Knitted Pumpkins
My favourite time of year has arrived, making pumpkins! I don’t have a garden of my own so making them out of yarn. I have crocheted them in the past in this video but for the past couple of years, I’ve been knitting them. I recently added a cable knit pattern to my shop. I love the texture but if you’re looking for a simpler striped pumpkin knitted pattern, I’ve got you covered with this free pattern—pumpkins for everyone. I used dpn’s (double pointed needles) the pattern is worked in a round. The pumpkin I made and photographed was made with DK yarn, I used 4mm sized needle and the finished size is approx. 16cm wide x 10cm tall. Yours will vary depending on how much stuffing you add and the yarn you use.
What you will need:
Yarn, Orange, Green and Brown.
Needles at least 4, use the correct sized needles for the yarn you’re using.
Scissors
Darning needle
Toy stuffing
Pumpkin Pattern:
CO 6 sts (use your preferred cast on method) in Green
Row 1 - KFB repeat to end (12 sts)
Row 2 - Knit, whilst transferring onto the three dpn’s, to join round on next row
Row 3 - *K1, YO, repeat from * to end (24 sts, 8 per dpn)
Row 4 - Knit
Row 5 - *K1, YO, K1, repeat from * to end (36 sts, 12 per dpn)
Row 6 - Knit
Row 7 - *K1, YO, K1, repeat from * to end (54 sts, 18 per dpn)
Row 8 - Knit
Row 9 - *K2, YO, K1, repeat from * to end (72 sts, 24 per dpn)
Row 10 - Knit
Row 11 - *K2, YO, K1, repeat from * to end (96 sts, 32 per dpn)
Row 12 - Knit
Rows 13 to 20 - Knit in Orange
Rows 21 to 24 - Knit in Green
Rows 25 to 26 - Knit in Orange
Rows 27 to 34 - Knit in Green
Rows 35 to 36 - Knit in Orange
Rows 37 to 44 - Knit in Green
Rows 45 to 46 - Knit in Orange
Rows 47 to 50 - Knit in Green
Rows 51 to 58 - Knit in Orange
Continue in Green to finish the Pumpkin
Row 47 - *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end (72 sts, 24 per dpn)
Row 48 - Knit
Add toy stuffing, don’t over fill
Row 49 - *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end (54 sts, 18 per dpn)
Row 50 - Knit
Row 51 - *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end (36 sts, 12 per dpn)
Row 52 - Knit
You may want to add more stuffing at this point, again, don’t over stuff.
Row 53 - *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end (24 sts, 8 per dpn)
Row 54 - Knit
Row 55 - K2tog 12 times (12 sts, 4 per dpn)
Row 56 - K2tog 6 times (6 sts, 2 per dpn)
Cut a long tail and thread on a darning needle, sew the tail end through all the remaining sts, pull tight and fasten off with a knot, and weave in the tail ends from top and bottom.
Pumpkin Finishing
Now you need to define the segments of the pumpkin, I created 6 segments on my pumpkin, but you can add more or less. Remember the more segments you create the firmer your pumpkin will be.
Cut a piece of yarn about 90cm long, and using a darning needle sew through the top of the pumpkin to the bottom in the centre, pull the yarn through, leaving about 30cm out of the top to use to pull the rest of the stitches tight.
Sew up through the bottom to the top of the pumpkin, pull the yarn until you have the desired look. Repeat this on the opposite side of the pumpkin, and then repeat for the other segments.
You can always start again with creating the segments until you have the desired look. Once finished tie off the yarn firmly and weave in all the loose ends.
Stalk
With stalk-coloured yarn, leave a long tail before casting on, you will need this to attach the stalk to the pumpkin.
CO - 11 sts,
Row 1 - K
Row 2 - P
Cast off all sts, and leave the same length tail as at the start to help with attaching to the finished pumpkin.
Weave ends so that they are on the same end.
Once the pumpkin has been finished you can then attach your stalk by sewing again through the middle centre of the pumpkin, tie off and weave in the ends of the stalk.