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Worsted Pumpkin Candy Basket with Jack-o'-Lantern Face

A festive, spherical orange crochet basket with a classic carved jack-o'-lantern expression and black handle, perfect for Halloween candy storage.

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Difficulty
🟡 Intermediate
Time
⏱️ 4-6 hours
Hook
🪡 I / 5.5mm
Yardage
🧶 approximately 450 yards
Finished Size
📏 8 inches diameter, 7 inches tall (with handle, 11 inches)
⚠️
Always make a gauge swatch before starting!
Gauge: 16 sc x 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet
Adjust hook size as needed to match gauge.
📋

At a Glance

The Worsted Pumpkin Candy Basket with Jack-o'-Lantern Face is a free Intermediate-level wearable pattern using Worsted weight yarn with a I / 5.5mm hook . Estimated time: 4-6 hours. Finished size: 8 inches diameter, 7 inches tall (with handle, 11 inches). You'll need approximately approximately 450 yards of yarn.

29 steps across 5 sections  ·  Free under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — you can sell finished items

🛒 Materials

Worsted weight yarn, orange
400 yards, 100% acrylic or wool blend
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Worsted weight yarn, black
50 yards for face and handle
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Crochet hook
I / 5.5mm
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Fiberfill polyester stuffing
8 ounces
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Tapestry needle
For weaving in ends
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Stitch marker
Optional, for marking rounds
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📖 Abbreviations

View full dictionary →
sc — single crochet → inc — increase (2 sc in same st) → dec — single crochet 2 together (decrease) → ch — chain → sl st — slip stitch → st(s) — stitch(es) → rnd — round →

Tap any abbreviation to look it up. Start a free 7-day Maker trial for full stitch details.

📌 Before You Begin

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This pattern uses continuous spiral rounds. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to track the beginning.

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The basket is worked in two halves and sewn together with fiberfill stuffing between layers to create structure.

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Use orange yarn for the entire body unless otherwise specified.

🧶 Pattern Instructions

💡 Tip: The bottom half creates the bottom third of the spherical shape with gradual shaping.
  1. Rnd 1
    With orange, 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts)
  2. Rnd 2
    Inc in each st around (12 sts)
  3. Rnd 3
    Sc 1, inc, repeat around (18 sts)
  4. Rnd 4
    Sc 2, inc, repeat around (24 sts)
  5. Rnd 5
    Sc 3, inc, repeat around (30 sts)
  6. Rnd 6
    Sc 4, inc, repeat around (36 sts)
  7. Rnds 7-12
    Sc in each st around, 6 rounds (36 sts)
  8. Rnd 13
    Sc 4, dec, repeat around (30 sts)
  9. Rnd 14
    Sc 3, dec, repeat around (24 sts)
  10. Rnd 15
    Sc 2, dec, repeat around (18 sts)
  11. Rnd 16
    Sc 1, dec, repeat around (12 sts). Do not fasten off; leave live stitches on hook with stitch marker in place. These 12 stitches will be joined to the top half during assembly.
Row counter:
💡 Tip: The top half is slightly shorter than the bottom half to accommodate the handle opening.
  1. Rnd 1
    With new orange yarn, 6 sc in magic ring (6 sts)
  2. Rnd 2
    Inc in each st around (12 sts)
  3. Rnd 3
    Sc 1, inc, repeat around (18 sts)
  4. Rnd 4
    Sc 2, inc, repeat around (24 sts)
  5. Rnd 5
    Sc 3, inc, repeat around (30 sts)
  6. Rnd 6
    Sc 4, inc, repeat around (36 sts)
  7. Rnds 7-10
    Sc in each st around, 4 rounds (36 sts)
  8. Rnd 11
    Sc 1, dec, repeat around (24 sts). Fasten off, leaving 18-inch tail for sewing.
Row counter:
💡 Tip: Pack stuffing firmly but not so tightly that it distorts the spherical shape. Ensure seams are secure to prevent stuffing from escaping.
  1. Step 1
    Before joining the halves, use the 18-inch tail from the top half to close the opening at the top of the top half by weaving through the remaining 24 stitches and drawing them together. Fasten off securely. This creates the rim of the basket with a centered opening for candy insertion (approximately 2.5-3 inches).
  2. Step 2
    Place top and bottom halves with wrong sides facing each other. Using a length of orange yarn threaded through a tapestry needle, whip stitch the 12 live stitches from the bottom half's Rnd 16 to the corresponding edge of the top half, inserting fiberfill stuffing between the two halves as you sew to create structure and dimension.
  3. Step 3
    Continue whip stitching around the remaining perimeter of both halves, distributing stuffing evenly, until the pumpkin is fully assembled. Fasten off and weave in the end securely.
Row counter:
💡 Tip: Use black yarn and tapestry needle for embroidery. For a more dimensional look, crochet small black triangles and sew them on instead of embroidering.
  1. Left Eye
    With black yarn and tapestry needle, embroider or applique a triangle approximately 1 inch tall, centered on the pumpkin, positioned in upper left quadrant. Weave yarn through stitches in triangular shape.
  2. Right Eye
    Repeat for right side, mirroring the left eye. Eyes should be approximately 2 inches apart.
  3. Nose
    Embroider a small black triangle centered between the eyes, approximately 0.75 inches tall.
  4. Mouth
    With black yarn, embroider a wide curved smiling mouth below the nose using running stitch. Add small vertical lines below the mouth line to create teeth effect. Mouth should span approximately 3 inches wide.
Row counter:
💡 Tip: Gently shape the handle into a smooth arc before sewing for a more polished look. The two-layer structure prevents the handle from collapsing under the weight of candy.
  1. Step 1
    With black yarn, ch 30. Working in back loop only, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (29 sts). Then work a 2nd row: ch 1, turn, sc in back loop only in each st across (29 sts). Fasten off, leaving 12-inch tail. This creates a two-layer handle with body and thickness.
  2. Step 2
    Position handle across top of pumpkin in a curved arch shape, starting at one side of the opening and ending at the opposite side. Gently shape the handle into a smooth arc.
  3. Step 3
    Sew handle ends securely to the pumpkin body just below the opening on both sides, creating a curve that rises approximately 3 inches above the rim. Use the 12-inch tail and tapestry needle to make several passes through each end for durability.
Row counter:

