Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper

A plush panda zip pouch. E-4 hook. About 6-8 hours start to finish.

Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper
Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper
  • LevelIntermediate
  • Time6-8 hours
  • Hook3.5 mm
  • YarnBulky

About This Pattern

A plush panda zip pouch. E-4 hook. About 6-8 hours start to finish.

In the basket

Yarn

Hook

Safety eyes

Safety nose

Abbreviations

ch
Chain
dec
Decrease
inc
Increase
MR
Magic Ring
sc
Single Crochet
sl st
Slip Stitch
st(s)
Stitch(es)

Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper

Head (white)

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Round 3sc, inc repeat around. (18)
  4. Round 4sc 2, inc repeat around. (24)
  5. Round 5sc 3, inc repeat around. (30)
  6. Round 6sc 4, inc repeat around. (36)
  7. Round 7sc 5, inc repeat around. (42)
  8. Rounds 8–12sc in each st around. (42)
  9. Round 13sc 5, dec repeat around. (36)
  10. Round 14sc 4, dec repeat around. (30)
  11. Round 15sc 3, dec repeat around. (24)
  12. Round 16sc 2, dec repeat around. (18) Stuff firmly at this point.(18)
  13. Round 17sc 1, dec repeat around. (12)
  14. Round 18dec around. (6)

Muzzle (white)

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Round 3sc, inc repeat around. (18)
  4. Rounds 4–5sc in each st around. (18)Insert the safety nose at Round 3 of the Muzzle. Stuff lightly before sewing the Muzzle to the Head, nose facing downward, then embroider a black line running down from the nose.

Eye Patches (black, make 2)

Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from hook, sc 3. Work 3 sc in the last stitch. Continuing along the opposite side of the foundation chain, work sc 2, inc, sl st.

Insert a safety eye into each Eye Patch before sewing the patches to the Head.

Ears (black, make 2)

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Round 3sc in each st around. (12)
  4. Round 4Fold flat and sc through both thicknesses: 5 sc. (5)

Tail (black)

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Round 3sc, inc repeat around. (18)
  4. Round 4sc in each st around. (18)
  5. Round 5Fold flat and sc through both thicknesses: 9 sc. (9)

Paws (black, make 4)

Do not stuff these pieces.

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Rounds 3–8sc in each st around. (12)
  4. Round 9Fold flat and sc through both thicknesses: 6 sc. (6)

Body

Begin in black, working in continuous rounds.

  1. Round 16 sc in MR. (6)
  2. Round 2inc in each st around. (12)
  3. Round 3sc, inc repeat around. (18)
  4. Round 4sc 2, inc repeat around. (24)
  5. Round 5sc 3, inc repeat around. (30)
  6. Round 6sc 4, inc repeat around. (36)
  7. Rounds 7–9sc in each st around. (36)From this point, switch to turned rows.
  8. Rounds 10–14Ch 1, turn, sc 35. (35)Change to white.
  9. Rounds 15–24Ch 1, turn, sc 35. (35)Change back to black.
  10. Rounds 25–30Ch 1, turn, sc 35. (35)Resume working in continuous rounds.
  11. Rounds 31–32sc in each st around. (36)
  12. Round 33sc 2, dec repeat around 9 times. (27)
  13. Round 34sc 1, dec repeat around 9 times. (18)
  14. Round 35dec around 9 times. (9)

More pictures

Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper — photo 2
Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper — photo 3
Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper — photo 4
Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper — photo 5
Crochet panda pencil case with working zipper — photo 6

Before the first stitch

  1. Check your yarn amounts match: about half a skein each of black and white plush yarn.
  2. Read through the Body section once. Note where it shifts from continuous rounds to turned rows.
  3. Keep a stitch marker on hand — it helps you track rounds, especially through the decrease sections.

Minutes per piece

  • Head, Muzzle, Eye Patches, Ears, Tail, and Paws about 3 hours, covering all the small parts before assembly
  • Body and zipper assembly about 3 hours, because the 35 rounds/rows include a turned-row section and a zipper to set in

Other yarns that work

  • Substituting yarn Stick with a bulky-weight plush or chenille yarn for the best results. Thinner yarns will change your gauge significantly and may require you to adjust the safety eye and nose sizing.

Where it ends up

  • A pencil case that turns an everyday school supply into something a child will actually want to carry around.

Joining up

  1. Step 1 Identify the end of the Body where Round 35’s decreases closed the opening — this marks the front. Sew the Head to this point using a whipstitch, matching the center of the Head to the center of the Body.
  2. Step 2 Sew the zipper into the inside opening of the Body, running along the edges of the turned-row section, so the pencil case opens and closes smoothly.
  3. Step 3 Locate the point on the Body where you began crocheting (the Magic Ring center on the base) and sew the Tail there, using its starting yarn tail to anchor it.
  4. Step 4 Position a Paw on each side of the Body, roughly centered along the length, and whipstitch each one in place.
  5. Step 5 Weave in all remaining yarn ends, pulling each one through several stitches before trimming.

Small notes

  • Use an E-4 hook. Plush yarn is forgiving, but a smaller hook keeps stitches tight enough to hide stuffing.
  • The Paws are not stuffed — they stay flat so they lie against the sides of the Body. The Head is stuffed firmly at Round 16, and the Muzzle just needs a light fill.
  • Watch the Body transition closely. It moves from continuous rounds to turned rows, then back again, right where the zipper sits.
  • Gauge is not critical for this project; focus on consistent tension so your stitches are tight enough to prevent stuffing from showing through.
  • This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
  • Work decrease rounds slowly and check your stitch count every round — plush yarn hides stitches well, so a stitch marker at the start of each round helps you stay oriented.

Little questions

  • What yarn weight works best for this panda pencil case?

    A bulky-weight plush or chenille yarn, like Himalaya Dolphin, gives this pencil case its soft, huggable texture. Using a thinner yarn will change the finished size and may require a smaller hook and different stitch counts. Stick with plush yarn for the fluffiest, most amigurumi-style result.

  • Do I need to stuff every part of the panda?

    No, the Paws are left unstuffed so they lie flat against the sides of the body. The Head and Muzzle should be stuffed firmly for a rounded shape, while the Body itself stays open to function as the pencil case pouch. Stuffing only where specified keeps the proportions and functionality correct.

  • What size zipper should I use?

    A 15cm black zipper is the standard size for this pattern, though a 20cm zipper trimmed to fit also works well. Choose a zipper color that matches or complements your black yarn for a clean finish. Sewing the zipper securely along the turned-row edges ensures the pouch opens and closes smoothly.

Original pattern: https://amigurumicorner.com/panda-pencil-case-amigurumi-pattern/

About the Author

Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.

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