I created this design in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic was only just beginning as an exposure therapy exercise for myself. After all, nothing is scary when you put a silly face on it, right? I posted the pattern on my blog for free and was absolutely astonished by the incredible response it received from the crochet community. Over the past six years, hundreds of people have made their own versions of this little yarn virus, and I’ve been delighted and honored to see them all. Now it’s March 2026 and I’m excited to be putting a spiffed-up PDF of this design in my Etsy shop. Maybe you’re a science nerd, a healthcare worker, or a teacher. Or maybe you just want to make it so you can chuck it at your friends and tell them they “caught” the coronavirus. Whatever the case, I hope you have fun with this pattern, and I’m wishing you good health.

Skill Level: Easy

Finished Size: About 4” (7.5 cm) tall and wide, including the corona

Materials:
-- Worsted-weight yarn in two colors: I chose gray for the base and red for the spiky bits, which are the “corona” that the virus is named after. You’ll need about 50 yards (x m) in each color.
-- G (4.00 mm) crochet hook
-- Stitch marker (if you don’t have a traditional one from the store, try using a yarn scrap, paperclip, or bobby pin)
-- Fiberfill stuffing—alternatively, you could fill it with rice or plastic pellets so you can chuck it at people. (If you choose this option, be sure to put the filling inside a nylon stocking or sock so it doesn’t fall out through the stitches.)
-- 2x 12mm plastic safety eyes
-- Small amount of black yarn or embroidery floss to embroider face
-- Yarn needle