Give your fall decor a handmade update with a soft ribbon-yarn pumpkin that works up quickly and gets its rounded shape from simple ribbed crochet and easy shaping.
There’s something especially satisfying about turning a few simple rows into a plump little crochet pumpkin. With soft ribbon yarn and a 6.0 mm hook, this piece has a smooth texture and bold ribbing that makes the finished crochet piece feel both cozy and modern.
The construction is straightforward, but the shaping is what brings this ribbon yarn crochet pumpkin to life. You’ll first create a flat ribbed panel, join it into a tube, then cinch and shape it into the familiar pumpkin form. A small brown stem and green leaf finish the look, making it easy to style on a shelf, mantel, or fall table.
Materials & Tools Needed
- Ribbon Yarn / T-shirt Yarn: Orange or mustard for the pumpkin body, with brown for the stem and green for the leaf
- Crochet Hook: 6.0 mm
- Polyester Fiberfill: For stuffing the pumpkin
- Tapestry or Yarn Needle: Choose a large-eye needle suitable for bulky ribbon yarn
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers
Finished Size & Customization Ideas
The finished pumpkin will be approximately 5–6 inches in diameter and 3–4 inches tall, although the final size can vary depending on your tension and how firmly you stuff it.
You can make a larger or smaller pumpkin by adjusting the foundation chain and working more or fewer rows while keeping the panel proportionate. For a farmhouse look, try cream or white ribbon yarn; for Halloween, dark purple or black can give the pumpkin a more dramatic feel. You can also add wire inside the stem if you want a gently curled finish.
Pattern Abbreviations & Terminology
This pattern uses standard US crochet terms:
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single Crochet
- hdc: Half Double Crochet
- dc: Double Crochet
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- BLO: Back Loop Only
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- FO: Fasten Off
Step-by-Step Crochet Pattern
Make the Pumpkin Body
The pumpkin begins as a flat rectangular panel. Working the rows in the back loop only creates the vertical texture that will become the pumpkin’s ribs after shaping.
Foundation Chain: With orange or mustard ribbon yarn and a 6.0 mm hook, ch 16, or adjust the chain if you want to change the pumpkin’s height.
Row 1: Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1 sc in each chain across, ch 1, and turn. (15 sts)
Rows 2–24: Work 1 sc in the BLO of each stitch across, ch 1, and turn at the end of each row. Repeat until you have 24 rows total. (15 sts per row)
Helpful check: The completed panel should look roughly rectangular, with the BLO stitches creating visible horizontal rows that will become the pumpkin’s vertical ribs once the piece is assembled.
Join the Panel
Fold the rectangle in half so the foundation chain edge lines up with the final row.
Seam: Work slip stitches through both loops of the foundation-chain side and the back loops of the final row across all 15 stitches to form a tube.
Finish: Fasten off, leaving a long tail of approximately 18–24 inches. Keep this tail because you will use it for cinching and shaping the pumpkin.
Crochet the Stem
Use brown ribbon yarn for the stem.
Round 1: Make a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring, sl st to the first sc to join, and ch 1. (6 sts)
Rounds 2–5: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (6 sts per round)
Round 6: Work 2 sc in each stitch around to create the flared base. (12 sts)
Finish: Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Make the Leaf
Switch to green ribbon yarn.
Leaf: Ch 7, then starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1 sl st, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, then work (sc, ch 1, sc) in the final chain to turn around the tip; continue along the opposite side with 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, and 1 sl st.
Finish: Fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching the leaf to the pumpkin.
Shape the Pumpkin
Now the flat ribbed panel becomes a rounded pumpkin. Take your time during this stage because the tension of the cinching yarn determines how defined your pumpkin will look.
Close the Bottom
Thread the long tail from the pumpkin body onto your tapestry needle.
Bottom Cinch: Weave the needle in and out around the bottom edge of the tube, then pull the yarn firmly to gather the opening completely closed and secure it with a strong knot inside.
Add the Stuffing
Turn the piece right side out and begin filling it with polyester fiberfill.
Add enough stuffing to create a firm, rounded pumpkin, but avoid packing it so tightly that the ribbon yarn stretches open between the stitches.
Close the Top
Top Cinch: Weave the remaining tail around the top edge in the same in-and-out fashion, then pull it tightly to close the opening.
Create the Pumpkin Ribs
This is the step that gives your finished piece its recognizable pumpkin shape.
Rib Shaping: Take the long tail and pass it from the center bottom through to the center top, pulling firmly to create an indentation. Wrap the yarn around the outside of the pumpkin along one of the natural vertical ridges, then pass the needle back through the center from top to bottom and pull firmly.
Repeat: Continue this process 5–6 times around the pumpkin to create distinct grooves. Keep the sections as evenly spaced as possible so the pumpkin looks balanced.
Finish: Knot the yarn securely at the bottom or top center once the shaping is complete.
Shaping tip: Don’t worry if the pumpkin looks slightly uneven before the ribs are tightened. The vertical passes are what pull the stuffing inward and transform the rounded tube into a more defined pumpkin shape.
5. Attach the Stem and Leaf
Stem: If desired, add a small amount of stuffing to the brown stem, then sew its flared base securely over the gathered center at the top of the pumpkin.
Leaf: Position the green leaf beside the stem and stitch it securely in place.
Finishing: Weave all remaining yarn ends into the inside of the pumpkin and trim the excess.
Finishing Your Ribbon Yarn Pumpkin
Give the pumpkin a gentle squeeze and check the rib sections. If one groove looks deeper than the others, you can adjust the shaping yarn before fully securing the ends.
The chunky ribbon yarn gives this pumpkin plenty of texture without requiring complicated stitches, so it works particularly well as a quick fall crochet decoration. Make one in a traditional orange, or create several in neutral and seasonal colors for a coordinated display.
Conclusion
Your crochet pumpkin with ribbon yarn is ready to become part of your fall decor. The simple BLO panel creates the textured foundation, while the cinching and vertical shaping turn it into a soft, rounded pumpkin with defined ribs. Finish it with the little stem and leaf, and you have a handmade decoration that’s quick enough for a weekend project and attractive enough to display all season long.
