Griddle Stitch Pumpkin

Skills needed

Materials

• 2.5mm crochet hook
• sport weight yarn
• Gauge, measured on the finished piece: 1.64 sts × 2.5 rows per cm (4.2 sts × 6.4 rows per inch). Match this and the finished size follows.
• Yarn: shop the Sport to light-DK aisle and match the gauge above — not a "4-ply" label, which spans several weight categories. The tested yarn is a 60/40 cotton-acrylic blend, and the acrylic is what gives the soft, rounded segments; a 100% cotton substitute has less bounce and cinches into harder-edged ones.
• Yarn needle
• Polyfill stuffing (a small soft handful)
• Small amount of brown or green yarn for the stem

Instructions

Foundation: Chain 55

1. R1Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.
2. R2Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in last st.
3. R3Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
4. R4Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
5. R5Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
6. R6Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
7. R7Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
8. R8Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
9. R9Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
10. R10Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
11. R11Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
12. R12Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
13. R13Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
14. R14Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
15. R15Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
16. R16Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
17. R17Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
18. R18Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
19. R19Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3.
20. R20Ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. *sc, dc; rep from * 25 more times, sc in top of beg ch-3. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming.

How to Assemble

1. 1Fold the rectangle so the two row-end edges meet, right side out. Thread the long tail you left on a tapestry needle and whip stitch the edges together — 20 row-ends — to make a tube open at both ends.
2. 2Thread a long tail on a tapestry needle and run it through all 54 stitches around one opening. Pull tight and secure with a knot — this is the base.
3. 3Stuff through the open end: firm enough to hold a round shape, soft enough that you can still squeeze it, so the segments can pull in later.
4. 4Run a tail through all 54 stitches around the remaining opening the same way. Pull tight and secure.
5. 5Cinch 7 segments: pass a long tail through the pumpkin from base to top, wrap it around the outside, pass it back through the center and pull snug so the wrap sinks into a deep groove. Repeat evenly around, then knot and hide the tail inside.
6. 6Stem (make 1): with brown or green yarn, work 5 sc in a magic ring, then 5 sc in each round for 10 rounds — a straight little tube, no shaping. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.Watch tutorial
7. 7Sew Stem to the center top of the pumpkin.Watch tutorial
8. 8Fasten off and weave in all yarn ends with a tapestry needle.