Pumpkins to Knit for Fall

Pumpkins are a great decor item for fall beyond Halloween, as long as they aren’t carved into Jack o’lanterns.

There’s something about knitted pumpkins that makes fall decorating feel instantly cozier. They have all the warm, homespun charm of traditional autumn decor, but unlike real pumpkins, you can bring them out year after year. Whether you prefer classic pumpkin orange, soft cream and white, rustic tweed yarns or something a little more colorful, these pumpkin knitting patterns are an easy way to add handmade texture to your home for fall.

I especially love knitted pumpkins because they work well beyond Halloween. A group of small pumpkins looks lovely tucked onto a mantel, bookshelf or dining table, while larger knitted pumpkins can become part of a Thanksgiving centerpiece or autumn porch display. You can even turn the tiniest versions into garlands, bowl fillers or little handmade gifts.

The patterns featured here include several different styles of knitted pumpkins, from simple projects that are perfect for using up leftover yarn to more textured designs featuring cables, interesting stitches and playful shaping. There are traditional orange pumpkins, pretty white pumpkins and designs that let you experiment with different yarn textures and fall color combinations.

If you’ve been looking for a quick seasonal knitting project, these fall pumpkin knitting patterns are a lovely place to start. Knit one, make an entire pumpkin patch, or mix several different patterns together to create your own collection of cozy handmade autumn decorations

I love these little white pumpkins from Leslie North, which she paired with little orange pompoms to make a super sweet garland.

If you’d like a little more of a challenge, don’t miss the cabled pumpkin from Kimberly Shutt or the Spicy Knit Pumpkin by Cassandra Bibler for Red Heart Yarns. Chevron pumpkins! Too cute!

Have you knit any pumpkins this season? Drop the pattern in the comments.

Looking for more Halloween Knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

Looking for Fall patterns to Knit? Check out these Fall knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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