Pumpkins, Witches and Skeletons, Oh My!

Halloween Pillows from Crochet World, October 1979

I love Halloween! Just like Christmas, you can decorate your home with wall to wall tackiness and no one will stop you. Alas, just like Christmas, your significant other will ignore your tearful pleas, and insist that you put away all your handmade decorations once the holiday is over.

But this year will be different because these picturesque pillows aren’t just for the spooky season. The skull design will make your Goth friends feel always welcome, while the witchy silhouette will come in handy if a family of witches moves in next door. As for the Jack o’ Lantern motif, just hint that it’s a memento from your days in the P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Society at good ol’ Virginia University. It’s a secret society, so no one can prove you weren’t a member, right?

Yes, with these three Halloween pillows, you’ll be free to terrorize your family with tackiness all year round. So get out your most horrifyingly garish yarn, and start crocheting! Personally, I rely on Red Heart Supersaver to achieve maximum terror.

For the complete pattern (and more snark!):

By Lynne Wickham

Yes, Crochet World included the author’s names with each published pattern. So for all eternity, Lynne Wickham will forever be linked to these Halloween Pillows.

Bwahahaha... I mean, I’m sure that’s a good thing.

MATERIALS: Aluminum crochet hook G, stuffing, yarn – 4 ply, 4 oz. black, orange, white, small amounts of green and yellow. For Pumpkin – Black (B), Orange (O), Yellow (Y), Green (G). For Witch – Black (B), Orange (O). For Skeleton – Black (B), White (W).

To Change Colors: Work to within last sc before new color begins by drawing up a loop in the last sc, pick up a new color and complete the sc st, break off old color leaving enough to tie ends together on wrong side of pillow.

NOTE: Odd numbered rows are the right side of pillow and the even numbered rows are the wrong side of pillow.

PUMPKIN PILLOW

What do you mean you can hardly see the pumpkin? His adorable triangle nose and eyes are as clear as day.

Besides, don’t you trust the pattern? I’m sure Lynne Wickham is a very trustworthy individual.

FRONT: Starting at bottom edge with black, ch 31.

ROW 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.

That’s funny, I’d swear the pumpkin pillow in the picture was crocheted in dc, not sc. Well, I’m sure that’s not important. I still trust Lynne.

ROWS 2 – 8: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn.

ROW 9: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 10 (O) sc, 10 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 10: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 12 (O) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 11: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 4 (O) sc, 6 (Y) sc, 4 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 12: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 3 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 6 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 3 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

Although, I’m wondering why Lynne didn’t just make us a chart to follow.

ROW 13: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 2 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 8 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 2 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 14: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 5 (O) sc, 4 (Y) sc, 5 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 15: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 6 (O) sc, 2 (Y) sc, 6 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 16: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 2 (O) sc, 3 (Y) sc, 4 (O) sc, 3 (Y) sc, 2 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 17: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 3 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 6 (O) sc, 1 (Y) sc, 3 (O) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

I mean, graph knitting was new and intimidating back in 1948, but this was 1979!

ROW 18: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 12 (O) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 19: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 10 (O) sc, 10 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 20 – 21: Sc in next 14 sc, then work 2 (G) sc, 14 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 22 – 29: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

BACK: Work as for front or you can use a solid color by working same as front through row 8, then rows 9 – 29 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

You don’t think Lynne had something to hide, do you? I mean, surely she didn’t deliberately provide a washed out photo of her pumpkin design.

BORDER FRINGE: Cut strands of yellow and orange yarn 5’’ long or desired length. Take two strands of yellow and fold in half; take the folded end and slide through st at the edge of front and back section of pillow; take the 4 strand ends and slide these through the folded section of yarn to form a slip knot at edge of pillow. Repeat with orange yarn, rotating colors completely around the edge of pillow. Leave opening for stuffing and continue as before.

Hmm, maybe I can find a better picture of this vintage pumpkin design online.

Oh my God! Pumpkin Man’s been stabbed in the heart with a diamond! And his arms and legs are made of matchsticks! One wrong move and he’s going to be incinerated!

Okay, let’s quickly back away from this horrifying image, and face our next pillow – a nice, stereotypical, barely recognizable Witch.

WITCH PILLOW

FRONT: Starting at bottom edge with orange, ch 31.

ROW 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (30 sc), ch 1, turn.

ROWS 2 – 6: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn.

