Easy & Cute Crochet Pumpkin (FREE Pattern!)

Learn how to make an adorable and realistic crochet pumpkin in this step by step free crochet pattern and tutorial!

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Every year I see lots of super cute crochet pumpkins on Instagram or Pinterest, and I finally decided to sit down and create one of my own to share with you.

This free pattern makes a decent sized pumpkin that’s approximately 8″ across and 6″ tall from the bottom of the pumpkin to the top of the stem.

We’ll start by making the basic pumpkin shape, and then create a realistic looking pumpkin stem. Then you just have to stuff it and sew it all together.

If you decide you don’t want to make the stem, you could use a cinnamon stick instead and secure it to the top of the pumpkin with a bit of hot glue.

There are lots of fun options!

Let’s talk about what supplies and crochet skills you’ll need for this fall decor project.

You can get the printable, AD-FREE version of this pattern and many more over in my shop!

Best Yarn for Crochet Pumpkins

For this pumpkin, I used worsted weight acrylic yarn. I decided to double up the orange yarn so that it would be thicker and more like bulky yarn.

I like the texture you get with thicker yarn, but I had worsted weight yarn on hand.

If you want to use bulky weight yarn (size 5) for this, you could do that instead and just use one strand at a time.

As for yarn brands, I would recommend Knit Picks Brava Worsted for this project. You could use the colors “Orange” and “Peapod” and it would look great.

Full disclosure: I used Loops and Threads Impeccable acrylic yarn for this, but it’s honestly not my favorite yarn.

I just happen to have a ton of it in my yarn stash that I’m working through! lol

Stitches You’ll Need to Know

This is a fairly easy project and you’ll only need some basic crochet stitches to complete it.

The main stitch we’ll be using is the half double crochet stitch. We’ll be working in the back loop only (BLO) for the majority of this project.

You’ll also need to know how to chain, slip stitch, the single crochet stitch, and we’ll be using a magic ring or magic circle to make the top of the stem.

Don’t worry, I’ll go through the whole process with you step by step in the video below.

You’ll also need to make a running stitch using your yarn needle or tapestry needle to cinch up the top and bottom short sides of the pumpkin.

This easy pattern is a great way to increase your crochet skill level and practice a few basic stitches!

Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

Abbreviations

• st(s) – stitch(es)
• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• inc – increase (make 2 sc in the same stitch)
• BLO – work in back loop only, leaving the front loops un-worked

Notes

• Skill Level – Intermediate
• Pattern is in US terms
• If you can crochet the body of the pumpkin pretty tightly, there will be less obvious holes for the stuffing to show through.

Finished Measurements

Crochet pumpkin is approximately 8″ across (when looking down from the top) and 6″ tall from the bottom to the top of the stem.

Tools and Materials

• worsted weight acrylic yarn in the following colors
• orange (either get two skeins or use the center end and outer end of one skein of yarn at once – you’ll need to work with two strands of the orange)
• green (one skein)
• 5.5 mm hook (for pumpkin)
• 4.25 mm hook (for stem)
• a few handfuls of Poly-Fil stuffing
• scissors
• yarn needle

Instructions

Check out the video tutorial for this project over on my YouTube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Main Pumpkin Body

FOUNDATION ROW: Hold two strands of orange yarn together and attach it to your 5.5 mm hook with a slip knot. Ch 27 times.

ROW 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and rest of ch down the row, ch 1, turn. (26 sts)

ROW 2: Hdc in the BLO of each st, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 3-32: Repeat row 2.

At this point you’ll have a long, ribbed orange rectangle.

Fold it together, matching up the short sides.

Sl st the two short sides together.

Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail that’s at least 2.5 times longer than the short side of the pumpkin. Finish off.

Turn the pumpkin right side out, so the seam you just made is on the inside.

Cinching up the bottom of the pumpkin

Thread the long tail of yarn onto your yarn needle. Sew a running stitch around the bottom opening of the pumpkin to close it up.

