Free Crochet Pumpkin Pattern: 3 Sizes + Any Yarn

Looking for an easy crochet pumpkin pattern to make this fall? Grab your hook and get started with this free pumpkin pattern. Whether you’re crafting a few for your home or gearing up for craft fair season, you’ll love this easy fall crochet project.

Free Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

If you’re looking for a super simple project to get into the fall spirit, you’ll love these cute crocheted pumpkins!

In this post, I’ll walk you through a quick and easy pattern that you can use to make fall decor for your home or sell at seasonal craft fairs. They’re worked flat with an easy combination of basic stitches, so the perfect choice for beginner crocheters. No complex shaping required!

I’ll also show you how to adapt the basic pattern to make different sizes of pumpkins using any yarn you like – from extra small to extra large!

About the Design

When designing this pattern, my goal was to simplify the construction to make it as easy as possible. After testing many different techniques, I’ve found this to be the most straightforward method:

We’ll start by crocheting a flat piece of fabric, working back and forth. Then, we’ll gather the sides to create a tube. After adding a few handfuls of fiberfill stuffing, we’ll cinch the top and bottom closed to create that signature pumpkin shape.

The final touch is adding a stem – you can either crochet one or use a small twig or cinnamon stick.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Yarn: For this project, I’m using worsted-weight yarn (CYC 4) such as Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Premium Yarn, in a shade of pumpkin orange. If you’d like to crochet a stem, you’ll also need a small amount of brown or green yarn.
• Crochet Hook: Choose a crochet hook that’s one or two sizes smaller than the size recommended on the yarn label, like a US size G (4.0mm) crochet hook. (Here’s my favorite inexpensive hook.) Using a smaller hook makes the fabric tighter and sturdier.
• Tapestry Needle: You’ll need a tapestry or yarn needle with a large eye and blunt tip to sew up the top and bottom of your pumpkin. 
• Scissors: Have a good pair of sharp crafting scissors on hand for cutting yarn.
• Stuffing: Stuff your finished pumpkin firmly with a few handfuls of polyester fiberfill toy stuffing. 

Making Smaller or Larger Pumpkins: You can substitute other types of yarn to change the size of your pumpkin. Choose a DK or Sport weight for a smaller pumpkin. Choose a bulky yarn or even a super-bulky weight yarn for a larger pumpkin. Whichever weight yarn you choose, make sure to use a crochet hook that’s one or two sizes smaller than you’d normally use. (Check out this crochet hook size chart for more info.)

Crochet Techniques to Know

Here are the basic crochet stitches we’ll use in this project.

1. Slip Stitch (sl st): To make a slip stitch, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on the hook.
2. Single Crochet (sc): To make a single crochet, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook). Yarn over again and pull through both loops to complete the stitch.
3. Half Double Crochet (hdc): This stitch is taller than a single crochet. To make an hdc, yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over again and pull through all 3 loops to complete the stitch.
4. Working in the Back Loops (blo): Normally, we work through both top loops of a stitch. But in this project, we’ll work in the back loops only to create a ribbed texture. To do this, insert the hook under the back loop only. Then, complete the stitch as usual.

Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

Skill Level

Beginner – Easy. This project uses basic stitches in a repetitive stitch pattern with simple shaping and finishing.

Finished Sizes

• Small: 4″ wide and 4″ tall, including stem
• Medium: 5″ wide and 5″ tall, including stem
• Large: 6″ wide and 6″ tall, including stem

Read the notes at the end of the pattern to learn how to modify the stitch count to make any size you like.

Materials

• Yarns: Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Premium Yarn.
• Hook: US size G (4.0mm) crochet hook, or size needed to meet gauge.

Gauge

20 st and 15 rows = 4″ x 4″ in hdc-blo stitch pattern

If you want to crochet a pumpkin the same size as mine, aim for a piece of fabric that measures 6″ wide and about 12″ long before seaming.

Terms and Abbreviations

Here are the crochet abbreviations used in this pattern. Note that all instructions are written in US terms.

• blo = back loops only
• ch = chain(s)
• dc = double crochet
• fpdc = front post double crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Special Stitches

We’ll use the front post double crochet stitch to create texture on the pumpkin stem. Front post double crochet is very similar to the double crochet stitch — you’ll just insert your hook in a different spot.

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of corresponding stitch below, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook). Yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops on the hook). Yarn over, and draw through 2 loops on the hook.

Pattern Notes

• The pattern is written in US terms.
• The pumpkin is worked flat in rows, then seamed to create a tube. Then, the top and bottom are gathered using a running stitch.

Pattern Instructions

Small Size

1. Row 1: Ch 21. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, and working in blo for all stitches, make 2 sl st, 4 sc, 8 hdc, 4 sc, 2 sl st. Turn. (20 sts)
2. Row 2: Ch 1. Working in blo, make 2 sl st, 4 sc, 8 hdc, 4 sc, 2 sl st. Turn. (20 sts)
3. Repeat Row 2 for a total of 34 rows.
4. Continue with the seaming and stuffing steps described below.

Medium Size (pictured)

1. Row 1: Ch 31. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, and working in blo for all stitches, make 3 sl st, 6 sc, 12 hdc, 6 sc, 3 sl st. Turn. (30 sts)
2. Row 2: Ch 1. Working in blo, make 3 sl st, 6 sc, 12 hdc, 6 sc, 3 sl st. Turn. (30 sts)
3. Repeat Row 2 for a total of 46 rows, or until the piece measures 12 in long. (It is a little tricky to measure the piece since it will start to curl as you work. I pressed it flat on a tabletop, and measured across the center at the widest point.)
4. Continue with the seaming and stuffing steps described below.

