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This free hooded baby afghan pattern will give your favorite child the chance to feel like a cozy little panda. Make one for the new baby to grow into and another for an older sibling to enjoy right away!
This post contains affiliate links.
Fun, form or function? When giving gifts to my friends who are expecting, I’m always torn between giving something totally indulgent (hello, mini “baby” record player), something beyond adorable (hello, miniature UGG boots) and something super practical (hello, diapers).
Since I’ve been in the position of an expecting mama before, I know the inexplicable joy getting some of those items you registered that are just straight up necessary for life with a new baby.
I also know how touched I’ve felt by each of the thoughtful, handcrafted DIY gifts that my friends and family have poured their creativity and time into for my kids.
I started to wonder if you could give a baby gift that brings the parents piece of mind everyday AND a handmade gift that is pure, indulgent cuteness?
So, I designed this panda hooded baby afghan pattern to pair alongside a VTech VM341-216 Bear 2 Camera Full Color Video Monitor to check all the gift-giving boxes with one sweet bear-themed gift!
The VTech Bear Video Monitor comes with two clear, high-quality cameras, which makes it a perfect gift for a family that wants to keep their eyes on two different spaces.
In our case, this means we can have a camera in both of our daughters’ rooms and only need to carry (read: not lose) one monitor. Because let’s be honest, simplification is the best gift you can give parents!
And if that simplification can involve a present that is sleek, minimalist and doesn’t compete with their pre-kid decor, you will be the MVP of gift giving! Look how clean and modern (and not primary colored!) these cameras are. 🙂
After seeing how much both of my daughters enjoyed this hooded baby afghan, I really think it would be wonderful to gift a set of these to a new baby and their big brother or sister. Since the VTech Bear Video Monitor comes with two cameras, why not make two blankets too, right!?
This crochet panda hooded baby afghan is a great size for a toddler or preschooler to cozy up in. Because the yarn used is chunky, it works up fairly quickly, but it’s also a bit heavy and bulky for a newborn baby. (For reference, my kids are 18 months and 4-years-old and you can see the blanket “fits” both of them well.)
I am curious what this pattern would be like worked in a worsted weight yarn with a smaller hook. I suspect the scale might be great for a younger baby.
To gift your own perfect pairing, you can find the free crochet panda baby afghan pattern below and pick up a VTech Bear Video Monitor exclusively at Babies R Us!
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this post. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos. You can read my policies here. Now let’s make something awesome!
“Panda Bear Hug” Hooded Baby Afghan — Free Pattern
Purchase the printable, ad-free pdf of this pattern here.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.
Finished Measurements:
31×42” (not including hood)
Supplies:
So you can spend more time making pandas and less time shopping, this pattern contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
• (5) Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in “Fisherman” approx. 500 yards (MC)
• (1 Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in “Black” approx. 212 yards (SC)
• Tapestry needle
• Size N [9.0 mm] crochet hook
• Size K [6.5.0 mm] crochet hook
• Scissors
Gauge:
• 4 dc “Vs” = 4”
• 4 row worked in blanket pattern = 4”
Abbreviations (US Terms):
sc – single crochet
fdc – foundation double crochet
sl st – slip stich
dc – double crochet
MC – main color
SC – secondary color
tr – treble crochet
Approx. – approximately
ch – chain
tch – turning chain
Notes:
- The heft and size of this hooded afghan make it the perfect size for a toddler or preschooler. It would likely be a bit too large for a newborn.
- This pattern is intended to use all the yardage of two skeins of Wool Ease Thick & Quick in “Black.” Since each skein’s exact yardage can vary a little, it’s smart to work the black facial features for the panda first so that you can ensure you don’t use too much black yarn on the afghan and run out of yarn for the face.
Eye Patches
Using SC and smaller hook, ch 7.
Row 1: Dc in third ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next two ch, 1 tr in next two ch. Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to sew eye patch onto hood.
Repeat for second eye patch.
Ears
Using SC and smaller hook, ch 4, sl st into first ch to form a ring.
