Crochet Your Own Picco The Panda!

Our HiyaHiya Mascot, Picco the Panda, has been gaining lots of fans recently, so we thought we’d share with you how to crochet your very own Picco!
Using the straightfoward pattern by Angie’s Art Studio and HiyaHiya hooks and accessories, you can be cuddling your personal Picco in no time.


WHAT YOU NEED

Image of Picco

METHOD

Muzzle
Off-white yarn. Start with Chain 2.
R1: 5 SC in second chain from hook (5)
R2: SC 3, INC 2 (7)
R3: INC 1, SC 3, INC 3 (11)
R4: SC 2 (2) This row only has 2 stitches and should finish off at the top of the muzzle. Fasten off leaving a 10 inch (25 cm) tail for sewing on to head. Because the muzzle is so small, instead of stuffing with poly-fil, use leftover bits of off white yarn. Sew on nose and mouth with black yarn or insert a plastic nose.
Head
Off-white yarn. Start with Chain 2
R1: 6 SC in second chain from hook (6) R2: INC 1 in each ST (12)
R3: * SC 1, INC 1 * repeat 6 times (18)
R4: * SC 2, INC 1 * repeat 6 times (24)
R5: * SC 2, INC 1 * repeat 8 times (32)
R6: SC in each ST (32)
R7: * SC 3, INC 1 * repeat 8 times (40)
R8: SC in each ST (40)
R9: as above (40)
R10: as above (40)
R11: as above (40)
R12: * SC 3, DEC 1 * repeat 8 times (32)
R13: SC in each ST (32)
R14: * SC 2, DEC 1 * repeat 8 times (24) Insert eyes through the patches of felt by cutting a tiny slit in the felt. Place into position on the head and sew patches onto the head. Fasten on the safety  backings.
R15: * SC 1, DEC 1 * repeat 8 times (16)
R16: * SC 2, DEC 1 * repeat 4 times (12)
R17: SC in each ST (12) Fasten off and stuff
Ears (Two)
Black yarn. Start with chain 2
R1: 6 SC in second chain from hook (6)
R2: INC 1 in each ST (12)
R3: SC in each ST (12)
R4: as above (12) Fasten off, leave a 6 inch (15 cm) tail for sewing onto head, flatten the ears so that they are in the shape of a half circle and two layers thick,  no need to stuff with poly-fil.
Arms (Two)
Black yarn. Start with Chain 2.
R1: 6 SC in second chain from hook (6)
R2: INC 1 in each ST (12)
R3: SC in each ST (12)
R4: * SC 2, DEC 1 * repeat 3 times (9)
R5: SC in each SC (9)
R6 to R9: as above (9) Fasten off, leaving a 9 inch
(20 cm) tail for sewing onto body, stuff with poly-fil.
Black yarn. Start with Chain 2.
R1: 6 SC in second chain from hook
R2: INC 1 in each ST (12)
R3: SC in each ST (12)
R4: SC 3, DEC 1, SC 1, DE1, SC 4 (10)
R5: SC in each ST (10)
R6 to R8: as above (10) Fasten off, leaving a 9 inch (20 cm) tail for sewing onto body, stuff with poly-fil.
Body
Off-white yarn. Start with Chain 2.
R1: 5 SC in second chain from hook (5)
R2: INC 1 in each ST (10)
R3: * SC 1, INC 1 * repeat 5 times (15)
R4: INC 1 in each ST (30)
R5: SC in each ST (30)
R6: as above (30) R7: as above (30) R8: as above (30)
R9: * SC 4, DEC 1 * repeat 5 times (25)
Change to black yarn
R10: SC in each ST (25)
R11: as above (25)
R12: * SC 3, DEC 1 * repeat 5 times (20)
R13: SC in each ST (20)
R14: *SC 2, DEC 1 * repeat 5 times (15)
R15: SC in each ST (15)
R16: as above (15) Fasten off, leaving a 10 inch  (25 cm) tail for sewing onto head, stuff with poly-fil.
Tail
Black yarn. Start with Chain 2.
R1: 4 SC in second chain from hook. (4)
R2: INC 1 in each ST (8)
R3: SC in each ST (8) Fasten off leaving a 6 inch  (15 cm) tail for sewing onto the back of the body.
No need to stuff with poly-fil.

Pin all the parts in place and sew together.
NOTE
To change colour of the yarn, begin the single crochet with the first colour. This should leave you with two loops on your hook. Now grab the second colour with the hook and pull it through both loops to complete the stitch. Now continue the next single crochet in the  second colour.

Our Picco also wears a handsome green bow, so why not crochet up one of these to match?
Picco the panda