Crochet Pumpkin | Free Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

There is something deeply satisfying about making your own seasonal decorations, and a crocheted pumpkin sits at the top of that list. It is soft, it is charming, it lasts for years, and once you have made one, you will absolutely want to make a dozen more in every color imaginable. Whether you are decorating your mantel for fall, filling a basket for a harvest display, or making a thoughtful handmade gift, this free crochet pumpkin pattern will walk you through every single step.

This pattern is written for beginners and intermediate crocheters alike. If you know how to work in the round, increase, decrease, and do a simple surface slip stitch, you have everything you need to finish this project in an afternoon. Let’s get into it.

Why You’ll Love This Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

Before we dive into the stitches and rounds, let’s talk about what makes this particular pattern worth bookmarking. First, it uses basic materials you probably already have in your yarn stash. Second, it works up surprisingly quickly — most crocheters finish the main body in about an hour. Third, the finished pumpkin is durable enough to pull out of storage year after year without looking tired or saggy.

There is also an enormous amount of creative freedom here. The pattern creates a classic round pumpkin shape, but you can customize the size by switching yarn weight, adjust the color to anything from traditional orange to dusty sage green or creamy white, and change the stem and leaf details to match your personal style. The pattern is entirely yours to adapt.

One more thing worth mentioning: crocheted pumpkins make excellent gifts. They are universally adored, completely safe for homes with small children (no breakable pieces), and they photograph beautifully for anyone who likes to share seasonal home décor on social media. If you have been looking for a fall craft that is functional, cute, and genuinely fun to make, you have found it.

Materials You Will Need

Gathering your supplies before you begin will make the whole process smoother. Here is what you need for a medium-sized pumpkin approximately 4 to 5 inches tall and 5 to 6 inches wide.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in your chosen pumpkin color — approximately 100 to 150 yards. Classic orange is always beautiful, but burnt sienna, creamy ivory, terracotta, dusty rose, and deep burgundy all look stunning. You will also need a small amount of brown or tan yarn for the stem, and optionally a small amount of green yarn for a leaf.

Hook: A size 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook works perfectly with worsted weight yarn. If your gauge tends to run loose, size down to a 4.5 mm. You want a fairly tight gauge so the stuffing does not poke through.

Polyfill stuffing: Enough to firmly fill the pumpkin body. A firmly stuffed pumpkin holds its shape much better than a loosely stuffed one.

Yarn needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.

Stitch marker: To mark the beginning of each round.

Scissors: A sharp pair makes clean cuts.

Optional extras: Dried floral stems, cinnamon sticks, or a small piece of real twig can be used in place of a crocheted stem for a more rustic look. You can also add a crocheted or ribbon bow for extra charm.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

This pattern is written in US crochet terminology. Here is a quick reference for every abbreviation you will encounter.

MR — Magic ring (also called a magic loop or adjustable ring)

ch — Chain

sl st — Slip stitch

sc — Single crochet

inc — Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)

dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through front loops of next two stitches, yarn over, pull through both loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops)

BLO — Back loop only

FLO — Front loop only

st(s) — Stitch(es)

rnd(s) — Round(s)

pm — Place marker

Gauge

Gauge is not critical for this project since it is a decorative item, but as a general reference: 14 stitches and 16 rounds in single crochet with worsted weight yarn and a 5.0 mm hook should give you approximately a 4-inch square. If your swatch is significantly larger or smaller and you want a specific finished size, adjust your hook accordingly.

Pattern Notes

Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Do not join at the end of each round unless the pattern specifically says to join. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round and move it up as you go — this keeps your round count accurate and your pumpkin perfectly shaped.

The pumpkin is worked in two separate sections — the body and the stem — and the stem is sewn on at the end. The ribbed pumpkin ridges are created with a surface slip stitch worked after the body is complete, which is a simple but very effective technique that gives the finished pumpkin that classic segmented look.

If you are new to working in the round or to the magic ring, do not be intimidated. There are many helpful video tutorials available online, and the technique becomes second nature after just a couple of tries.

