Pumpkin

This year I finally made some pumpkins to get that autumn vibe and match the yellowing leaves outside.

I tried several ribbed shapes and finally chose one which I think looks best with medium-sized pumpkins.

They were very easy to make and one pumpkin takes about 30 minutes or less depending on how fast you crochet.

'Ingredients' required:

• any chunky yarn of your preferred colour (6mm, I used about 40g maximum of Chunky Paintbox yarn) for the pumpkin and some brown one for the tail (I used about 10-20g maximum)

• crochet hook 5.5mm (or 5mm, smaller than the yarn to not leave any visible gaps)

• stuffing (I used hollowfibre filling from Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RBCFJLJ )

• measuring tape or ruler

• scissors

• yarn needle

In summary, you will be making a ribbed rectangle with the dimensions ratio of 1:3 to 1:2 (width:length) depending on your preferences, sew it together, sew the bottom, add the filling, sew the top and crochet a pumpkin tail or sew one on. 

You can find this pattern either as a printable digital pattern (instant download), as a kit or even as the final product in my Etsy shop. Thank you for your support!

Some people like adding a cinnamon stick and tying it with a jute twine ribbon instead of the crochet pumpkin tail because making the tail tends to be the most laborious part. 

If you get stuck at any point, please contact me on Etsy. Crocheting is very much a sharing community. However, please do not copy, edit, distribute or sell patterns and photos in part or whole as your own. You are welcome to make and sell finished items using my patterns but please acknowledge me and my Etsy shop as the creator.

The Pumpkin Body 

Row 1: Start with a slipknot and chain 18 loops (this will determine the height of the pumpkin, to make the pumpkin larger, chain a maximum of 21 loops).

Row 2: Next, identify the bumps behind the loops you just made. This is a special foundation row, where you will make a single crochet stitch (SC) in each of these bumps. If this proves to be too difficult, make the SCs in each loop instead of the bumps.

Row 3: Turn your work around, you will always be crocheting from right to left. Identify the back loops of the SCs of the previous row and chain one to bring yourself to the right height for the stitches. You will be making a half-double crochet (HDC) in the back loop of all those stitches. 

Row 4 – end: Repeat row 3 another 31 times (total 34 rows) or until you reach your desired width (a good proportion for the pumpkin will be given by an initial rectangle with a ratio of width:length between 1:3 and 1:2, e.g., 6 inches wide and 16 inches long). Experiment with this ratio for the three different pumpkins to see which one you like best!

Now, stitch the two (short) sides together by either sewing them or by joining them with slip stitches. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing the bottom of the pumpkin.

To sew the bottom, insert the yarn tail through the yarn needle and go back and forth through the top of the rows and pull tight to secure it. Finish by sewing diagonally a few times to close the gap.

Push the needle towards the inside of the pumpkin and bring it to the top of the pumpkin. Then place the filling on the inside but do not overfill it or else it will become visible through the stitches. Stitch closed the top of the pumpkin just like you closed the bottom and make a knot at the end. 

Finally, to shape the pumpkin, push the needle back and forth from the top to the bottom and vice versa. This gives it a squished natural look. Secure and cut the excess yarn.

The Pumpkin Tail

Now we will start making the pumpkin’s tail. First, we will attach the brown yarn and make slip stitches in a circle around the pumpkin’s centre.

Row 1. Attach the hook through a loop close to the centre of the pumpkin. Then pull through the brown yarn and make one chain.

Insert the hook through another pumpkin loop nearby and make a slip stitch. Repeat until you made a circle of brown slip stitches around the centre of the pumpkin. Make the final slip stitch through the first stitch you made with the brown yarn to connect the circle. This will be the base or the foundation row of the pumpkin’s tail.

Row 2. Chain one and make an HDC in each foundation stitch of the tail’s base, then slip stitch into the top of the first HDC and chain one.

Row 3. For the next row, make a back post HDC around two of the HDCs posts from the previous round, followed by a front post HDC around the next two HDCs posts and so on until the end of the row and slip stitch into the top of the first HDC.

Now, remove the crochet hook and tie a knot to secure it. Insert the yarn through the yarn needle’s eye and sew the top of the tail off by going back and forth with the needle through the sides of the tail. Make a knot, hide the yarn and cut the excess.

Optional: add a curly tail (curlique) next to the main one on your pumpkin to give it a more realistic look. See the pattern for curliques on my blog here.