Ingredients
- Worsted weight (weight 4, medium) acrylic yarn – about 300 total yards (2 skeins of 170 yards each)
- H-8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- Small amount of polyester fiberfill – for stuffing pumpkins
- Yarn needle – for sewing and weaving in ends
- Sharp scissors – for trimming yarn
- Tape measure – for checking cord and finished length
- 2 stitch markers (optional) – for marking stitches
- Scrap of brown yarn – for pumpkin stems (or cord color as substitute)
Instructions
- Make the cord first. Chain 144, then slip stitch into the first chain to form a long loop.
- Slip stitch in each chain around, join with a slip stitch, and fasten off, leaving a 10-inch tail for sewing.
- Make the first pumpkin with a magic ring. Chain 1, then work 10 half double crochet (hdc) into the ring.
- Pull the ring closed and join with a slip stitch. You have 10 hdc.
- For round 2, chain 1 and work 2 hdc in each stitch around. Join with a slip stitch. You have 20 hdc.
- For round 3, chain 1, then work 1 hdc in the first stitch and 2 hdc in the next stitch. Repeat this pattern around and join with a slip stitch. You have 30 hdc.
- For rounds 4 through 8, chain 1 and work 1 hdc in each stitch around in the back loop only (BLO). Join with a slip stitch each round.
- Begin shaping the pumpkin. For round 9, chain 1, then work 1 hdc in the first stitch, followed by a decrease in the next two stitches. Repeat around and join with a slip stitch. You have 20 hdc.
- Add a small amount of polyester fiberfill now, enough to slightly round the shape.
- For round 10, chain 1 and work a decrease across each pair of stitches around. Join with a slip stitch. You have 10 hdc before closing.
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread the tail onto a yarn needle and weave it through the front loop of each remaining stitch. Pull closed, then pass the needle through the center several times for pumpkin sections.
- Make a stem with brown yarn. Chain 5, slip stitch back across the chain, and fasten off, leaving a tail. Sew stem to the pumpkin.
- Repeat steps 3 through 12 to make a total of 5 pumpkins.
- Make each leaf with green yarn by chaining 8. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work specified stitches to form the leaf.
- Repeat step 15 until you have six leaves.
- Arrange the pumpkins and leaves along the cord. Leave about 3 inches of cord at each end for hanging.
- Sew the pumpkins and leaves to the cord with the yarn tails.
- Weave in every end with the yarn needle, passing each tail through nearby stitches before trimming.
Notes
This project is suitable for a confident beginner familiar with basic crochet techniques. Adjust the colors and sizes to fit your personal style.
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
