Make a cute Crochet Halloween Pumpkin Appliqué with a few simple stitches, colorful yarn, and easy finishing details for festive crafts, gifts, and seasonal décor.
This little crochet pumpkin is a fun way to add a handmade Halloween touch without committing to a large pattern. Its flat design works beautifully as an appliqué, so you can sew or attach it to treat bags, clothing, accessories, or other seasonal crafts. The best part is that the pumpkin comes together quickly with a simple combination of double crochet and slip stitches.
What makes this crochet pattern especially enjoyable is how easily you can make it your own. Keep the classic orange, green, and brown combination for a traditional Halloween look, or change the colors and facial expression for something more playful. Once the crochet pumpkin is finished, the leaf, stem, and embroidered face give it just enough detail to make the small motif feel complete.
Credit Lemon Crochet
Materials & Tools Needed
- Yarn: Orange, green, brown, and black yarn in DK or light worsted weight
- Crochet Hook: 2.5 mm
- Tapestry Needle: For embroidery and weaving in yarn ends
- Scissors
Before You Start
Because this is a small, flat pumpkin motif, your finished size will depend quite a bit on your yarn thickness and tension. If you want a neat, compact appliqué, keep your stitches fairly even rather than working them too loosely.
The pumpkin is worked first, followed by the small leaf and stem. The face is embroidered after the crochet work is complete, so you can adjust its placement before securing the final yarn ends.
Finished Size & Customization Ideas
The finished pumpkin will be approximately 4–5 cm (1.5–2 inches) wide, making it suitable for small embellishment patterns.
You can easily customize it by:
- Attaching a keychain ring or small lanyard to turn it into a mini charm.
- Sewing or gluing it onto a hat, sweater, tote, or Halloween treat bag.
- Making several pumpkins and joining them into a festive garland.
- Using thicker yarn and a larger hook when you want a larger pumpkin appliqué.
- Changing the face to give each pumpkin a different expression.
Pattern Abbreviations & Terminology
- MR: Magic Ring
- ch: Chain
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- dc: Double Crochet
- st(s): Stitch(es)
The pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.
Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions
1. Crochet the Pumpkin Body
The pumpkin begins with a small magic ring. The first round creates the center, while the second round forms the two rounded bumps that give the pumpkin its recognizable shape.
Round 1: Form a magic ring, ch 2, work 12 dc into the ring, pull the tail tight to close the center, then sl st into the top of the beginning chain to join. (12 dc)
Keep the center snug when closing the magic ring. A loose center can leave an unwanted hole in the middle of the pumpkin.
Round 2: Ch 2, place 1 dc in the same joining space, work 2 dc in each of the next 4 sts, 1 dc in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the same place; sl st in the next st, ch 2, place 1 dc in the same place, work 2 dc in each of the next 4 sts, 1 dc in the next st, ch 2, sl st in the same place.
This round may look a little unusual while you are working it, but it is what creates the two rounded sections of the pumpkin. Work the stitches evenly and avoid pulling the yarn too tightly, or the motif can become distorted.
Helpful check: When Round 2 is finished, you should be able to see two rounded pumpkin bumps rather than a perfectly circular motif.
Fasten off the orange yarn if you have finished all the pumpkin-body work, leaving enough tail to secure the yarn neatly at the back.
2. Add the Green Leaf
The leaf is made directly onto the top of the pumpkin, so there is no separate piece to sew on later.
Leaf:
Attach green yarn with a sl st in the next stitch on top of the pumpkin, ch 4, skip the first chain from the hook, then work 1 sl st in each of the next 3 chains back toward the pumpkin base.
Pull the stitches gently into place so the leaf sits naturally against the pumpkin rather than standing too straight.
3. Add the Brown Stem
The stem is worked in the same area as the leaf, which keeps the top of the pumpkin compact and neat.
Stem:
Insert the hook into the same place as the leaf base, pull through brown yarn and make a sl st, ch 4, skip the first chain from the hook, work 1 sl st in each of the next 3 chains back toward the pumpkin base, then sl st in the same place on the pumpkin, ch 1, and cut the yarn.
At this point, the basic pumpkin is complete. Before moving on to the face, gently arrange the leaf and stem so that they sit where you want them.
4. Secure the Yarn Ends
Turn the pumpkin over and bring the yarn tails toward the back.
Tie matching yarn tails securely together where appropriate and trim the excess. Avoid cutting the tails too close to the knot, especially if you plan to attach the pumpkin to another pattern.
5. Embroider the Halloween Face
Now comes the detail that gives the little pumpkin its personality.
Thread black yarn onto your tapestry needle and work the face on the front of the pumpkin.
Eyes
Stitch two short vertical lines near the upper-middle portion of the pumpkin, keeping them roughly even in height and spacing.
You don’t need to make the eyes perfectly identical. Small differences can actually give a handmade pumpkin a more charming expression.
Smile
Mouth: Bring the needle up from the left side of the lower pumpkin area, make a wide curved horizontal stitch toward the right side, then add a small downward catch-stitch near the center to create a cheerful smile.
Before tying off the black yarn, look at the pumpkin from a short distance. If the face looks too high, too low, or too wide, this is the easiest time to adjust it.
A Small Finishing Tip
Because the pumpkin is so small, facial placement makes a big difference. Keep the eyes comfortably above the mouth and leave enough space around the edges so the face doesn’t look crowded.
Final Finishing
Pull all remaining yarn tails to the back and secure them neatly. Trim any excess yarn once you are confident that everything is firmly fastened.
Your pumpkin can now be used as an appliqué or adapted into another small Halloween pattern.
Ways to Use Your Finished Pumpkin
This little motif is especially useful when you want to add a quick seasonal detail to something you already own. Try attaching it to:
- Halloween treat bags
- Crochet hats
- Sweaters or cardigans
- Tote bags
- Gift packaging
- Hair accessories
- Seasonal garlands
- Small handmade cards or craft patterns
For a mini Halloween charm, attach a small keychain ring or lanyard to the finished pumpkin. If you want to make several for a garland, experiment with slightly different expressions so the pumpkins don’t all look identical.
Troubleshooting
My pumpkin looks too loose in the center. What happened?
The magic ring may not have been pulled tightly enough. Carefully pull the starting tail to close the center before continuing.
My pumpkin doesn’t have two clear bumps.
Check the second round carefully. The groups of 2 dc are what create the rounded sections. If your tension is very tight, gently shape the stitches with your fingers after completing the round.
My face looks uneven.
That’s easy to fix. Before securing the black yarn, check the placement of both eyes and the smile from a little distance. If necessary, remove the stitches and reposition them.
My leaf or stem is sticking out too much.
Use your tapestry needle or fingers to gently position the base closer to the pumpkin. Since both pieces are attached directly to the pumpkin, a little adjustment can make the finished motif look much neater.
Conclusion
Your Crochet Halloween Pumpkin Appliqué is now ready to bring a little handmade Halloween charm to your favorite pattern. Although it is small, the combination of the rounded pumpkin shape, tiny leaf and stem, and embroidered face gives it plenty of personality.
Once you’ve made one, try creating a few in different colors or with different expressions. A handful of these tiny pumpkins can turn into a cute garland, playful gift embellishments, or cheerful seasonal decorations—making this a quick pattern you’ll want to come back to every Halloween.
