Little Lucky Pig New Year Square – Free Knitting Pattern

Originally published on December 29, 2025

Every new year begins in the same way: the clock strikes twelve and, all around the world, millions of people celebrate with loud fireworks, a glass of champagne, and the people they love. Maybe you are surrounded by family and friends, or maybe you are in a quieter corner of the night, trying to soothe your pets while the sky crackles outside. No matter how noisy it is out there, the real beginning is small and almost invisible, just like a single stitch on the needle. This little good luck square is a celebration of that quiet beginning. It is meant to be a soft place to put your hopes, dreams, and wishes for the year, one row at a time, without pressure, resolutions, or perfection.

With every knit and purl, you are tracing a tiny path into the future. You can make a different wish into each section, or even into each stitch of the square: peace in the steady rhythm of the background, courage in the textured lines, joy in the little details that only you will notice. It does not need to be perfect to be powerful; its magic comes from the moment you choose to sit down, breathe, and make something just for this new chapter.

There is an old belief that what you do in the first days of the year will echo through the months that follow. If that is true, let these stitches stand for gentleness, creativity, and the promise that you will keep a little space for yourself, no matter how busy life becomes. Cast on when the year is new - or whenever you feel ready for your own fresh start. New beginnings do not have a deadline; you can step into them any day you pick up your needles.

Knit this square for your home, as a quiet talisman to keep beside your favorite mug or on your desk. Knit it for a friend who needs a soft reminder that good things can still grow slowly. Or knit it just for yourself, as a small, woolly promise that this year, you will allow yourself warmth, slowness, and moments of delight. Fold your wishes into the fabric, weave in the ends, and let this little square whisper to you all year long: you are allowed to begin again, as many times as you need.

Little Lucky Pig New Year Square

About this pattern

Knit a Little Lucky Pig New Year Square with this free knitting pattern. This DK‑weight New Year knitted square features a pig motif, clovers, and simple texture, perfect for using as a coaster, decoration, or part of a blanket. The step‑by‑step instructions include written rows, charts, and a crochet clover. I tried my best to write this pattern in a way that even a beginner can follow without trouble. If you have any questions or need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.​

Click here to download the full pattern PDF with chart.

Gauge and Finished Size

Finished Measurements:
21 cm width
17 cm height

Blocked gauge:
24 stitches and 34 rows = 10 cm
Exact gauge is not critical 

Materials for the Little Lucky Pig Square

Yarn:
DK weight yarn; I used Drops Cotton Merino.
For the clover, use a sport weight yarn.​

Yarn Requirement:
31 g each square

Needles:
4.00 mm or size to obtain gauge 

Hook: 
2.00 mm crochet hook for the clover.​

Notes:
Garter stitch is used to frame the motif; on the RS (right side) and WS (wrong side) all stitches are knit stitches. 
When using the chart, read odd Rows (WS) from left to right and even rows (RS) from right to left.

Key:
K: Knit stitch
P: Purl stitch
CO: Cast on
BO: Bind off 

Written Instructions for the New Year Square

Cast on 50 stitches

Row 1 (WS): k50
Row 2 (RS): k50
Row 3 (WS): k50
Row 4 (RS): k50

Row 5 (WS): k3, p44, k3
Row 6 (RS): k50

Row 7 (WS): k3, p12, k4, p1, k3, p4, k3, p1, k4, p12, k3
Row 8 (RS): k14, p1, k4, p1, k1, p1, k1, p4, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4, p1, k14

Row 9 (WS): k3, p11, k1, p4, k1, p3, k1, p2, k1, p3, k1, p4, k1, p11, k3
Row 10 (RS): k14, p1, k4, p1, k3, p1, k2, p1, k3, p1, k4, p1, k14

Row 11 (WS): k3, p11, k2, p2, k1, p4, k1, p2, k1, p4, k1, p2, k2, p11, k3
Row 12 (RS): k14, p1, k2, p2, k12, p2, k2, p1, k14

Row 13 (WS): k3, p12, k2, p1, k1, p12, k1, p1, k2, p12, k3
Row 14 (RS): k18, p1, k12, p1, k18

Row 15 (WS): k3, p15, k1, p12, k1, p15, k3
Row 16 (RS): k17, p4, k8, p4, k17

Row 17 (WS): k3, p12, k2, p5, k6, p5, k2, p12, k3
Row 18 (RS): k14, p1, k6, p1, k6, p1, k6, p1, k14

Row 19 (WS): k3, p10, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1, k1, p7, k1, p10, k3
Row 20 (RS): k13, p1, k7, p1, k6, p1, k7, p1, k13

Row 21 (WS): k3, p10, k1, p3, k3, p2, k1, p4, k1, p2, k3, p3, k1, p10, k3
Row 22 (RS): k13, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1, k3, p4, k3, p1, k1, p1, k3, p1, k13

Row 23 (WS): k3, p10, k1, p3, k3, p10, k3, p3, k1, p10, k3
Row 24 (RS): k14, p1, k20, p1, k14

Row 25 (WS): k3, p11, k1, p20, k1, p11, k3
Row 26 (RS): k14, p1, k20, p1, k14

Row 27 (WS): k3, p11, k2, p18, k2, p11, k3
Row 28 (RS): k13, p1, k1, p1, k18, p1, k1, p1, k13

Row 29 (WS): k3, p9, k1, p2, k1, p18, k1, p2, k1, p9, k3
Row 30 (RS): k12, p1, k3, p1, k16, p1, k3, p1, k12

