Panda-monium Slippers

Female giant pandas are able to reproduce only once every two to three years, giving birth to one, or sometimes two, cubs.

This slow rate of reproduction, combined with deforestation and hunting in their native China, conspired to reduce their population until they were placed on the endangered species list in 1961. It is estimated that fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the world, outside captivity.

Newborn pandas are roughly the size of a stick of butter—about 1/900th the size of their mother—but can grow to up to 330 pounds (150 kg) as adults. These bears are excellent tree climbers despite their bulk, and have thickened wrist bones, which allow them to grasp bamboo branches almost as efficiently as if they had thumbs. A fully grown panda can eat 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 14 kg) of bamboo shoots each day. Imagine how much this pair could eat together: Panda-monium, indeed.

Note: Slippers are worked at a firmer gauge than that suggested by the yarn manufacturer.

Construction: Slippers are worked from toe to heel. There’s no intarsia - color patches are knit seperately, then sewn on.

Finished Size: 6 (6¾, 7¼)“ (15 17, 18.5 cm) foot circumference, 6 (7½, 8)” (15 19, 20.5 cm) foot length