Free Crochet Pattern – Chinese Lantern

Hello crochet friends!

I wanted to wish you all a very happy lunar new year! To celebrate the occasion, I wanted to share this little pattern for a Chinese lantern. I think this is perfect to add to your new year celebration, and it goes really well with my Chinese zodiac patterns too (I have released a mouse and an ox for the last two years, and I am releasing a tiger this year!). You can find an ad-free PDF of the pattern, and I have also released a full video tutorial, just click the link below to access either! I hope enjoy the pattern!

Materials

• DK or 8ply yarn in red and yellow (I like to use Ricorumi DK or Paintbox cotton DK*)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook*
• Stitch marker, tapestry needle and scissors
• Polyfill*

Abbreviation used (U.S. terms)

ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
*…*: repeat
FLO: front loop only
BLO: back loop only
inc: 2 single crochet in the same stitch
dec: single crochet 2 stitches together through the front loop only (invisible decrease)

Finished size: approx. 8 cm

All pieces are worked through both loops of the stitches and in the round without joining unless stated otherwise in the pattern. It is recommended to use a stitch marker to mark the end of each round.

Lantern – in red make 1

Work in rounds
Round 1. sc 6 in a magic ring
Round 2. inc x6
Round 3. *sc 1, inc* x6
Round 4. *sc 2, inc* x6
Round 5. in BLO, *sc 3, inc* x6
Round 6. *sc 4, inc* x6
Round 7. *sc 5, inc* x6
Round 8. *sc 6, inc* x6
Rounds 9-11. sc in each st around
Round 12. *sc 6, dec* x6
Round 13. *sc 5, dec* x6
Round 14. *sc 4, dec* x6
Round 15. *sc 3, dec* x6
Round 16. in BLO, *sc 2, dec* x6

Start stuffing the lantern now.

Round 17. *sc 1, dec* x6
Round 18. dec x6

Fasten off and weave in ends by passing your thread in the front loop only of the remaining stitches.

Lantern top – in yellow make 1

Work in rounds
Round 1. Attach yellow yarn to the FLO of round 4, in FLO, sc around (24 stitches)
Round 2. sc in each st around
Round 3. in BLO, *sc 2, dec* x6

Start stuffing the lantern top lightly.

Round 4. *sc 1, dec* x6
Round 5. dec x6
Round 6. ch 10, skip 2 sc, sl st in the 3rd sc (this creates the loop to hang your lantern)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Lantern bottom – in yellow make 1

Work in rounds
Turn the lantern upside down.
Round 1. Attach yellow yarn to the FLO of round 15, in FLO, sc around (24 stitches)
Round 2. sc in each st around
Round 3. in FLO, *sc 1, ch 4, sl st 3 down the ch, sl st at the base of the ch, sc 1* x 12 
Round 4. in BLO from round 2, *sc 2, dec* x6

Start stuffing the lantern bottom lightly.

Round 5. *sc 1, dec* x6
Round 6. dec x6

Fasten off and weave in ends by passing your thread in the front loop only of the remaining stitches.

Finishing touches

1. You can embroider your lantern if you wish, I added Chinese symbols that represent luck and good fortune to mine.

You are done!

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©EmmaCraftsDesign
This is a pattern for personal use only, and it may not be shared, passed on to others, re-sold, or redistributed in any way other than purchasing as a gift. this includes, but is not limited to, any text, pictures or graphs presented in this pattern.

Finished objects may be sold in small numbers as long as credit is given to me (emmacraftsdesign), the designer, with the link to my website provided. (https://www.emmacraftsdesign.com). Not for commercial use.