A classic Autumn must-have for your home and a great way to use up mini skeins! The gourdgeous minis are very beginner friendly and super easy to assemble. Plus, there’s a knit version AND a crochet version! I couldn’t help myself, they’re just too cute.
About the knit version: these cute mini gourds are knit flat and seamed together with extra yarn and a tapestry needle. The FREE pattern is available on Ravelry, which you can download here. Or pin on Pinterest for later.
About the crochet version: these cuties are crocheted in the round with the magic loop method and half-double crochets all around. Increases and hdc decreases are made to form the pumpkin shape. Find the FREE pattern on Ravelry here. Or pin on Pinterest for later.
Design & Inspiration
Ever since I released the gourdgeous knits pumpkins pattern a couple of years ago, it’s been on my to-do list to design a crochet version. I really enjoyed designing the gk pumpkins and they’ve become a fan favorite. Read more about them on the blog here.
But there are soooo many crochet pumpkin patterns out there, and so I kind of put my idea on the back burner.
Fast forward to about a month ago when I received the mini skein sets I ordered from the Sewrella Yarn & TLYarn Crafts Toni’s Palette collection. The minis came in 3 sets and I loved how the colorways were grouped together. It got me thinking of how I could possibly use these minis. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that even though the colorways were from a Summer collection, they’d be perfect for Autumn as well.
And so my crochet pumpkin design started resurfacing in my mind. I quickly grabbed a Sewrella Yarn crochet hook and set to work. It took practically overnight for me to design a low-key, beginner friendly crocheted gourd. I loved it! And so did my son; he loved it so much, he kept stealing it from me, so I had to make more haha.
With the crocheted version came the knit version, which took a bit more time designing to be honest. I tried knitting in the round, but since the DPNs were so small and the yarn so thin, I personally found it very frustrating. Which is why I chose to design the knit version as flat with simple Garter stitch. This way, the design would still be low-key and beginner friendly like the crochet version.
Yarn Choice
As mentioned before, I wanted to use the mini skeins from the Toni’s Palette collection for an Autumn-esque design. I’ve been asked quite often what can mini skeins be used for. My answer: they can be used for just about everything from shawls, hats, scarves, etc. But how fun would it be to use mini skeins to make mini pumpkins? 🙂
One mini skein will make one gourdgeous mini, or possibly two. Scrap yarn would work too, but I recommend having 80yds of sock weight yarn on hand.
Skill Level
Both knit & crochet versions are super beginner friendly.
For the knit version, you’ll need to know the basics: cast on, knit, and bind off. I included a link to my video tutorial on how to assemble the gourdgeous minis in the pattern as well as step by step written instructions. The tutorial was actually recorded for the gk pumpkins, but the steps are the same. I’ve linked the video here as well.
For the crochet version, you’ll need to know how to make a magic loop, hdc in the round and work hdc decreases. Step by step written instructions are included in the pattern, and feel free to watch the assembly video tutorial from the gk pumpkins to get the gist for forming your mini gourd.
Pattern
Both knit & crochet patterns are FREE on Ravelry.
To download the knit version, go here.
Or to download the crochet version, go here.
Contact
Please email me at gourdgeousknits@gmail.com if you have any questions about the pattern. Feel free to send and tag me in any photos of your works in progress and finished projects with #gourdgeousminis and #gourdgeousknits. I love seeing your knits and sharing them on my social media sites.
The patterns and photographs are the property of Kristin Strecker-Kellogg of gourdgeous knits and are for personal, non-commercial use. The selling or distribution of these patterns physically or electronically are not permitted. Please credit gourdgeous knits when sharing on social media with #gourdgeousknits.
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