This is basically the same thing you would do if you were closing the top of a crochet hat.

Pull it tight and tie a secure knot to hold it closed.

Sew across the hole in a plus sign or cross shape to close the hole up the rest of the way, tie a knot to secure, and cut the excess yarn leaving the tails on the inside of the pumpkin.

Put some stuffing inside the pumpkin. You’ll get to add more later, but put enough to fill it out pretty well.

Cinching up the top of the pumpkin

Cut another piece of yarn to sew up the top of the pumpkin. I kept my yarn doubled up, although I’m not sure it’s necessary. It makes it stronger though.

You’ll want this piece to be longer, maybe about an arms length long. Later we’ll be using this yarn to make the ridges in the sides of the pumpkin and you’ll need extra yarn for that.

Mine ended up not being quite long enough to make all the ridges, so I had to add some extra yarn which was fine. Either way works!

Thread your yarn onto you needle and sew a running stitch around this side, being careful to leave a long enough tail at the start to tie it up securely.

Partially cinch this end of the pumpkin up, but don’t tie it off yet because we’ll be adding more stuffing in a bit.

Set your pumpkin aside and now it’s time to make the stem.

Making the Stem

Grab your smaller hook and the green yarn. For this part, you’ll only hold one strand of yarn.

Make a magic loop.

Sc 6 times inside magic loop and tighten the loop to form a circle.

Inc in each sc (make 2 sc in each st) around. (12 sts)

Sl st to first sc of row.

Ch 10 times. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 8 sc. (9 sc total)

*Sl st into next 2 sts of circle.

Turn. Skip the two sl st you just made, and sc in the BLO of 9 sc. Ch 1, turn.

Sc in BLO of 9 sc.*

Repeat from * to * until you’ve sl st into all the sts of the circle.

If this is confusing, please watch the video!

Make the last row of 9 sc in the BLO going down and back. Sl st into the starting st of original ch 10.

Now we’re going to sl st together the sides of the stem.

Turn the stem inside out.

Hold the two sides together and sl st down the row in all 9 sc. Finish off, leaving a long tail to sew the stem to the pumpkin (at least a foot or so).

Tighten up the magic loop end and knot the yarn so it doesn’t come open. Finish off.

Turn the stem right side out. Add a bit of stuffing to give it dimension and set it aside for now.

Finishing the Pumpkin

Back to the pumpkin- add more stuffing until it’s filled quite full. Leave a hole in the center so it’s easier to squish down the middle of the pumpkin.

Once you have a good amount of stuffing, cinch the top closed and knot the yarn.

Thread the long tail we left earlier onto your yarn needle and now we’re going to make the ridges.

Insert the needle through the bottom of the pumpkin, wrapping the yarn around the outside.

Make sure it’s lined up where you want the first ridge and pull it to tighten it up. Tie a knot at the top center of the pumpkin to hold the ridge tight.

Repeat that around, making as many ridges as you like. I went with 5.

If your piece of yarn ends up being too short (like mine), tie it off and stuff the excess inside the pumpkin.

Cut another piece of yarn long enough to make your remaining ridges and continue on.

Once you have all the ridges made, make an overhand knot with the loose ends and thread them onto the needle.

Insert them down through the center of the pumpkin to the bottom.

If there’s still a bit of a hole on this side, you can use a crochet hook to bring one yarn end through on either side of the hole and tie a knot to close it up. This is optional.

Use the yarn needle to pull the ends through the side of the pumpkin and cut off the excess yarn.

Attaching the Stem

Last but not least, it’s time to attach the stem.

Thread the long piece of yarn coming out of the bottom of the stem onto your needle.

Center the stem on the top of the pumpkin over the hole. Sew the stem to the pumpkin going back and forth with a whip stitch.

Knot the yarn and weave the end up through the stem and cut off the excess yarn.

Done!

If you make one of these cute crochet pumpkins, please share a pic over on Instagram and tag me @marchingnorth so I can take a look.

I love seeing all of your awesome creations!

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