This fun checkered crochet pumpkin pattern is a free and easy crochet pattern by Nana’s Crafty Home!

I am seeing pumpkins everywhere and I am sure you are, too! I realized that I don’t have a single crochet pumpkin pattern anywhere on my blog!! What?? How in the world did that happen??

You might be saying, really Tonya, does the world need another free crochet pumpkin pattern? Really?  I think I saw 500 different crochet pumpkins scrolling Pinterest yesterday so maybe that one you can just skip….

Well, here I am with a checkered crochet pumpkin pattern and I am not even in the tiniest bit embarrassed by it. 😂

I mean it is practically a crime that a crochet blog would not have a crochet pumpkin pattern, am I right? That would be like a pie blogger not having an apple pie recipe!  So, I am here ready to fill a need that you didn’t even know you had 😉

Start your fall home decorating now and display your patchwork pumpkins through halloween and Thanksgiving!

Crochet Pumpkin Pattern Details

And, because I know you want easy, quick and a little bit unique I tried to check all the boxes on this one.

I started with a bulky weight yarn Lion Brand Color Made Easy.  Now, unfortunately this bulky yarn is discontinued (so sad!) but because I had the perfect colors in my stash I had to use it.  There are so many different bulky weight yarns that would work well with this project.  I love working with Charisma yarn by Loops & Threads* or Premier Serenity Chunky yarn.  Both are soft, easy to work with and have a lot of lovely autumnal fall color options!  And pumpkins certainly don’t need to be orange – choose colors that will complement your home decor.

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  

I wanted a stitch for my crochet pumpkin pattern that would not have large gaps between stitches but that would still grow quickly.  I landed on one of my favorite stitches – the Linked Double Crochet Stitch.  This stitch is a simple and easy variation of the double crochet stitch that looks like stacked single crochet stitches.  Since the double crochet stitches are linked together you have no gaps between the stitches. Which means you can stuff your crochet pumpkin to your heart’s content – no stuffing peaking through here!

If you aren’t familiar with the Linked Double Crochet Stitch I have a complete photo and video tutorial to help you with the stitch.  I also have a complete step by step video tutorial for how to make this checkered pumpkin from start to finish as well.  You can find that video at the bottom of this post or you can head on over to Youtube for it as well.  (Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to get notified whenever I post a new video).

I have a unique way to begin working in the round for this stitch as well.  You are essentially working a spiral patchwork stitch! You will be working in the round without a join or seam.  A much nicer finished appearance.

I love the checkered look of my pumpkin – just a little bit different than plaid and so much easier to keep track of your colors!  You won’t have a ton of ends to weave in, either! I drop and pick up yarn, crocheting over the non-working color throughout.  And, because this pattern is checkered, you will be carrying the same color as the stitches you are working in from the previous round.  So, there will be no color bleed through in this project! 

I am crocheting the pumpkin stem but you could certainly use a small piece of wood or a cinnamon stick instead!  If you end up substituting a stick you might want to use a glue gun and hot glue the stem in place.

So easy to customize the size on this one, too!  You will simply adjust your foundation chain by 3 to make it smaller or larger.  However, the easiest way to make a small pumpkin would be to use a smaller weight yarn in either light dk weight #3 or in medium worsted weight yarn.  

Once you have worked the desired number of rounds for your pumpkin crochet pattern you will sew the bottom of the pumpkin shut, stuff your pumpkin, sew the top of the pumpkin shut adding your stem just before sewing the top shut.  Once the top is sewn together you will create the pumpkin ridges around the outside edge.

The pumpkin shape in the ridges are created with a long length of yarn, working your need from the top of the pumpkin through the bottom and then back into the top of the pumpkin creating a long stitch on the outside of the pumpkin.  I work 6-8 of those evenly around the outside edge tightening down the stitches to the desired shape.

I also worked up a pumpkin in a single color to match my Christmas Stand Decor that I released last year.  I had more of those fabulous pearl buttons left over and wanted to see what one would look like bejeweled.  I love it so much!  There are so many different embellishments you could use to decorate your pumpkins – I would love to see one with different colored crystals!

