Note: This pattern has been updated as of May 2021. The changes include an updated hook size, gauge, and stitch type that creates much tighter stitches. This creates a slightly smaller toy, but ensures that the stuffing doesn’t show through if you are matching the gauge provided.
Meet Freddie the Firefighter Panda! During this difficult time, firefighters have been working hard to keep everyone safe by responding not only to fires, but to general emergencies. And because they eat, sleep and work together daily, they are more vulnerable to the spread of Covid-19. They’re exposing themselves to keep us safe, so I had to include firefighters in my Everyday Heroes amigurumi crochet collection!
Gauge
5 Round Circle = 1.5” (Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran) with a 3.25mm (D) hook when working the x-stitch (yarn under sc). If you are working the standard sc, I recommend going down a hook size.
Gauge isn’t super important for amigurumi, but I included it just in case you want to check your gauge. Being a little off should not affect the final product too much. You can learn more about how to measure gauge for amigurumi here!
**Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional costs to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. You can read a little more about that here!
Yarn I Used
I used Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran for this toy; however, you can use any cotton yarn as long as you correspond your hook to the weight of your yarn. For this pattern, I used roughly 25g of Pale Lilac (~ half a skein of yarn), 10g of Marine Blue (< half a skein of yarn), 25g of Soft Fudge (~ half a skein), 15g of Pillar Red a (< half a skein), and a little bit of: Buttercup Yellow, Granite Grey, Misty Grey. (1 skein of yarn is about 50g)
Free Firefighter Panda Stuffed Animal Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
The difficulty level of this pattern is Intermediate. The plush measures to be about 6 inches (15.5cm) tall.
This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
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TERMINOLOGY
st(s): stitch(es)
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
tr: triple crochet
inc: two single crochet in one stitch
dec: invisible decrease, single crochet two stitches together through the front loops only
BLO: crochet only in the back loops (loop away from you) of each stitch
FLO: crochet only in the front loops (loop closest to you) of each stitch
sk next # st/ch: skip the next number of stitches or chains and work the next step into the st/ch after the ones you skipped
ch sp: chain space, the space you create when you chain and skip stitches
(…) x #: repeat anything in the parenthesis however many times the number indicates
[#]: total number of stitches for that row
#sc/hdc/dc: one sc/hdc/dc in the following # stitches
hdc/dc2: two hdc/dc in one stitch
(x, y) in the next st: work both of the indicated crochet stitches into one stitch
turn: turn your work
THINGS YOU NEED
- Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran in Pansy Purple, Pale Lilac, Soft Fudge, Buttercup Yellow, Pillar Red, Misty Grey, and Granite Grey
- 3.25mm Crochet Hook
- 6mm Safety Eyes and Matching Backings
- Scissors
- Darning Needle
- Locking Stitch Markers (Optional)
- Pins
- Polyfil Stuffing or Scrap Yarn
- Black or Dark Grey Embroidery Thread
- White Felt (Optional)
- Fabric Glue (This is optional, but I use it to glue down the exposed tail ends from the suspender straps and to glue the number badge to the helmet)
Eye Patch
Make 2
with Pansy Purple yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6]
2 (inc) x 6 [12]
3 sc, inc, sc
Fasten off, seamless join in the round, and leave a tail for sewing. Insert the Safety Eyes through the centre of the Eye Patch but do not snap the backing in. Set aside for later.
Head
with Pale Lilac yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6]
2 (inc) x 6 [12]
3 (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4 sc, inc, (2sc, inc) x 5, sc [24]
5-6 sc in all sts [24]
7 (3sc, inc) x 6 [30]
8-9 sc in all sts [30]
10 2sc, inc, (4sc, inc) x 5, 2sc [36]
11 sc in all sts [36]
12 2sc, dec, (4sc, dec) x 5, 2sc [30]
13 (3sc, dec) x 6 [24]
14 sc, dec, (2sc, dec) x 5, sc [18]
15 (sc, dec) x 6 [12]
Fasten off, stuff fully, close hole, and weave the tail in.
Ears
Make 2
with Pansy Purple yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6]
2-3 sc in all sts [6]
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Arms
Make 2
with Pansy Purple yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6]
2 (sc, inc) x 3 [9]
3-6 sc in all sts [9]
7 (sc, dec) x 3 [6]
8-11 sc in all sts [6]
Fasten off, stuff lightly, sew the opening shut, and leave a tail for sewing.
