Halloween is one of those occasions that creeps up quietly and then announces itself at full volume. One day it is September and you have plenty of time. The next it is mid-October and someone is asking whether there is a pumpkin jumper they could wear to the nursery halloween party.
Meet Patch. A smiling pumpkin with heart-shaped eyes, which gives him a very particular expression. Not spooky. Not sinister. Just extremely pleased to be a pumpkin. This is a pumpkin knitting chart you can put on a baby without feeling like you have made a questionable decision.
This free pumpkin knitting chart works with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater as its base, and is the first halloween motif to join the Blank Canvas Motif Library. If you already have a plain knitted baby garment you love, Patch can also be added using duplicate stitch, so you do not need to start from scratch.
| QUICK LOOK AT THE BLANK CANVAS BABY SWEATER | |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Construction | Worked flat, seamed |
| Techniques used | Stocking stitch, 2×2 rib, intarsia colourwork, duplicate stitch |
| Yarn | Stylecraft Special DK |
| Needles | 3.25mm and 4mm straight; 3.25mm circular (optional, for neckband) |
| Tension | 22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm using 4mm needles and stocking stitch |
| Sizes | 0-6 months to 4-5 years (6 sizes) |
| What’s free | Pumpkin knitting chart and front panel instructions, right here on the blog |
| Full pattern | janeburns.co.uk/free-baby-jumper-knitting-pattern-with-motif |
| Perfect for | Halloween gift knitting, babies and toddlers, first-time intarsia knitters |
The Pumpkin Knitting Chart
About Patch
Patch is a halloween pumpkin knitting chart worked in stocking stitch. The motif sits at 24 stitches wide by 30 rows tall, which means it fits neatly on the front of the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater in all six sizes.
The orange body is worked using two shades of Stylecraft Special DK, Copper and Spice, which gives the pumpkin a little depth without adding any complexity to the knitting. The stalk and the facial features use small amounts of Grass Green and Black. These sections are small enough that you may find it easier to add them afterwards using duplicate stitch rather than working them from the chart. The instructions below cover both approaches.
Patch is one of a growing collection of halloween motifs joining the Blank Canvas Motif Library. More halloween designs are on their way.
Sizes for Blank Canvas Baby Jumper
This pumpkin knitting chart is sized to fit children from 0-6 months up to 4-5 years.
| Size | 0-6m | 6-12m | 12-18m | 18-24m | 2-3y | 4-5y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest | cm | 41 | 46 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 61 |
| in | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | |
| Actual chest | cm | 48 | 54 | 59 | 61 | 63 | 68 |
| in | 19 | 21.75 | 23.25 | 24 | 24.75 | 26.75 | |
| Finished length | cm | 27 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 39 |
| in | 10.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 13.75 | 14.5 | 15.25 | |
| Sleeve length | cm | 16 | 18 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 36 |
| in | 6.5 | 7 | 10.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 14.25 |
Materials
Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic, 295m per 100g ball)
| Yarn | 0-6m | 6-12m | 12-18m | 18-24m | 2-3y | 4-5y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn A — Silver (1203) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Small amounts only — great stash busters | |||||||
| Yarn B — Spice (1711) | Pumpkin highlights | ||||||
| Yarn C — Copper (1029) | Pumpkin body | ||||||
| Yarn D — Black (1002) | Eyes and mouth | ||||||
| Yarn E — Grass Green (1821) | Stalk | ||||||
Motif colours, small amounts only, no more than 10g of any single shade. These are excellent stash busters:
- Copper (1029) — pumpkin body
- Spice (1711) — pumpkin highlights
- Grass Green (1821) — stalk
- Black (1002) — eyes and mouth
If you have Yarnsmiths Create DK or Cascade 220 Superwash in your stash and want to find the nearest shade match to the Stylecraft colours, the yarn substitution chart lets you search any shade name or number and find the closest equivalent across all three ranges.
Needles:
Straight 3.25mm and 4mm.
Circular 3.25mm useful for the neckband, but straight needles will work.
Also needed:
Darning needle
Stitch markers
Stitch holder
Tension:
22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm using 4mm needles and stocking stitch. To save time, take time to check your tension.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses standard UK knitting abbreviations. You can download the free Knitting Abbreviations Guide from the shop here: Knitting Abbreviations Guide.
How to Work the Pumpkin Knitting Chart
The Patch motif is worked using the intarsia technique. This means each section of colour uses a separate small ball or bobbin of yarn, with no yarn carried across the back of the work.
If you have not tried intarsia before, it is more manageable than it looks. Very Pink Knits has a clear video guide to intarsia that is well worth watching before you cast on.
A note on duplicate stitch:
The stalk and the facial features, including the heart-shaped eyes and the smile, are worked in small sections of Black and Grass Green. These sections are small enough that you may find it easier to knit the body of the chart in Copper and Spice first, and add the stalk and face details afterwards using duplicate stitch. It gives exactly the same result with fewer bobbins to manage.
How to read the chart:
Start at the bottom right-hand corner. Read right-side rows from right to left. Read wrong-side rows from left to right. Each square represents one stitch. Each row of squares represents one row of knitting.
The Base Pattern
This pumpkin knitting chart is designed to be used with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater. You will need the base pattern for the back, sleeves, neckband, and finishing instructions. The Blank Canvas Baby Sweater is free on the blog and available as a PDF in the shop.
