Knitted Pumpkin Free Pattern

If you have knitted the Ghosties that I posted last year ago and you are looking for a new project then you might be interested in this pattern.

I took inspiration from the renowned Jean Greehowe and decided that I could adapt her pattern slightly to make tiny pumpkins.

Equipment
Pair of 3.25mm (USA Size 3) knitting needles
6mm (USA Size 10) knitting needle
Pair of 3.25mm (USA Size 3) Double pointed needles
Oddments of orange and green DK yarn
Tiny amounts of toy stuffing
Darning needle
Googly eyes
Glue
  
Large Pumpkin

Using the 3.25mm straight needles and orange yarn I cast on 20 stitches for the large pumpkin and garter stitch (knit) for 59 rows, cast off and join the cast on seam to the cast off seam. Using orange yarn sew running stitches around the edge and gather up the stitches, secure tightly and fasten off. Lightly stuff the pumpkin with toy stuffing, close the opening with another row of running stitches, gather up and secure.  

Using dark green yarn and 3mm double pointed needles knit a 3 sts i-cord (I absolutely love i-cords, use them whenever I get the chance, handles of bags, toy arms.....) until it is 4cm long.

 

Attached the green i-cord to the top opening of the large pumpkin, secured it into place.

To tidy up the base of the large pumpkin I used the same green yarn and needles (3.25) to knit a small circle...

Cast on 1st

Row 1: Inc 1sts at each end (3sts)

Row2: Knit

Row 3: Inc 1 sts at each end (5 sts)

Row 4 and 5: Knit

Row 6: Decrease 1 sts and each end (3sts)

Row 7: Knit

Row 8: Decrease 1 st at each end (1sts)

Row 5: Cast off

I attached this circle to the base of the pumpkin using a darning needle and I glued two googly eyes using a glue gun and he was all set. 

Googly eyes are not suitable for children under the age of three, because even though they are glued on securely they could easily be chewed off and become a choking hazard! Darn the eyes if the lucky recipient is under 36 months.

Small Pumpkin

Cast on 15 stitches, garter stitch (Knit) for 29 rows and cast off. Join the cast on seam to the cast off seam. Using orange yarn sew running stitches around the edge and gather up the stitches, secure tightly and fasten off. Lightly stuff the pumpkin with toy stuffing, and secure with another running stitch, gather up and secure.

An optional extra to add the distinctive ridges on the small pumpkin photographed above, gently push your 3.5mm knitting needle through the opening at the top and the bottom, wiggle the needle to make room in the stuffing. Remove the knitting needle, thread your darning needle with a length of orange yarn, push the darning needle through the opening you created 6-7 times at even intervals, pulling tightly to create the ridges (pictures above). Secure the orange yarn.

Using dark green yarn and 3mm double pointed needles I knit a 3sts i-cord until it is 3cm long. Secure to the top of the small pumpkin.

To tidy up the base of the small pumpkin I used the same green yarn and needles (3.25) to knit a small circle...

Cast on 1st

Row 1: Inc 1sts at each end (3sts)

Row2: Knit

Row 3: Inc 1 sts at each end (5 sts)

Row 4 and 5: Knit

Row 6: Decrease 1 sts and each end (3sts)

Row 7: Knit

Row 8: Decrease 1 st at each end (1sts)

Row 5: Cast off

I attached this circle to the base of the pumpkin using a darning needle. 

 I glued two googly eyes using a glue gun and my two new little friends were ready to celebrate Hallowe'en! 

Googly eyes are not suitable for children under the age of three, because even though they are glued on securely they could easily be chewed off and become a choking hazard! Darn the eyes if the lucky recipient is under 36 months.