Enter a world of tranquility and ancient art with the “Bonsai Master” Panda. This serene character embodies the patience and wisdom required for the delicate art of bonsai trimming. The main character is a classic black and white Panda Bear, chosen for its harmony with the East Asian theme. She is dressed in a stylized, elegant Hanfu dress in a soothing shade of light jade green, cinched with a pristine white silk belt. While she wears exquisite embroidered cloth slippers (which are fabric, adding a mixed-media touch to your doll), her outfit is topped with a handcrafted crochet bamboo leaf hair clip instead of a hat.

The “Bonsai Master” is never without her project: a stunning pine bonsai tree sculpted into a dramatic “flying” shape. She is accompanied by a tiny, eager apprentice—a small brown bear holding the silver pruning shears and a water spray bottle, ready to learn the craft. This pattern set is a wonderful tribute to nature, patience, and the bond between teacher and student.

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR – Magic Ring
• ch – Chain
• sc – Single Crochet
• hdc – Half Double Crochet
• dc – Double Crochet
• tr – Treble Crochet
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• row – Row
• FO – Fasten Off

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK or Sport weight cotton/acrylic blend in:
  • White (Panda head/body, Belt)
  • Black (Panda ears, limbs, eye patches)
  • Light Jade Green (Hanfu Dress)
  • Dark Brown (Bonsai trunk, Tiny Bear)
  • Deep Green (Bonsai needles, Bamboo clip)
  • Silver/Grey (Shears)
  • Light Blue (Water bottle)
  • Terracotta/Beige (Bonsai Pot)
• Hook: 2.5 mm (for dolls and miniatures) and 3.0 mm (for the dress).
• Eyes: 10mm Safety Eyes (Panda), 6mm Safety Eyes (Tiny Bear).
• Wire: Craft wire (approx. 2mm) to structure the Bonsai tree trunk and branches.
• Fiberfill: High-quality polyester stuffing.
• Tools: Yarn needle, stitch markers, scissors, pliers (for wire).
• Note on Shoes: The shoes shown are embroidered fabric slippers. You can sew simple fabric shoes or leave the panda’s feet as paws.

Gauge & Size

The finished Panda stands approximately 28 cm (11 inches) tall. The tiny apprentice bear is approximately 8 cm (3 inches) tall. Keep stitches tight to ensure stuffing doesn’t show.

Pattern: The Panda (Main Character)

Head (White Yarn)

Work in a continuous spiral.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18]
• Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) x 6 [24]
• Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 [30]
• Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) x 6 [36]
• Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) x 6 [42]
• Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) x 6 [48]
• Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) x 6 [54]
• Rnd 10-20: sc in each st around [54]
• Rnd 21: (sc 8, inc) x 6 [60] (Cheek shaping)
• Rnd 22-24: sc in each st around [60]
• Rnd 25: (sc 8, dec) x 6 [54]
• Rnd 26: (sc 7, dec) x 6 [48]
• Rnd 27: (sc 6, dec) x 6 [42]
• Rnd 28: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36]
• Rnd 29: (sc 4, dec) x 6 [30]
• Rnd 30: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24]
• Stuff the head firmly.
• Rnd 31: (sc 2, dec) x 6 [18]
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Eye Patches (Make 2 – Black Yarn)

• Rnd 1: Ch 6. sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 3, 3 sc in last ch. Turn to other side: sc 3, inc [12]
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 3, inc x 3, sc 3, inc x 2 [18]
• Fasten off. Sew these patches between Rnds 14-19 of the head, slightly slanted. Insert safety eyes through the black patch and into the head. Secure washers.
• Embroider a black nose on the muzzle area.

Ears (Make 2 – Black Yarn)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18]
• Rnd 4-6: sc in each st around [18]
• Rnd 7: (sc 1, dec) x 6 [12]
• Flatten and sew to the top of the head.

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Legs (Make 2) & Body

Start with Black yarn (Legs).

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) x 6 [18]
• Rnd 4-8: sc in each st around [18]
• Change to White Yarn.
• Rnd 9-18: sc in each st around [18]
• Fasten off first leg. Make second leg, do not fasten off. Ch 3, join to first leg.
• Rnd 19: sc 18 (leg 1), sc 3 (chain), sc 18 (leg 2), sc 3 (chain) [42]
• Rnd 20: (sc 6, inc) x 6 [48]
• Rnd 21-30: sc in each st around [48]
• Rnd 31: (sc 6, dec) x 6 [42]
• Rnd 32-33: sc in each st around [42]
• Rnd 34: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36]
• Rnd 35-36: sc in each st around [36]
• Change to Black Yarn (to mimic the black shoulder band of a panda).
• Rnd 37: (sc 4, dec) x 6 [30]
• Rnd 38-39: sc in each st around [30]
• Rnd 40: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24]
• Rnd 41: sc in each st around [24]
• Change back to White (Neck).
• Rnd 42: (sc 2, dec) x 6 [18]
• Fasten off. Stuff body firmly. Sew Head to Body.

