FLO of the next 2 sts):
In FLO of next st: sl st, hdc, dc.
In FLO of next st: hdc, sc.
Change back to Main Color.
(Main Color): 15 sc to the end of the round. (24 sts in the round, not counting the ear stitches)
Adding the Front Legs (Round 6)
Round 6: (Main Color) 16 sc. Change to Brown.
(Brown): 1 Bobble stitch. Change to Main Color.
(Main Color): 2 sc. Change to Brown.
(Brown): 1 Bobble stitch. Change to Main Color.
(Main Color): 4 sc. (24 sts)
Note: Insert safety eyes centrally on the face (around Round 3/4) and attach the nose if using safety hardware.
Continuing the Body
Round 7: 24 sc around. (24 sts)
Round 8: [5 sc, inc] x 2, 11 sc, inc. (27 sts)
Round 9: 27 sc around. (27 sts)
Adding the Back Legs (Round 10)
Round 10: (Main Color) 17 sc. Change to Brown.
(Brown): 1 Bobble stitch. Change to Main Color.
(Main Color): 6 sc. Change to Brown.
(Brown): 1 Bobble stitch. Change to Main Color.
(Main Color): 2 sc. (27 sts)
Round 11: 27 sc around. (27 sts)
Round 12: [dec] x 3, 5 sc, [dec] x 8. (16 sts)
Start stuffing the body firmly, especially forming the bottom area.
Round 13: [dec] x 8. (8 sts)
The Tail (Striped)
Continue directly from the body.
Round 14: (Main Color) 8 sc around. (8 sts)
Change to Brown in the last stitch of R14.
Rounds 15 – 16: (Brown) 8 sc around. (8 sts for 2 rounds)
Change to Main Color in the first stitch of R17.
Rounds 17 – 18: (Main Color) 8 sc around. (8 sts for 2 rounds)
Change to Brown in the first stitch of R19.
Rounds 19 – 20: (Brown) 8 sc around. (8 sts for 2 rounds)
Change to Main Color in the first stitch of R21.
Round 21: (Main Color) 8 sc around. (8 sts)
Stuff the tail lightly.
Round 22: [dec] x 4. (4 sts)
Finish: Fasten off, pull the yarn through the remaining front loops to close the hole, and weave the end up into the body to secure the tail so it doesn’t poke out.
Finishing Touches
Face Sculpting (Optional): Using strong thread, enter between the legs, go up to the outer bottom corner of the eye, across to the top inner corner, and back down between the legs. Pull tight to create eye sockets. Repeat for the other eye.
White Details: Using white plush yarn on a needle, embroider 2-3 thick stitches on the outer edges of the eyes to create the red panda’s characteristic white cheek markings.
Eyebrows: Embroider tiny white stitches slightly above the eyes for eyebrows.
Final Adjustments: Plump the bobble-stitch legs so they stick out, shape the ears, and squish the body into the right shape.
Video Tutorial
