Cozy Knit Pumpkins & Pumpkin Beanies for Fall (Free Patterns)

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Get ready to celebrate cozy season the only way that makes sense: by knitting an absolute avalanche of squishy pumpkins in every weight of yarn you own, plus adorable little pumpkin beanies for your favorite tiny humans (because apparently their heads deserve seasonal decor too). The best part? All the patterns are totally free, so you can start stitching before your coffee even cools—or spills on your yarn. We won’t judge.

Big Porch Pumpkins

It’s pumpkin season, which means I’m officially cranking out Big Porch Pumpkins (aka the kind of big store pumpkins that make overachievers feel seen). I made the large size using 2 balls of Berroco Vintage Chunky (single strand, because we’re keeping it real) and 5.5mm/US9 double-pointed needles plus a 5.5mm/US9 24″ circular needle. Pro move: I went down one needle size from what the yarn suggests because a) tension, b) density, and c) I really didn’t want the stuffing doing an escape artist impression through the gaps. (Trust me, a pumpkin with its fluff peeking through is nobody’s aesthetic.)

Now, if patience isn’t exactly your superpower (no judgment—many of us are here for the instant gratification), grab a superbulky yarn like Estelle Bulky, a pair of gloriously chubby 8mm/US11 needles, and follow the instructions for the Medium size. (Seriously, check the materials below so you don’t end up mid-pumpkin with no yarn—that’s the knitting equivalent of running out of gas on a road trip.)

The leafy thing on top is a Book Worm (yes, we’re calling it a book worm, embrace the chaos), crocheted on a 5mm hook with whatever scrap yarn you’ve got lurking in your stash.

See our curated list of knitting skills for tutorials

A collection of knitted pumpkins in various colors including orange, brown, green, grey, and cream, arranged on a rustic wooden surface with dried leaves and a metal container in the background.
This image is AI generated to show you what different coloured pumpkins look like!

Colours

Why settle for boring orange when your pumpkins can have a whole fall wardrobe? I made the image above with AI to show just how fabulous pumpkins look in literally every autumn color you can imagine. (Your stash just got a lot more interesting, didn’t it?)

  • rust
  • golden yellows
  • brown
  • beige
  • ecru and cream
  • light grey
  • sage green

HEADS UP: AI is getting weirdly good at making pretty pictures, but it absolutely cannot be trusted to write reliable knitting patterns. (It’s tried. It has not succeeded.) If you’re hunting for more pumpkin ornament patterns, head straight to Ravelry, where you can actually see if other knitters have successfully made the patterns and if they turned out as promised. (Etsy is unfortunately no longer a reliable source for knitting patterns, so keep your yarn budget safe and stay extra skeptical when shopping there):

Size

Our Pumpkin is a gloriously chubby 13″ in diameter and 7.5″ tall including the stem. (Yes, it’s basically a tiny ottoman for your decorative needs.)

  • Small (Medium, Large)
  • Small – 9” (23cm) diameter, 5.5” (14cm) tall
  • Medium – 11” (28cm) diameter, 6.5” (16.5cm) tall
  • Large – 13” (33cm) diameter, 7.5” (19cm) tall

Materials

Materials for a Thicker Version

I whipped up a second pumpkin with thicker yarn because patience is overrated—and it totally worked! Make size M from the pattern, holding 1 strand, and you’ll get a gloriously chonky pumpkin about 12.5″ in diameter and 6″ tall. For the stem, just cast on 12 sts and pretend you absolutely planned it this way all along.

A knitted pumpkin-themed hat in orange with a green leaf on top, positioned next to a small green bird on a wooden surface.

Pumpkin Beanie

There is literally no child who isn’t absolutely adorable in a pumpkin hat. We sized the hat from preemie to kids of all ages, and you should be able to squeeze 2 pumpkin hats out of one skein of yarn (and probably a third green hat too, because why not). The yarn is the gloriously soft Berroco Vintage, which is basically knitting clouds.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner (i.e., You Know What You’re Doing)

We designed this to be accessible to knitters who are past their first baby steps, so no intimidating colorwork or charts here—just straight-up knitting basics that might actually feel comfortable by now. Here’s what you need to have in your skill toolkit:

  • Read a knitting pattern
  • Cast on & Bind off
  • Knit & Purl in the same row
  • Work in the round on circular & double pointed needles
  • Weave in ends

See our curated list of knitting skills for tutorials

Size

  • preemie (0-6 mos, 6-18mos, 18mos-4yrs, 4yrs-adult S)
  • To fit head circumference: 14.5(16.75, 18, 20.5, 21.5)” or 36(42, 45, 51, 54) cm
  • Note: Fabric is stretchy. If you want a tighter fit go down a needle size
  • Photo is size 0-6mos: after blocking measures 7.75″ wide

Materials

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