Crochet Puffy Pumpkin

This project uses Tunisian crochet to create a rustic, ribbed pumpkin adorned with textured puff stitches. By working a simple flat rectangle with columns of puffs, you can easily seam, stuff, and shape the piece into a classic autumnal decoration. It is a great project for getting comfortable with basic Tunisian stitches and shaping techniques.

What You Need

Hook: 6.0-mm (US J/10) Tunisian crochet hook (either a straight 12-inch hook or one with a cord extension).
Yarn: DK weight (Light, category 3) yarn in your choice of pumpkin color.
Stuffing: Fiberfill or cotton stuffing.
Tools: Tapestry needle and scissors.
Stem: A small wooden twig or a cinnamon stick.

Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)

Ch (Chain): Yarn over, pull through loop.
Sl St (Slip Stitch): Insert hook, yarn over, pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook.
TFR (Tunisian Foundation Row): The standard base row. Forward pass: Chain your desired number, then pick up a loop in the back bump of each chain across. Return pass: Standard return (see below).
Tss (Tunisian Simple Stitch): Insert hook from right to left under the front vertical bar of the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
Puff (Tunisian Puff Stitch): [Yarn over, insert hook under the next front vertical bar, yarn over, and pull up a loop] 3 times into the same stitch (7 loops added to hook). On the return pass, treat all 7 of these loops as a single stitch.
Last St (Edge Stitch): Insert your hook under both loops of the very last vertical edge bar at the end of the row, yarn over, and pull up a loop. This creates a clean edge.
Standard Return Pass: Yarn over, pull through 1 loop on the hook. *Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Repeat from * until only 1 loop remains on your hook.

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Note: Keep your stitch count at exactly 50 stitches throughout the project. The loop already on your hook at the start of a row counts as your very first Tss.

Foundation: Create a Tunisian Foundation Row with 50 stitches. Complete your standard return pass.
Row 1 (Puff Row): Tss in the next stitch. Work 1 Puff in the next stitch, then work 1 Tss in each of the next 4 stitches. Repeat the section between asterisks 9 times total. Work 1 Puff in the next stitch, Tss in the next stitch, and then work your Last St under both edge loops. Complete a standard return pass.
Row 2 (Plain Row): Work 1 Tss into every vertical bar across the row until you reach the end. Work your Last St under both edge loops. Complete a standard return pass.
Rows 3–20: Alternately repeat Row 1 and Row 2. You will end up with defined vertical columns of puff stitches.
Bind Off: Slip stitch into each vertical bar across the row to finish the top edge cleanly. Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail for assembly, and weave in your starting yarn tail.

Putting it Together

Seam the Sides: Fold your rectangle in half with the textured right sides facing each other. Use your tapestry needle and a length of yarn to sew the two short ends together (using a mattress stitch or standard whipstitch) to form a tube. Turn the tube right-side out.
Close the Bottom: Thread a 20-inch piece of yarn onto your needle. Weave the needle in and out around the bottom open edge of the tube. Pull the yarn firmly to cinch the bottom completely closed, then knot it securely inside.
Stuff the Body: Fill the pumpkin firmly with your fiberfill stuffing, shaping it into a ball as you fill it.
Close the Top: Repeat the weaving and cinching process around the top open edge. Pull it tight to enclose the stuffing, but leave a tiny opening in the exact center for your stem before securing the yarn.
Create the Sections: Do not cut your yarn yet. To give the pumpkin its ribbed shape, wrap the yarn up and around the outside of the pumpkin, pulling it tight so it rests in the channel between the puff stitch columns. Bring the needle back through the center of the pumpkin from bottom to top to anchor it. Repeat this for all 10 sections to create a realistically segmented pumpkin.
Finishing Touches: Knot and hide your yarn ends inside the pumpkin. Insert your twig or cinnamon stick into the small opening at the top center.