Want a small Halloween detail that you can actually wear? These crochet pumpkin hair accessories turn a simple bow into a festive pumpkin decoration that works with either a hair elastic or a barrette.
Instead of making a pumpkin just for your shelf, this crocheted pattern lets you turn the finished piece into something you can use throughout the Halloween season. The pumpkin sits at the center of a crocheted bow, with a stem, leaves, and an optional Jack-o’-lantern face to give it its character.
The construction is made up of a few manageable pieces: first the bow, then two small pumpkin circles, followed by the stem and leaves. Once those pieces are joined, a small center band secures the bow to your chosen hair accessory. If you’re making the pumpkin with a face, it’s easiest to embroider the details before the two crochet pumpkin pieces are assembled.
Credit Weaving Wyrd Studio
Materials & Tools
- Size 10 crochet thread: Orange for the pumpkin, plus green and black for the details.
- 1.5 mm steel crochet hook: Suitable for the fine crochet thread used in this pattern.
- Tapestry needle: A longer needle is useful when sewing the pumpkin and bow together.
- Scissors: For cutting and finishing the thread.
- Hair elastic or barrette clip: Choose whichever type of hair accessory you want to wear.
- Optional multicolor thread: Useful if you want a more autumnal or colorful bow.
Finished Size & Customization
The finished bow is approximately 3–4 inches wide, depending on your thread and tension.
You can change the character of the accessory without changing its basic construction:
- Use classic orange and black for a traditional Halloween look.
- Try black thread for a darker, more gothic pumpkin.
- Use variegated autumn-colored thread for a softer fall version.
- Add small beads or metallic thread if you want extra sparkle.
The pumpkin can also be attached to something other than a hair accessory, such as a bag or headband.
Pattern Abbreviations
US crochet terminology is used.
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single Crochet
- hdc: Half Double Crochet
- dc: Double Crochet
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- R: Row or Round
Step-by-Step Crochet Pumpkin Hair Accessory
Crochet the Bow
The bow starts as a small rectangular fabric. Its repeating clusters create the open texture that gives the finished bow some visual interest.
Start: With size 10 thread, ch 26.
Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, ch 1, skip 3 ch, work (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in the next ch, ch 1, skip 3 ch, sc in the next ch, then repeat the pattern across and sc in the final chain. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 4, dc in the first st, ch 1, skip 3 sts, sc in the middle dc of the previous cluster, ch 1, skip 3 sts, then work (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) into the next sc; finish with dc, ch 1, dc in the final st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st, ch 1, work (dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc) in the next sc, ch 1, sc in the middle dc of the next cluster, then repeat across and finish with sc in the final st. Turn.
Rows 4–17: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 alternately until you have 17 rows total.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why repeat these rows? The alternating clusters gradually build the rectangular bow fabric without requiring a complicated stitch pattern. Keeping track of the row number is more useful here than trying to memorize the entire sequence.
Make the Pumpkin Back
The pumpkin is made from two matching circular pieces. The second piece will eventually cover the back of the first, giving the decoration a neat finished shape.
Round 1: Make an adjustable ring and work 6 sc into it. Pull the ring closed. (6 sts)
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 3: Work [1 sc, 2 sc in the next st] around. (18 sts)
Round 4: Work [1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st] around. (24 sts)
Round 5: Work the following sequence around: sc, sc, hdc, 2 hdc, dc, dc, dc, 2 dc, hdc, hdc, hdc, 2 sc, sc, sc, hdc, 2 hdc, dc, dc, dc, 2 dc, hdc, hdc, hdc, sc, sc. (36 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Make the Pumpkin Front
Repeat Rounds 1–5 exactly as for the back piece.
Before fastening off, add the Jack-o’-lantern face if you want one. Working on the flat piece now makes the embroidery easier than trying to stitch onto the finished pumpkin.
Using black crochet thread and a tapestry needle:
- Stitch two triangular eyes.
- Add a small triangular nose if desired.
- Stitch a smile, grin, or spooky mouth.
You can leave the face off completely for a simple pumpkin look.
Add the Stem and Leaves
Stem
The stem is worked as a small curled piece so it has a little movement rather than lying completely flat.
Stem: Ch 12, then work 2 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and 2 sc in each remaining chain. Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.
Leaves
Leaf: Ch 5, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, then hdc in each of the next 3 chains. Repeat the same sequence for the second leaf, then sl st into the base. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.
Assemble the Pumpkin
Place the pumpkin front and back together, making sure their edges line up.
Join: Work a final round of sc through both pumpkin pieces, joining them around the edge.
This gives the pumpkin a finished border while securing the two pieces together.
Before closing the last few stitches, check that the face is facing the correct direction and that the stem will sit at the top.
Once the pumpkin is completely joined, fasten off and weave in the remaining end.
Attach the Stem and Leaves
Sew the stem securely to the top of the pumpkin using its yarn tail.
Position the leaves beside the stem and sew them in place.
At this point, the pumpkin decoration itself is finished.
Attach the Pumpkin to the Bow
Place the pumpkin in the center of the crocheted bow.
Use the long sewing tails from the pumpkin to stitch it securely to the bow. Take several small stitches through the back of the pumpkin and the bow fabric so the pumpkin doesn’t wobble when the accessory is worn.
You want the stitching to hold the pumpkin firmly without pulling the bow out of shape.
Add the Hair Elastic or Barrette
The small center band hides the attachment point and holds the hair accessory in place.
Center Band – Row 1: Ch 23, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and across. (22 sc)
Rows 2–3: Sc across. (22 sc each row)
Fasten off.
Wrap the finished band around the middle of the bow and your hair elastic or barrette clip. Sew the ends together on the back of the bow.
Keep the seam at the back so the front remains clean and the pumpkin stays the visual focus.
Final Check
Before wearing it, gently tug the pumpkin and bow to make sure everything is secure.
The pumpkin should sit upright, the stem and leaves should remain attached, and the center band should hold the hair accessory firmly.
Your finished piece can now be worn as a Halloween hair accessory, given as a seasonal handmade gift, or adapted into another small autumn decoration.