Arms (Make 2 – Black Yarn)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR [6]
• Rnd 2: (sc 1, inc) x 3 [9]
• Rnd 3-14: sc in each st around [9]
• Stuff lightly. Flatten top and sew to the body at the black shoulder line.

Outfit: Jade Green Hanfu Dress

Use Jade Green yarn and 3.0 mm hook. Worked in rows for the top (wrap style) and rounds for the skirt.

Bodice (Wrap Style)

• Row 1: Ch 31. sc in 2nd ch from hook and across [30]. Turn.
• Row 2: (sc 4, inc) x 6 [36]. Turn.
• Row 3: (sc 5, inc) x 6 [42]. Turn.
• Row 4 (Armholes): sc 6, ch 8 (skip 8 sts), sc 14, ch 8 (skip 8 sts), sc 6 [26 sts + 16 ch]. Turn.
• Row 5: sc across all sts and chains [42]. Turn.
• Row 6-10: sc across [42]. Turn.

Skirt

• Row 11: Ch 2 (counts as dc). dc in same st. inc (dc) in each st across [84]. Join with sl st to first dc to begin working in rounds. (Overlap the first and last stitch slightly if needed, or sew a snap button later).
• Rnd 12: Ch 2, (dc 1, inc) around [126].
• Rnd 13-22: dc in each st around [126].
• Rnd 23: sc in each st around for a clean hem. Fasten off.
• Collar/Trim: With White yarn, surface slip stitch or sc along the neckline and front opening to create the layered collar look of a Hanfu.

Sleeves

• Join Jade Green yarn to the armhole. Work in rounds.
• Rnd 1: sc 18 around the armhole.
• Rnd 2: (sc 2, inc) around [24] (Widening for Hanfu style).
• Rnd 3-8: sc around [24]. Fasten off.

White Silk Belt

• Row 1: With White yarn, Ch 50 (or length to fit waist). hdc in 3rd ch from hook and across.
• Fasten off. Sew onto the waist of the dress or attach velcro.

Bamboo Leaf Hair Clip

Use Deep Green yarn.

• Leaves (Make 3): Ch 8. sc in 2nd ch, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Work on other side of ch: sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Fasten off.
• Sew the three leaves together at the base. Attach to the side of the Panda’s head.

Miniature Items & Accessories

Tiny Apprentice Bear

Use Dark Brown yarn and 2.5 mm hook.

• Head/Body (One piece):
  • Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR.
  • Rnd 2: inc around [12].
  • Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) around [18].
  • Rnd 4-6: sc around [18].
  • Rnd 7: (sc 1, dec) around [12]. (Neck).
  • Rnd 8: (sc 1, inc) around [18].
  • Rnd 9-11: sc around [18].
  • Rnd 12: dec around [9]. Stuff firmly. Close.
• Ears: Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch. Sew to head.
• Arms/Legs: Ch 4, sc back down. Sew to body.
• Face: Use beige yarn to embroider a snout and black beads for eyes.

Bonsai Tree

• Pot: With Terracotta yarn. MR 6 sc. Inc to 24. BLO sc around (24). Sc 4 rounds. Stuff firmly with cardboard base.
• Trunk: Cut 3-4 lengths of wire. Twist them together to form a trunk, leaving ends splayed for roots (put inside pot) and branches. Wrap the wire trunk with Dark Brown yarn, securing with glue. Bend the wire to create a “flying” or wind-swept shape.
• Pine Needles: With Deep Green yarn, make Loop Stitches directly onto the wire branches, or crochet small clusters (ch 4, sl st) and glue them to the wire tips.

Miniature Tools

• Water Spray Bottle: With Light Blue. MR 4 sc. Inc to 8. Sc 4 rounds. Dec to 4. Change to White (Nozzle). Sc 2 rounds. Ch 3 (Trigger), sl st back. FO.
• Pruning Shears: With Silver yarn. Ch 5, sl st back (Blade 1). Ch 5, sl st back (Blade 2). Sew together at an angle. Add small loops for handles with Brown yarn. Stitch to the Tiny Bear’s hand.

Assembly

1. Dress the Panda in the Hanfu.
2. Attach the Bamboo Leaf clip near one ear.
3. Position the Bonsai Tree next to the Panda.
4. Place the Tiny Apprentice Bear beside the tree or holding the main Panda’s hand.
5. Attach the tools (spray bottle/shears) to the Tiny Bear’s hands using a small stitch.

Your Bonsai Master Panda and her apprentice are ready to cultivate beauty and patience in your home!