Crochet Fall Pumpkins: A Free Seasonal Pattern

Crocheted pumpkins are the perfect seasonal project: quick, forgiving, endlessly variable in size and color, and they store flat when the season is over. I make a small batch every September to scatter across the mantel and hand out as hostess gifts, and I've never met anyone who didn't want one.

This pattern gives you three sizes — small (about 3 inches), medium (about 5 inches), and large (about 7 inches) — with the same construction. Learn one, and you can make every size. A medium pumpkin takes about 90 minutes from start to stem.

Construction overview

You'll crochet a flat rectangle, seam the short ends together to form a tube, gather the top and bottom closed with the yarn tails, stuff, wrap yarn around the outside to form the ridges, and add a stem. It's simpler than it sounds — the ridges are just yarn wrapped tightly around the ball at even intervals.

The pattern (medium size)

Chain 26. Row 1: hdc in the third chain from the hook and every chain across, turn (24 hdc).

Row 2: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), hdc in each stitch across, turn (24 hdc).

Rows 3–20: repeat row 2. You should have a rectangle roughly 6 inches wide and 5–6 inches tall.

Fasten off with a long tail — at least 24 inches — for seaming and closing the top.

For small and large pumpkins

Small: chain 18. Work 14 rows total. Large: chain 34. Work 26 rows total. All other instructions stay the same.

Assembly

With right sides together, fold the rectangle so the short ends meet, forming a tube. Whip-stitch the seam using the long tail. Turn right-side out.

Thread a tapestry needle with the seam tail. Run a running stitch around one open end (front loops only), pull tight to gather closed, and secure. This is the bottom of your pumpkin.

Stuff firmly with fiberfill — more than you think you need. Repeat the running stitch around the top opening, pull tight, and secure but don't cut the yarn yet.

Creating the ridges

Thread a fresh 3-foot length of yarn onto a tapestry needle. Push the needle down through the center top of the pumpkin, out the center bottom, then bring it up the outside and back through the center top. Pull firmly — this creates the first ridge.

Continue wrapping the outside of the pumpkin, spacing the wraps evenly. For a medium pumpkin, 6–8 evenly-spaced wraps look best. Between wraps, always pass the needle through the top and bottom center holes to keep the pumpkin's shape. Knot off firmly on top when you're done and weave the tail in.

Adding the stem

Trim a small twig or a piece of cinnamon stick to about 1.5 inches. Push it into the gathered top opening, and use a scrap of matching yarn to whip-stitch around the base of the stem, anchoring it firmly to the pumpkin top.

Optional: cut a small felt or wool leaf shape, and stitch it to the base of the stem for extra detail. A short length of jute twine wrapped once around the stem base and knotted also looks lovely.

Color combinations that look expensive

• Cream, sage green and warm rust — the classic 'natural farmhouse' trio.
• All cream in three sizes — an unexpectedly modern grouping.
• Deep burgundy with a black stem — dramatic and slightly gothic.
• Pale terracotta, dusty pink and cream — a modern autumn palette.
• Undyed wool with cinnamon-stick stems — the closest thing to a real heirloom look.