Free Felt Zongzi Pattern

I love eating zongzi (粽子) and a few years ago I learned to make it from scratch after watching a few YouTube videos and reading recipes online. The bamboo leaves can be a little tricky to fold into the classic triangular shape while keeping all the rice and filling in so when one of my Chinese Australian friends asked if I could create a felt zongzi that her daughter could wrap herself, I was up for a challenge! 

After thinking about it for many weeks, I came up two simplified designs which I'm so excited to share with you. A wrappable zongzi and a wrapped one so kids can explore what these delicious sticky rice parcels look like from the inside and out. 

 

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What is Zongzi?

Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice stuffed with sweet and/or savory fillings wrapped with bamboo leaves. They can be boiled or steamed and can be enjoyed as a complete meal. There are numerous varieties across China's many provinces but the fillings for this felt version is closer to the Cantonese style (we call it joong 糉) that I grew up with featuring chestnut, pork belly, salted egg yolk, and shiitake mushroom.

Origins of Zongzi

Zongzi can be eaten anytime of the year but they are most commonly enjoyed during the Dragon Boat Festival. Legend has it that these rice dumplings were made as an offering to commemorate the life and death of Qu Yuan, a beloved Chinese patriot and poet, and a loyal advisor to the king. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Lunar Calendar after his king ignored his advice in handling an impending invasion. 

People were so grief-stricken they decorated their boats with dragon heads and tails and raced around the river he drowned in to find his body while making a lot of noise and throwing in rice balls to stop the fish from eating his body. 

Despite the sad origin story, the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) is a joyful and noisy event celebrated every year on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Lunar Calendar. 

How to Make Felt Zongzi

Now, onto the fun part – making your very own felt zongzi! Let's get sewing. 

Tools & Materials You'll Need:

• Acrylic or Wool blend felt in Olive Green and White
  
• Embroidery Floss in coordinating colors
• Embroidery Needle
• Sharp fabric scissors 
• Small scissors for cutting thread (optional)
• 3mm cotton macrame cording (can substitute with twine)
• Disappearing ink pen or freezer paper (for tracing out the pattern)
• Fiberfill
• Straight pins (optional)
  

 

Follow along with the video or click here for the written pattern with step-by-step photos for both felt zongzi and felt fillings. 

Want to make the fillings too?

Click here for the FREE printable pattern and step-by-step photo tutorial for both felt zongzi and felt fillings (chestnut, pork belly, shiitake mushroom, and salted egg yolk).

 

Ready for Playtime!

And there you have it – your very own felt zongzi for playtime! Let the kids get curious about how to wrap and tie these rice parcels themselves or simply enjoy them as part of a pretend food feast. It's a fun and educational way to celebrate Chinese traditions and the food we love to eat. 

Happy crafting!

Sam