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| Photo above © DAN330 |
Knitted pumpkins are one of those small projects that are perfect for autumn: quick to make, easy to customize and ideal for using leftover yarn.
Make them in traditional orange, rustic autumn shades, cream or multicolored yarn, then group several sizes together for a handmade pumpkin-patch display.
This older Amazing Knitting page has been refreshed as a seasonal project guide. Instead of relying on an old pattern link whose exact original source could not be confirmed, we have included currently available free pumpkin knitting patterns from identifiable designers below.
Why Knit a Pumpkin?
Pumpkins are excellent stash-busting projects because they can be made with relatively small quantities of yarn. Changing the yarn weight, color and finished size can also produce an entire collection without every pumpkin looking identical.
They work particularly well as fall table decorations, Halloween displays and Thanksgiving decor.
1. Pumpkins for Beginners by Helen Kennedy
Helen Kennedy's beginner-friendly pattern is especially flexible. The pumpkins can be knitted flat or in the round, and different yarn weights can be used to create pumpkins from about 1 to 4½ inches.
The pattern is currently available as a free Ravelry download.
Get the Free Pumpkin Pattern →
2. Easy Knit Pumpkins by B.Hooked
This is another approachable option if you want a simple stuffed pumpkin. The design uses basic knit and purl stitches and does not require increases or decreases to create the main knitted piece.
The finished pumpkin is approximately 5½ inches in diameter, and the complete pattern is available free on the designer's website.
View the Free B.Hooked Pattern →
3. Free Pumpkin Patterns in Three Sizes
Handy Little Me offers another useful option when you want to create a group rather than a single pumpkin. The free instructions include small, medium and large versions, making it easy to build a varied autumn display.
View the Free Pumpkin Patterns →
Choosing Yarn for Knitted Pumpkins
There is no need to limit yourself to pumpkin orange. Rust, mustard, brown, cream, burgundy and muted green can create a beautiful autumn palette, while variegated yarn can make every pumpkin unique.
Yarn weight also changes the character of the project. Lighter yarn creates small decorative pumpkins, while bulky yarn produces a larger, softer and more substantial piece.
Knit several pumpkins in different sizes and related autumn colors rather than making them all identical. Mixing solids, tweeds and gently variegated yarns creates the look of a handmade pumpkin patch.
How Knitted Pumpkins Get Their Shape
Many simple pumpkin patterns begin with a knitted tube or rectangle. After the piece is joined and stuffed, the openings are gathered and additional shaping creates the characteristic pumpkin segments.
The exact construction varies by designer, so follow the instructions supplied with the pattern you choose rather than trying to reproduce an older project from a photograph alone.
Editorial note: Amazing Knitting independently reviews older archive content and links readers to identifiable, authorized pattern sources. Pattern instructions and photographs remain the property of their respective designers and copyright holders.