Legs
Make 2
starting with Pansy Purple yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6]
2 (inc) x 6 [12]
3 BLO, sc in all sts [12]
4-7 sc in all sts [12]
Fasten the first leg off. Do not fasten the second leg off. You will be joining the second leg to the first leg in the next part.
Body
starting with Pansy Purple yarn
Continue with the 2nd leg:
1 Ch 1, sl st to any st on the first leg (this doesn’t count as a stitch in the next round), sc into the same st you sl st into, 11sc around the first leg, sc in the back of the chain, 12sc around the 2nd leg, sc in the front of the chain [26]
2 6sc, inc, (5sc, inc) x 2, 6sc, inc [30]
3 sc in all sts [30]
4 (9sc, inc) x 3 [33]
switch to Pale Lilac yarn
5 5sc, inc, (10sc, inc) x 2, 5sc [36]
6 5sc, dec, (10sc, dec) x 2, 5sc [33]
7 (9sc, dec) x 3 [30]
8 4sc, dec, (8sc, dec) x 2, 4sc [27]
9 (7sc, dec) x 3 [24]
10 sc in all sts [24]
switch to Pansy Purple yarn
11 3sc, dec, (6sc, dec) x 2, 3sc [21]
12 (5sc, dec) x 3 [18]
13 sc in all sts [18]
Fasten off, stuff fully, and leave a long tail for sewing.
Pant Legs
Make 2
starting with Soft Fudge yarn
1 Ch 14, join with a sl st into the first ch to create a circle (counts as first st), making sure the chain isn’t twisted, 13sc [14]
switch to Buttercup Yellow yarn
2 sc in all sts [14]
switch to Soft Fudge yarn
3-4 sc in all sts [14]
Fasten the first pant leg off. Do not fasten the second pant leg off. You will be joining the second leg to the first leg in the next part.
Reflective Strip Detail
With Misty Grey yarn
Embroider a line in the middle of the yellow row on both legs by doing the back stitch.
Pants
with Soft Fudge yarn
Continue with the 2nd leg:
1 Ch 1, sl st to any st on the first pant leg (this doesn’t count as a stitch in the next round), sc into the same st you sl st into, 13sc around the first pant leg, sc in the back of the chain, 14sc around the 2nd pant leg, sc in the front of the chain [30]
2 7sc, inc, (6sc, inc) x 2, 7sc, inc [34]
3-7 sc in all sts [34]
Fasten off, seamless join in the round and weave all tails in.
Coat
starting with Soft Fudge yarn
1 Ch 35, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in the rest of the sts, turn [34]
switch to Buttercup Yellow yarn
2-3 sc in all sts, turn [34]
switch to Soft Fudge yarn
4 sc in all sts, turn [34]
5 9sc, dec, 12sc, dec, 9sc, turn [32]
6 sc in all sts, turn [32]
7 9sc, dec, 10sc, dec, 9sc, turn [30]
switch to Buttercup Yellow yarn
8 sc in all sts, turn [30]
9 9sc, dec, 8sc, dec, 9sc, turn [28]
switch to Soft Fudge yarn
10 4sc, ch 6, sk next 4 sts, 12sc, ch 6, sk next 4 sts, 4sc, turn
11 4sc, 6sc into the ch sp, sc, dec, 6sc, dec, sc, 6sc into the ch sp, 4sc [30] *This is the right side.
Fasten off and weave tails in.
Edging and Collar
with Soft Fudge yarn
With the right side of the Coat facing you, pick up a stitch from the bottom right corner. You will be crocheting an edging around the sides and the top.
1 10sc up the side, FLO 30sc across the top, 10 sc down the side
Fasten off and weave tails in.
Coat Reflective Strip Details
with Misty Grey yarn
Surface slip stitch across the middle of the yellow strip. Making sure to work on the right side of the Coat.
- Starting at one end of the yellow strip, insert your hook through the Coat and pick up a loop.
- Insert your hook into the next hole and draw up a loop.
- Continue doing so until you get to the end.
- Repeat the steps above on the other yellow strip.
Fasten off and weave tails in.
Coat Sleeves
Make sure you are working on the right side of the Coat.
starting with Soft Fudge yarn
1 Pick up 14 sc evenly around the sleeve hole [14]
2-3 sc in all sts [14]
switch to Buttercup Yellow yarn
4 sc in all sts [14]
switch to Soft Fudge yarn
5-7 sc in all sts [14]
Fasten off, seamless join in the round, and weave all the tails in.
Sleeve Reflective Strip Detail
with Misty Grey yarn
Embroider a line in the middle of the yellow row on both sleeves by doing the back stitch.
Weave the tails in.
