Chinese New Year is a 15-day festival with folkloric origins and is widely celebrated worldwide. Legend has it, years ago, a monster named Nian would attack villages at the beginning of each year. However, to defeat Nian, villagers needed to make him fearful with loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. Hence the use of big crowds, fireworks, and big colored envelopes during the celebration.
When I was a kid, I would visit Chinatown in Chicago with my parents every Chinese New Year. It was presented like a multicultural festival, there were foods from different cultures, beautiful dances, and colorful lights. To this day, I love to celebrate Chinese New Year with my friends, enjoying a reunion dinner with dumplings and Nian Gao (sticky rice cake).
This year, I want to crochet cute Lunar New Year patterns to give to my friends as a gift. I thought you might also want to, so here are some designs I liked! I hope you’ll join me and make them.
Let's welcome the new year with these 15 Lunar New Year Crochet Patterns!
01
Chinese Lantern
It is said that red lanterns bring vitality and good luck! Also, I don’t know if you’ve heard the new Taylor Swift album but this is easily giving RED TV vibes. Taylor, if you see this, I love you, and I hope you make this design. Also, Taylor, thank you for making the perfect music to crochet to.
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Easy
Free Pattern
02
The Zodiac Series
Why get one when you can get the whole series? The Chinese zodiac comprises different animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. A meaningful gift for your loved ones and definitely a fun crochet project!
Size: Small
Difficulty: Easy
Paid Pattern
03
Fortune Cookies
I’m no fortune cookie but I can tell you your fortune: Somewhere in the near future, you will be making Lunar Year Crochet Patterns. Especially after seeing those cute cookie-cutter faces (pun intended).
Size: Small
Difficulty: Easy
Paid Pattern
04
12 Zodiac Animals Pattern Combo
Remember how I was obsessing about the zodiac signs earlier? Now you can have all of them! This is a perfect gift giving idea, you can make all these and save them to give to friends. I will most certainly be doing that.
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
05
Tiger Plush
OH MY TIGER! This is absolutely beautiful. I remember being a kid and seeing people sell these on the streets of ChinaTown, now I can make it! I hope you make it too, it is a little difficult but I have a feeling that you’re never one to back down from a challenge.
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
06
Lucky Lunar Lantern
This one is super cute and easy! I love these because if you celebrate multiple cultures like me, these crochet patterns can easily turn into Christmas ornaments or Day of the Dead decorations. It’s an easy way to be sustainable and reuse your yarn!
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Easy
Free Pattern
07
Pineapple Tart (Kueh Tair)
Welcome the New Lunar Year with this adorable pineapple tart pattern. This bite-size pastry is very popular in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, born from the cultural mix between natives, Portuguese and Dutch. This small pastry tells the story of the region's local traditions, history, and heritage.
Size: Small
Difficulty: Easy
Free Pattern
08
Auspicious Tiger
2022 is the Year of the Tiger; people born in this year are brave, competitive, confident and have great willpower. Are you brave, competitive, confident and do you possess enough willpower to try this pattern out? Even if it doesn’t come out perfect, it is good luck!
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Advanced
Paid Pattern
09
The Prosperity Rabbit and Firecracker Ornament
In Chinese culture, the rabbit is a symbol of intellect and cautiousness. People born in the Year of the Rabbit tend to perform well in teams and tend to be friendly and gentle in nature. Do you know anybody with those qualities?
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
10
Lucky Red Envelope (Hong Bao)
Have you already started preparing your red envelopes to give to family and friends? No? Don't worry, we've got you covered! With this simple pattern you'll be wishing good luck on the new year with style! (Tip: if you attach the face with velcro, you'll be able to replace it next year!)
Size: Small
Difficulty: Easy
Paid Pattern
11
Chinese New Year Zodiac Amigurumi Bundle
PLEASE MAKE THESE! I’m on my knees begging you! My inner child is screaming right now! I think my life will finally be complete once I finish these patterns. WARNING: each one is cuter than the next, be careful not to spend two hours staring at them (like me).
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Easy
Paid Pattern
12
CaiShen The Fortune Doll
It is said that if you keep this CaiShen figurine in your house, you'll have a great and prosperous year ahead! I don't know if this might be true, but it doesn't hurt trying it, just in case. Plus, it's incredibly cute and will surely bring a smile to your face.
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
13
Min The Chinese Rabbit
Here we have a delightful pattern of a rabbit dressed in traditional Chinese clothes and carrying a "jin yuan bao", which symbolizes prosperity, wealth and luck. Jin yuan bao is an ancient form of currency and is often used as decoration during the Chinese Lunar Year.
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
14
Reversible Tiger Amigurumi Pattern
In my three years of crocheting, I never thought reversible patterns existed. Have I been living in a bubble????? This is the most adorable thing ever! Tiger to Girl, Girl to Tiger, Tiger to Girl… I’m fascinated and obsessed at the same time. If you make these, please send me a picture!
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
15
Lunar Year Tiger Couple
This is such a cute date night idea. Your significant other can make you and you can make them! Even more fun, make it a challenge! Whoever does it better doesn’t have to cook for a week. Or you can just give it to them as a gift or something. (Make it fun!)
Size: Medium
Difficulty: Intermediate
Paid Pattern
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About the author
Astha Bhandari
Hey I’m Astha! I love listening to music, writing, and painting. My favorite thing to do is try new things and listen to new perspectives. I try to learn one new thing every day. I’m also a student at Stanford University studying on the Pre-Law track. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing :)
“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.” – Kurt Vonnegut
