Mini Pumpkin (or Apple) Bunting ~ a Free Crochet Pattern for I Love Yarn Day

Mini Pumpkin Bunting - how's that for a cheerful phrase? It makes me smile just to type the words. (And for sheer crafty joy, Free Pattern and I Love Yarn are hard to beat.)

It's the second Friday in October, which is I Love Yarn Day here in the States. All around the country, stitchers are celebrating by making items for charity, teaching someone to knit or crochet, taking their yarn to work (don't we all do that anyway?), giving a gift of yarn, or crafting in public.

Haven't planned your yarny celebration yet? Then whip out some scrap yarn and hook up a Mini Pumpkin or two. They're fast, fun, and irresistibly cute with their tiny stems and curling vine tendrils:

Jack O'Lantern lovers, try embroidering your Mini Pumpkins with black yarn (mine has been "embroidered" by computer":

For Mini Apples, simply change yarn colours and add a leaf:

String your Mini Pumpkins (or Apples) together, and you have the perfect mini autumn bunting:

No time for bunting? Just make one Pumpkin or Apple and wear it as a yarny brooch to proclaim your Love for Yarn. Each one takes just minutes to stitch - how about making a few extra to give away?

Happy I Love Yarn Day!

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Mrs. M's Mini Pumpkins or Apples

Size: 1½" - 2" diameter

Yarn Requirements
Pumpkins/Apples: Red or orange worsted weight yarn, 2½ - 3 yards for each
Stems/Tendrils/Leaves: Green DK or worsted weight yarn, about 25" for each
Bunting: Brown worsted weight yarn

Yarns I used
Orange: Stitch Nation Full O'Sheep (discontinued)
Red: Lion Brand Heartland
Green: Plymouth Select DK Merino Superwash
Brown: Caron Simply Soft

Hooks
For pumpkins/apples, US H/8 (5mm)
For stems/leaves, US D/3 (3.25mm), OR smallest hook that will work with your yarn

You will also need: Yarn needle or fine steel hook for weaving in ends

Stitches, Abbreviations, and Techniques Used
Knotless Chain - click here for tutorial, OR use Magic Ring if preferred
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Hdc - half double crochet
Invisible join - click here for tutorial
Sl st - slip stitch
Partial tr - partial treble; work as for treble but leave final 2 loops on hook
Yo - yarn over
Working in the back horizontal bar(s)

Note: I made my pumpkins in 3 slightly different sizes (see Round 2 below), but you can make them all the same size if you prefer.

Mrs. M's Mini Pumpkin or Apple Pattern in Mostly Plain English

With Orange or Red, loosely Knotless Chain 2, OR make a Magic Ring and chain 1.

Round 1: Working in 1st Knotless Chain OR in Magic Ring: 1 sc, 7 hdc. Do not turn, but continue to work in spiral with right side facing you.

Round 2: Working in back horizontal bars, 2 hdc in each of the next 8 (10,12) stitches. Sc in both back bars of next hdc. Cut yarn and join with Invisible Join to both back bars of next hdc. Weave in ends.

Pumpkin Tendril and Stem:

With Green, using smallest hook that will work, tightly chain 12 - 15, join with sl st to final stitch of pumpkin, ch 7, sl st in same stitch. Cut yarn, tie off, weave in end. Without pulling on stem, tug on beginning yarn end to tighten the slipknot, then trim yarn end close to slipknot. Twirl the end of the tendril to make it curly.

Note: If your slipknots tend to pop open after trimming, dab a bit of glue, Fray-check, fabric stiffener, or clear nail polish on them.

Apple Stem and Leaf:

With Green, using smallest hook that will work, join with sl st to final stitch of apple, ch 7, sl st in same stitch (stem made), ch 5. Make leaf: in back bar of 5th ch from hook, work partial treble (see above), then yo, insert hook in same back bar, yo and draw up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops) 3 times to complete leaf. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

To assemble bunting:

With Brown, chain 20, sc in stem loop of first pumpkin (inserting hook from front to back). *Chain 15, sc in next stem. Repeat from *, ending with chain 20 after final pumpkin.

Pin up your bunting (or pin on your brooch) and proudly proclaim, "I love yarn!" Smile and repeat. :)

Pumpkin Phototutorial:

With Orange or Red, loosely Knotless Chain 2, OR make a Magic Ring and chain 1:

Round 1: Working in 1st Knotless Chain OR in Magic Ring space,
make 1 single crochet and 7 hdcs.
Do not turn, but continue to work in spiral with right side facing you.
Round 2: Working in back horizontal bar of each stitch, make 2 hdcs in each of
the next 8 (10,12) stitches. (Working in the back bar will tilt the top strands towards you, giving your pumpkin a swirly look.)

Sc in both back bars of next hdc:

Make Invisible Join: Cut yarn and pull up and out of last stitch.
Insert hook from bottom to top through back 2 bars of NEXT hdc,
and pull the yarn tail down and through...

...then insert hook from bottom to top through back two bars
of original hdc (where the yarn tail came from),
and gently pull the yarn tail down and through:

Weave the tail through one strand to the right, then
weave in all ends and trim.

Turn it over, and look! It's a pumpkin!

Now for the curly tendril and stem....

With Green, using the smallest hook possible for your yarn,
chain 12-15:

Attach with slip stitch to last stitch of pumpkin.
Chain 7, and slip stitch again in the same place:

Cut yarn and weave in tail. Trim starting tail close to starting knot (pull the knot really tight first, without tugging on the stem). Twirl the chain to make a tendril.

Apple Stem and Leaf

With Green yarn, using the smallest hook possible, attach with a slip stitch to final stitch of Apple.
Chain 7, slip stitch in same space.
Chain 5, then, working in back bump of 5th chain from hook,
make a partial treble (see Stitches and Abbreviations above),
then yarn over, insert hook in same back bar, yarn over and draw up a loop,
then work the loops off the hook 2 at a time to complete leaf. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Assembling the Bunting

Got a pile o' pumpkins? (Or apples?) Get ready to join them.

With Brown yarn, chain 20. Insert hook from front to back in stem loop of first pumpkin, and make a single crochet:

*Chain 15, single crochet in next stem.

Repeat from * until all the pumpkins are used up, then finish with chain 20.

Pin up your bunting and proudly proclaim "I love yarn!" Smile and repeat. :)

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You may do whatever you like with the items you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or reproduce the text. Links to this site are welcome.

Thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!

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Are you celebrating I Love Yarn Day? If so, how?

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