Attention all foodies! Here's a new pattern for ya!

Baozi (pronounced BAO-zi), or bao for short, is a popular Chinese bun stuffed with all kinds of deliciousness! They usually have savory meat fillings but you can also find vegetarian options too.

I have many fond childhood memories of my Amah (or grandma) in Taiwan bringing us baos for breakfast every morning. That and some sweet milk tea or warm soy milk were the best combo ever!

These baos work up quickly in blanket yarn and are about ~4 inches in diameter once finished. The perfect stress-ball size! (or... stress-bao??)

 

*If you prefer an ad-free, printable PDF version of this pattern, you can purchase it HERE. Thanks for supporting my designs! 

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*Note: Please do not copy/redistribute any part of this pattern as your own. Feel free to sell your finished products in small quantities - I only ask that you give credit to help support my work :). I would also love for you to share photos of your cute creations made with my pattern by tagging me on Instagram @curiouspapaya. Thank you!

 

*We will be working in a spiral.

 

MATERIALS:  

-Check out the list of my FAVORITE CROCHET TOOLS!

-Bernat Blanket yarn in cream

-Size 8 mm hook

-Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, hot glue

-Fiber fill stuffing

-Size 12 mm safety eyes

-Colored felt -or- black yarn for the mouth

 

TERMS:

-DEC: decrease

-FLO:  front loops only

-INC: increase

-SC: single crochet

-ST(s): stitch(es)

-RND(s): round(s)

-(...) x #: repeat directions in the parentheses # of times

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BAO (in cream yarn): 

RND 1: Make a magic circle and (SC) x 8 [8]

RND 2: (INC) x 8 [16]

RND 3: (SC, INC) x 8 [24]

RND 4: (2 SC, INC) x 8 [32]

RND 5-11: SC all around [32] (7 RNDs total) 

  

Leave a tail for sewing and finish off using an invisible finish.

 

 

 

Facial features will be added after scrunching this bao-by up so that they'll be symmetrical with the folds, or "pleats"!

 

ASSEMBLY: 

STEP 1: Take the tail and count down 1 RND from the edge. Use your tapestry needle and oop around every 4th ST for a total of 8 times. (This will create 8 peaks, or folds in the bao). Scrunch.

 

 

 

 

STEP 2: Go through the FLO of each pleat and pull closed (as if you were closing up a ball).

 

 

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS 

EYES: Use hot glue to secure the safety eyes between RNDs 5-6, 5 STs apart (3 STs in between) 

 

MOUTH: You can get creative here! To cut out a "baby" mouth with a tooth sticking out, cut a bean shape out of some pink felt and a square shape out of white. Or, use black yarn to create a smile.

 

Secure the mouth on between the same RNDs as the eyes.

 

 

And that's it! Easy peasy project, right? These cuddly baos are so easy to whip up, it's hard to stop! If you enjoyed making these, please tag me in your makes on IG @curiouspapaya :)

 

You can find my giant sized bao (~11 inches in diameter) pattern HERE.