My Crochet Dumpling Pattern is a versatile play food that can represent various dumplings, pastries, and other confections. You can create a crochet dumpling in under 30 minutes!
It’s no surprise that my husband and I love dumplings—we eat them many times a week! What we adore about dumplings is how every culture has its own version. Gyoza, pierogi, empanadas, ravioli—the list goes on. And yes, we know some of those aren’t technically dumplings but more like pastries, but you get the drift!
Our toddler is also obsessed with dumplings, so I decided to make him play “yohzahs” to add to the food in his play kitchen! I've also made him crochet bao, crochet onigiri, and crochet spam musubi for his play kitchen! All of his favorite foods 🙂
The crochet dumpling pattern works up quickly and can even be made into keychains! You can also turn them into cat toys by adding catnip to the filling. How cute would that be?
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✏️ Things To Note:
- Yarn Type: I use worsted weight yarn for the crochet gyoza and steamer, but any type of yarn will work for this pattern.
- Steamer Construction: The steamer pattern consists of just the bottom tray. However, if you make two and add a handle to one, it can act as a lid.
- Size Reference: The crochet dumpling pattern is roughly the same size as a real gyoza, about 3.5 inches.
🪡 Materials Needed
- Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn, Skein Tones Beech (or a middle tone brown)
- Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn, Skein Tones Birch (or a light tone brown/cream)
- Red Heart Yarn - Aran, or buff, or any cream-light brown color
- RED HEART Classic Yarn, Black for embroidered mouth
- 8mm 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
- Increase - inc
- Double crochet - dc
- Chain - ch
🧋Variations
You can easily turn the dumplings into keychains by adding a jump ring through one of the stitches at the top corners, or into cat toys by adding catnip (just avoid using safety eyes!).
🍵Instructions for Crochet Dumpling Pattern
For this crochet dumpling pattern we will be working in rounds.
Round 1: Using aran 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).
Round 7: Inc, sc x5, then repeat until end of round (42).
Fold the circle in half, make sure the yarn and hook are at the far right corner so you can crochet the dumpling shut.
Then ch x2 and start crocheting the edges together by making 2 dc in the first available stitch for both sides of the circle.
Then sc into the next stitch available. Ch x2, dc x2 into the next stitch, then sc in the next. Repeat for the rest of the row.
When you get halfway add eyes between rounds 3 and 4 roughly 4-5 stitches apart. Also, add the polyfil.
When you are done with closing the dumpling, fasten off and weave in any yarn tails.
Nows a good time to add the mouth if you would like.
Crochet Steaming Basket:
This part of the pattern is made in rounds.
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).
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: In blo, sc in every stitch (60).
Round 12-14: Normally sc in every stitch (60). Fasten off and weave in the ends.
And now you have your very own crochet dumpling and steamer play set! I hope you enjoyed my crochet dumpling pattern.
If you want to make more crochet play food, check out my crochet strawberry keychain pattern, it can be a lovely addition to your play food if you exclude the keychain.
Other fun food patterns are my crochet lemon pattern and orange pattern. If you want a more functional food pattern, check out my lovely stingray pancake bag pattern, which can be made into a bag or stuff it and make it into a plushie.
🐌Expert Tips
- Split the Yarn: When embroidering the mouth, split the yarn to create a thinner line for a more delicate look.
- Felt Features: If you struggle with embroidery, consider using felt for features like the mouth or eyes. Just glue or sew them onto the dumpling.
- Color Variations: Feel free to use different colors for the crochet dumpling pattern and steamer basket to customize your set.
- Creating a Lid: If you want a lid for the steamer, follow the pattern for the bottom basket and crochet a small handle separately. Sew it on top.
🧵Pattern FAQs
Absolutely! Just make sure you use 2 strands though.
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.
No, I just do because I like giving a lot of my crochet creatures faces.
🧶More Crochet Food Patterns
If you tried this Crochet Dumpling 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!
Crochet Dumpling Pattern
Materials
- 1 skein Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn Skein Tones Beech
- 1 skein Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn Skein Tones Birch
- 1 skein Red Heart Yarn Aran
- 1 skein RED HEART Classic Yarn Black
- Small Safety Eyes
- Tapestry needle
- 5mm crochet hook for steaming basket
- 4.5mm hook for dumplings
- Polyfill
Abbreviations (US terms)
- mr = Magic ring
- sc = Single crochet
- blo = Back Loop Only
- ch = Chain
- Increase - inc
- Double crochet - dc
Notes
Instructions
Crochet Dumpling Pattern:
- For this crochet dumpling pattern we will be working in rounds.
- Round 1: Using aran 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)
- Round 7: Inc, sc x5, then repeat until end of round (42)
- Fold the circle in half, make sure the yarn and hook are at the far right corner so you can crochet the dumpling shut. Then ch x2 and start crocheting the edges together by: in the first stitch available (on both sides) make dc x2 in the same stitch. Then sc into the next stitch available. Ch x2, dc x2 into the next stitch, then sc. Repeat for the rest of the row. When you get halfway add eyes and the polyfil.
- When you are done closing the dumpling, fasten off the yarn and weave in the ends. Embroider a mouth if you would like.
Steamer Pattern:
- 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)
- 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: In blo, sc in every stitch (60).
- Round 12-14: Normally sc in every stitch (60). Fasten off and weave in the ends.
- And now you have your very own crochet dumpling and steamer play set! I hope you enjoyed my crochet dumpling pattern!
Jane says
Wonderful Pattern, so realistic. Thank you very much.
Kimberly Arenas says
You're welcome!
Mothership says
Thanks for the clear and well written pattern, which is better than many of the patterns I've paid for. I made a plush version of the bao out of blanket yarn. The bao and steamer basket will be used as a topper for a diaper cake for my daughter's dumpling-themed baby shower. Afterwards, it will be repurposed as a toy for the baby. I wish I could include a picture, because I am quite pleased with the result.
Thanks again for sharing your creativity and talent.
Kimberly Arenas says
That sounds adorable!