If you enjoyed crocheting the Perfect Bao amigurumi, you might like yet another quick and easy Asian food pattern! Let's check out... Little Zongzi!
The Little Zongzi is a quick, easy, and no-sew amigurumi tutorial. This pattern makes a small, mini zongzi that’s about 2 inches in length, and can be easily turned into a good luck charm, a keychain, or even jewelry! Dress it up with a tassel, beads, embroidery, and more!
About Zongzi
Zongzi are traditional Chinese glutinous rice dumplings wrapped and cooked in bamboo leaves. They’re made with either sweet fillings, such as red bean paste, or savory fillings, such as salted egg yolk, sausage, and other meats.
The dish is a staple for 端午節 / 端午节(duan wu jie), the Dragon Boat Festival! This festival is commonly celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and other Chinese communities, such as in Singapore or Malaysia. The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which typically falls in May or June on the Gregorian calendar.
Uses
These tiny zongzi are adorable as mini decor and are great to whip up for selling at craft fairs and markets. They also make wonderful accessories!
Examples include:
- Keychain (add a keyring)
- Good luck charm for backpack, purse, phone, or the car's rearview mirror (add a hanging loop, bead(s), and a tassel)
- Earrings* (add earring hooks)
- Necklace* (use a delicate chain or some cord)
*Smaller-sized zongzi would be most suitable to use as jewelry. Use weight 1 yarn or thread and a small hook to crochet a tiny zongzi.
Recommended Yarn
This free crochet pattern was designed using Hobbii's plush yarn, such as the Honey Bunny yarn, for a soft and squishy finished item. It's pocket-sized with this super bulky weight 6 yarn, but you can make it even smaller with thinner cotton or acrylic yarns! I recommend Friends Cotton 8/4 yarn with a 2.25mm hook for a cute, charm-sized zongzi.
PDF Pattern
The PDF pattern is printable, ad-free, easy to read, includes photo references, and helps support Sweet Softies! (If you enjoy my free patterns, you can consider it as a donation to me when you buy one of my pattern PDFs! It allows me to maintain my blog and continue sharing more free patterns.)
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LITTLE ZONGZI
Free Amigurumi Crochet Pattern
Terms of Use & Copyright Notice © 2025 Sweet Softies (www.sweetsofties.com). You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but you must credit Sweet Softies as the owner/creator of this pattern by linking to my website (www.sweetsofties.com). No wholesale. You may not translate, copy, alter, or sell my patterns in part or in whole in any way. My patterns may not be used in video tutorials or teaching online classes. My patterns may be used in teaching in-person classes ONLY with written consent from me. You may link to this pattern but you may not copy any part of the pattern instructions on other websites.
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Pattern Info
Size:
Length: 2¼ inches
Level of Difficulty:
★★☆☆☆ Beginner/Easy. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).Stitches/Terms Used:
- FO = fasten off
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = increase (insert 2 sc in same st)
Materials:
- Super bulky weight 6 yarn in green (I used Honey Bunny yarn)
- Thin yarn in brown
- 5mm crochet hook (I use these)
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Optional: bead(s), thin yarn for making tassels
Crochet Instructions
Note: The free version of the pattern does not include photo references. If you'd like a photo guide to help you through the crochet process, it is available in the PDF pattern.
Let's begin!
Ch 8.
R1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc 7. Turn to crochet on the other side of the ch, and sc 7 across. (14)
R2-R7: Sc around. (14)
Note: Stop after R6 if you would like a shorter, pyramid-shaped zongzi. Stopping after R7 makes a slightly longer zongzi, which more closely resembles traditional zongzi.
Without FO, pinch the opening flat in the opposite direction to the starting ch 8.
Pull out 2 sts or however many needed until you reach the very side of the pinched piece.
Firmly fill the zongzi with stuffing.
Sl st 7 across the opening, going through both layers to stitch it closed. Wrap thin brown yarn a couple times around the center of the zongzi, and then tie a secure knot and bow in the middle.
R1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc 7. Turn to crochet on the other side of the ch, and sc 7 across. (14)
R2-R7: Sc around. (14)
Note: Stop after R6 if you would like a shorter, pyramid-shaped zongzi. Stopping after R7 makes a slightly longer zongzi, which more closely resembles traditional zongzi.
Without FO, pinch the opening flat in the opposite direction to the starting ch 8.
Pull out 2 sts or however many needed until you reach the very side of the pinched piece.
Firmly fill the zongzi with stuffing.
Sl st 7 across the opening, going through both layers to stitch it closed. Wrap thin brown yarn a couple times around the center of the zongzi, and then tie a secure knot and bow in the middle.
Congratulations on finishing!
For embellishments, you can add bead(s), a hanging loop, a keyring, tassel, embroidred details or motifs, a necklace chain, and/or earring hooks!
Want to share your finished Little Zongzi?
I'd love to see what you make on Instagram, @SweetSofties!
Thank you for reading, and hope you had a fun time crocheting this project! If you'd like to help out my blog, feel free to check out my post, "5 Ways to Support my Blog!"
You might like my other designs if you enjoyed this one! Simply click on the image below for the pattern, or check out all my free patterns here.
I'd love to see your finished work from my designs! Here are links for sharing photos of your creations:
Best wishes,
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
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