Precious Panda Knit Hat

By: Dina Wirawan from freecuteknit.com

"This panda hat was inspired from the Kungfu Panda cartoon character. It's knitted to fit adult size but easily altered for children. I also included video tutorials step by step in the whole process."

Click here for more photos and instructions for this DIY craft.

Intermediate

Knitting Needle Size10.5 or 6.5 mm, Circular Knitting Needles, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)

Yarn Weight(6) Super Bulky/Super Chunky (4-11 stitches for 4 inches)

Gauge14 stitches, 19 rows, 4 inches. Stockinette stitch

Materials List

White Lincraft Veronica in White (dye lot #1175)
I used 1 ball of white = 71 yards (65 meters) /100 grams (3.53 ounces)
Black Lincraft Luxe in Black (dye lot #111)
I used approx 1/2 ball of black = 28 yards (25.5 meters) /50 grams (1.76 ounces)
2x 25mm black safety eyes

Notes: Please embroidery the eyes for children under 3yo.

Hat:

With Black and circular needles / DPN, Co 72 (78, 84, 90) sts. Being careful not to twist.
Round 1: Place a stitch marker & join. K Round 2: P Round 3: Switch to White, K Round 4: Keep Knitting until you reach the length desired to fit. *Remember* that you will still need to decrease the round which adds to the total height of the hat Decreasing Round: Round 1: *K4, K2tog* (60 [65, 70, 75] sts total) Round 2: K Round 3: *K3, K2tog* (48 [52, 56, 60] sts total) Round 4: K Round 5: *K2, K2tog* (36 [39, 42, 45] sts total) Round 6: K Round 7: *K1, K2tog* (24 [26, 28, 30] sts total) Round 8: K Round 9: *K2tog* (12 [13, 14, 15] sts total) Cut yarn, and thread through each loop with tapestry needle. Pull tight and secure.

Nose:

With Circular Needles / DPN and White, refer to the chart (chart included in my website link) and pick up 48 stitches. I start from the bottom right working my way clockwise. (If you prefer, you can just CO 48 sts and later joined the nose together to the face. If you do, dont forget to leave a really long CO tail so you can sew them on in place later on.) Round 1: Place a stitch marker, K Round 2: K Round 3: *K2, K2tog* (36 sts total) Round 4-6: K Round 7: K8, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K6, K2tog (32 sts total) Round 8: K Round 9: K7, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K5, K2tog (28 sts total) Round 10: K Round 11: K6, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K4, K2tog (24 sts total) Round 12: K Round 13: Switch to Black, K5, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K3, K2tog (20 sts total) Cut White yarn, seam ends together before proceeding further. Round 14: K (stuffed the nose with fiberfill now) Round 15: K4, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K2, K2tog (16 sts total) Round 16: *K2tog* (8 sts total) Cut yarn, thread through each loop with tapestry needle, pull tight and secure.

Eyes:
With Black and tapestry needle, duplicate stitches as per chart provided in my website.

Ear (make 2):

With Straight Needles and Black, CO 5 Row 1: K Row 2: *K1, Kfb* 2 times, K1 (7 sts total) Row 3: K Row 4: *K1, Kfb* 3 times, K1 (10 sts total) Row 5: K Row 6: K Row 7: *K1, K2tog* 3 times, K1 (7 sts total) Row 8: K Row 9: *K1, K2tog* 2 times, K1 (5 sts total) Row 10: K Cut yarn, thread through all remaining loops with tapestry needle, pull a little so the ear curves. Thread it downwards and attach it to the top of the hat.