Row 1: Ch 3, 9 tr in ring. Fasten off leaving long enough tail to sew ear onto hood. Scoot all stitches toward one half of the ring.
Repeat for second ear.
Nose
Using SC and smaller hook, ch 6.
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, working one st per ch, dc, tr, dc, sc over next 4 ch. Fasten off leaving long enough tail to sew nose onto hood.
Blanket
Notes: Reference chart below for visual guidance.
Row 1: Using MC and larger hook, fdc 87. (Alternatively, ch 90 and beginning in the 3rd ch from hook, dc in each ch across to create 87 dc.)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc2tog over 1st and 2nd dc from hook, *ch 1, dc2tog by inserting hook in next 2 dc; repeat from * to last dc, ch 1, dc in last dc; turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, dc2tog over 1st and 2nd ch sp, *ch 1, dc2tog by inserting hook in same ch sp as last st, then in the next ch sp; repeat from * working 2nd leg of last dc2tog under tch of previous row, ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of same tch; turn.
Row 3-21 (or until 5 skeins of “Fisherman” are used): Repeat row 3.
Switch to SC and work remainder of blanket.
Row 22-30 (or until remainder of SC is used): Repeat row 3.
Fasten off.
Hood
Notes: Using larger hook and mc, join yarn in 26th st at top of blanket. (To attach yarn for hood, create a slip knot around hook. Insert hook in 26th st from the edge, yo and pull yarn through slip knot.) Work row 1 over tail of slip knot to avoid weaving it in.
Row 1: Sc in same stitch yarn was attached in, sc in each of next 34 sts; turn. (35)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (35)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in each of next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 12 sc; turn. (37)
Row 4-8: Repeat row 2. (37)
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each of next 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 13 sc; turn. (39)
Row 10-14: Repeat row 2. (37)
Row 15 (Begin hood top): Ch 1, sc in each of next 14 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 14 sc; turn. (41)
Row 16-18: Repeat row 2. (41)
Row 19-27: Ch 1, sc in each of next 15 sc; turn. (15)
Fasten off and weave in end.
Finishing
With tapestry needle and SC, attach yarn at lower left corner of hood top. Sew the hood top to Row 14 of hood using the mattress stitch and working only in the outside loops. (See the video tutorial in this post for help.)
With tapestry needle and SC tails of facial features, sew the ears, eye patches and nose onto the hood as pictured. Alternatively, you can use black sewing thread if you find it easier to work with.
Wrap up your favorite child in a big “bear” hug!
For even more fun, free crochet patterns to make for the kiddos in your life, check these out:
“Granny Gives Back” Hooded Blanket Pattern
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Oh! that hooded baby afghan is beautiful! I know several of my kids would love that! I better keep my crochet hook handy! 🙂 -client
Thanks Amber! My kids have really enjoyed having it around too. Except for when I needed to photograph it, then they wanted to rip it off their heads. 😉
Happy making!
Jess
Loooove this so much!!
Can you recommend a smaller size hook or less rows for a newborn??
I’d love to make this for a pregnant friend but I think she’d love to put it round her baby asap!
I think that making it with a worsted weight yarn and the appropriate hook (probably like a j-ish) would make a great size for a newborn. You could do a little swatch with whatever yarn you want to use and see if it scales down the pattern gauge in a way you’re happy with.
What a thoughtful gift!
Does this type of stitch have a name? Got yarn and cannot wait to start this for my panda loving little man, but I am a visual person unless I already know the stitch.
Hey Brailey,
I can understand that. It’s called “staggered double crochet pairs.” While I don’t have a video for this stitch right now, you might find that looking at the chart within the pattern helps guide you. I’m a pretty visual learner and I really love charts!
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Do you think that doing 2 strands of worsted weight yarn verses the thick and quick would work up OK on this pattern? Maybe lighten it a bit too?
I think it would def work, although it might make the blanket a bit smaller. Even if it was a smaller though, I still think it would be totally appropriate for a toddler!
