Striped and Polka Dot Crocheted Pumpkins

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As I was crocheting pumpkins this year I thought it would be fun to mix it up a little and make some that were 2 colors rather than 1. Most of the time I choose more muted shades or fall colors to make my pumpkins, but this time I decided to go with more of a Halloween theme, bright orange, black, and white. 

The striped pumpkin is made in the same way as my Easy Ribbed Crochet Pumpkin, which like the name suggest is a really easy pumpkin to crochet. It starts with a long rectangle of half double crochet stitches, which is then stitched into a tube, then cinched on the top and bottom to make the pumpkin shape. For this striped variation I changed color every 2 rows. 

The polka dot pumpkin is made by carrying 2 colors of yarn and working over the color you are not using. The puff stitches are worked every few stitches in the secondary color, while the rest of the pumpkin is crocheted in a combination of single and half double crochet stitches in the main color. 

The polka dot pumpkin is made in the same way as the other, a long rectangle sewn together to turn it into a pumpkin shape. It uses a combination of half double and single crochet stitches worked in a main color, with puff stitches worked in a second color to create the dots.

How to Crochet Striped and Polka Dot Pumpkins 

You will need:

• worsted weight yarn in 2 colors for each pumpkin (samples made with Red Heart Super Saver in Pumpkin, White, and Black)
• H crochet hook
• fiberfill
• wooden dowels or small sticks
• green ribbon or yarn
• yarn needle
• scissors

Instructions:

Striped Pumpkin

Begin with color A, beginning ch 2 does not count as a stitch

Ch 25

Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and each ch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 2: ch 2, turn, hdc in blo of each stitch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 3: switch to color B, ch 2, turn, hdc in blo of each stitch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 4: ch 2, turn, hdc in blo of each stitch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 5: switch to color A, ch 2, turn, hdc in blo of each stitch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 6: ch 2, turn, hdc in blo of each stitch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 3-28: repeat rows 3-6, ending with row 4 (20 hdc)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Fold so that 2 short ends are matched up and stitch a seam along short end, creating a tube shape

Along one edge (the edge your needle is currently on) stitch a running stitch all the way around and pull to cinch closes. This will be the bottom of your pumpkin. Stitch in place a few times to secure, pull yarn to center or weave in and clip end.

Stitch with a running stitch around the other side, stuff with fiberfill and pull to cinch almost all the way closed. Leave an opening just large enough for the stick or dowel you have chosen for your stem. Stitch in place to secure the opening, weave in end or pull in to the center to hide.  Optionally, you can make a couple of stitches from the top to the bottom to pull in the center and give it a more pumpkin shape. I didn't do that on these but I kind of wish I had and may go back and do it later because I think it makes them look a little nicer. 

Insert the stick or dowel in the center of your pumpkin and if desired, tie a small scrap of green yarn or ribbon around the stem.

Polka Dot Pumpkin 

Note: normally when I change colors in the middle of the row I change to the new color in the last step of the stitch before (ie:when working a single crochet in the last stitch of the first color I will insert my hook, pull up yarn in the first color, then yarn over with the new color and pull through). This time I did it a little bit different in order to get the look I wanted. You will finish the single crochet before the puff stitch in the mc, then work the puff stitch in the cc until the last step where you pull through all of the loops, for that step you will yarn over with the mc, the pull through. You will start the puff and end the puff with the mc on your hook. Work over the top of the yarn you are not using to carry it to the next stitch, even when working the rows without puff stitches, still carry the cc working over the top of it, this way it will be in the right place when you need it. 

Puff Stitch: Yarn over, insert hook and pull up loop, yarn over, insert hook and pull up loop, yarn over, insert hook and pull up loop (you should have 7 loops on your hook), yarn over (with mc), pull through all loops

Begin with color A, beginning ch 2 does not count as a stitch

Ch 25

Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and each ch to the end (23 hdc)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 stitches, [change to color B, puff stitch, change to color A (work over the strand of color B to carry it to the next puff stitch), 3 sc] repeat to end of the row ending with 3 sc (5 puffs, 18 sc)

Row 3: ch 2, turn, hdc in each stitch (continue carrying the strand of color B under your stitches) (23 hdc)

Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc in first 5 stitches, [change to color B, puff stitch, change to color A (work over the strand of color B to carry it to the next puff stitch), 3 sc] repeat until there are 2 stitches remaining, sc in last 2 st (4 puffs, 19 sc)

Row 5: ch 2, turn, hdc in each stitch (continue carrying the strand of color B under your stitches) (23 hdc)

Repeat rows 2-5 until you have the length that you want. I did a total of 29 rows. 

Finish off and cut yarn leaving long tail for sewing

Fold so that 2 short ends are matched up and stitch a seam along short end, creating a tube shape

Along one edge (the edge your needle is currently on) stitch a running stitch all the way around and pull to cinch closes. This will be the bottom of your pumpkin. Stitch in place a few times to secure, pull yarn to center or weave in and clip end. 

Stitch with a running stitch around the other side, stuff with fiberfill and pull to cinch almost all the way closed. Leave an opening just large enough for the stick or dowel you have chosen for your stem. Stitch in place to secure the opening, weave in end or pull in to the center to hide.  Optionally, you can make a couple of stitches from the top to the bottom to pull in the center and give it a more pumpkin shape. 

Insert the stick or dowel in the center of your pumpkin and if desired, tie a small scrap of green yarn or ribbon around the stem.