✂️ Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends with tapestry needle. Flatten and block the pumpkin gently if needed. Ensure all seams are secure and handle is firmly attached. The pumpkin basket is now ready to fill with wrapped candies for Halloween decoration or trick-or-treat storage.

🧺 Care Instructions

Handwash in cold water with mild soap. Rinse thoroughly and lay flat to dry. Do not bleach or machine wash. If using acrylic yarn, the basket is durable and can be reused year after year with proper storage in a dry location.

🤖 This pattern was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always test your gauge before starting.

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Questions About This Pattern

Absolutely — just match the weight (Worsted). You'll need about approximately 450 yards, so make sure your substitute has enough meterage. Acrylic is budget-friendly and machine-washable; wool gives better stitch definition and drape.
This intermediate pattern assumes you're comfortable with basic stitches. You'll use sc, inc, dec, ch and a few more (see the Abbreviations section above). If increases and decreases are new to you, a quick 10-minute tutorial on YouTube before you start will make the pattern much smoother.
Usually it's the joining or finishing — where individual sections meet and need to align. Read through the entire pattern once before you start so there are no surprises. Use stitch markers generously to track your place, especially in rounds. If a section looks wrong, count your stitches before proceeding — catching an error early saves a lot of frogging later.
For this pattern, gauge is "16 sc x 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet". For decorative or non-fitted items it's less critical, but matching gauge ensures you use the right amount of yarn and get the proportions the pattern intends. If your swatch is too small (too many stitches/inch), go up a hook size. Too large — go down.
Handwash in cold water with mild soap. Rinse thoroughly and lay flat to dry. Do not bleach or machine wash. If using acrylic yarn, the basket is durable and can be reused year after year with proper storage in a dry location. A general rule: when unsure about the yarn, hand wash in cool water with a drop of gentle detergent, squeeze (don't wring), and block flat to dry. This is safe for almost every fiber.
Each section builds on the last, so yes — follow them in order. That said, some finishing sections (like embellishments or optional edging) can be skipped if you prefer a simpler look. Read through all sections before starting so you understand how the pieces fit together and can plan your yarn usage across sections.
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