Crochet Chinese Wealth God Amigurumi Pattern Toy

This crochet Chinese Wealth God amigurumi pattern toy brings Cai Shen to life in yarn, with a flowing robe, a long beard, a green-and-gold hat, and a tiny gold ingot in his hands. He makes a cheerful good-luck figure for Chinese New Year or a lucky desk companion all year round.

The figure is made from several separate pieces, including the head, beard, robe, hat, sleeves, hands, and ingot, which are sewn together at the end. It takes more assembly than a simple animal amigurumi, but each piece uses familiar stitches.

Who Is the Chinese God of Wealth?

Cai Shen is the god of wealth and prosperity in Chinese folk religion, and he’s closely tied to Chinese New Year traditions. He’s usually shown either as a civil god in scholar’s robes or as a martial god in armor. This amigurumi follows the civil style, with a robe, a tall hat, a long beard, and a gold ingot called a yuanbao.

Skill Level

Intermediate. This is best for someone who has already made a few amigurumi and is comfortable with color changes, working in rows and rounds, and sewing several pieces together.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted or DK weight in a skin tone for the face and hands, black for the beard, red for the robe, green and yellow for the hat, and bright yellow or gold for the ingot and trim.
• Crochet hook: About one size smaller than your yarn label recommends, for tight stitches with no gaps.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill.
• Eyes: Safety eyes for a display piece, or embroidered eyes if a young child might handle the toy.
• Tools: A tapestry needle, stitch markers, pins, and scissors.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• inc – increase
• dec – invisible decrease
• sl st – slip stitch
• BLO / FLO – back loop only / front loop only
• st(s) – stitch(es)

Before You Start

Read through all the steps once before you begin. This figure has more pieces than a typical amigurumi, and knowing the assembly order helps you avoid overstuffing a piece before it needs to be sewn on.

Working a color change in the back or front loop only gives the robe trim a clean, crisp band instead of a jagged line.

How to Crochet the Chinese Wealth God

Step 1: Crochet the Head

With skin-tone yarn, start with a magic ring and work in the round. Increase to the widest point, work a few even rounds, then decrease, stuffing as you go, and close the head.

Step 2: Make the Beard

The beard is the figure’s signature detail, so it’s made as its own piece rather than embroidered. Work it in black yarn in layered rows, using slip stitches and half double crochets to create a ruffled texture.

Sew the beard on in layers from the chin up toward the cheeks. This gives it depth instead of lying flat.

Step 3: Crochet the Body and Robe

Work the body as one continuous piece from the neck down. Widen it for the belly, then flare it slightly at the hem so the robe looks like fabric rather than a straight tube. Switch to yellow or gold in the back or front loop only to add the trim band.

Stuff the belly firmly and keep the bottom flat so the figure can stand. A slightly wider base helps it stay upright under the weight of the hat.

Step 4: Make the Hat

The hat has a main base, a top piece, and two long side flaps.

• Hat base: Start with 6 sc in a magic ring and increase to 39 sts by Round 7.
• Color pattern: From Round 7 to Round 9, switch between green and yellow to create the traditional pattern.
• Top piece: Make the top of the hat as shown in the video.
• Side flaps (make 2): Start with a foundation chain and work dc and hdc to form long, rectangular flaps. Sew one to each side of the hat.

Step 5: Make the Sleeves and Hands

• Sleeves (make 2): In the robe color, work the first part in rows to create the sleeve opening. Start with a slip knot and ch 3, then increase to 8 sts by Row 6.
• Hands: With skin-tone yarn, work small bobble-style stitches that look like tiny fingers. Attach them to the ends of the sleeves.

Sew the finished sleeves to the body at the shoulders.

Step 6: Crochet the Gold Ingot

1. Round 1: With bright yellow yarn, work 10 sc in a magic ring.
2. Round 2: Work a mix of dc and hdc to create the flared, boat-like shape of the yuanbao.

Sew the ingot securely between the hands during assembly instead of gluing it, since glue can pop loose over time.

Step 7: Assemble the Figure

1. Sew the head to the body and check that it sits straight before adding anything else.
2. Place the eyes, counting the same number of stitches out from the center on each side. Pin them first to check the look.
3. Attach the beard in layers.
4. Line up the center of the hat with the center of the face, then pin and sew it on.
5. Attach the sleeves, then sew the ingot into the hands.

Video Tutorial

Stuffing Tips

• Stuff the head and belly firmly for a smooth, rounded shape.
• Stuff the sleeves and hat lightly so the figure doesn’t look stiff.
• Add fiberfill a little at a time as you close each piece, so lumps are easy to fix.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• A crooked hat: Always match the hat’s center to the face’s center before sewing.
• A flat beard: Sewing it on in one layer makes it look flat. Build it up in layers.
• A glued ingot: Glue can come loose. Sew the ingot into the hands instead.
• A narrow base: If the base is narrower than the widest part of the robe, the figure tips over.
• Lost stitch counts: Check your count after every color change and decrease round, since that’s where stitches are easiest to miss.

Troubleshooting

• Hat sits crooked: Unpick it, re-pin it using stitch counts, and sew it again.
• Beard looks uneven: Remove the top layer and reattach it level with the others.
• Figure won’t stand: Add a little more stuffing to the base and make sure it’s flat, not rounded.

Chinese New Year Display Ideas

• Entryway welcome: Set him near the front door to greet guests during the New Year season.
• Red envelope pairing: Place him beside a stack of red envelopes or a bowl of mandarin oranges.
• Lucky desk buddy: Keep him on a work desk or shop counter as a small good-fortune charm.
• Holiday gift: Give him to a friend or family member as a handmade New Year present.

If you enjoy making festive character dolls, try this crochet Santa Claus keychain or a fluffy crochet pom pom gnome for other holidays.

Size and Color Variations

• Bigger or smaller: Change the yarn weight and hook size together. Adding extra rounds can throw off the face and robe proportions.
• Hat colors: Green and gold is the version shown here. Black and gold is another popular choice.
• Robe colors: Try deep red with gold trim, or add a contrasting sash around the waist.

Finishing and Care

Weave in all ends securely, especially at the color changes on the robe and hat. Give the beard a light trim if any fibers look uneven.

Spot clean only. Dust the figure with a soft brush, and skip the washing machine, which can flatten the beard and robe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this without safety eyes?

Yes. Embroidered eyes are the safer choice if the doll might end up in a young child’s hands.

Why does my hat look crooked?

The hat was probably sewn on without lining up its center with the center of the face. Recount, re-pin, and sew it again.

How do I keep the ingot from falling out?

Sew it firmly between the hands during assembly instead of gluing it.

Is this a beginner pattern?

Not quite. It’s best for crocheters who are comfortable with color changes, working in rows and rounds, and assembling several pieces.

Final Notes

This crochet Chinese Wealth God amigurumi takes a little patience, but the finished figure is full of charm and good-luck symbolism. Build each piece, layer the beard, and place the gold ingot in his hands, and he’s ready to welcome prosperity into your home. Happy crocheting!