Free Crochet Pumpkin Pattern

Part One: The Pumpkin Body

Round 1: Start with a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: *Sc 1, inc* repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 4: *Sc 2, inc* repeat around. (24 sts)

Round 5: *Sc 3, inc* repeat around. (30 sts)

Round 6: *Sc 4, inc* repeat around. (36 sts)

Round 7: *Sc 5, inc* repeat around. (42 sts)

Round 8: *Sc 6, inc* repeat around. (48 sts)

Rounds 9–16: Sc in each st around. (48 sts) — This is 8 rounds of even single crochet that form the body of the pumpkin.

Round 17: *Sc 6, dec* repeat around. (42 sts)

Round 18: *Sc 5, dec* repeat around. (36 sts)

Round 19: *Sc 4, dec* repeat around. (30 sts)

At this point, begin stuffing the pumpkin firmly. Continue adding stuffing as you close the remaining rounds to ensure an even, full shape.

Round 20: *Sc 3, dec* repeat around. (24 sts)

Round 21: *Sc 2, dec* repeat around. (18 sts)

Round 22: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (12 sts)

Round 23: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Using your yarn needle, weave the tail through the front loops of the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in this end securely on the inside of the pumpkin.

Part Two: Creating the Pumpkin Ridges

This step is what transforms a plain crocheted ball into a recognizable pumpkin shape, and it is so satisfying to do. You will be working a surface slip stitch from the top of the pumpkin to the bottom, creating the vertical ridges that give the pumpkin its classic segmented appearance.

Thread your yarn needle with a length of the same pumpkin color yarn (or a slightly darker shade for more definition) and double-thread it if you want more pronounced ridges, though a single strand works beautifully.

The easiest approach is to use your crochet hook rather than a needle. With your hook and pumpkin yarn, insert the hook from the outside of the pumpkin at the top center, work a surface slip stitch down the side of the pumpkin to the bottom center, then fasten off and weave in both ends. Repeat this process, spacing your ridge lines evenly around the pumpkin, for a total of 6 to 8 ridges.

For a more structured technique: thread a long piece of yarn on your yarn needle. Insert the needle down through the top center of the pumpkin (the closing point), bring it out at the bottom center, and gently pull to create an indentation. Run the yarn back up through the center and repeat, pulling snugly each time, before finishing off. This cinching technique, combined with the surface stitches, creates deep, beautiful ridges.

Alternatively, you can simply use a long length of yarn threaded on a needle, draw it from top to bottom through the stuffed body, and wrap it around the outside of the pumpkin at regular intervals, pulling firmly to create each ridge. This wrapping method is very quick and gives consistent results. Use 6 wraps evenly spaced around the pumpkin for a classic 6-segment look.

Part Three: The Stem

Round 1: Using brown or tan yarn and a 4.0 mm hook, make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rounds 3–7: Sc in each st around. (12 sts) — This creates 5 rounds of a narrow cylinder.

Round 8: *Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (8 sts)

Rounds 9–10: Sc in each st around. (8 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff the stem with a tiny bit of polyfill or leave it unstuffed — both work fine. Using your yarn needle and the long tail, sew the open end of the stem to the top center of the pumpkin body, right at the closing point. Sew around the base of the stem securely so it stands upright and does not flop to the side.

Part Four: Optional Leaf

Foundation chain: Using green yarn and a 4.0 mm hook, chain 8.

Row 1: Starting in the second chain from hook, sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1. Do not turn.

Working along the other side of the foundation chain: sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1.

Sl st into the first stitch to close. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Sew the leaf to the base of the stem on the pumpkin body. You can shape it slightly with your fingers and tack it down at two or three points so it lies naturally against the pumpkin.

Part Five: Optional Curly Tendril

Cut a 10-inch length of green yarn. Working very carefully with a 3.5 mm hook, crochet a chain of about 12 to 15 stitches into this yarn. Then, working back along the chain, work 2 or 3 sc into every chain stitch. This excess of stitches will cause the tendril to curl naturally. Fasten off and sew one end to the base of the stem near the leaf. The tendril will spiral beautifully without any further shaping.

