If you are a crocheter and have a baby or toddler, play room or nursery, and love organization and helping your child learn – this post is for you! I am posting new patterns for each letter many times per week so keep checking back.
Want a fun way to use your scraps? Want to make a lot of little projects/toys that are great for little ones? Want to custom a special piece for a wee one? – and then end with one big finale? This project is for you! (And you can skip the big finale if it’s not for you and still have all the little toys and ABCs.)
I have compiled the first letters of this event in a convenient downloadable PDF if you prefer to print them out and have them all in one place. And my printable paid patterns contain a lot more photo tutorials to help you if you need. You can find the letters A-F HERE ON MY ETSY.
And now, in Part 2, you can find the letters G-M also on my Etsy at this link right HERE
And MOST ALL of my PAID patterns contain way more photos and tutorials than what I can add to my blog post. I try to keep my fees very low.
This project was in my head as I was designing all of these letters and I’m so excited to get this started! Won’t you join me? Here is the latest new pattern to go with the others already linked. If you prefer to shop on Ravelry for your patterns I also have the entire alphabet PDF over there. 
You can begin by deciding what colors you want to use for your letters – I’ll be using them all! – and make up the alphabet or save this post and wait for the end and make it all at once.
I’m gonna give you some options at the end to make the final part right for you/your space. Here are some of the previous toys so make sure to check out THE ORIGINAL POST to link hop to them all.
Here are some of the latest patterns that are all free here on my blog.
I will using some of the patterns that I’ve already made for this ABC project and you will see those linked below at the end of this post. You can go ahead and get started today! I can’t wait to share this with you. I’m planning on at least a weekly update, but I’m going to shoot for two per week. I’m gonna try.
So, join me. Save this post. Let’s get started!
This post does contain affiliate links. I will get a small percentage from any purchase made through my page here, but your price remains the same. I appreciate any purchase made through my page as I can continue to offer free patterns here on my blog.
UPDATE: P is for Panda: May 25, 2020
I want to say thank you for all who stop by to support my patterns and my blog. I have chosen to NOT do ads on my blog (with the exception of my affiliate links) and offer FREE patterns, but please – if you love my patterns and want to say a little thank you- or just have some good small business karma support points- a purchase now and then or a visit to any of my affiliate links really helps. It keeps this blog going so I can continue to offer free patterns for all to enjoy. I also purchase a pattern now and then or visit an affiliate link from my favorite blogs and designers. Thank you
This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.
You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.
If you find any problems with this pattern please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.
Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Stitches Glossary:
Chain: Ch
Single Crochet: SC
Inc Sc: make two single crochet stitches in the same stitch as indicated
Invisible Decrease: inv. dec. – this is an invisible single crochet decrease
HDC: half-double crochet
HDC Inc: increase in HDC
DC Inc: increase in DC
DC: double crochet
Tr: treble crochet
Picot: chain 3 and slip stitch into the first chain space (the one farthest from the hook) *US Terms apply
Here are some of the products that I use:
I use this as my hook case and never leave home without it.
Materials:
Materials: any #4 worsted weight yarn like I Love This Yarn or Red Heart Super Saver. I have used a small scrap ball of white and black. The safety eyes that I have used are 18mm from SunCatcher. I have also used a safety nose from one of my eye kits, but please feel free to embroider both the eyes and the nose if this is for a baby or you are concerned about safety.
The Hook size that I used for this project is G/4mm for the head an and body, but I used an H/5mm for the ears and feet/arms.
Stuffing/Polyfill
Spiral Crochet:
I crochet in the “spiral” for this project and for most of my work. This prevents the joining seam that can occur with crochet. What that means is that you don’t join each round with a slip stitch and then chain 1, but rather keep on working the next stitch – the first one from the previous row. It may help to use a stitch marker to designate the beginning of the previous round. For example, if your round calls for 30 sc stitches, then sc 30 around, but instead of slip stitching to the first stitch and then chaining one, sc in the first stitch and keep on going for your next round.
Panda starts at the top of the head and goes down.
Start with white and change to black and then back to white. I have noted in the pattern where to make the color changes.
Chain 2. Single crochet 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.
Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail. After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening. You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work. You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.
Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)
Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 5: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)
Round 6: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)
Rounds 7-11: sc in each stitch around. (36)
Round 12: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)
Rounds 13-14: sc in each stitch around. (30)
Round 15: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)
Round 16: sc in each stitch around. (24)
*This is where I would advise a break to do the eyes/eye patches if you are using safety eyes. For the safety eye, they go between rounds 10-11 with 6 holes in between. BUT, while you do need to go ahead and secure safety eyes inside the head, I would advise making the eye patch, inserting the eye through the patch and then into the head where mentioned, but leave the eye patch UNSEWN until you get the head stuffed.
The eye patches are crocheted like this:
Eye patches: These are simple half circles made up in black. You work half circles in the same method as a full amigurumi circle, but instead of joining and continuing in the round, you chain one and turn and work back the other direction – so, they are worked in rows, but with the same stitch count as a circle. In these circles, I am doing 5, 10, and 15.
