Tester Call: How to Crochet Winter Meow Bun in A Holiday Hat & Scarf Plushie Gift

Author: Talha

I am a crochet designer, macramé maker and a crafter who also loves doing MATH.

I am back with another crochet holiday bao bun in a steamer box plushie in today’s crochet tester call. Say welcome to our new buddy, the crochet meow snowball dumpling in a festive hat and a scarf plushie, which you can learn to crochet with a FREE written pattern.

I have already used a similar design for spooky gifting, and you loved it. So, we will be embroidering the same meow “w” mouth and the “^ ^” eyes that make it the CUTEST dumpling pattern you can crochet this winter!

The crochet hat is a bit smaller this time and not slouched. I have found that style equally appealing, so many of the upcoming bao bun and other festive crochet patterns will be coming up with a straight Santa hat. Now, continue reading for learning more about this other cute dumpling plush project!

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Pattern to Crochet the Winter Bun in A Steamer Basket Plushie

Here is the complete, super-detailed written crochet pattern to make the adorable Snow Meow / Santa Dumpling plushie complete with its festive mini Santa hat, red slip-stitch scarf, embroidered sleeping cat face, and matching all-black steamer basket container:

Pattern Details

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Finished Size: Dumpling is approximately 7 cm (2.8 in) tall/wide.
Terminology: US Crochet Terms

Materials & Tools

Plush / Chenille Yarn (Super Bulky / Category 6, ~100 g / 120 m):
- Color A: White (for the dumpling body)
- Color B: Black (for the steamer basket container base and lid)
DK / Sport Weight Yarn:
- Red: For the Santa hat body and the slip-stitch mini scarf (used with a 2.5 mm hook)
- White: For the Santa hat pompom and brim trim (used with a 2.5 mm hook)
- Black: For embroidering the sleeping eyes and cat mouth (“3” / “w” shape)
- Pink or White: Fine thread for cinching the dumpling top hole
Crochet Hooks:
- 4.0 mm Crochet Hook: For the plush dumpling and steamer basket container.
- 2.5 mm Crochet Hook: For the Santa hat and mini scarf.
Fiberfill Stuffing
Pink Blush / Soft Pastel Chalk: For the rosy cheeks (or pink embroidery thread)
Tapestry / Yarn Needle
Stitch Marker
Scissors
Sewing Pins

Abbreviations (US Terms)

MR: Magic Ring (Magic Circle)
ch: Chain
sc: Single crochet
inc: Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
dec: Decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together / invisible decrease)
sl st: Slip stitch
BLO: Back loop only
FLO: Front loop only
st(s): Stitch(es)
[ ]: Stitch count at the end of the round
( … ) * X: Repeat the instructions in brackets X times

Part 1: The Dumpling Body

Work in continuous spirals using Color A (White) plush yarn and a 4.0 mm hook. Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: In a MR, work 8 sc. [8]
Round 2: 8 inc. [16]
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) * 8. [24]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) * 8. [32]
Rounds 5–8 (4 rounds): 32 sc around. [32]
Round 9: (2 sc, dec) * 8. [24]
Round 10: (1 sc, dec) * 8. [16]
Stuffing: Add fiberfill stuffing now. Stuff softly and evenly so the dumpling stays squishy and rounded, not overly rigid.
Round 11: 8 dec. [8]

Dumpling Top Pleat / Ruffle (R12):

Do not close the hole yet! You will first create the fluted top opening of the dumpling.

Round 12: Work into the Front Loops Only (FLO):
- (inc, 1 sc) * 4 [12]
Cut the plush yarn leaving a small tail (~10 cm), make a slip stitch into the next stitch to finish the edge neatly, and tuck the tail inside the body.

Cinching the Top Hole:

Take a length of strong, thinner thread (matching white or neutral) and thread it onto a needle.
Carefully pass the needle through the remaining unworked Back Loops of Round 11 (located on the inside base of the top ruffle) all the way around.
Pull both ends of the thread firmly to cinch the hole completely shut beneath the ruffle.
Tie 2–3 tight knots, and use the needle to hide the thread ends inside the plush body.

