The Sugar Crochet Pumpkin is a simple, lightly textured pumpkin inspired by the small sugar pumpkins you see throughout fall. The lemon peel stitch creates a subtle texture without the deep ribbing found in many traditional crochet pumpkin patterns.
This free pattern includes two sizes and is worked in the round using size 6 super bulky yarn and an L/8mm crochet hook. It’s rated advanced beginner and uses a combination of single and double crochet stitches.
The smoother shape makes this pumpkin easy to mix with ribbed and textured styles for fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving displays.
Looking for more pumpkin ideas? Browse my 12+ Free Crochet Pumpkin Patterns for more sizes, textures, and construction methods.
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Styling The Sugar Crochet Pumpkin
The Sugar Crochet Pumpkin has a softer, lightly textured look that works well for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving decorating. I like displaying it on trays, shelves, or coffee tables mixed with candles, greenery, and other pumpkins.
For a layered fall display, pair it with a few different pumpkin textures and shapes:
The Crochet Mini Ribbed Pumpkin Pattern
The Harvest Crochet Pumpkin Pattern
The Farmhouse Crochet Pumpkin Pattern
Yarn
I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, a size 6 super bulky yarn, for the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin. Some of my favorite colors for fall are Mustard, Pumpkin, Butterscotch, and Fisherman. The thick yarn works well with the lemon peel stitch and gives the finished pumpkin a soft, slightly textured look.
You can shop Wool-Ease Thick & Quick from:
Lion Brand Yarn
Amazon
Yarn Alternatives
This pattern works well with several different yarns. If you substitute a different weight or fiber, check your gauge and adjust your hook size as needed. The most important thing is creating a tight fabric so the Poly-fil doesn’t show through the stitches. I also like using two strands of a lighter yarn held together to create a thicker finished fabric.
A few yarn alternatives I recommend:
Bernat Maker (2 strands held together)
Lion Brand Yarn Hue + Me (2 strands held together)
Cover Story™ Lazy Days Thick & Quick® Yarn
Lion Brand Re-Spun Thick & Quick (shown below in the colors Cider, Cinnamon Stick, and Squash)
Stem Ideas for the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin
My favorite stem option for the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin is a small wooden branch gathered from outside. Give it a good wash and let it dry completely before using it.
Cinnamon sticks and wine corks also work well. You can also find cleaned wooden sticks on Amazon—just check the measurements carefully since product photos can make them look larger than they are.
Another option is to use decorative tags as stems or accents. My Crochet Tags & Labels Guide shares the different styles I use most often.
Angie & Britt — custom Ultrasuede logo tags, leaves, and seasonal designs
Savlabot — vegan leather leaves and seasonal tags
Sugar Crochet Pumpkin Sizing
The Sugar Crochet Pumpkin pattern includes two sizes:
- Small: Approximately 3½” tall × 14″ circumference
- Large: Approximately 4½” tall × 17″ circumference
Measurements do not include the stem.
The pattern is easy to customize by adding or removing increase rounds and adjusting the number of even rounds. Keep an even stitch count so you can continue alternating single and double crochet throughout each round. The remaining instructions stay the same—you’ll simply have a different stitch count.
Gauge
Gauge is measured with an L/8mm crochet hook:
- Small: First 2 rounds measure approximately 3″ across
- Large: First 3 rounds measure approximately 3¾” across
Check your gauge before starting, especially if you’re substituting yarn. Differences in yarn and tension can affect the finished size.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner
Stitch Key | US Terms
- ch(s) – chain/chains
- beg – beginning
- dc – double crochet
- inv-scdec – invisible single crochet decrease
- rnd(s) – round/rounds
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch/stitches
✂️ Materials & Supplies Needed
Grab everything you need to make the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin:
- Yarn: Size 6 Super Bulky Yarn — I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
- Yardage: Approximately 35–45 yards (finished size and gauge may vary depending on the yarn used)
- Crochet Hook: Size L/8.0mm Hook (or size needed to meet gauge)
- Notions: Tapestry Needle and Flexible Measuring Tape
- Filling: Poly-Fil
- Stem: Dried branch, cinnamon stick, wine cork, or another stem option of your choice
- Adhesive: Glue or hot glue gun for attaching the stem
- Optional Embellishments: Ribbon, flowers, leaves, or other fall embellishments
Special Stitches
Invisible Single Crochet Decrease (inv-scdec)
Insert hook into front loop only of 1st st, insert hook into front loop only of next st, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through last 2 loops on hook. (counts as 1 single crochet)
Full Video Instructions for The Invisible Single Crochet Decrease Here
Sugar Crochet Pumpkin Video Tutorial
Prefer to follow along visually? The video tutorial walks through the main steps of the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin, including working the lemon peel stitch in the round, shaping, stuffing, and finishing.
