DIY - "I'm melting! Melting! Oh, what a world!"

Want to take a wild guess which pumpkin was made by following the pattern in Crochet World?

Yep, it’s the pumpkin on the left. The one that looks like a Jack o’ Lantern that was carved in early September and then left outside to slowly transform into mush.

Okay, perhaps I’m being a bit harsh. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

For more pics, and an alternate pattern:

Yikes! I haven’t seen that kind of facial swelling since the time I tripped and fell into a wasp’s nest.

Now, some of you may believe I’m not showing the Crochet World Pumpkin to his best advantage. Not true, and if you don’t believe me, just check out what he looked like a few minutes later...

Wow, I knew it was a mistake to lower the drinking age for pumpkins.

To be fair, I was wrong about “O hook” meaning 12mm. And I did completely overlook the instruction to work through back loops only. I admit that this time my Mad Crochet Skillz left a wee bit to be desired.

But what about the other pumpkin, you ask? The handsome fellow on the right?

Why he’s Crocheted Jack o’ Lantern version 2.0!

BUILDING A BETTER JACK-O-LANTERN

By Victoria Dunn (adapted from the original by L.J. Stout)

MATERIALS: Knitting worsted weight yarn, 2 oz. orange, and small amounts of lt. green, dk. green and black; crochet hook size F

Want to guess what I used? Red Heart Supersaver, of course! I’m up to my ears in leftover Halloween colours.

FINISHED SIZE: Approximately 4’’ high.

The original pattern claimed that the pumpkin would end up 7’’ high. But even allowing for his teenage slouch, Crocheted Jack o’ Lantern 1.0 wasn’t even close.

NOTE: If you want a taller pumpkin, just increase the number of dc in the center of the row, adjusting the starting chain accordingly.

HEAD: With size F hook and orange, ch 20.

ROW 1: Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 2 ch, sc in each of next 3 ch, hdc in each of next 3 ch, dc in each of next 4 ch, hdc in each of next 3 ch, sc in each of next 3 ch, ch 1, turn (19 sts).

Working all sts through back of loop only, proceed:

Ha! I can do bossy bolding too!

ROW 2: Work sc in each sc, hdc in each hdc, dc in each dc, hdc in each hdc, sc in each sc, sl st in each sl st, ch 1, turn.

ROW 3: Work a sl st in each sl st, sc in each sc, hdc in each hdc, dc in each dc, hdc in each hdc, sc in each sc, ch 1, turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 until your pumpkin looks round enough. The one in the illustration has 38 rows.

I couldn’t understand why L.J. wanted us to go through the bother of sewing four sections together. In this new and improved pattern, your pumpkin not only ends up much rounder, but you also have complete control over how pleasantly plump you want him to be.

Bring the top and bottom rows together, line them up st to st, and close the seam with a row of sc.

Work 1 rnd sl st around top opening with orange.

BOTTOM: With orange, ch 2.

RND 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

RND 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc). End off. Sew this piece to bottom opening of pumpkin head.

And who doesn’t love a chubby Jack o’ Lantern?

TOP: With orange, ch 2.

RNDS 1 & 2: Work rnds 1 and 2 of bottom (12 sc).

RND 3: * 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * around (18 sc).

RND 4: Repeat row 3 (27 sc).

RND 5: Work even in sc.

RND 6: Repeat row 3 (40 sc).

RND 7: Sl st in each st around. End off.

This should give your pumpkin a more rounded, attractive and shapely lid. If I do say so myself.

LARGE LEAF: With dark green, ch 2.

ROW 1: Work sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn.

ROW 2: Work 2 sc in sc, ch 1, turn (2 sc).

ROW 3: Work 2 sc in each of 2 sc, ch 1, turn (4 sc).

ROW 4: Working in sc, 2 sc in first and last sc, ch 1, turn (6 sc).

ROWS 5-9: Repeat row 4 (14 sc).

ROWS 10-12: Sc on these 14 sts. Ch 3 on last row for turning ch.

ROW 13: Dc twice, hdc twice, sc three times, sl st two times across center, then sc three times, hdc twice, dc twice. Ch 3.

ROW 14. Sk 1st st, sc in second st, hdc twice, sc twice, sl st four times across center, sc twice, hdc twice, sk next st, dc in last st. End off. One large leaf made.

SMALL LEAF: With dark green, ch 2.

ROW 1: Work sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn.

ROW 2: Work 2 sc in sc, ch 1, turn (2 sc).

ROW 3: Work 2 sc in each of 2 sc, ch 1, turn (4 sc).

ROW 4: Working in sc, 2 sc in first and last sc, ch 1, turn (6 sc).

ROW 5: Repeat row 4 (8 sc). Ch 3.

ROW 6: Dc, hdc, sc, sl st two times across center, then sc, hdc, dc. Ch 3.

ROW 7: Hdc, skip next st, sc, sl st twice, sc, skip next st, hdc. End off. One small leaf made.

STEMS: Using light green, make a chain that is as long as you want the stem to be (about 5 or 6 ch), then work sl sts through the center of the leaf for about 1/3 the length. Turn and work sl sts all the way back along the chain you just made, right to the end of the stem. Fasten off, leaving a long end for sewing.

I hope that was clear, but if not, here’s a picture that’s hopefully worth a few dozen words:

TENDRILS: With light green, make chains of varying lengths (model shows 3 tendrils). Work 2 sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. End off leaving long strand for sewing. Repeat for each tendril.

CENTRAL STEM: With dark green, chain 2.

RND 1: Work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st in 1st sc, ch 1.

RND 2: Sc in each sc around, join with sl st, ch 1.

Repeat rnd until the stem is as long as you want it to be. Fasten off, leaving a long end for sewing, and sew the open end to the top of your pumpkin.

Sew leaves and tendrils in place. Embroider face details.

The original called for sewing crocheted triangles to the face. I tried that, but they looked so dreadful I couldn’t bear to attach them. My embroidery’s nothing to write home about, but it still proved better than the alternative.

And that’s it! You are now the proud owner of Crocheted Jack o’ Lantern 2.0!

Now, if only versions 1.0 and 2.0 would play nice together.

Click here for the printable pattern.