Leave a long tail in your black for sewing. Chain 2. Make 5 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Chain 1 and turn.
Make 2 sc in each stitch across (10) Chain 1 and turn
Sc, 2sc across the row (15) – – Chain 1 and half-turn
Sc along the rough edge back to your beginning tail- leave a second tail for sewing.
Add some stuffing to the head – Resume the head/body:
Round 17: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18) * change to BLACK on the last stitch
Rounds 18-19: sc in each stitch around (18)
Round 20: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)
Round 21: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)
Round 22: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)
Round 23: sc in each stitch around (36) – continue to stuff the head and body as you go
Round 24: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (42)
Round 25: sc in each stitch around (42)
Round 26: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, 2 sc in the next stitch) repeat around (48)
Rounds 27-28: sc in each stitch around (48) *change back to white on the last stitch
Rounds 29-33: sc in each stitch around (48)
Round 34: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (42)
Round 35: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (36)
Round 36: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)
Round 37: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)
Round 38: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)
Round 39: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 40: (inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (6) sew closed.
NOSE: for the nose repeat rounds 1-4 from the head/body and then do two more rounds of 24 sc around. So, rounds 5-6 are sc in each stitch around (24) – leave a long tail to sew.
Add your nose/mouth. This is what you should now have:
Sew the eye patches down and weave in the ends. I use one tail to sew around the eye patch and then the other to tie the sewing tail to and then weave the two into the head.
Position nose piece with light stuffing and pin in place well – place the nose cap around eyes and face carefully and stitch slowly. You want this piece to be straight and sewn just right.
EARS: repeat rounds 1-4 from the head/body. (6, 12, 18, 24)
Rounds 5-8: sc in each stitch around (24)
Round 9: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)
Round 10: sc in each stitch around (18)
LEGS: Repeat rounds 1-9 from the Ears. Rounds 10-13: sc in each stitch around (18)
Round 14: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 15: sc in each stitch around (12) – leave a long tail to sew. I only lightly stuffed the legs. I sewed the legs in an open position where this one can sit – so they are more toward the front of the body, but feel free to move them lower on the body if you don’t want your animal sitting.
*I used the tails from sewing on the legs and came up through the belly to make a little “x” for a belly button
ARMS: Repeat rounds 1-3 from head/body (6, 12, 18)
Rounds 4-13: sc in each stitch around (18)
Round 14: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)
Round 15: sc in each stitch around (12) – leave a long tail to sew. I only lightly stuffed the arms. I sewed the arms in my example closed/flat at the top and the sewed slightly angled toward the front.
Embroider toe nails if you wish.
And viola! You have a little baby Panda Bear.
Pin this post and come back for all of the A-Z toys! You can find a link to the original post below to start from the beginning!!
I realized after I started this project that I would never be able to update every new post with every new link – once I got down to the end of the alphabet, I would have to update about 20 post with all the links to all the new patters – So, I will be keeping THIS ORIGINAL POST updated with all the new links for all of the new toys. <3
In addition to the alphabet patterns, below you will find a list of toys that will be linked right here starting now. *these are not set in stone and I may decide to switch them as I work if I am inspired in a different direction. So, pin or save this post and come back and follow along with me or subscribe to my blog and get email updates when I make a new post.
Ball – for the ball toys in this project, I refer you to this post to make one – or many – crochet balls using your scrap yarns. The more textures the better. You can also add rattle boxes, squeakers, stress balls as filler and more.
Bunny – I have made a few bunnies in the past and I will be making another version of my Clover the Baby Bunny Pattern
Dinosaur – here on my blog you will find an entire Dinosaur Family. For this ABC event, I will be making a different version of Scrappy. He’s the perfect size and uses up some assorted scrap yarns. If you want a different option, Baby Pea is also a nice small size and also Pinky the Dezzy Inspired DRAGON is a good choice for D is for Dragon.
Eye – I will be using the eyeball pattern from my Halloween Bag of Balls for this project, but if you find it too weird or spooky for a baby let me know and I’m sure I can whip up a different one. This one would be super cute with some crinkle paper inside. *Also, when you visit this post there is a Zombie ball that would make a cute Z word and I will most likely be altering the colors on this Zombie ball and making a few additions to do a Ninja toy for N.
Goat – here on my blog you will find Ginger the Goat in my Farm Series. She is a bit large for this project so she will get a few modifications to be a bit smaller. Feel free to make her if you want a larger goat.
Lamb– another make from my Farm Series is Lonny the Lamb. Lonny is a nice, small size so I will be using this pattern here for the Lamb, but will switch up the colors I’m sure. Maybe bright? Maybe a girl?
Octopus – in my opinion this octopus squeeze ball is the perfect baby toy when made from cotton so this is the pattern that I will be using right here. I like to use 100% cotton and the stress/squeeze balls on the inside of the head and it makes these the perfect baby toy with teether capabilities. And they are so quick to make you can make a handful.
Will you be joining in the fun? I’d love for you to make all of this with me, but if not pick a few and make it with me.
I’d love to see all your work or catch up with your progress so connect with me over on IG @theburgundybasket
#youandmeabccrochet
XOXO,
Kristi
