I had my first bubble tea experience back when I was a high school student in the late 2000s. I loved the tiny tapioca balls and the variety of flavors offered. Over the years, my appreciation for bubble tea has grown tremendously and I now have plenty of favorite tea shops around my neighborhood.
I designed this boba tea knitting pattern to showcase my love for bubble tea and knit softies. I wanted to make something that felt like an animated version of the real thing. As a result, I created two knit characters: Tammy the Taro Milk Tea and Rosie the Rose Milk Tea.
If you’ve never made a knit plush before, this pattern is a great opportunity. My bubble teas are knit entirely in the round with a few details sewn on. This video has a great description on how to start knitting on double pointed needles.
If you’re interested in a knit kit, I also sell a complete kit for these boba tea plushies over on my Etsy shop. These kits make a great gift for any boba-loving knitter.
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Boba Tea Knitting Pattern Details
Skill level: Advanced beginner/Intermediate – requires experience with circular knitting on double pointed needles, increasing/decreasing, and i-cords.
List of Items Needed:
- 1 Set of 5 size US 7 (4.5 mm) Double Pointed Needles
- Darning Needle
- Polyfill Fiber Stuffing
- 2 black plastic safety eyes with backings
- Stitch Markers
Yarn Suggestions:
For Tammy the Taro Milk Tea (Purple Version):
Yarn A: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Lady Slipper (65 yards)
Yarn B: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in White (21 yards)
Yarn C: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Black (21 yards)
Yarn D: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Blush (13 yards)
For Rosie the Rose Milk Tea (Pink Version):
Yarn A: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Blush (65 yards)
Yarn B: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in White (21 yards)
Yarn C: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Black (21 yards)
Yarn D: KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Lady Slipper (13 yards)
I chose to use KnitPicks Brava Worsted because it’s soft, affordable, and comes in a fantastic range of colors.
Gauge:
5 sts and 7 rows/1 inch (2.5 cm) on size US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs knit in the round
Please note: Gauge is not as critical with plushies, but you do want to maintain a “tighter” knitted fabric so the stuffing doesn’t come out. Feel free to adjust needle size as needed.
Copyright: You are more than welcome to sell your finished items if you’d like, but please do not copy, publish, and/or redistribute this pattern (including translations to other languages).
Construction: This boba plush is knit primarily in the round. We start by making by making the bottom of the cup. Then we add on an i-cord straw. Here is a great video on i-cords if you’re unsure of how to start.
Boba Tea Knitting Pattern
Materials
For Tammy the Taro Milk Tea (Purple Version):
- Yarn A: Worsted Acrylic Purple yarn 65 yards
- Yarn B: Worsted Acrylic White yarn 21 yards
- Yarn C: Worsted Acrylic Black yarn 21 yards
- Yarn D: Worsted Acrylic Pink yarn 13 yards
For Rosie the Rose Milk Tea (Pink Version):
- Yarn A: Worsted Acrylic Pink yarn 65 yards
- Yarn B: Worsted Acrylic White yarn 21 yards
- Yarn C: Worsted Acrylic Black yarn 21 yards
- Yarn D: Worsted Acrylic Purple yarn 13 yards
Materials for both:
- Set of 5 size US 7 4.5 mm Double pointed Needles
- Darning Needle
- Polyfill Fiber Stuffing
- 2 black plastic safety eyes with backings
Gauge
- 5 sts and 7 rows/1 inch (2.5 cm) on size US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs knit in the round
Instructions
- Knitting Abbreviations
Boba Cup:
- Using Yarn A and DPNs, CO 8 Sts, PM at the beginning of the round.
- Distribute sts across three needles and join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.
- Row 1: K all sts
- Row 2: Kfb all sts (16 sts total)
- Row 3 and 4: K all sts
- Row 5: Kfb all around (32 sts total)
- At this point, if you have an extra DPN, feel free to distribute needles among 4 needles (8 sts per needle) to make it more manageable to knit.
- Row 6-8: Knit all sts
- Row 9: Purl all sts
- Continue knitting in the round in stockinette for 2 inches (5.1 cm)
- Next round: (Kfb, K15) repeat all around (34 sts total)
- Continue knitting in the round in stockinette for 2 inches (5.1 cm)
- Next round: (Kfb, K16) repeat all around (36 sts total)
- Continue knitting in the round in stockinette for 2 inches (5.1 cm)
- Piece should now measure approximately 6 inches from the purl ridge edge at the bottom.
- Cut Yarn A leaving 8 inch (20.3 cm) tail for weaving in later.
- At this point, you’ll want to decide the placement of your safety eyes and mouth before you begin decreasing at the top.
Safety eye installation:
- Take the black front piece and position it where you would like. I placed mine about 1 inch (2.5 cm) down from the needles and 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) apart from each other. Once you’re satisfied with the eye placement, press the eyes into the knitted piece on the front and position the grey backing pieces inside of the plush. Push the grey pieces all the way on to the backs until they are securely attached.
Embroider Mouth:
- Thread about 12 inch (30.5 cm) of black yarn onto a darning needle and stitch three small stitches for the mouth. Secure the ends on the inside (I just tied my ends together on the back to hold the stitches tight).
Secure Bottom:
- Using the cast on tail at the bottom, thread a darning needle and whip stitch to close the small hole in the bottom. Once the hole is closed tight, begin stuffing your plush with polyester fiberfill. Don’t be afraid to be generous with your stuffing! If you’d like more stability in the bottom of your cup, you can also cut a small round circle (about 2 inches/5.1 cm in diameter) from cardboard and place it at the very bottom before stuffing. This will help it stand on its own.
- Continue Knitting as follows:
- Join Yarn B at the beginning of the next round and K one round.
- Row 2: P all sts
- Row 3-5: K all sts
- Row 6: K2tog all around (18 sts total)
- Row 7-8: Knit
- Row 9: K2tog all around (9 total)
- Row 10: Knit
- If you have room, add in additional stuffing as needed before closing off. Once your plush is completely stuffed, cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail.
- Using a darning needle, thread the tail yarn through the remaining 9 stitches and cinch to tighten.
- Weave in ends.
Boba Pieces (Make 7):
- Using Yarn C, CO 4 sts on one double pointed needle
- Begin working i-cord** and knit 2 rounds in i-cord pattern.
- Row 3: K2tog twice
- Cut yarn (leaving 8 in tail) and weave through remaining sts, pull tight to cinch close.
- Using tail ends and a darning needle, shape into small ball and whip stitch to the outside of the plush.
- I made 7 pieces to go all around the sides of the plush, but feel free to make as many/few as you’d like. The I-cord pieces give it more of a three dimensional structure, but you could also embroider or crochet a small circle if you prefer flatter boba pieces.
- **If you’ve never knit an i-cord, please refer to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jKRZ5sWx0&ab_channel=FiberFlux
Straw (Make 1):
- Using Yarn D, CO 5 sts on one double pointed needle.
- Begin working i-cord, knitting all 5 sts
- Continue knitting i-cord until piece measure 2 inches (5.1 cm) or however long you would like.
- Using the tail end, sew i-cord to the top of the boba cup.
- If you’d like more structure to your straw, insert a pipe cleaner inside to make it bendy.
- Weave in ends.
Notes
