Every pound shop in October sells a plastic pumpkin bucket. They do the job, but they are boring, the same as everyone else and plastic!
Watch their little faces light up when you present them their very own Trick or Treat Bag, prefilled with sweet treats of course.
That is what this trick or treat pumpkin bag knitting pattern is for, that magic moment that forms memories. They carry it round the street, filling it, emptying it and filling it again. They keep it for next year, or the next time the sugar munchies strike?
Next October, it comes out of the cupboard. The pound shop bucket does not.
Quick Look
What you’ll find in this post:
- A free trick or treat pumpkin bag knitting pattern
- Full materials list and tension details
- Step-by-step pattern instructions for the bag and the i-cord handle
- How to apply the felt jack-o-lantern face
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What Is the Trick or Treat Pumpkin Bag?
This is a small knitted bag shaped like a pumpkin. It is sized for children’s hands: deep enough to fill with a very satisfying quantity of sweet treats, and sturdy enough to be carried at some speed down the street on Halloween night.
The bag knits up from the top down in the round on 3.25mm double-pointed needles. The base is closed by threading the yarn through the remaining stitches and pulling tight. The i-cord handle is made separately and sewn in place. It is a lovely quick fun knit.
The jack-o-lantern face is cut from black felt using the template, then applied with fabric glue. The nose is optional, which means you can make a whole batch and give each one a different expression.
It is suitable for knitters who are comfortable working in the round. The decreases are straightforward and the pattern is written round by round.
It makes a lovely gift to give to a little one before Halloween, already filled with sweets, then passed back at the door for the trick or treating itself.
What You Need for This Trick or Treat Pumpkin Bag Knitting Pattern
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Yarn | Any DK weight yarn, 50g. Shown in Stylecraft Special DK, 100% acrylic, 295m per 100g. Shade 1256 Jaffa (orange). |
| Needles | 3.25mm double-pointed needles (DPN), 15cm, set of 4, or needles for working in the round |
| Also needed | Black felt, fabric glue, scissors |
| Tension | 26 sts × 36 rows = 10cm × 10cm over stocking stitch using 3.25mm needles |
| Finished size | 30cm circumference × 9cm tall, excluding the handle. Handle: 17cm i-cord. |
| Skill level | Beginner |
Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| K | Knit |
| P | Purl |
| K2tog | Knit the next two stitches together (one stitch decreased) |
| Yo | Yarn over (creates a small eyelet hole) |
| Rep | Repeat |
| Sts | Stitches |
| DPN | Double-pointed needle(s) |
If any of these are unfamiliar, the free Knitting Abbreviations Guide covers all the basics. You can download it here.
Download the PDF
The pattern below is complete and free to use.
If you would like a neatly formatted, printer-friendly PDF with the full pattern, the felt template at actual size.
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Trick or Treat Pumpkin Bag Knitting Pattern
Notes
These pumpkin bags also make good party bags. There is an optional nose on the felt template, so no two bags need look the same if you are making a batch.
The bag is worked from the top down in the round on double-pointed needles. The base is closed by threading yarn through the remaining stitches at the end.
The felt face is applied after knitting using fabric glue. A few small stitches work equally well if you prefer not to use glue.
If you are knitting for Halloween, the FREE Monica the Witch Toy Knitting Pattern is worth a look. Monica is a small knitted witch toy and she sits very happily alongside a pumpkin bag in a gift basket.
The Bag
Cast on 64 sts evenly over 3 DPNs, or needles for working in the round. Join into the round, taking care not to twist your stitches.
Rounds 1–7: Knit.
Round 8: *K2tog, yo; rep from * to end. (64 sts)
Rounds 9–10: Knit.
Rounds 11–33: *K15, p1; rep from * to end. (64 sts)
Round 34: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end. (56 sts)
Round 35: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. (48 sts)
Round 36: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. (40 sts)
Round 37: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. (32 sts)
Round 38: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. (24 sts)
Round 39: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. (16 sts)
Rounds 40–41: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (4 sts)
Thread yarn through remaining 4 sts, pull tight to close the base of the bag, and fasten off securely.
The Handle
Using 3.25mm DPNs, cast on 8 sts.
Work i-cord as follows:
Row 1: Knit. Slide all 8 sts to the other end of the needle. Do not turn.
Pull the working yarn firmly across the back of the i-cord at the start of each row. Repeat Row 1 until the i-cord measures 17cm. Cast off.
To Make Up
Sew the handle firmly in place on each side of the bag, using the photograph as a guide.
Using the template in the PDF, cut the eyes, nose, and mouth shapes from black felt. Arrange them on the bag and apply with fabric glue. Leave to dry fully before use.
The nose is optional. If you are making several bags, varying the expression gives each one its own personality.
Felt Template
Technique Notes
The two main techniques in this trick or treat pumpkin bag knitting pattern are knitting in the round, and making an i-cord handle.
If either of these is new to you, Very Pink Knits on YouTube covers both clearly. I would highly recommend checking out the links below:
You Might Also Like
If you are knitting for Halloween more broadly, the Frankenstein Monster Baby Blanket is also on the blog. A hooded baby blanket in simple garter stitch, with eyebrows and wild black hair. Faintly alarming. Very satisfying to knit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a beginner knit this trick or treat pumpkin bag knitting pattern?
Yes. You need to be comfortable knitting in the round on double-pointed needles and able to work a simple decrease. The pattern is written round by round. If you have knitted a small project in the round before, this is very manageable.
What yarn do I need?
Any DK weight yarn in approximately 50g. The bag is shown in Stylecraft Special DK in Shade 1256 Jaffa (orange). One 100g ball gives you more than enough for the bag and the handle.
How long does it take to knit?
It is a quick project. Most knitters will finish it over a weekend. The bag knits up quickly in stocking stitch with straightforward decreases. The i-cord handle adds a little time but not much.
What size is the finished bag?
The finished bag measures 30cm in circumference and 9cm tall, not including the handle. The i-cord handle is 17cm long. It is sized for children’s hands.
Do I need to know how to crochet?
No. The bag is entirely knitted. The felt face is applied with fabric glue and scissors. No crochet is involved at any stage.
What is the felt template?
The felt template is included in the PDF download, printed at actual size. It gives the exact shapes for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Cut them from black felt and glue them on once the bag is finished. The nose is optional.
Can I sell bags made from this pattern?
Yes. Finished items made from this pattern may be sold in small quantities, with credit given to Jane Burns for the design. The pattern itself may not be reproduced or resold.
A plastic pumpkin bucket from the supermarket costs a pound and holds the sweets perfectly well. This one holds the sweets and gets kept.
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About Jane
Jane Burns is a UK-based knitting and crochet pattern designer with 18 years of experience, specialising in whimsical, characterful patterns for babies and children. She is the founder of Jane Burns Whimsical Children’s Knits, with patterns that carry real personality and a focus on making knitting feel accessible, satisfying, and a little bit special.
