How to make a simple soft toy, as requested by a friend.
Enlarge the pattern to whatever size you like, my panda is about 7" tall.
Stitch the eyes onto one body piece and embroider the nose using black embroidery thread.
Using either a blanket or running stitch, sew two pieces together for each arm/leg/ear.
Now is the time to embellish your panda if desired, before sandwiching the ears, arms and legs between the two body pieces.
Pin and stitch together, leaving a gap between an arm and a leg to insert stuffing.
Close gap, and Bob's your Uncle. ( an English expression,meaning ' how simple it is to do something' )
Finally, make her a little friend, instead of doing the chores.
On a different note, LOOK at what this clever girl found. A place to buy cute Japanese fabrics. Woo hoo !






Oh no!! That link is BAD news for my budget. But thank you!! ;) And your tutorial is perfectly clear--love it!
Posted by: amanda | November 18, 2005 at 02:27 PM
Love the panda (and the idea about making a friend and not doing any housework), but the body is so not felt. What is it, some kind of wool fabric? I know it's what you use all the time, but it's time to spill the beans! (Please!!)
Posted by: Kate | November 18, 2005 at 02:49 PM
Your toys have the sweetest expressions, and I love the toys' toy. Thanks, as always for the terrific links!
Posted by: Rose | November 18, 2005 at 04:01 PM
lovely tutorial, thanks!
Posted by: sharona | November 18, 2005 at 04:50 PM
Wonderful - love the little friend. That Uncle Bob gets around, doesn't he...
And I'm sorry, you can't have Simon. Not even on eBay.
Posted by: Jane | November 18, 2005 at 05:18 PM
Love it! This is so great. I have a girlfriend who is all crazy about pandas and this will be the perfect holiday gift.
Posted by: africankelli | November 18, 2005 at 05:23 PM
Thank you so much for the instructions. I have been wanting to make a softie for a long time and now with your directions there should be nothing else stopping me.
Dana
http://dana.blogs.com/dana/
Posted by: 31Summers | November 18, 2005 at 06:27 PM
All I can say is:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lyn, you're amazing.
xxoo
Posted by: Anna H. | November 18, 2005 at 06:37 PM
Good girl, clever girl. What a wonderful find. I had to violate my fabric buying hiaitus. Yay!!
Excellent panda, excellent tutorial. You have so much talent!!!
Posted by: A.J. | November 18, 2005 at 06:51 PM
Oh good lord Lyn what have you done??! I can feel my credit card creaking already, what a fabulous link, you can't imagine how many hours I've wasted looking for such a thing, you star! can not, will not go to sleep, oh dear...
Posted by: margaret | November 18, 2005 at 08:26 PM
So cute! So easy! I wish I didn't have so much to do today, I want to go make one *right* *now*!
(thanks for the tutorial)
Posted by: Linda | November 18, 2005 at 08:43 PM
Thanks for the tutorial... Do you handstitch all of your toys? My machine makes a blanket stitch, but to tell the truth it makes me too nervous to use it. :P This panda is so cute!
Posted by: persephone | November 18, 2005 at 08:44 PM
Thanks so much for the tutorial and for the fabric site!
Posted by: Dee | November 18, 2005 at 08:50 PM
I just love you tutorials, the panda is precious. Its been a Japanese inspiration day for me at the bookstore, how fitting I come home and continue the fun with your link. Someone stop me before I drain our bank account! : )
Posted by: Blair | November 18, 2005 at 11:47 PM
first a cute panda and then that link?!? is this post for real? pinch me!
Posted by: lisa s | November 19, 2005 at 12:28 AM
oh, you make it look sew easy.
;-)
Posted by: Snowbear | November 19, 2005 at 01:00 AM
thank you for the panda pattern & great link!
Posted by: laura r. | November 19, 2005 at 02:38 AM
How darling! Thanks for the perfect craft to make with my daughter tomorrow. I think ours will be small enough to live in her dollhouse.
Posted by: Windy City Wendy | November 19, 2005 at 03:10 AM
WHEEEEEE!!!!! That panda is so cute! I love her little friend, too!!!!
Posted by: scribblesnbits | November 19, 2005 at 03:47 AM
The panda is cute.....but the friend is incredibly cute! Your pics are so clear and everything seems simple, you should propose an editor to make a book!
By the the way I had a promblem with my blog yesterday... now it's ok. :)
Posted by: natacha | November 19, 2005 at 10:07 AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you -
that is THE greatest shop ever!
Sweet panda too :o)
Posted by: Kristina | November 19, 2005 at 10:25 AM
As someone said before, this is a dreamy post!
I have already ordered from that shop, couldnt help! I spent like, 2 hours, browsing with extreme delight...
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: chicadecanela | November 19, 2005 at 11:22 AM
I hadn't turned on my computer for a while, and then I checked your site only to find this adorable panda pattern!! And THEN, I found your comment on my blog!! (I really couldn't believe it...) thank you! I'm off to start a wee panda immediately. I've been a lurker on your site for ages, and simply love it..
Posted by: melissa | November 20, 2005 at 02:54 AM
That is a dear little panda. I can't believe how prolific you are.
And thanks for your comment today. How come I never picked up that you have three boys and then a girl? Woohoo, you must have been so tickled when she appeared!
Posted by: Suse | November 20, 2005 at 09:10 AM
What a sweet wee panda. And, oh my, that link is amazing, thanks so much for sharing it. So much fabric, so little time!!
Posted by: Fiona | November 20, 2005 at 11:22 AM