Do you think using 2 strands of worsted weight yarn would work up OK with this pattern vs the thick and quick?
I think it would! The gauge might be slightly different (you might want to check ahead of time) so you might end up with a smaller blanket, but the overall effect will be the same. If you find that two strands isn’t thick enough, three might work well.
I’d love to make one for myself 🙂 I find a hood is the best thing to keep me cozy when I feel sick, so this is the ideal yet! Any suggestion to adapt this for an adult size?
I love the Panda blanket! My daughter is crazy over pandas, so I know she will love it too.
This is the first time I’ve been on your site, and I’ve seen lots of great patterns.
Thank you for the free Panda blanket pattern, and for ALL the patterns you share wit all of us.
Lisa in Alabama
Yay, Lisa! I hope your daughter does enjoy the panda pattern. I’ve found some real panda lovers since publishing this pattern! 🙂
Such an adorable pattern. Is there any way to increase it for an adult? I’m still pretty new to crochet, and don’t know how to make things bigger without instructions. This would be absolutely perfect for a gift for one of my good friends. Thank you in advance.
Hi! Thank you fo the pattern, I would like to do this for my older daughter (23) commonly called Amanda Panda, how can I increase the pattern for an adult. Tks for your help.
In row 3 of the blanket, it says “working 2nd leg of last dc2tog under tch of precious row, ch 1, 1 dc in 3rd ch of same tch; turn.” What is a ‘precious row?’ I haven’t been crocheting for long and so far I’ve never come across this term?
Thanks!
Haha. Well, that is just a typo! 🙂 It should say “previous” row. No matter how cute a blanket pattern is, none of the rows are precious, lol!
Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Holly!
Jess
I think this pattern is adorable!
Thank-you.
I have one question.
Which edges of the upper hood do you join?
Could you please mark the photo of the flat hood with A and A , B and B or symbols of your choice?
I just am not getting that part.
Apologies.
Tish
Thanks Letitia! So the taller rectangle part on the right side of the photo should become the top of the hood when folded over. If you fold it toward the left, the side of that top rectangle will face the back of the hood. If you orient your piece like mine is in the photo, lift up that top rectangle and fold it toward the left.
I hope that makes sense.
Jess
Hi,
What an adorable pattern. Any suggestions on making it for an older child? Increasing the starting chain by 10/20 stitches?
My blanket is looking as if it is starting to get smaller as I add rows… am I doing something wrong?
Thanks!
Hey Abby,
I’d suggest counting your stitches each row for a little while and see if you’re somehow eliminating a stitch somewhere. Figuring that out can tell you if something’s going wrong or if maybe your stitches are just getting a little tighter as you work.
Happy crocheting!
Jess
Thanks for posting this! I love pandas and would like to make a blanket for me. I am still new to crochet, would it be possible to tell me how many more stitches you need to increase to make an adult size blanket.
Thanks so much for another wonderful pattern. I just finished it and it’s fantastic! Say, I don’t mean to be critical, but if you use up all the white yarn in the blanket body, you don’t have any left for the hood. I was crocheting on a road trip and so ripping back a bunch wasn’t a big deal, but when it says in rows 3-21 to keep going until 5 skeins are used up, I think maybe it should just be 4. I’m just trying to save someone else a little time! It’s really a great pattern and super clear and I bet with a little foresight, other people have successfully avoided this problem. Thanks again.
Yes! Thank you. That is such good feedback. I published this about a year ago and I honestly don’t know quite what I had in mind because you’re making a great point. I’ll try to revise it to make it clearer. 🙂
Jess
Love the pattern, finishing it up now. If you are revising, here are a couple of things I picked up… I used 6 skeins of white, 5 for body, 1 for hood. Also, needed 2 skeins of black. Your pattern indicates you need you need approx 212 yards which is 2 skeins.
Thanks Susan. 212 yarn can also be accomplished in one skein of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Bonus Bundle, which is a bit cheaper than buying two separate balls. 🙂