Row 31 (WS): k3, p8, k1, p4, k1, p16, k1, p4, k1, p8, k3
Row 32 (RS): k11, p1, k5, p1, k14, p1, k5, p1, k11

Row 33 (WS): k3, p8, k1, p26, k1, p8, k3
Row 34 (RS): k11, p1, k7, p2, k8, p2, k7, p1, k11

Row 35 (WS): k3, p8, k1, p5, k2, p2, k8, p2, k2, p5, k1, p8, k3
Row 36 (RS): k12, p1, k2, p2, k16, p2, k2, p1, k12

Row 37 (WS): k3, p9, k3, p20, k3, p9, k3
Row 38 (RS): k50

Row 39 (WS): k3, p44, k3
Row 40 (RS): k50

Row 41 (WS): k3, p44, k3
Row 42 (RS): k50

Row 43 (WS): k3, p44, k3
Row 44 (RS): k50

Row 45 (WS): k3, p8, k5, p3, k4, p3, k5, p3, k3, p10, k3
Row 46 (RS): k12, p5, k2, p5, k2, p6, k2, p5, k11

Row 47 (WS): k3, p9, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p3, k2, p4, k2, p1, k2, p9, k3
Row 48 (RS): k12, p2, k1, p2, k3, p2, k4, p2, k2, p2, k3, p2, k13

Row 49 (WS): k3, p11, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p5, k2, p2, k4, p10, k3
Row 50 (RS): k15, p2, k2, p2, k5, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k14

Row 51 (WS): k3, p8, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p12, k3
Row 52 (RS): k12, p5, k2, p5, k2, p6, k2, p5, k11

Row 53 (WS): k3, p9, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p4, k3, p10, k3
Row 54 (RS): k50

Row 55 (WS): k3, p44, k3
Row 56 (RS): k50
Row 57 (WS): k50
Row 58 (RS): k50
Row 59 (WS): k50

BO all stitches, weave in all ends, and block the work. 

Chart for the Little Lucky Pig New Year Square

Top Hat Written Instructions

Top Hat (worked flat) Cast on 7 stitches using the long tail cast cast on. 

Row 1 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 2 (WS): k7, turn,
Row 3 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 4 (WS): k7, turn,
Row 5 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 6 (WS): k7, turn,
Row 7 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 8 (WS): k7, turn,
Row 9 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 10 (WS): k7, turn,
Row 11 (RS): k7, turn,
Row 12 (WS): k7, CO 3, turn,
Row 13 (RS): k10, CO 3, turn,
Row 14 (WS): k13,

Bind off all stitches

Top Hat

Top Hat Chart 

Stitch Key:

Shawl

Cast on 3 stitches.

Knit every row until the shawl fits comfortably around your piggy’s neck, then bind off all stitches. Add a few fringes to the ends if you like.

Don’t forget to leave a tail that is long enough to sew it onto your piggy.	The shawl will be centered over this pig motif, so be sure to stop every now and then to check if it is the right length.	Lay it on top of your piggy to see if you like the size before you sew it on.

Working French Knots for the Eyes​

When working embroidery on knits, French knots need special care so they do not slip through the fabric. On stockinette, each knit stitch looks like a little “V” made of a right and left leg. For a secure French knot, bring the needle up through one leg of the V and then back down through the other leg, instead of piercing the center of the stitch. If you work the knot through the middle of the stitch, the yarn can slide between the legs of the V and the French knot may pop to the wrong side or come loose.

Come up with your needle through the center of the right leg of your knit stitch	Wrap the yarn three times around your tapestry needle, then go down through the center of the left leg, splitting the yarn from your stitch.	Both eyes are worked using DK weight yarn.

Crochet Clover for Your New Year Square

The clover is optional. You can skip it, use small store-bought clovers and glue them to the corners, or even decorate the square with little mushrooms instead.

​

Abbreviations

ch = chain
dc = double crochet (US)
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet

Instructions

Start with a magic ring.​

All leaves are worked into the same ring:

• Ch 2, 3 dc in magic ring, ch 2, sl st in ring – first leaf made.​

• Ch 2, 3 dc in magic ring, ch 2, sl st in ring – second leaf made.​

• Ch 2, 3 dc in magic ring, ch 2, sl st in ring – third leaf made.​

• Ch 2, 3 dc in magic ring, ch 2, sl st in ring – fourth leaf made.​

Pull the magic ring tight to close the center. Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 3 ch to form the stem, sl st into the magic ring, fasten off, and weave in all ends.

Crochet Clover

Chart 

Red marks the start of the round. 

Assemble your Little Lucky Pig New Year Square

When you have finished knitting your square and all the little details, it is time to assemble everything. Lay the hat, shawl, and clover on top of your square and move them around until you like their placement. Then sew each piece in place; if you prefer, you can also use fabric glue or a hot glue gun instead of sewing.

Little Lucky Pig New Year Square

Click here to download the full pattern PDF with chart.

Conclusion 

Knit this Little Lucky Pig New Year Square whenever you need a gentle fresh start, not only on January 1st. Whether you keep it on your desk, gift it to a friend, or join several squares into a larger project, let every stitch remind you that small, slow moments still matter. As you add the hat, shawl, clovers, and tiny embroidered eyes, you are not just following a pattern - you are building a little pocket of hope, luck, and warmth to carry with you into the year ahead.​

Bild beschreibung

A Little Way to Say Thanks