If you know me or have been following me for any amount of time, you know that I LOVE everything Fall! And of course that includes pumpkins!

With this being my second pumpkin pattern, I wanted to design a quick and easy pumpkin that you could make in a pinch for fall markets.  It was also important that it have a great texture.  I played around with a few stitch combinations, but ultimately landed on front post DC stitches.  The size of the pumpkin is easily adjusted by adding rounds or switching the yarn weight!

Making these in chunky or bulky weight makes it a perfect size. Worsted weight yarn will yield you the most adorable mini pumpkin.

Pumpkin Leaf Tags add a unique touch to your pumpkin!

Written in Standard US Terms / Advanced Beginner Pattern

This pattern is very quick to make and is fairly easy. You will need the following skills to complete it:

  • Working in joined rounds
  • Double Crochet (DC)
  • Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC) tutorial linked below if you do not know how to do this stich.
  • Front Post Double Crochet Decrease (FPDCDEC) tutorial linked below if you do not know how to do this stich.
  • Fastening off

You can purchase the add free PDF here, which includes more step by step photos.

Materials

• 5mm H hook and up (SEE PATTERN NOTES BELOW)
• Yarn in any weight, preferably 4, 5 or 6
• Polyfill
• Optional: cork, cinnamon stick, stick or buttons for stem.
Pumpkin leaf tag, optional.
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Pattern Key

• CH – Chain
• DC – Double Crochet
• FPDC – Front Post DC
• FPDCDEC – two FPDC together. – YouTube Tutorial
• SLST – Slip Stitch
• F/O – Fasten Off

Gauge:

Gauge is not important for this project. Bigger the hook and yarn, bigger the pumpkin!

Pattern notes:

• You can easily make a bigger pumpkin by simply using a bigger hook and/or larger weight yarn. You can also repeat Round 4 until you have the height you desire.


• The pumpkin is made in joined rounds, do not turn.


• The market pumpkin starts with a Magic Ring. If you are not familiar or comfortable with this technique, CH4 and join to first CH to form a ring. Then work the first Round into the ring.


• The pumpkin shown in this pattern was made with worsted weight yarn and a 5mm hook using the lowest amount of rounds.


• Hook recommendations:
o Worsted Weight/ Size 4 yarn – 5mm/H
o Chunky Weight / Size 5 yarn – 6mm/J
o Bulky Weight / Size 6 Yarn – 6.5 or 7mm/ K or L

This picture showcases the different sizes yielded when using different weight yarn.

The top left pumpkin is the largest, made with size 6 Woolease from Lion brand. The one on the right is size 5, and the bottom one is size 4.

This picture demonstrates how you can change it up by adjusting your hook size and the number of rows with the same yarn.

For the one on the right, I followed the worsted weight instructions in the pattern. For the one on the left, I went up a hook size and repeated Round 4 an additional 5 Times.

Pattern:

Round 1: CH1, 12DC in Magic Ring. Join to first DC

Round 2: CH1, *2FPDC in first, SLST in next* Repeat from * to * around. Join to first. (18)

Round 3: CH1, *2FPDC in next two FPDC stitches, SLST in next* Repeat from * to * around. Join to first. (30)

My beautiful hook is made by Love Stitches All

Round 4-? (For the small pumpkin, I stopped at Round 8): CH1, *FPDC in next four FPDC stitches, SLST in next* Repeat from * to * around. Join to first. (30)

****For a noticeably larger pumpkin, I like to stop at Round 13

Round 9 or Last Decrease Round: CH1 Make a FPDCDEC over every two FPDC stitches skipping each SLST Join to first. (12)

Stuff pumpkin lightly, do not firmly pack, as when you make the sections in the next step, the pumpkin will get smaller.

Closing up:

  • Start making a SLST in every other ST (6 stitches). 
  • After slip stitching closed, FO, leave a long tail keeping in mind you will be closing the pumpkin and wrapping it around the pumpkin several times to make the sections.
  • Weave yarn through the front loops of the SLST’s and pull closed.
After the slip stitches

Defining the Sections:

  • With a yarn needle, take your yarn down along one of the SLST ridges and back up through the middle of the pumpkin from the bottom to the top and pull as tight as you wish.  Keeping in mind the tighter you pull, the shorter the pumpkin and the more the stuffing may show through. 
  • Repeat this step for the remaining SLST ridges.

Stems & Finishing Touches:

Below are two crocheted stem options depending on the yarns you use.

Small Stem:  Recommended when using the SAME weight yarn as the pumpkin

Using a hook 2 or more sizes smaller than what you used for the pumpkin:

Round 1: 6 HDC in MR. join, CH1 (8)

Round 2: In back most 3rd loop SC in each stitch around, join, CH1 (6)

Round 3: SC in first 2, DC in next 2, SC in last 2, join, CH1 (6) 

Round 4: SC in each stitch around, join, CH1 (6) 

Round 5: 2SC in each around. Join and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (12)

Stuff with beginning end and a little poly-fill if needed.

Small Stem shown on Worsted weight. The DC stitches in Round 3 give the stem a subtle bend.

Large Stem: Recommended when using a SMALLER WEIGHT yarn than what you used for the pumpkin.

Using a hook 2 or more sizes smaller than what you used for the pumpkin:

Round 1: 8 HDC in MR. join, CH1 (8)

Round 2: In back most 3rd loop SC in each stitch around, join, CH1 (8)

Round 3: SC in first 2, DC in next 4, SC in last 2, join, CH1 (8) 

Round 4: SC in each stitch around, join, CH1 (8) 

Round 5: 2 SC in each around. Join and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (16)

Stuff with beginning end and a little poly-fill if needed.

Pumpkin leaf tags are available in

Now it’s time to finish it all up! Personally, I think this part is the most fun!

If you are using Pumpkin Leaf Tags, I prefer to sew them on after the stem, so don’t cut the end off of your pumpkin just yet!

Sew on your stem if that is what you are using and any other embellishments. And there you go!

I cannot wait to see all of your market pumpkins in all the yarns!

Visit my blog on my website, www.kathyskozies.com for more patterns. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram

Pattern and images are Copyright ©Kathy’s Kozies, Forget-Me-Not Creations LLC. Please do not reproduce and redistribute this pattern or images in this pattern as your own. Not for commercial use.

You are welcome to sell your finished piece, but if you do, I ask that you specify Kathy’s Kozies as the original designer and provide a link back to my pattern.