Last fall, I stopped at a roadside farm stand to pick up a few apples and a jar of local honey. Just outside the little shop, there were dozens of pumpkins lined up in every shape and size. I wasn’t planning to buy one, but a tiny pumpkin sitting in a wooden crate caught my eye. It was perfectly round with a curly green stem, and I couldn’t resist bringing it home. It sat on my kitchen counter for weeks and made me smile every time I walked by.

One evening, while I was making dinner, I looked over at that little pumpkin and thought, “That would make the cutest plush.” After the kitchen was cleaned up, I grabbed some bright orange plush yarn from my craft room, settled into my favorite chair, and started crocheting. The little round body came together quickly, and once I added the bobble nose and curly green leaves, it had so much personality that I couldn’t stop smiling.

Today, I’m excited to share this Free Amigurumi Pattern Little Pumpkin Plush with you. It’s a fun, relaxing project that’s perfect for decorating your home during the fall season or making as a thoughtful handmade gift. Whether you’re filling a tiered tray, decorating a mantel, or creating items for a craft fair, this cheerful little pumpkin is sure to add a cozy touch. Grab your favorite hook, gather your softest orange yarn, and let’s crochet this adorable pumpkin together.

Materials Needed

• Size 4.0 mm crochet hook
• LaVita Yarn Velur plush yarn (120m/100g):
  • Main color 3012 (orange) – 30 g
  • Additional color 8161 (yellow-green) – 10 g
• A small amount of black semi-cotton yarn (YarnArt Jeans 160m/50g) for face embroidery
• Strong thread for sculpting
• Fiberfill stuffing (hollofiber or synthetic fluff)
• 16 mm safety eyes (trapezoid with slanting pupil)
• Scissors, long needle with a wide eye, stitch marker

Finished Size

The height of the toy (when using the recommended materials) is about 15-17 cm.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain stitch
• MR – magic ring
• sc – single crochet
• Puff stitch – 3 unfinished double crochets worked together into one base stitch
• inc – increase (two single crochet worked into one base stitch)
• dec – decrease (two single crochet worked together)
• sl st – slip stitch
• (…) x X – repeat instructions in parentheses X times
• (NUMBER) – total number of stitches in the round

Pattern Notes

The toy is worked in one piece in a spiral, without lifting loops. The stitch marker runs in a straight line down the center back. If you see the round shifting, make shift stitches at the end of the round (sc). You do not need to count them. Once made, move the marker (I place it on the last stitch of the round) and continue according to the pattern. Depending on your gauge, you may need to make them every 3-5 rounds.

Pattern Instructions

Little Pumpkin

The stitch marker runs in a straight line down the back of the pumpkin body. If the round shifts, make shift stitches.

We begin crocheting with 2 ch or with a MR using the main color thread.

1 round: 8 sc in MR or in the second chain from hook (8) 2 round: 8 inc (16) 3 round: (1 sc, inc) x 8 times (24) 4 round: (2 sc, inc) x 8 times (32) 5 round: (3 sc, inc) x 8 times (40) 6-10 (5 rounds): 40 sc (40)

In the next round we will work the nose – 1 puff stitch (3 unfinished double crochets worked together into one base stitch).

11 round: 19 sc, 1 puff stitch, 20 sc (40) 12 round: (3 sc, dec) x 8 times (32) 13 round: 32 sc (32) 14 round: (2 sc, dec) x 8 times (24) 15 round: (2 sc, dec) x 6 times (18) 16-18 (3 rounds): 18 sc (18)

Insert safety eyes between rounds 12 and 13 at a distance of 7 stitches between the eye posts (count along round 12). Add fiberfill, stuff firmly.

19 round: (2 sc, inc) x 6 times (24) 20-23 (4 rounds): 24 sc (24) 24 round: (1 sc, dec) x 8 times (16) 25 round: 8 dec (8)

Stuff the upper part of the pumpkin and change yarn color to the additional color. Fasten off and cut the main color thread.

26-30 (5 rounds): 8 sc (8)

Stuff the stem lightly. Cinch the ring closed, fasten off and cut the thread. Hide the tail inside the piece.

Leaves

Attach the additional color thread in round 26 on the right side and chain 11. Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook, work 10 sc along the chain.

So that the leaves curl slightly in a spiral, it is important to work only into the loops on one side of the chain.

Work a sl st into the stitch of round 26 and chain 21. Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook, work 20 sc along the chain.

Work a sl st, fasten off and cut the thread. Hide the tails inside the pumpkin body.

If you want more tightly curled leaves, work 2-3 sc into each chain stitch along the chain.

Eye and Mouth Sculpting

Perform sculpting as desired. Sculpt the mouth 3 rounds below the nose.

Eye and Mouth Details

Using black YarnArt Jeans thread, embroider eyelashes and a mouth (I embroidered the mouth with a chain stitch).

All! The toy is completely ready!

Tips for Success

• Keep track of your center back marker: Because plush yarn can twist, use shift stitches at the end of rounds as needed so your puff stitch nose stays right on the front.
• Stuff the lower body firmly: Adding plenty of fiberfill in the lower section gives your pumpkin a nice wide base that stands up straight on tables or shelves.
• Stuff the stem lightly: Keeping the green top stem stuffed lightly helps it maintain a natural shape without bulging too much at the top.
• Work into one loop for curling leaves: Following the instruction to work into only one side of the foundation chain will naturally give your green vines a gentle spiral curl.
• Use strong thread for facial sculpting: Soft chenille yarn can snap under tension, so use a sturdy nylon or strong cotton thread to pull the eyes and mouth gently into place.
• Embroider facial features with light tension: When embroidering the mouth and eyelashes over plush yarn, keep your stitches relaxed so they sit neatly on top of the soft fibers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of yarn can I use if I cannot find LaVita Yarn Velur?

You can substitute any velvet or plush yarn of similar weight, such as Himalaya Dolphin Baby, YarnArt Dolce, or Premier Parfait Chunky, using a matching 4.0 mm hook.

How do I make the leaf tendrils curl even more?

To create tighter spirals for your pumpkin leaves, work 2 or 3 single crochet stitches into every chain stitch instead of just 1.

Can I use regular safety eyes without the slanting pupil?

Yes, standard 16 mm round safety eyes work wonderfully and will still give your pumpkin a very sweet, friendly expression.

What stitch works best for embroidering the mouth line?

A simple chain stitch or stem stitch using black semi-cotton yarn gives the mouth a clean, defined line over the plush texture.

Why does the pattern call for shift stitches?

Spiral crochet naturally drifts to one side over several rounds, so making an extra stitch when needed keeps your center back marker aligned and your front details centered.

Conclusion

Working up this Free Amigurumi Pattern Little Pumpkin Plush is such a wonderful way to enjoy a cozy crafting afternoon. The plush texture and sweet embroidered details make this project a total joy to stitch from start to finish. Happy crocheting!