This toy is adorable as it is, so to make an actual rattle is optional. The ring is small enough for a baby to hold, which makes it a perfect gift.
If you want to make the toy a rattle, you will need a rattle insert. You can find them in craft shops. But make sure that the rattle insert is washable! Or else the toy won't be washable, which isn't very baby-friendly.
The rattle inserts I've used for this rattle is 24 mm or 1 inch. I recommend to use either this size or smaller inserts.
Although this pattern is beginner friendly, the last stitches after adding the inserts (especially if you use as big inserts as I did) can be a bit tricky. But not impossible! Just a friendly heads-up.
Pattern
As always, the colours are just a suggestion. I used a 3 mm needle, and that made the ring about 6.5 cm or 2.5 inches in diameter and the panda is 4 cm or 1.5 inches.
Ring
Make 12 chain stitches and close the circle with a slip stitch in the first chain stitch. Each round is 12 single stitches, and the stripes are:
Round 1-3: White
Round 4-6: Black
Round 7-9: White
Round 10-12: Black
Round 13-15: White
Round 16-18: Black
Round 19-21: White
Round 22-24: Black
Round 25-27: White
Round 28-30: Black
Round 31-33: White
Round 34-36: Black
Round 37-39: White
Round 40-42: Black
Round 43-45: White
Round 46-48: Black
Round 49-51: White
Finish with a slip stitch. Keep enough yarn to sew the ends of the rings together
Stuff the ring before sewing the ends together. Do not use too much stuffing, or the ring will be uneven and not very round.
Tip!
Make the last round of each black stripe one extra stitch. That will prevent the centre back from twisting round to the front of the ring.
Tip 2!
Don't cut the yarn between the stripes. The stripes are short enough to leave the threads on the inside. Just don't pull to hard for the first stitch with each new stripe, or the ring will be distorted.
Tip 3!
Use the back of the crochet needle to push down the stuffing. But only add a little stuffing at a time, or it will be uneven.
Tip 4!
You can finish the ring after round 48 too, if you prefer that pattern for the stripes.
Panda
Head
White
Start with 2 chain stitches. Make 6 single stitches in the first chain stitch. (6)
Round 1: Increase 6 times (12)
Round 2: *1 single crochet stitch (s), increase (inc)* 6 times (18)
Round 3: *2 sc, inc* 6 times (24)
Round 4: *3 sc, inc* 6 times (30)
Round 5: *4 sc, inc* 6 times (36), fasten loose end
Round 6-8: 36 sc (36)
Round 9: *4 sc, decrease (dec)* 6 times (30)
Round 10: *3 sc, dec* 6 times (24)
Round 11: *2 sc, dec* 6 times (18)
Round 12: *1 sc, dec* 6 times (12)
Stuff the head. Add rattle insert if you want. Note! Depending on the size of the rattle insert, you may need to start stuffing the head after round 11, and then add the last stuffing after round 12.
Round 13: dec 6 times
Finish with a slip stitch. Keep enough yarn to attach the head to the ring.
Tip!
You can make a bigger head by increase up to 42 instead, and make 4 rounds of 42 before decreasing.
Ears
Black
Start with 2 chain stitches. Make 6 stitches in the first chain stitch. (6)
Round 1: Increase 6 times (12)
Round 2-3: 12 sc (12)
Round 4: *2 sc, dec* 3 times (9)
Finish with a slip stitch. Keep enough yarn to attach the ear.
Final steps
Attach the ears to the head, and the head to the ring. Sew on the black spots around the eyes (diagonally, and several rounds of yarn will make it wider in the middle). Sew on eyes in white on the black spots. Sew on nose and mouth in black.
And you have a cute little panda rattle!
You can easily adapt the pattern and give the panda a friend, such as this duck.
Comments