Crochet Bao Pattern

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My Crochet Bao Pattern is a delightful addition to any play kitchen! You can whip up a crochet bao toy in under 30 minutes, making it a quick and enjoyable project.

Finished crochet bao buns in steamer basket.

My husband and I have a deep appreciation for bao, steamed buns, and dumplings; they rank among our favorite foods. Their unique flavors and textures always bring a smile to our faces.

When our child was a toddler, we would let him play with an extra steaming basket. He loved pretending to cook bao by filling the steamer with his toy balls and placing it carefully on his play stove.

Watching his imaginative play was a joy and inspired me to create this crochet bao bun set! Not only is it fun to create, but it also offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about different food cultures around the world.

This bao bun set is extremely easy to make, making it perfect for beginners. Whether you're looking to enhance your child's playtime or simply want to create a charming piece for your crochet collection, this pattern is sure to delight!

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✏️ Things To Note:
🪡 Materials Needed
💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)
🧋Variations
🍵Instructions for Crochet Bao Pattern
🐌Expert Tips
🧵Pattern FAQs
🧶More Food Patterns

✏️ Things To Note:

Yarn Type. I use worsted weight yarn for the crochet bao pattern and steamer, but any type of yarn will work for this pattern.
Steamer Construction. The steamer pattern consists of just the bottom tray. If you make two and add a handle to one, it can act as a lid.
Size Reference. The bao pattern is roughly the same size as an actual bao, about 3.5 inches.

🪡 Materials Needed

Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn, Skein Tones Beech
Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn, Skein Tones Birch
RED HEART Classic Yarn, White
RED HEART Classic Yarn, Black
RED HEART Classic Yarn, Pink
Small safety eyes
Tapestry needle
5mm hook for steaming basket
4.5mm hook for dumplings
Polyfil

💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)

Magic ring- mr
Single crochet- sc
Back loop only - blo

🧋Variations

You can easily turn the bao into keychains by adding a jump ring through one of the stitches at the top.

🍵Instructions for Crochet Bao Pattern

For this pattern we will be working in rounds.

Round 1: Using white yarn and the 4.5mm hook, make a mr and then sc x6 into the mr. (6)

Round 2: Inc in every sc. (12)

Round 3: Inc, sc, then repeat until end of round (18)

Round 4: Inc, sc x2, then repeat until end of round (24)

Round 5: Inc, sc x3, then repeat until end of round (30)

Round 6: Inc, sc x4, then repeat until end of round (36)

Showing how I just add a simple stitch marker made from yarn scraps.

For the rounds I dont do increases, I thread a piece of discard yarn through a stitch and use that as a makeshift stitch marker, which is optional of course.

Finish crocheting the non-increasing rounds of the bao.

Round 7-15: Sc in every stitch (36). Then fasten off and leave a tail to cinch the bao closed.

Placing the eyes and rest of the face on the bao before it is sewn closed.

Place the safety eyes where you would like the bao face to be, then embroider the mouth and cheeks too.

Visual showing the stitch size used to cinch the top of the crochet bao.

Stuff the bao with polyfil and then weave the long yarn tail from the bao through the last row you crocheted. I make about 10 gathers on my dumplings. Keep in mind the less gathers you do the more pronounced the pinching at the top will look.

A visual of how big the gaps are on the cinched top of the bao.

Once you cinched the bao shut or at least as close as you can get it, secure it closed with a knot then sew the rest of the bun closed if it is still open.

Finished crochet bao buns being held in hands.

Embroider a face for the little bao, and you are all done!

Crochet Steam Basket:

This pattern is made in rounds

Beginning round for the crochet steamer basket.

Round 1: Using 2 strands of the brown (1 color each) and the 5mm hook, make a mr and then sc x6 into the mr. (6)

Round 2: Inc in every sc. (12)

Round 3: Inc, sc, then repeat until end of round (18)

Round 4: Inc, sc x2, then repeat until end of round (24)

Round 5: Inc, sc x3, then repeat until end of round (30)

Finished increasing rounds for the crochet steamer basket.

Round 6: Inc, sc x4, then repeat until end of round (36)

Round 7: Inc, sc x5, then repeat until end of round (42)

Round 8: Inc, sc x6, then repeat until end of round (48)

Round 9: Inc, sc x7, then repeat until end of round (54)

Round 10: Inc, sc x8, then repeat until end of round (60)

Round 11: Inc, sc x9, then repeat until end of round (66)

An up close shot showing the back loop only row.

Round 12: In blo, sc in every stitch (66).

Round 13-15: Normally sc in every stitch (66). Fasten off and weave in the ends.

And now you have your very own crochet bao and steamer play set!

Check out my crochet dumpling pattern for more yummy food crochet patterns!

🐌Expert Tips

Embroidery Tips. If you’re struggling to embroider the face after the bao has been sewn shut, you may find it easier to embroider the face and cheeks before closing the bao.
Stuffing Technique. Be careful not to overstuff the bao, as it may become difficult to cinch shut properly. Start with a small amount of polyfil and adjust as needed.
Using Stitch Markers. If you find it challenging to keep track of your rounds, consider using stitch markers to denote the start of each round for better accuracy.

🧵Pattern FAQs

Can I make the steamer basket in a solid color?

Absolutely! Just make sure you use 2 strands though.

How do I make a lid for the basket?

Follow the pattern for the bottom basket part and then separately crochet a small handle by making a thin rectangle, then sew on the top.

Do I have to give the bao a face?

No, you don’t have to. I like giving a lot of my crochet creatures faces, but it’s completely optional.

🧶More Food Patterns

If you tried this Crochet Bao Pattern (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!