A little candy corn with chunky yellow, orange, and white stripes, a cheerful face, and just the right amount of fall charm for a cozy seasonal display.
Candy corn is one of those familiar fall treats that instantly brings Halloween and autumn to mind, and this crocheted version turns those classic stripes into a soft little plush. At about five inches tall, it is easy to display on a shelf, tuck into a seasonal centerpiece, or keep around as a cheerful bit of fall décor.
The shape comes together in three simple color sections, with the yellow base gradually narrowing through the orange middle and white top. Once the body is finished, a pair of safety eyes and a small embroidered smile give it a playful expression. You can keep the traditional colors for that unmistakable crocheted candy-corn look or change them up when you want something a little different.
Credit OkieGirlBling’n’Things
Materials & Tools
- Premier Parfait Chunky yarn in:
- Mango (orange)
- Yellow
- White
- 6 mm (J) crochet hook
- Two 16 mm black safety eyes, or a similar size
- Black embroidery thread for the mouth
- Yarn needle
- Polyfill stuffing
- Stitch marker
Finished Size
The finished candy corn is approximately 5 inches tall when made with Premier Parfait Chunky yarn. Your finished size may vary slightly depending on your yarn and crochet tension.
Before You Start
This pattern is worked in rounds, starting at the wider yellow base and gradually decreasing as you move toward the white top. A stitch marker will help you keep track of the beginning of each round.
There is one detail to watch closely in the first round: you will crochet along both sides of the starting chain. This creates the rounded base rather than a flat strip, so take a moment to locate the stitches along the underside of the chain before continuing around.
Pattern Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together
- st: stitch
- RS: right side
Crochet the Yellow Base
Start with the yellow yarn. The first round creates an oval-shaped base by working down one side of the starting chain and then returning along the other side.
Round 1: Make a slip knot and ch 11; work 1 sc in the second ch from the hook and 1 sc in each of the next 9 chains, then work 3 sc in the last chain; turn your work and crochet along the opposite side of the starting chain, working 9 sc, then 3 sc in the last stitch. (24 sts)
Place your stitch marker after completing the round.
When you turn to work along the other side of the chain, look underneath the chain for the remaining loops. This can be easy to miss if you are new to working around a foundation chain, and finding those loops correctly will keep the base even.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in the first stitch, 1 sc in each of the next 9 stitches, 2 sc in each of the next 3 stitches, 1 sc in each of the next 9 stitches, then 2 sc in each of the last 2 stitches. (30 sts)
Rounds 3–5: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (30 sts each round)
The stitch count stays at 30 through these three rounds, so this is a good point to check your count before changing colors.
Change to Orange
Change to Mango orange yarn before completing the last stitch of Round 5, using the orange yarn to finish that stitch.
Secure the yellow and orange yarn ends so the color change stays neat.
You are now moving into the middle section, where the decreases will begin making the candy corn narrower.
Crochet the Orange Section
Round 6: Repeat [3 sc, sc2tog] around. (24 sts)
Rounds 7–8: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (24 sts each round)
Round 9: Repeat [2 sc, sc2tog] around. (18 sts)
After Round 9, add the 16 mm safety eyes between the yellow and orange sections, placing them 4 stitches apart.
Before securing the backs, hold the candy corn upright and look at the face straight on. The narrowing shape can make the eyes look different from the angle you see while crocheting, so checking from the front helps you get a more balanced expression.
Change to White
Change to white yarn at the last stitch of Round 9. Cut the orange yarn and secure the ends before continuing.
The white section is the tapered top of the candy corn, so the remaining decreases will gradually bring the opening closed.
Crochet the White Top
Rounds 10–11: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (18 sts each round)
After Round 11, begin adding the polyfill stuffing.
Add the stuffing gradually rather than filling the whole piece at once. Push small amounts into the wider lower section first, then check the outside shape before adding more. You want the candy corn to feel full and rounded without stretching the stitches.
Round 12: Repeat [1 sc, sc2tog] around. (12 sts)
Add more stuffing if the body still feels too soft or looks slightly hollow. This is the last easy opportunity to adjust the inside shape before the opening becomes smaller.
Round 13: Work 1 sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)
Round 14: Work sc2tog around. (6 sts)
You should now have a small opening with 6 stitches remaining.
Close the Top
Thread the white yarn tail onto your yarn needle.
Insert the needle under the front loop of each of the remaining 6 stitches. Once you have gone through all six stitches, pull the yarn gently to draw the opening closed.
Secure the yarn, then weave the remaining tail through a few stitches inside the candy corn before trimming the excess.
Try not to pull the yarn excessively tight. The goal is simply to close the opening neatly without creating a puckered point at the top.
Embroider the Smile
Use black embroidery thread to add the mouth.
Insert the needle into the plush underneath one eye and bring it out at a point between the eyes. Stitch a small V-shaped smile, repeating the stitches if you want a slightly thicker line.
Before securing the thread, look at the face from the front and check that the smile is centered between the eyes. A small adjustment here can change the whole expression.
Once you are happy with the placement, secure the embroidery thread inside the plush and trim the excess.
Make It Your Own
The traditional yellow, orange, and white combination gives this candy corn its familiar fall appearance, but you do not have to stop there.
Try soft pink and green for a more whimsical version, change only the middle stripe, or use different safety eyes for a more playful expression. You can also leave off the embroidered smile if you prefer a simpler, more understated face.
If you make several candy corns, changing their colors or expressions is an easy way to give each one its own personality while keeping the same basic shape.
Final Check
Before putting your candy corn on display, check that the safety eyes are firmly secured, the top opening is completely closed, and the embroidery ends are tucked safely inside.
Give the finished piece a gentle squeeze and look at it from all sides. If one area feels uneven, lightly adjust the stuffing from the outside until the shape looks smooth and rounded.
Your candy corn is now ready for a fall shelf, Halloween display, seasonal centerpiece, or a handmade gift for someone who loves a little extra sweetness in their autumn décor.
