This one is a bit later than planned as I have been having problems trying to publish it. The pattern could still be uses for ideas other than a pumpkin so I am hoping it will let me post it this time.Sorry the pictures have not been cropped and edited but this seems to be the only way it will let me post them at the moment.
I tend to feel that children get too many sweets during the
Halloween season, so I like to try and give them something different. Being a
crafter I tend to knit or crochet a different gift each year.
I had previously made a pumpkin bag with a tangerine inside
and a ghost finger-puppet lollypop cover. This year I decided that as apples
are such a big Halloween item that I could modify one of my apple cosy designs.
These are my original designs (yes I know one has a
chocolate orange but it’s the same size as an apple and doesn’t go off when you
forget about it in your bag of wool) You
should notice that the eye of the alien face is a button, this is how you open
the apple cozy.
I had decided that I wanted
to do a pumpkin design for an apple cosy but my problem was what I could do to
incorporate the button into a pumpkin face. Eventually I had the idea to make
the pumpkin similar to the apple design with a lid and a spider shape round the
button.
I put
the spider on the back so it wouldn't interfere with the face, and if I had more time I would have added some green in
the center of the lid for a more traditional pumpkin look.
This pattern is written using British terminology. If you
are used to American patterns change DC to Sc I made this for a larger apple so
if using a smaller one you could miss the last increase row or even use a
smaller hook size.
I used 2 strands of double knit (8ply) and a 6mm hook to
give a chunky feel and more protection for the apple.
If you prefer to join your row ends add add a slip stitch
and Ch1 to each line of the pattern.
Main body
Round 1: make a magic circle and Dc 6
Round 2: Work 2 dc
in each stitch (12)
Round 3 : 2dc in first stitch dc in next, repeat 5 more
times (18)
Round 4: 2dc in first stitch dc in next 2 repeat 5 more
times (24)
Round 5 2dc in first stitch, dc in next 3, repeat 5 more
times (30)
You may wish to place a stitch marker (or a contrasting
piece of wool) here to help count your rows.
Round 6-14 dc all round.
Slip stitch to finish.
Lid
Make
as for main body rounds 1-5 only. At some point on
round 4 do a chain stitch to make your button hole, remember this will
also add
an extra dc at this section when doing round 5. Alternatively you could
try to
crochet slacker so that you can stretch the gap between two dc to make
you
buttonhole, make sure your button is not too big, you may wish to test
this method to see if your stitches will stretch enough and your button
will fit.
To Finish
Sew
6 of the edge stitches of the body and lid to attach them being careful
to position your buttonhole (if you made one) opposite side. If you
have not made a buttonhole push your button or one slightly larger than
you plan to use) through a gap to make a hole. I used a single strand of
double knit (8ply) and 2 stitches for each spider leg to give a better
shape.
You can use your
imagination (or Google) to pick the face for your pumpkin, I sewed mine
using wool but you could use felt. I would advise against using beads or
more buttons as there is a chance that they could bash the apple.
If
this post works this time I will put up another post soon with the
pattern for the leafs and the alien version. if anyone would like to do
them for Christmas gifts.