Large Size

1. Row 1: Ch 41. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, and working in blo for all stitches, make 4 sl st, 8 sc, 16 hdc, 8 sc, 4 sl st. Turn. (40 sts)
2. Row 2: Ch 1. Working in blo, make 4 sl st, 8 sc, 16 hdc, 8 sc, 4 sl st. Turn. (40 sts)
3. Repeat Row 2 for a total of 60 rows.
4. Continue with the seaming and stuffing steps described below.

Finishing (All Sizes)

Here are the steps to finish the pumpkin.

1. Seam the sides
2. Gather the top.
3. Stuff the pumpkin.
4. Gather the bottom.
5. Add sculpting stitches (optional)
6. Add a stem (optional).

Seaming the Sides

Now, we’ll join the two short edges to create a tube. Here are two options for joining the sides of the rectangle.

Option A: Slip Stitch Seam

The first option is to join the sides with a simple slip-stitch seam:

Fold the piece in half, with the short sides together and the working row facing you. Make a final row of slip stitches, inserting the hook through both loops of the current row and the remaining loop of the starting chain.

Option B: Mattress Stitch Seam

Or, if you prefer, you can join the sides together with a mattress stitch seam.

1. Fold the piece in half, with the short sides together.
2. Thread a yarn needle with a piece of yarn about 3 times the length of the seam.
3. Insert the needle under the first stitch on one side, then the first stitch on the other side.
4. Continue weaving back and forth, matching up the stitches on each side.
5. Pull the yarn gently tight every few stitches. Be careful not to over-tighten.
6. Weave in ends.

Gather the Top of the Pumpkin

Next, we’ll gather the top edge to make a 3D pumpkin shape.

1. First, turn your inside out to hide the seam on the inside. Then, turn the pumpkin so the raised “V” ridges point downwards. (This way, the ridges more closely resemble a knitted texture.)
2. Then, thread a yarn needle with a length of yarn. Sew a basic running stitch along the top edge, weaving in and out of the stitches.
3. Pull the ends of the yarn to draw the stitches closed. Gather the stitches tightly so that you have a nice cinched pumpkin top! Tie a knot, weave in the ends, and trim any excess yarn.

Stuff the Pumpkin

Next, stuff the pumpkin with fiberfill through the bottom opening. Gently fill out the shape, being careful not to overstuff – you don’t want to see the fiberfill peek out through the holes of the stitches. 

Gather the Bottom of the Pumpkin

Once your pumpkin is stuffed, we’ll cinch up the bottom opening. Just like before, thread a tapestry needle with matching yarn and sew a running stitch across the lower edge. Pull the yarn ends to gather the bottom stitches closed. Tie a knot, cut the excess yarn, and weave in the ends.

Add a Few “Sculpting” Stitches

Your pumpkin is technically complete at this point, but we can take it a step further for a more realistic look. I like to add some strategic stitches to create a sculpted, “squashed” pumpkin shape.

Grab your yarn needle again and thread it with more matching yarn. Take long vertical stitches down through the center of the pumpkin, from the stem end to the base. Squish the center of the pumpkin and tighten up these stitches to give the pumpkin a more realistic shape. Knot the yarn to secure, and weave in the ends.

In this example, I made four stitches down through the center of the pumpkin, overlapping them in an X shape (almost like sewing on a button.)

Adding a Stem

Here are a few different ways to make a stem for your pumpkin:

• For a natural look, use hot glue to adhere a small twig or cinnamon stick to the top of your pumpkin.
• Or follow along with the instructions below to crochet a stem with coordinating yarn.

Pumpkin Stem Pattern

1. Round 1: Make a magic ring, ch 2 (does not count as a st), 6 dc into the ring. Join with a sl st. (6 sts)
2. Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), fpdc in each st around. Join with sl st. (6 sts)
3. Repeat Round 2 until the stem reaches the desired length. (I made 5 rounds for a Medium size pumpkin.)
4. Leaving a long tail, fasten off. Thread a tapestry needle with the long yarn tail, and sew the stem to the top of the pumpkin. Weave in the ends.

Note: If you are making the Small Size, try starting with 5 dc instead of 6 to make a thinner stem. Likewise, if you are making the Large size, try starting with 7dc for a thicker stem.

Customizing Your Pumpkin: Any Size + Any Yarn Weight

Over the years, many people have asked, “Can I make this with a different yarn?” Absolutely!

Substituting color: Don’t limit yourself to just orange. Pumpkins look great in any color! For a modern twist, try using muted pastels or even neutral shades.

Changing the yarn weight: Thicker yarns, like bulky or super bulky weight yarn, will make larger pumpkins, while thinner yarns will create smaller ones.

Changing the stitch count: What if you want to make an extra large pumpkin, or maybe an extra small size? In that case, you can even change the stitch count of the pattern to make any size pumpkin you want. Just follow the general proportions of the pattern: 1 part sl st, 2 parts sc, 4 parts hdc, 2 parts sc, 1 part sl st.

In the photo above, you can see an example of how different yarn weights affect the size of the finished pumpkin.

• The yellow pumpkin is a Size Small made with an Aran weight yarn (Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Arrowwood.) and a US H (5mm) hook. The piece measured 5″ by 10″ before seaming.
• The orange pumpkin is a Size Medium made with a light Worsted weight yarn (Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Premium Yarn) and a US G (4mm) hook. The piece measured 6″ by 12″ before seaming.
• The light blue pumpkin is a Size Small made with Bulky weight yarn (Bernat Softee Chunky in Seagreen) and a size 7mm hook. The piece measured 7″ by 14″ before seaming.

More Free Crochet Patterns

If you love to crochet, I think you’ll enjoy these other patterns.

• Easy Ribbed Beanie Crochet Pattern
• Classic Crochet Baby Booties Pattern
• Free Ribbed Crochet Scarf Pattern

What’s Next?

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