Pattern Description:
This free sewing pattern guides you in creating a set of twin 9.5-inch sock panda stuffed animals named PaiPai and PeiPei.
The project uses a combination of one black and one white chenille microfiber sock for each panda. It’s suitable for avid beginners to intermediate sewers.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
- Microfiber chenille sock, Black (1 per panda)
- Microfiber chenille sock, Cream (1 per panda)
- Button eye, black, 9mm (2 per panda)
- Safety Nose, black, 22mm (1 per panda)
- White felt (1″ x 1″ piece to mark 2 x 0.5″ circles for the white of the eyes)
- Poly-fill stuffing material
- Sewing threads (matching colors)
- Sock Panda Pattern Template (downloadable and printable)
- Sewing machine (hand-sewing is also an option)
- Long Sewing Needle (about 2″)
- Tapestry needle
- Pins
- Water Soluble Fabric Marker (blue recommended for white sock)
- Light color marker (silver recommended for black sock)
- Scissors
- Blunt point tweezers
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Printer and card stock for templates
- Measurements:
- Finished Panda Size: 9.5 inches
- Button Eyes: 9mm
- Safety Nose: 22mm
- White Felt: 1″ x 1″ (to mark 2 x 0.5″ circles)
- Seam Allowance: Approximately 1/8″ or 1/4″ (use larger allowance for loose-knit/thinner socks)
Stitches & Abbreviations Used:
- Slip stitch
- Ladder stitch
- Running stitch
Instructions for Making the Sock Panda Pattern:
This pattern guides you in sewing a set of twin 9.5-inch sock panda stuffed animals, PaiPai and PeiPei, using one black and one cream chenille microfiber sock for each.
General Overview
- Prepare all materials, ensuring socks are pre-washed.
- Print the pattern, cut out templates, and trace them onto the socks. Sew, then cut the pieces and turn them right side out.
- Stuff parts with poly-fill stuffing material and sew as instructed.
- Sew to close any openings and massage the parts to even out stuffing lumps.
- Sew the eyes and ears to the head. Sew the tail and toes to the body. Finally, form arms from part of the body to complete the sock panda.
Preparation
- Gather all necessary materials and tools.
- Always prewash your socks before sewing them (wash dark colors separately). Turn socks right side in and iron.
Draw, Sew & Cut
- Print and Cut Templates: Download and print the Sock Panda Pattern Template separately. Cut out the head, ears, arms, eye marking, and white of eye pieces from the printed paper or card stock.
- Trace Patterns on Socks:
- Turn the socks right-side in, lay them flat with the heel part facing up, and pin.
- Trace the template outlines onto the wrong side of the socks. These lines are your sewing lines (red dashed lines).
- Use a silver sharpie marker for the black sock and a blue water-soluble fabric marker for the white sock.
- Cut and Assemble Body Pieces:
- Cut out the body, shoulder, and leg pieces by following the blue lines.
- Place the shoulder piece at the top edge of the white body piece and the leg piece at the bottom edge.
- Turn the black pieces right-side-out and insert them into the white body piece, align the edges, pin, and sew around.
- Lay the assembled body part flat with the heel facing upward (still with the wrong-side facing outside).
- Align the seam line, pin, and trace the leg template onto the bottom black portion of the body.
- Sew and trim the excess fabric.
- Seam Allowance: Give yourself approximately 1/8” or 1/4” seam allowance. Use a larger allowance for loose-knit and thinner sock materials as they can rip easily.
Stuff & Sew
- Stuffing: Turn all pieces right-side out and stuff them with poly-fill. The legs should be stuffed firmly, reducing the denseness towards the top of the body. Tip: Always massage the stuffing to loosen lumps. Long tubular parts should be rolled with both hands to smooth lumps and make parts longer and firmer.
- Attach Nose:
- Mark the nose position, approximately 3/4 from the top of the head.
- Enlarge a hole with a pen.
- Install the safety nose and its backplate.
- Rotate the nose to look straight; you may apply a small dot of glue if needed.
- Prepare Eyes:
- Cut eye markings from the heel part of the black sock, making them slightly bigger than the template.
- Trace and cut the white of the eyes from white felt.
- Trace the outline of the eye marking template on the face, at a slant of about 30 to 45 degrees.
- Sew Eyes:
- Pin the eye marking, turn the raw edge in, and sew with a slip stitch or ladder stitch.
- Position the white of eye felt piece onto the eye marking, pin, then place the black button eye on top of the white felt.
- Sew the button and pull the thread to sink the eye towards the bottom of the head.
- Repeat to sew the second eye.
- Close Head and Ears:
- Sew to close the opening of the head with a slip stitch or ladder stitch.
- Sew to close the bottom opening of the ear with a slip stitch or ladder stitch.
- Fold the ear and sew to join the bottom.
- Attach Ears: Position and pin the ears to the head. Sew around the bottom of the ears to bond them to the head.
- Close Body Opening: Sew a running stitch around the top opening of the body, then pull the thread to close the opening. Roll the body with both hands to smooth out lumps, making it slender and firmer.
Assembly
- Attach Head to Body:
- Mark a small circle at the bottom center of the head where you will sew the body.
- If needed, mark a similar size circle at the top of the body to keep track of where to sew.
- Pin the head to the body and sew around twice to create a firm bond.
- Prepare Arms: Sew a running stitch around the top opening of the arm after stuffing, then pull the thread to close the opening. Roll the arm with both hands to smooth out lumps and make it slender and firmer.
- Attach Arms: Pin the arm to the bottom of the head and sew around. The top of the arm is stitched to the head, and part of the side is stitched to the body. Repeat to attach the other arm.
- Final Touches: Spray water on the sock panda to erase any blue markings. Shape it while it is still wet if needed, then set aside to dry.
- Add Personality: To give the sock panda personality, bring the arms to the back and stitch them to secure their position.
