Crochet Dumpling and Soy Sauce

Crochet Dumpling and Soy Sauce is a delightful and quirky combination that adds a touch of creativity to the culinary world. Imagine a cozy evening spent crocheting tiny dumplings with the perfect amount of soy sauce on the side for dipping. The soft textures of the yarn mimic the tender filling of a dumpling, while the dark, rich color of soy sauce adds depth and contrast. This whimsical pairing brings together the comfort of crafting with the satisfaction of enjoying a savory treat. Whether you're a crochet enthusiast looking for a fun project or a foodie with a love for unique flavors, Crochet Dumpling and Soy Sauce is sure to bring a smile to your face and spark your imagination.

Materials:

Bits of worsted weight yarn in white, brown, and red

3.5mm crochet hook

Stuffing (I used yarn ends from unraveling old work)

Embroidery thread in pink and white

Needle and thread

4mm black beads for eyes

Dumpling is made by crocheting a circle, which is then folded in half and seamed together with a scalloped edge.

The circle is crocheted in continuous rounds (i.e. no slip stitch at the end of round):

With white

ch 3, 5 sc in 3rd ch from hook, 2 sc in top of beginning ch, 2 sc in each of next 4 sc, sc in next sc, repeat [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] until piece measures 1 3/4 inches across.

Then, repeat [1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc] until piece measures 2 1/4 inches across. Then sc in next sc, sl st in next sc. Don’t fasten off.

Fold piece in half so that the raw stitch lies on the fold line, like so…

The scalloped edge is worked through both layers of the folded circle, through the back loop only of the front layer and both loops of the back layer, like so…

Crochet scalloped edge as follows:

[ch 2, 3 hdc in next st, sl st in next st] 4 times. Leave hook on loop, sew on the eyes and mouth.

Continue with repeats of [ch 2, 3 hdc in next st, sl st in next st] across until there are 3 or 4 stitches left. Stuff dumpling, then complete scalloped edge, fasten off.

Now on to the bottle of soy sauce. It’s made in rounds, and each round ends with a sl st into the first sc of the round.

With brown

Round 1: ch 3, 5 sc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in top of beginning ch.

Round 2: ch 1, sc in same st, 2 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc.

Round 3: ch 1, sc in same st, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 6 times, sl st in first sc.

Round 4: ch 1, sc in same st, through back loop only, 1 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc.

Round 5: repeat row 4, except work each stitch through both loops.

Round 6–8: repeat row 5. Don’t fasten off.

I embroidered “soy!” on the bottle at this point.

Cut a round piece of cardboard (I cut mine from a frozen pizza box) about the size of the bottom of the bottle and place it into the bottom of the bottle. This way the bottom will stay flat when the bottle is stuffed.

Continue with shaping the bottle:

Round 9: ch 1, sc in same sc, [2 sc tog, sc in next sc] around, sl st in first sc.

Round 10: repeat row 9.

Sew on eyes and mouth.

Round 11–13: ch 1, sc in same sc, 1 sc in each sc around, sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Now we make the bottle cap:

Round 1: Join red where brown is fasten off, sl st in each sc around in front loop only.

Round 2: ch 1, sc in same st, through top loop only, 1 sc in each st around, st sl in first sc. Leave a 6″ tail for sewing, fasten off.

Stuff bottle firmly to keep shape.

Top of cap, with the sprout:

With red

Round 1: work 6 sc in magic ring, sl st in 1st sc.

Round 2: ch 3, dc in next sc. Fasten off.

Sew top of cap to top of bottle, weave in ends.