This tutorial will walk you through, step by step, how to make the Pop Pumpkins using the amigurumi technique. There are two versions of the amigurumi pumpkins: a Round Pop Pumpkin and a Tall Pop Pumpkin. They have both been made with our Piuma yarn and designed by Airali Design - Ilaria Caliri.
Ever since Ilaria was a child she has spent her afternoons doing something creative. She has learnt the basics of loads of different techniques and the transformation of yarns and fabrics into handmade clothing blows her away. She got back into crocheting and amigurumi when she was about 20 when the hidden geometry behind those stuffed yarn teddies got its grip on her! Being able to bring her drawings to life with just some thread and a hook is a great incentive and what motivates her every day.
These two pumpkins are to be crocheted using the amigurumi technique, they’re the ideal project for a wicked Halloween! Saying that, they are so nice and minimal that they’re perfect also to use as cushions to brighten up a sofa or bed all year round. What’s more, their super softness comes from the use of our Piuma, that fluffs up as soon as it’s worked, and becomes as soft as a feather.
Round Pop Pumpkin about 35cm in diameter, 25cm in height*
Tall Pop Pumpkin about 25cm in diameter, 25cm in height*
*using the yarn indicated
MATERIALS
For the Round Pop Pumpkin: Piuma yarn col. Coral 300 g / 10.6 oz
For the Tall Pop Pumpkin: Piuma yarn col. Marshmallow 300 g / 10.6 oz
For the detail: a few metres of Piuma yarn in the
colours Ireland and Dark
Crochet hook n° 5 EU / H-8 US
1 pair of 24 mm safety eyes for each Pumpkin
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
500 g synthetic wadding
SIZES
The Round Pumpkin is about 35 cm in diameter, 25cm in height and the Tall Pumpkin about 25cm in diameter, 40cm in height.
ABBREVIATION KEY (US)
ch: chain
s: stitch
sl st: slip stitch
sl st BLO: slip stitch through back loops only
sc: single crochet
sc BLO: single crochet through back loops only
hdc: half double crochet
hdc BLO half double crochet through back loops only
inc: increase
dec: decrease
rep: repeat
trn: turn
[number]: number of s of the round or row
METHOD
Using the Piuma yarn colour. Coral cast on 51 ch.
Row 1: 1 sl st in the second ch from the hook, sc 1, Hdc 46, sc 1, 1 sl st, trn [50]
From the row 2 to the row 64: ch 1, sl st BLO 1, sc BLO 1, Hdc BLO 46, sc BLO 1, sl st BLO 1, trn [50]
Fold the rectangle in half, matching up the first row of the work with the last one.
Insert the hook into the first s of the last row and the first row and work 1 sl st to sew together the last row with the first one. Sl st 1 for each stitch to the end of the row to sew the two rows together and create a cylinder shape.
Don’t fasten off, keep working on the edge of the cylinder.
Round 1: ch 1, sc 1 every 2 rows for a total of 32 single crochets [32]
round 2: dec 16 [16]
round 3: dec 8 [8]
Fasten off leaving a length of thread to sew with. Close up the remaining hole with a yarn needle: pass it through the front loops of all the s of the last round, pull the thread through until the hole is closed. Block it and fasten off.
Place the safety eyes 16 rows apart, about 30 s from the edge that’s open. Start stuffing the pumpkin to check the position of the eyes before sewing them on.
Join the thread from the open edge of the pumpkin and repeat rounds 1-3 to close up the hole.
Stuff the pumpkin after having completed Round 1.
With a long piece of thread and yarn needle, insert the needle in the middle of the top part of the pumpkin and push it down until it comes out of the other side (the bottom of the pumpkin). Insert the needle 1 stitch away and bring it back up through to the top part. Pull on the thread until you get the perfect shape, tie a knot and then cut the thread this will be covered up by the stem. If the wool thread is too weak and frays while it’s being pulled, use a cotton thread of a similar colour (it will be hidden inside the pumpkin anyway).
