To Begin: Chain 23 Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain 1 and turn From here on you will be crocheting into the BACK LOOPS ONLY. Continue rows until you have about 32. You should have a nice rectangle shape. If you don't, add more rows until it's less of a square and more of a rectangle. See photo below. Fold your rectangle into a tube and either slip stitch the edges together or use a yarn needle to whip stitch. You should have something looking a little like this Now you need to close up your ends. Start with the bottom and using a yarn needle weave in and out of the top stitches. Pull tight to cinch closed.
This is where you will stuff the pumpkin. I have learned through trial and error that a better shaped pumpkin happens when it's not overstuffed. Not too much, not too little.
Once you have added stuffing, complete the previous steps of cinching up the top. Before you pull it tight you can add a little more stuffing into the top.
You will finish with an oddly shaped oval.
Cut a long length of yarn and thread your yarn needle. Starting at the top of the pumpkin, insert the needle right down the middle and pull it though to the bottom. Go around the outside of the pumpkin in between the grooves and back down through the middle of the pumpkin again. Pull tight and repeat keeping about 3 or 4 grooves in between each yarn circle around. It should start looking like the photo below. You can see some of the yarn in between the grooves and the one piece of yarn I haven't pulled tight yet. I found that making your "bump" sections different sizes makes the pumpkin look more real. No pumpkin is perfectly shaped right? When you're satisfied with how it's looking fasten off your yarn with a knot. The stem is created by following the steps below: In a magic circle chain 6 (8 or 10 for larger stem) SC in each chain around for about 4-5 rows. Use your judgement here to make the stem as long as you'd like. When you are happy with the size, slip stitch your final chain and fasten off leaving along chain for attaching to pumpkin. The curly leaf is created by following the steps below: Chain 20 (more if you'd like a long curl) 2 single crochet in each chain to the end. Fasten off leaving a long chain for attaching to pumpkin That's it! Experiment with different yarn sizes and colors! I can't wait to see what you create! |