I may even do some seasonal home decor crossovers with this pearlized pumpkin by pairing my trees and pumpkins together on my table – would make a great table centerpiece!

This crochet pumpkin pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF!  You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)

Purchase the ad-free pdf of my Crochet Pumpkin Pattern for a small fee.  Thank you so much for supporting my work!

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You may also like the following free crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

• 1. Christmas Tree Stand Decor free crochet pattern
• 2. Boo-Boo the Baby Ghost Pillow free crochet pattern
• 3. Black Cat & Spider Towel Topper free crochet pattern

Checkered Crochet Pumpkin Pattern free written pattern instructions

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

• Lion Brand Color Made Easy Weight 5/Bulky (100% acrylic, 7 oz / 247 yds)
• Birch 2.1 oz / 75 yds (Color A)
• Anthurium 2.2 oz / 80 yds yards (Color B) 

Note: Lion Brand Color Made Easy is now discontinued. Recommended substitutions: Charisma yarn by Loops & Threads* or Premier Serenity Chunky yarn.

Crochet hook size K/10.5 (6.5 mm crochet hook)
Scissors
Tapestry yarn needle
Sewing needle
Polyfil for stuffing

Approximate finished size: 
7.5” tall x 10” wide before stuffing and sewing.
4” tall x 8” wide after stuffing and sewing.            

Abbreviations:

RS = right side
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
yo = yarn over
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
LDC = linked double crochet (see special stitches section below)
MC = magic circle

Special Stitches:

Linked Double Crochet (LDC): insert hook into horizontal bar of previous stitch from top to bottom, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through remaining 2 loops.

Pattern Notes:

• Do not cut yarn when changing between colors – drop old yarn color, pull in new yarn color at end of stitch, work over non-working yarn color, and repeat steps.
• Do not slip stitch join at the end of each round.
• You can easily resize width of your pumpkin smaller or larger by adding or subtracting 3 chains.  Resize height by adding or subtracting rounds.

Recommended Tutorials:

Linked Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial
Checkered Pumpkin Complete Video Tutorial

Pattern Instructions

With Color A and leaving a long tail for sewing bottom of pumpkin shut, ch 63, sc in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1: (RS) 1 sc in next st, 1 dc in next st, *drop Color A, pull in Color B, 1 LDC in next 3 chs, drop Color B, pull in Color A, 1 LDC in next 3 chs,* repeat from * to * to end.  Do not slip stitch join. (63)

Round 2 – 14: *drop Color A, pull in Color B, 1 LDC in next 3 sts, drop Color B, pull in Color A, 1 LDC in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end.  Do not slip stitch join at end of round.

To end, 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc in next st, 1 sl st in next st.

Leave a long length of yarn in preferred color to sew top of pumpkin and create pumpkin ridges and then fasten off both colors.  Weave in ends not left for sewing.

Note: If you are attaching buttons to your pumpkin, this is the point where you would sew those embellishments to the RS of the pumpkin where desired.

Pumpkin Stem

With Color B, make MC.

Round 1: ch 1, 6 sc in MC. Do not sl st join at end of round. (6)

Round 2 – 7: sc in each st. (6)

Fasten off.

Assembly

With long yarn tail left for sewing, user a gathering stitch to gather bottom of pumpkin together.  Pull tightly; sew the bottom of the pumpkin shut.  Weave in end.  Stuff pumpkin.

With long length of yarn, use a gathering stitch to gather top of pumpkin together.  Pull tightly; leave an opening for the stem.  Knot yarn at first gathering stitch.  Insert stem into hole and then sew stem in place and any hole left remaining. 

Create pumpkin ridges by inserting needle from top of pumpkin through bottom 6-8 times evenly spacing these long stitches apart.  Tighten each ridge stitch to desired look.  Once complete, knot yarn and weave in end.

Copyright 2022 Tonya Bush/Nana’s Crafty Home

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