With the Piuma yarn colour Marshmallow, cast on 71 ch
Row 1: sl st 1 in the second chain from the hook, sc 7, hdc 60, sc 1, sl st 1, trn [70]
row 2: ch 1, sl st BLO 1, sc BLO 1, hdc BLO 60, sc BLO 7, sl st BLO 1, trn [70]
row 3: ch 1, sl st BLO 1, sc BLO 7, hdc BLO 60, sc BLO 1, sl st BLO 1, trn [70]
From the row 4 to row 48: repeat rows 2 and 3
Fold the rectangle in half, matching up the first row of the work with the last one.
Insert the hook into the first s of the last row and the first row and work 1 sl st to sew together the last row with the first one. Sl st 1 for each stitch to the end of the row to sew the two rows together and create a cylinder shape.
Don’t fasten off, keep working on the edge of the cylinder.
Round 1: ch 1, sc 1 every 2 rows for a total of 24 single crochets [24]
round 2: dec 12 [12]
round 3: dec 6 [6]
Fasten off leaving a length of thread to sew with. Close up the remaining hole with a yarn needle: pass it through the front loops of all the s of the last round, pull the thread through until the hole is closed. Block it and fasten off.
Place the safety eyes 11 rows apart, about 20 s from the edge that’s open (position the eyes on the opposite side of the strip with 7 sc that will result in the narrowing of the upper part of the pumpkin). Start stuffing the pumpkin to check the position of the eyes before sewing them on.
Join the thread from the open edge of the pumpkin and repeat rounds 1-3 to close up the hole.
Stuff the pumpkin after having completed Round 1.
With a long piece of thread and yarn needle, insert the needle in the middle of the top part of the pumpkin and push it down until it comes out of the other side (the bottom of the pumpkin). Insert the needle 1 stitch away and bring it back up through to the top part. Pull on the thread until you get the perfect shape, tie a knot and then cut the thread this will be covered up by the stem. If the wool thread is too weak and frays while it’s being pulled, use a cotton thread of a similar colour (it will be hidden inside the pumpkin anyway).
With the colour. Dark yarn cast on 21 ch
Round 1: skip the first ch, sc 20, trn [20]
round 2 and 3: ch 1, sc 20, trn [20]
round 4: sl st 1, sc 2, hdc 2, dc 10, hdc 2, sc 2, sl st 1 [20]
Fasten off, leaving a length of thread to sew the mouth between the pumpkin’s eyes.
With the Piuma yarn colour. Coral embroider a tooth on the top part of the mouth on the edge.
Round 1: cast on 6 sc in the magic ring [6]
round 2: inc 6 [12]
round 3: sc 1, hdc 2 in the next s, dc 2 in the next 2 s, hdc 2 in the next s, sc 1) rep 2 times [20]
round 4: (sc 3, hdc 2 in the next s, dc 2 in the next 2 s, hdc 2 in the next s, sc 3) rep 2 times [28]
Fasten off, leaving a length of thread to sew the mouth between the pumpkin’s eyes.
With the Piuma yarn colour. Ireland.
Round 1: cast on 8 sc in the magic ring [8]
From the 2 to the 8 round (add another 4 rounds for the tall Pumpkin): sc 8 [8]
round 9: inc 8 [16]
round 10: (inc 1, sc 1) rep 8 times [24]
Fasten off, leaving a length of thread to sew the stem of the pumpkin.
With the Piuma yarn colour Ireland cast on between 20 to 30 ch depending on the desired length of the curls.
Row 1: hdc 2 into the third ch from the hook, hdc 2 in all the ch
Fasten off, leaving a length of thread to sew the curls onto the base of the stem of the pumpkin.
Just how nice are our Pop Pumpkins? They can be used as décor or for a great present to give to a child. The amigurumi technique is really characteristic and with the right project you can create really amazing things. That’s why, if you’re getting more and more hooked on this technique, I suggest reading the instructions on how to make an amigurumi bear. A bear, that's so cute, it will put a smile on anyone’s face.
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