Mudcloth Crochet Pumpkin - Free Crochet Pattern
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****You can find the PDF version of this pumpkin pattern by clicking HERE. It’s ad-free and great for printing! For the free pattern, scroll down into the blog post****
Okay, so here’s the deal. I wasn’t planning on doing another pumpkin pattern this year. But then, I got this idea, and one thing led to another and I was at Hobby Lobby picking out a yarn to make yet another. I’m happy I made the last-minute decision to create a new pumpkin pattern, and I hope you are too! This is a unique one that features a cool and simple mudcloth pattern that will surely add some interest to your pumpkin collection.
Wanna know the best part about this here pumpkin? It’s a great candidate for a weekend project. I mean it won’t even take up your whole weekend, just a few hours (made with super bulky yarn, score!). That’s my kinda project.
I added an actual pumpkin stem to the top, but you could totally add whatever your heart desires, I’ve seen wooden thread spools, cinnamon sticks, cut tree branches, even wine corks :)
And for the mudcloth sewing portion, I’ve totally got your back on that. There’s plenty of pics included to help you along!
****You can find the PDF version of this pumpkin pattern by clicking HERE. It’s ad-free and great for printing! For the free pattern, scroll down****
Mudcloth Crochet Pumpkin
What you’ll need:
-approximately 80 yards of super bulky (category 6) yarn, I used Yarn Bee Cozy Occasion yarn in color Ivory
-8 mm crochet hook
-yarn needle
-worsted weight (category 4) yarn for sewing mudcloth pattern, I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in color Black
-polyester fiberfill
-pumpkin stem (or other item to be used as stem such as cut tree branch, wooden thread spool, cinnamon stick)
-hot glue & gun
Notes:
-ch’s at beginning of rounds do not count as sts
-for all rounds: you will work the first st into the st you joined into from previous round
-pumpkin is approximately 8 inches in diameter
Abbreviations:
sc=single crochet, sl=slip, st(s)=stitch(es), sc2tog=single crochet two together
Pattern:
make magic circle
Round 1) ch 1, work 8 sc into circle, join to first sc with sl st, and pull yarn tail to close circle up (8 total sts)
Round 2) ch 1, work 2 sc into each st around, join to first sc with sl st (16 total sts)
Round 3) ch 1, work [2 sc, sc into next st] around, join to first sc with sl st (24 total sts)
Round 4) ch 1, work [2 sc, sc into next two sts] around, join to first sc with sl st (32 total sts)
Round 5) ch 1, work [2 sc, sc into next three sts] around, join to first sc with sl st (40 total sts)
Round 6) ch 1, work [2 sc, sc in next four sts] around, join to first sc with sl st (48 total sts)
Rounds 7-14) ch 1, sc into each st around, join to first sc with sl st (48 total sts)
Round 15) ch 1, [sc2tog, sc into next four sts] around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (40 total sts)
Round 16) ch 1, [sc2tog, sc into next three sts] around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (32 total sts)
Round 17) ch 1, [sc2tog, sc into next two sts] around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (24 total sts)
***at this point I stopped crocheting the pumpkin, and began to sew the mudcloth pattern (plus stuff with fiberfill).
To start sewing, you’ll grab your yarn needle plus a very long strand of your worsted weight yarn. I began sewing on the underside— starting between round 2 and 3.
For the first series of stitches, you’ll insert your needle from the inside between rounds 2 and 3. Then put your needle back through two rounds down, to create a dash. It’s important to not pull the yarn too tightly when sewing because it’ll bunch the pumpkin and also make the dashes not that visible.
You’ll repeat that until there’s three vertical lines.
Then you’ll make horizontal lines about a stitch away from your vertical lines. I kind of eyeballed the size so the lines would match up in size. I didn’t worry about it looking too perfect… Repeat three vertical and three horizontal lines all the way around till you reach the first lines you made.
For the next stitch series, I did a sort of boxy zig zag pattern. It kinda reminded me of that old snake game you could play on Nokia phones-ha! I just inserted the needle from the inside, skipping a round between the dashes you just sewed. You’ll make dashes again that are two rounds tall and then go about three stitches to the right. I always inserted my needle one step ahead then brought it back to make the line (you can see in the photo above). Go all the way around with this pattern.
Once done, I decided to put little dots in each of the little “boxes”. I did this by making a french knot. To make a french knot you’ll bring your needle through from the inside of the pumpkin, and draw your yarn through. Then wrap your yarn around the needle 3-4 times (shown in photo above), and insert your needle in a spot that is very close to where you brought the needle through. It’s important not to insert in the same spot because the knot won’t work.
Repeat french knots around in each of the “boxes”.
Skip another round for the next series of stitches. I decided to do “X’s” next. I made diagonal dashes spanning about 2-3 stitches, crossing over each other. I spaced the “X’s” out so there was a stitch in between each of them. Continue the “X” stitch pattern all the way around.
Then I repeated the 3 vertical, 3 horizontal dashes for the next series. And last I did little sideways v’s or arrows. Same concept, just one diagonal dash spanning only one round, about 3 sts wide, then another right below it. Once I went all the way around with the sideways v’s I knotted off my black yarn.
Then, before finishing up crocheting the pumpkin, I stuffed it full of polyester fiberfill. Now to continue crocheting…
Round 18) ch 1, [sc2tog, sc into next st] around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (16 total sts)
Round 19) ch 1, sc2tog around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (8 total sts)
Round 20) ch 1, sc2tog around, join to first sc2tog st with sl st (4 total sts)
After Round 20 you will draw your hook through the two sides of the opening hole remaining in the pumpkin and sl st to close. Finish off and leave a extra long tail to compress the center of the pumpkin.
To compress the center of the pumpkin, you will take your hook and insert it from the bottom center hole up through the top of the pumpkin. You will draw your yarn with your hook through the pumpkin, back through the bottom center.
Pull tightly on your yarn to smoosh the center of the pumpkin down. Then draw your yarn through a close-by stitch and then tie a couple of knots to secure. Then you’ll weave your yarn end in a bit inside the pumpkin, and cut to hide.
Lastly you will get your stem and hot glue it onto the top of the pumpkin. I used quite a big glob of hot glue to make sure it was firm. You can also add other little adornments to it also if you’d like. For example— moss, ribbon, a leaf.
And that concludes the mudcloth pumpkin! What a fun little autumn project—and quick too. Share with me over on Insta if you make one yourself!
Take care + happy hooking!
Meg