ROW 7: Sc in next 11 sc, then work 1 (B) sc, 18 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 8: Sc in next 17 sc, then work 3 (B) sc, 10 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 9: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 5 (B) sc, 16 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

Even for a stereotypical Witch, this one has quite the chin on it. I suspect that Lynne was a very early fan of Jay Leno

ROW 10: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 4 (B) sc, 2 (O) sc, 7 (B) sc, 8 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 11: Sc in next 7 sc, then work 14 (B) sc, 9 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 12: Sc in next 10 c, then work 14 (B) sc, 6 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 13: Sc in next 6 sc, then work 13 (B) sc, 11 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 14: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 1 (B) sc, 1 (O) sc, 11 (B) sc, 9 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

You know, I’m sure that last vintage postcard was just an unfortunate fluke. I’m sure it’s safe to go searching for a better looking witch.

According to “The Ladies Oracle” by Cornelius Agrippa (pub. 1857), young ladies should “Take a candle, and go alone to the looking glass; eat an apple before it; some say you should comb your hair all the time; the face of your future husband will be seen in the glass, as if peeping over your shoulder.”

It seems this clever girl has combined her fruit and candle into one appropriately spooky item. Furthermore, she’s hung a portrait of her true love directly behind her, so all she has to do is angle her mirror correctly and presto! He’s fated to marry her.

ROW 15: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 12 (B) sc, 8 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 16: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 2 (B) sc, 1 (O) sc, 6 (B) sc, 12 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 17: Sc in next 13 sc, then work 7 (B) sc, 10 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 18: Sc in next 6 sc, then work 15 (B) sc, 9 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 19: Sc in next 13 sc, then work 8 (B) sc, 9 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 20: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 6 (B) sc, 14 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 21: Sc in next 14 sc, then work 5 (B) sc, 11 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 22: Sc in next 11 sc, then work 4 (B) sc, 2 (O) sc, 1 (B) sc, 12 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

Okay, so she’s a big cheater, not a witch. Still, I bet I could find a buxom blond babe of a Witch online.

With the safety search on!

ROW 23: Sc in next 12 sc, then work 2 (B) sc, 1 (O) sc, 3 (B) sc, 12 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 24: Sc in next 13 sc, then work 4 (B) sc, 13 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 25: Sc in next 14 sc, then work 2 (B) sc, 14 (O) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 26 – 31: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

BACK: Work as for front or use solid color, working through row 6, then rows 7 – 31 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

BORDER FRINGE: Work as for pumpkin but use black strands for fringe.

Aaaah! Look behind you! It’s the Wicked Witch of the West!

Hang on, based on the angle of the light, that shadow is coming from... Oh, she’s the witch! Phew, that’s a relief. Still, I hope that shadow is a metaphorical rather than a literal representation of her future. Otherwise that young lady has a lot of bad hair days ahead of her.

SKELETON PILLOW

FRONT: Starting at bottom edge with black, ch 30.

ROW 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (29 sc), ch 1, turn.

ROWS 2 – 6: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn.

ROW 7: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 9 (W) sc, 10 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 8 – 10: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 11 (W) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 11 – 12: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 2 (W) sc, 1 (B) sc, 1 (W) sc, 1 (B) sc, 1 (W) sc, 1 (B) sc, 1 (W) sc, 1 (B) sc, 2 (W) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

Wow, that’s quite the mandible on that skull. It looks vaguely familiar... Oh no, you don’t think it’s the remains of the witch pillow above?

And all this time, I thought Escape to Witch Mountain had a happy ending.

ROWS 13 – 14: Sc in next 10 sc, then work 9 (W) sc, 10 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 15: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 5 (W) sc, 1 (B) sc, 5 (W) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 16: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 5 (W) sc, 3 (B) sc, 5 (W) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 17: Sc in next 7 sc, then work 6 (W) sc, 3 (B) sc, 6 (W) sc, 7 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 18 – 19: Sc in next 7 sc, then work 15 (W) sc, 7 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 20 – 22: Sc in next 7 sc, then work 3 (W) sc, 3 (B) sc, 3 (W) sc, 3 (B) sc, 3 (W) sc, 7 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 23 – 24: Sc in next 7 sc, then work 15 (W) sc, 7 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

I think I better look for another Halloween picture to cheer myself up.

ROW 25: Sc in next 8 sc, then work 13 (W) sc, 8 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 26: Sc in next 9 sc, then work 11 (W) sc, 9 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROW 27: Sc in next 11 sc, then work 7 (W) sc, 11 (B) sc, ch 1, turn.

ROWS 28 – 33: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

BACK: Work as for front or use solid color, working through row 6, then rows 7 – 33 sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. Break off.

BORDER FRINGE: Work as for pumpkin, but use white strands for fringe.

Now that’s more like it!

After all, nothing says Halloween fun like a terrified woman standing in front of a wall with her hands in the air.

Well, it’s either Halloween fun, or a Very Special Episode of Cops.

Click here for the printable pattern.