Helmet
with Pillar Red yarn
1 6sc in magic circle [6] *Do not tighten the centre hole fully. You will need to insert your hook into this hole when working on the details.
2 (inc) x 6 [12]
3 (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
4 sc, inc, (2sc, inc) x 5, sc [24]
5 (3sc, inc) x 6 [30]
6-7 sc in all sts [30]
8 2sc, inc, (4sc, inc) x 5, 2sc [36]
9-10 sc in all sts [36]
11 FLO: 2sc, hdc2, (dc, tr) in the next st, dc2, 2dc, dc2, (tr, dc) in the next st, hdc2, 26sc [42]
switch to Granite Grey yarn
12 Through both loops: 5sc, inc, 6sc, inc, 5sc, BLO: 10 sl st, FLO: 4sc, BLO: 10 sl st [44]
Fasten off, seamless join in the round and weave all the tails in.
Helmet Details
with Pillar Red yarn
Surface slip stitch, starting from the centre going out in a 5-tip asterisk pattern (see photo below). You can place a stitch marker at the end of the tip to help guide the direction you are going in. Take note to avoid working too close to the 4sc from Row 12 of the Helmet (highlighted stitches in the last photo).
- Starting from the centre of the Helmet, insert your hook through and draw up a loop.
- Insert your hook into the next hole and draw up a loop.
- Continue doing so until you get to the base of the Helmet.
- Repeat until you have 5 lines going out from the centre of the Helmet.
Fasten off and weave tails in.
Helmet Sign
with Granite Grey yarn
1 With the front of the Helmet facing you, pick up 4sc through the back loops of the 4sc from Row 12, turn [4]
2 sc in all sts, turn [4]
3 sc, (hdc, dc) in the next st, ch 1, (dc, hdc) in the next st, sc [4]
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.
Assembly
- Position the Eye Patches and pin them down. Sew in place.
- Pin the Ears onto the top of the Head and sew in place. The top of my Ears start at Row 4 of the Head.
- Pin the Body onto the Head and sew together.
- Pin the arms onto the side of the Body. Make sure to leave a 1 row gap between the Head and the top of the Arms and leave a 6 st gap between the Arms at the front of the Body. Sew in place.
- Sew the Helmet Sign to the Helmet and weave tails in.
- Optional but recommended: Cut a piece of white felt into a house-shaped pentagon that is slightly smaller than the Helmet Sign. Embroider a number to the centre of it (I chose 51 because it’s a random number that’s easy to embroider lol). If you do not have felt on hand, you can also just use white embroidery thread to embroider your favourite number onto the sign.
- With Buttercup Yellow yarn, embroider lines onto both sides of the Helmet to add reflective strip details.
- Glue or sew the white pentagon onto the Helmet Sign.
- With the front of the pants facing you, pick two spots on the waist line where you want your suspenders to start from, I left a 4 st gap between my two spots. Sl st into the first st and ch 20.
- Fit the pants onto your Panda and wrap the suspender strap over the shoulder and across the back and sl st to the back of the pants. It helps to map out where you’re putting your sl sts by using a stitch marker.
- Repeat the steps above with the next suspender strap, making sure to leave a 4 st gap between the two straps on the back as well. Weave the tails in.
- To put the pants onto your Panda, make sure the suspender straps are down to the sides and fit the legs through the pant legs by using your fingers to pull the legs out. Thread the arms under the suspenders and pull the suspenders over the shoulders.
- Embroider the nose with Pansy Purple yarn.
- Embroider a curvy upside down V right under the nose with black or dark grey embroidery thread for the mouth.
- Put the Coat and Helmet onto your Panda.
You have just finished your Firefighter Panda!
Please leave me a comment down below (or contact me) if you have any questions about this pattern. I would also love to see your creation so don’t forget to tag me (@olliehollycrochet) on Instagram or use the #olliehollycrochet! Please let me know in the comments what you would like to see next!
If you find any mistakes in the pattern, please contact me and let me know! I do my best to catch my mistakes when I edit my patterns but I sometimes miss the little things.
You may sell products made from this pattern in small quantities but please clearly credit the design to me, Abby Sy of Ollie + Holly and provide a link to my blog www.OllieHolly.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for being respectful and for your understanding!
Hi, love this pattern!! would the outfits from your other patterns (e.g. the postman, nurse etc) fit the panda too? Thanks!
Hi Katie,
All the outfits are interchangeable! 🙂
I wish we had thousands for pocket pals to line the canvas coveralls that firefighters wear .from colorado to california they are still battling as we speak. I ask for guidance and protection.