Sugar Crochet Pumpkin Pattern Written Instructions
- Beg chs of each rnd do not count as 1st st, join each rnd in 1st st not beg ch
- Each round alternates between double and single crochet. On the work even rounds, work the sc into the dc from the previous round, and the dc into the sc from the previous round.
Size Small
Rnd 1. Create a magic circle (sc,dc) 5x, join with sl st. (10sts)
Rnd 2. Ch2, (dc,sc) in each st around, join with sl st. (20sts) (diameter should measure about 3” across)
Rnd 3. Ch1, *sc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st. (20sts)
Rnd 4. Ch2, *dc in next st, sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st. (20sts)
Rnds 5-12. repeat alternating rnds 3 & 4. (20sts)
- You should have a long tube that looks like the photo below.
- It should measure approximately 6 inches tall by 5 inches wide, lying flat.
- Add Poly-fil now, don’t overfill or you’ll see the Poly-fil through the gaps in the yarn.
Rnd 13. Inv-scdec around, join with sl st. (10sts)
Continue to finishing off instructions below.
Size Large
Rnd 1. Create a magic circle (sc,dc) 4x, join with sl st. (8sts)
Rnd 2. Ch2, (dc,sc) in each st around, join with sl st. (16sts)
Rnd 3. Ch1, *sc in next st, (dc,sc) in next st, dc in next st, (sc,dc) in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st, weave in beg tail. (24sts) (diameter should measure about 3 ¾” across)
Rnd 4. Ch2, *dc in next st, sc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st. (24sts)
Rnd 5. Ch1, *sc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st. (24sts)
Rnds 6-14. repeat alternating rnds 4 & 5. (24sts)
- You should have a long tube that looks like the photo below.
- It should measure approximately 7 inches tall by 5.75 inches wide, lying flat.
- Add Poly-fil now, don’t overfill or you’ll see the Poly-fil through the gaps in the yarn.
Rnd 15. Inv-scdec around, join with sl st. (12sts)
Continue to finishing off instructions below.
Finishing All Sizes
- Fasten off leaving a long tail end to cinch closed.
- Reference Steps 1-4 below for finishing off your pumpkin.
Step 1
Weave tail end in and out around last rnd of sts. I worked under both loops.
Step 2
Pull tail end tightly to cinch closed. You can leave a small opening for the stem, if you prefer. (I closed mine completely and glued the stem directly on top).
Step 3
Using the remaining tail end, thread the yarn on long tapestry needle, insert tapestry needle through the top center of pumpkin, pushing needle through the bottom center.
Step 4
Push needle back up through bottom center of pumpkin and then through the top center, pulling tightly to create an indent in the top center. Weave needle around top where you cinched it closed to keep indent in place, and fasten off once secure.
Your pumpkin is finished!! Adorn with stems, leaves, ribbons, and flowers as desired, I use a hot glue gun to attach the stem that I picked in the woods!
If you make the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin, I’d love to see how yours turns out! Share a photo and tag me @simplymadebyerin so I can see your finished pumpkin.
More Free Crochet Pumpkin Patterns
If you enjoyed making the Sugar Crochet Pumpkin, here are a few more pumpkin patterns to try:
- 🎃 12+ Free Crochet Pumpkin Patterns
- 🎃 The Harvest Crochet Pumpkin Pattern
- 🎃 The Knobby Crochet Pumpkin
- 🎃 Mini Ribbed Crochet Pumpkins
More Free Fall & Halloween Crochet Patterns
Looking for more seasonal projects? Here are a few fall and Halloween favorites:
- 🍂 18+ Free Fall & Halloween Crochet Patterns
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