Chunky Rustic Pumpkins

I thought I had satisfied my pumpkin craving with my last pattern made with velvet yarn. But sometimes I just cannot get ideas out of my head and I wanted to see what combining front and back post double crochet would look like in a pumpkin. So during Friday night movie night with my kiddos I whipped up this quick and easy pattern. I hope you enjoy!

Materials

  • 1 ball of chunky yarn (#6) in colour of your choice.  I used Bernat Softee Chunky. Approximately 50 yards.
  • Small amount of light weight (#3) yarn in brown colour.  I used Lion Brand Coboo in Taupe.
  • 5.25 mm and 3.00 mm crochet hook.
  • Tapestry needle.
  • Small amount of stuffing for pumpkin and stem.

Size

This pattern makes a pumpkin that is approximately 4″ wide by 3.5″ tall plus stem.

Gauge

Not applicable

Stitches

ch – chain

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

fpdc – front post double crochet

  • yarn over, insert hook behind the post of the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops on the hook.

bpdc- back post double crochet

  • yarn over, insert hook in front of the post of the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops on the hook.

slst – slip stitch

Pattern

Pumpkin

Use a 5.00 mm or 5.25 mm crochet hook and chunky weight (#6) yarn.

Leaving a long tail, ch 29, join to first chain to work in the round, chain 2. Note: The ch 2 at the start of each round will count as the first stich

Figure 1.  Join to work in the round, then chain 2 which will count as the first stitch.

Round 1: In the next ch and each ch after, dc. You will have 30 stitches including the ch 2. Join to the top of the ch 2 at the start, ch 2.

Figure 2.  The first row will have 1 ch 2 “stitch” at the beginning and 29 dc.  After joining to the top of the ch 2 stitch, ch 2 to make the first “stitch” of the 2nd round.

Round 2: Starting with the next stitch, then bpdc *fpdc, bpdc, bpdc* and repeat around, place a fpdc in the last stitch, join and ch 2.

Figure 3.  To start the bpdc, insert the hook in front of the post of the next stitch (instead of under the v at the top).  Here you can just see the hook passing in front of the next post.
Figure 4.  View from the top of starting the bpdc by yarning over then inserting the hook in front of the post of the next stitch.  The post “bumps out” towards the back of the work.
Figure 5.  After inserting the hook in front of the post in the bpdc stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop then yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook as you would in a normal dc.
Figure 6.  To start the fpdc, yarn over and insert the hook behind the post of the next stitch.
Figure 7.  Next in the fpdc, yarn over and pull hook back from behind the post so that you will have 3 loops on your hook with your yarn tail on the other side of the post.
Figure 8.  With the stitch being worked around the post, you can continue as you would for a normal dc by yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on your hook, then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.
Figure 9.  By switching between bpdc and fpdc you get a great texture that mimics the groves on a real pumpkin.

Round 3 to 8: Repeat Round 2. Fasten off leaving a long tail.

Figure 10.  After joining the end of Round 8 to its beginning, fasten off.  You should have long tails at the beginning and end of the work.  Note:  by using the ch 2 at the start of each round as a stitch, there is no visible seam on the finished piece.

With a tapestry needle, sew a gathering stitch along the bottom of the first row with the long tail from the start of the work. Pull tightly to cinch closed, secure and weave in end.

Figure 11.  With a tapestry needle, sew the long tail at the beginning of the work in and out of every 2nd stitch so that the bottom will gather together as the tail is pulled.
Figure 12.  Pull the long tail to cinch the bottom closed.   Note: you will not want to see a hole at the bottom of the pumpkin, so pull tightly and secure the tail in place before weaving the end in.

Stuff pumpkin then use the tapestry needle to sew a gathering stitch along the top with the long tail from the end of the work. Pull tightly to cinch closed, secure and weave in end. Note: the top does not have to close completely as a small hole will be covered by the stem.

Figure 13.  Using the tail at the top of the work, sew in the same way so as to cinch the top closed after stuffing.  Note: it is ok if there is a small hole at the top as this will be covered by the stem.

Stem

Use 3.00 mm crochet hook and light weight (#3) yarn.

Note: the stem is worked in continuous rounds

Round 1: sc 6 in a magic circle. (6)

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around. (12)

Round 3-7: sc in each stitch around. (12).

At the end of Round 7 place 2 slst, fasten off leaving a long tail. Sew onto the top of the pumpkin, covering the middle, secure and weave in the end.

Figure 14.  With the stem sewn in place and the end weaved in the pumpkin is complete!  This pumpkin was made with Bernat Softee Chunky in the colour Pumpkin.
Figure 15.  These pumpkins were made with Bernat Softee Chunky in White (back left), Grey Heather (back right) and Grey Ragg (front center).

As always, feel free to make this for personal use or sale, however, remember to give me credit for the pattern by linking my FB or IG accounts (One Knotty Dog).  Please do not distribute copies of the pattern or my photographs without my permission.  If you would like a downloadable PDF of the pattern, it is for sale on Ravelry (buy now) and Etsy. I would love to see all of your creations!  Tag me or use the hashtag #oneknottydog or #rusticpumpkins.  Send an email to oneknottydog@gmail.com with any questions!

Happy making,

Britteny

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