Part 2: Embroidering the “Meow” Face

Using fine Black DK yarn and a tapestry needle:

Sleeping Eyes: Between Rounds 6 and 7 (about 5–6 stitches apart), embroider two upside-down “V” shapes ( $^\wedge \quad \cdot \quad ^\wedge$ ) to create happy, closed sleeping cat eyes.
Cat Mouth: Centered directly beneath the eyes, embroider a sideways “3” or “w” shape to form the cute cat mouth.
Rosy Cheeks: Apply a touch of pink makeup blush or pink pastel chalk on the cheeks just under the outer corners of each eye.

Part 3: The Mini Santa Hat & Pompom

Using DK weight yarn in Red and White, and a 2.5 mm crochet hook. Work in continuous spiral rounds.

Hat Body (Red & White DK Yarn):

Start in Red DK Yarn:
- Round 1: In a MR, work 4 sc. [4 sts]
- Round 2: (1 sc, inc) * 2. [6 sts]
- Round 3: (2 sc, inc) * 2. [8 sts]
- Round 4: (3 sc, inc) * 2. [10 sts]
- Round 5: (4 sc, inc) * 2. [12 sts]
- Round 6: (5 sc, inc) * 2. [14 sts]
- Round 7: (6 sc, inc) * 2. [16 sts]
- Change color to White DK Yarn on the last stitch of Round 7.
- Round 8: 16 sc around. [16 sts]
- Round 9: 16 sc around (or FLO sl st for a raised brim edge). [16 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Lightly stuff the cone of the hat.

White Pompom (White DK Yarn):

Round 1: In a MR, work 6 sc. [6 sts]
Round 2: 6 inc. [9 sts] (or 3 inc, 3 sc)
Round 3: 9 sc around. [9 sts]
Round 4: 3 dec, 3 sc (or dec around to 6 sts). [6 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff lightly with a tiny pinch of fiberfill.

Assembling the Hat:

Thread the tail of the white pompom onto a needle.
Position the pompom over the very tip of the red hat, inserting the needle through the tip between the 4 sc and 6 sc rounds (Rounds 1–2).
Secure tightly inside the hat, knot, and weave in the excess tail.
Position the completed Santa hat tilted at a cute angle onto the top side of the dumpling head (right next to the top ruffle). Sew securely in place using white/red yarn.

Part 4: The Red Slip-Stitch Scarf

Using Red DK yarn and a 2.5 mm crochet hook.

Chain 45 (or enough chains to wrap comfortably around the dumpling’s neck with ends overlapping).
Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1 slip stitch in each chain stitch across.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn, and work 1 slip stitch in each stitch back across.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Wrap the textured slip-stitch scarf snugly around the base of the dumpling’s neck, crossing the tails neatly over each other in the front. Secure with a couple of hidden stitches to hold its shape.

Part 5: The Black Steamer Basket Container

The basket consists of two identical halves (base and lid) crocheted in Color B (Black) plush yarn using the 4.0 mm hook, hinged together.

Halves (Make 2):

Round 1: In a MR, work 8 sc. [8]
Round 2: 8 inc. [16]
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) * 8. [24]
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) * 8. [32]
Round 5: (7 sc, inc) * 4. [36]
Round 6: In Back Loops Only (BLO): 36 sc around. [36] (This forms the sharp bottom edge/crease of the basket).
Rounds 7–8 (2 rounds): Through both loops: 36 sc around. [36]
For the 1st Half (Base): Fasten off and cut the yarn.
For the 2nd Half (Lid): Do NOT cut the working yarn.

Joining the Two Halves (The Hinge):

Align the two open halves edge-to-edge, right sides facing out.
Using the working loop from the 2nd half, join them across 4 to 5 stitches along the back rim:
- Insert your hook through the BLO of the top half and the corresponding FLO of the bottom half.
- Work 1 sc across each of the 4–5 pairs of loops to create a flexible hinge.
Test-fit your finished snow meow dumpling inside to ensure the basket opens and closes cleanly.
Sl st, fasten off the hinge yarn, and weave in the end inside.

Adding the Lid Handle / Strap:

Attach Color B (Black) yarn to the top center of the lid right above the hinge seam.
Chain a strip across the top of the dome (approx. 16–18 chains, or long enough to reach from the back hinge to the front center edge without pulling too tight).
Fasten/join the end of the chain to the front edge with a sc / sl st.
Ch 1, turn, and work 1 sc in each chain stitch heading back toward the starting point to create a sturdy, flat handle strap.
Join with a sl st to the starting edge, fasten off, and weave all remaining tails neatly inside the stitches.