Finishing Touches

Once all the pieces are assembled, take a moment to check that all ends are woven in securely. Give the pumpkin a gentle squeeze and reshape it with your hands — a little coaxing goes a long way in getting the shape just right. If the ridges need a bit more definition, you can go back and pull the yarn wraps slightly tighter or add an extra surface slip stitch line.

If you want to give your pumpkin a little extra something, consider hot-gluing a small piece of burlap ribbon or a plaid bow at the base of the stem. A tiny sprig of dried eucalyptus or baby’s breath tucked next to the stem also looks absolutely gorgeous in photos and in person.

Size Variations

One of the best things about this pattern is how easily it scales. Here are a few quick ways to adjust the size.

For a mini pumpkin that is about 2 to 3 inches wide, use fingering or DK weight yarn with a 3.0 to 3.5 mm hook and work only through Round 6 in the increase section before switching to even rounds, then decrease back down.

For a large pumpkin that is 7 to 8 inches wide, use bulky or super bulky yarn with a 6.0 to 8.0 mm hook and add two additional increase rounds before the even section, bringing your stitch count up to 60 or 66 stitches at the widest point.

A whole family of pumpkins in three different sizes looks absolutely stunning grouped together on a coffee table, shelf, or stair step. Try them in coordinating fall colors — a classic orange, a warm cream, and a deep burgundy — for a display that looks like it came straight out of a home décor magazine.

Yarn Color Ideas for Crochet Pumpkins

While classic orange will never go out of style, the beauty of making your own pumpkins is that you can choose colors that perfectly match your home’s aesthetic. Here are some color ideas to spark your creativity.

Traditional orange pumpkins pair beautifully with cream and brown accents for a timeless harvest look. Dusty sage green or muted olive creates a more modern, earthy feel that works well in neutral-toned spaces. Creamy white or pale blush pumpkins look elegant and sophisticated, especially when grouped with dried botanicals. Deep plum, burgundy, or wine-colored pumpkins feel rich and cozy for a moody autumn palette. Variegated or self-striping yarn creates an unexpected, almost magical look as the colors shift naturally around the pumpkin.

Do not be afraid to experiment. Some of the most beautiful crocheted pumpkins use colors that do not look like pumpkins at all — dusty blue, soft lavender, even black — and they are absolutely stunning as seasonal décor.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

My pumpkin looks too round and not pumpkin-shaped. This usually means the ridges need to be pulled a bit tighter. Go back and reinforce the ridge lines by wrapping additional yarn or working more surface slip stitches along the same lines.

The stuffing is showing through the stitches. Your gauge may be too loose. Try a smaller hook, or switch to a denser stuffing material. You can also line the inside of the pumpkin with a small piece of felt before closing if the gap in your stitches is significant.

My pumpkin is lopsided. This typically happens when the stuffing is unevenly distributed. While the pumpkin is still open, redistribute the stuffing with your fingers or a pencil eraser and reshape the body before closing.

The stem keeps flopping over. Either stuff it more firmly or reinforce the base of the stem with extra stitches when sewing it onto the body. Some people also insert a small piece of pipe cleaner into the stem to help it stand straight.

Storing Your Crochet Pumpkins

One of the greatest advantages of crocheted pumpkins over their real counterparts is that they will not rot, mold, or attract fruit flies. At the end of the season, store them in a breathable cotton bag or a labeled storage bin. Avoid vacuum-sealing them, as this can flatten the shape permanently. When you bring them out the following year, any minor flatness or creases can usually be corrected by gently reshaping with your hands and fluffing the stuffing from the outside.

Sharing Your Makes

If you use this free crochet pumpkin pattern to make your own autumn decorations, please consider sharing a photo in your favorite crafting community or tagging it online. Seeing how other crocheters interpret a pattern — the color choices, the size variations, the unique styling details — is one of the most joyful parts of being part of the crafting world. Every pumpkin is a little different, and every one of them is wonderful.

Happy crocheting, and may your fall be filled with warm yarn, cozy evenings, and all the pumpkins you can make.