# Panda Pinafore Dress for Toddlers Free Crochet Pattern
Okay, how cute is this? A little black-and-white pinafore with the sweetest panda face on the front — I honestly can’t decide whether the dress or the panda is the star of the show. This is one of those projects that gets gasps at the playground, and it’s much simpler than it looks.
The dress itself is straightforward double crochet: two panels, a gathered skirt, and straps that cross in the back. Then the panda face — just a few circles and some stitching — turns it from a plain pinafore into something truly special. My kind of project: simple base, big payoff.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted-weight cotton yarn: approx. 400 yards in White and 180 yards in Black (I used Lily Sugar’n Cream)
- Size H-8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- 2 small black buttons (about 3/4 inch) for the straps
- Black embroidery floss for the panda’s nose and mouth
- Tapestry needle and scissors
Finished size:
- 2T — chest 21 inches, length 19 inches from shoulder
- The crossed back straps make it adjustable as she grows
The Pattern
Gauge:
- 13 dc and 7 rows = 4 inches
Front & Back Panels (make 2)
With White, chain 34.
Row 1: Dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain across, chain 3, turn. (32 dc)
Rows 2–9: Dc in each st across, chain 3, turn. (32 dc)
Row 10: Dc2tog, dc in each st across to last 2 sts, dc2tog, chain 3, turn. (30 dc)
Rows 11–13: Dc in each st across, chain 3, turn. (30 dc)
Fasten off after Row 13.
Sew the two panels together at the side seams, leaving the top 4 inches open on each side for armholes.
Skirt
Join White with a slip stitch at the bottom edge of the seamed panels.
Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as dc), work 2 dc in each stitch around the bottom edge, join with a slip stitch to top of chain-3. (128 dc)
Rounds 2–8: Chain 3, dc in each st around, join. (128 dc)
Round 9: Join Black. Chain 3, dc in each st around, join. (128 dc)
Round 10 (scalloped edge): Chain 1, *skip next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st* around, join. Fasten off and weave in ends. (32 scallops)
Straps (make 2)
With Black, chain 42.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across, chain 1, turn. (41 sc)
Rows 2–3: Sc in each st across, chain 1, turn. (41 sc)
Fasten off. Sew one end of each strap to the top front corners of the bodice. Cross the straps at the back and sew a button to each back corner — the spaces between the strap stitches work perfectly as buttonholes.
Panda Face Applique
Face (White): Magic ring, chain 3 (counts as dc), work 11 dc into the ring, join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Chain 3, 2 dc in each st around, join. Fasten off. (24 dc)
Ears (make 2, Black): Magic ring, chain 1, work 8 sc into the ring, join. (8 sc)
Round 2: Chain 1, 2 sc in each st around, join. Fasten off. (16 sc)
Eye patches (make 2, Black): Magic ring, chain 1, work 6 sc into the ring, join. Fasten off. (6 sc)
Eyes (make 2, White): Magic ring, chain 1, work 5 sc into the ring, join. Fasten off. (5 sc)
Sew the ears to the top sides of the face, the eye patches in the middle, and the white eyes on top of the patches. Embroider a small triangle nose and a little smile with black floss. Sew the finished face to the center front of the bodice.
Sophie’s Tips
- When sewing the panda pieces, pin everything in place first and step back to check the spacing — faces are unforgiving, and a minute of pinning saves a lot of re-sewing.
- Cotton yarn holds the pinafore’s shape beautifully and survives the washing machine, which matters a lot with toddler clothes.
- The scalloped hem hides a multitude of sins — if your skirt rounds are a stitch off here or there, nobody will ever know.
This pinafore is pure playground magic. I hope the little one who wears it loves it as much as I loved making it!
