Ingredients
- About 180 yards of worsted weight yarn (weight 4, medium), in a soft pumpkin shade, cream, rust, sage, or brown.
- H-8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook.
- Polyester fiberfill, about 2 to 3 ounces (57 to 85 g).
- Yarn needle with a large eye.
- Small scissors.
- One stitch marker (optional).
- Tape measure.
- A scrap of brown, green, or cream yarn for the stem (optional).
Instructions
- Make a slip knot, place it on your H-8 (5.0 mm) hook, and chain 32.
- For Row 1, work 1 half double crochet (hdc) into the third chain from the hook and continue with 1 hdc in each chain across. You will have 30 hdc stitches.
- Chain 2 and turn. Work 1 hdc in each stitch across, placing the first hdc in the first stitch.
- Repeat this until you have 24 rows total, each with 30 hdc stitches.
- After Row 24, fasten off with a tail about 24 inches long.
- Thread the long tail onto your yarn needle. With the wrong side facing, bring the two short ends together and sew them with whipstitches through the edge stitches until the rectangle becomes a tube.
- Turn the tube so the right side faces outward.
- Use the same needle and tail to gather one open end with running stitches around the edge and pull the tail gradually.
- Stuff the pumpkin with polyester fiberfill in small handfuls until it feels full but springy.
- Gather the second opening with a fresh length of yarn, pulling it closed slowly.
- For a simple stem, chain 8 and slip stitch back along the chain, or use a short piece of brown yarn. Sew the stem firmly to the top.
- Weave in the ends by threading each tail through several stitches on the inside, changing direction before trimming.
Notes
Gauge is worth the twenty minutes here because it tells you whether your fabric will hold the stuffing without large openings. Substitute yarn carefully to maintain the same thickness and characteristics.
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