Working the Front Including the Pumpkin Motif
You will find full instructions for the sweater, including Back, Sleeves, Neckband, and making up in the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater here.
Front
Cast on 52 (56: 64: 68: 72: 76) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Repeat row 1 a further 7 (7: 9: 11: 13: 13) times.
Change to 4mm needles
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 6 (8: 10: 14: 16: 18) rows have been worked in stocking stitch.
Start working from Chart
Row 1: K14 (16: 20: 22: 24: 26) using main sweater yarn, work row one from Written Chart Instructions, knit to end using main sweater yarn.
Row 2: P14 (16: 20: 22: 24: 26) using main sweater yarn, work row two from Written Chart Instructions, purl to end using main sweater yarn.
Continue working Chart as set to end. AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PIECE MEASURES 16 (18: 19.5: 20: 20: 21.5) cm from cast-on edge, place markers at beg and end of row to mark sleeve placement.
Next: Continue in stocking stitch until piece measures 27 (29: 32: 35: 37: 39)cm from cast-on edge, ending with a RS row.
Shape shoulders:
Next row: P15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24), PM, p22 (22: 26: 28: 28: 28), PM, p15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24).
Cast off, keeping markers in place.
Written Line by Line Pumpkin Knitting Chart
If you prefer to work from written instructions rather than from a chart, you can work line by line from the instructions below. You will need to remember to work the stitches either side of the chart according to the size you have chosen.
For example:
Row 1: K14 (16: 20: 22: 24: 26) using main sweater yarn, work row one from Written Chart Instructions, knit to end using main sweater yarn.
Row 2: P14 (16: 20: 22: 24: 26) using main sweater yarn, work row two from Written Chart Instructions, purl to end using main sweater yarn.
Row 1: (Silver) x 24
Row 2: (Silver) x 24
Row 3: (Silver) x 8, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 4, (Spice) x 2, (Silver) x 8
Row 4: (Silver) x 6, (Copper) x 1, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 6, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Silver) x 6
Row 5: (Silver) x 5, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 6, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 5
Row 6: (Silver) x 4, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Black) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 4
Row 7: (Silver) x 4, (Copper) x 1, (Spice) x 2, (Black) x 10, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Silver) x 4
Row 8: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Black) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 4, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 9: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 8, (Black) x 1, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 10: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 10, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 11: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 10, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 12: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 6, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 1, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 13: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Black) x 3, (Copper) x 4, (Black) x 3, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 14: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 1, (Black) x 5, (Copper) x 2, (Black) x 5, (Spice) x 1, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 15: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 1, (Black) x 5, (Copper) x 2, (Black) x 5, (Spice) x 1, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 3
Row 16: (Silver) x 3, (Copper) x 3, (Spice) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 4, (Black) x 1, (Copper) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Spice) x 1, (Copper) x 3, (Silver) x 3
Row 17: (Silver) x 4, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 7, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 3, (Silver) x 4
Row 18: (Silver) x 5, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 5, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 3, (Silver) x 5
Row 19: (Silver) x 6, (Copper) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 3, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 3, (Silver) x 6
Row 20: (Silver) x 7, (Copper) x 1, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 1, (Grass Green) x 2, (Spice) x 2, (Copper) x 2, (Silver) x 7
Row 21: (Silver) x 10, (Grass Green) x 3, (Silver) x 11
Row 22: (Silver) x 10, (Grass Green) x 3, (Silver) x 11
Row 23: (Silver) x 10, (Grass Green) x 2, (Silver) x 12
Row 24: (Silver) x 9, (Grass Green) x 3, (Silver) x 12
Row 25: (Silver) x 9, (Grass Green) x 2, (Silver) x 13
Row 26: (Silver) x 8, (Grass Green) x 2, (Silver) x 14
Row 27: (Silver) x 8, (Grass Green) x 1, (Silver) x 15
Row 28: (Silver) x 7, (Grass Green) x 2, (Silver) x 15
Row 29: (Silver) x 24
Row 30: (Silver) x 24
The Patch pumpkin knitting chart is free to use right here on the blog, but if you would like a copy to save, print, and keep in your knitting bag, the premium PDF is available in the shop. It includes the full colour chart, the complete written row-by-row instructions, and the placement notes for all six sizes of the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater, so everything you need is in one tidy document. With the stalk and facial details to add at the end, having the instructions on paper rather than your phone makes it considerably easier to track where you are.
Mix It Up: Variations
Change the background colour
Silver gives Patch a cool, fresh feel, but there is no reason it has to be the background. A cream or oatmeal background would give it a softer, more natural feel. A deep navy or dark grey would make the orange really sing. The chart instructions are the same regardless of the background colour you choose.
Work the details in duplicate stitch
The stalk, heart eyes, and smile are all worked in small sections. If you would rather not manage multiple small bobbins for these, knit the pumpkin body in Copper and Spice first and add the Grass Green and Black features afterwards using duplicate stitch. The result is identical and the knitting is considerably less fiddly.
Add stripes to the sleeves
The Blank Canvas Baby Sweater sleeve instructions include a stripe sequence worked in two contrast colours. Picking up the Copper or Spice from the pumpkin for the sleeve stripes pulls the whole jumper together without any extra complexity. Full sleeve instructions, including the stripe sequence, are in the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater base pattern.
Give it a name
A child’s initial embroidered above the pumpkin in a contrast colour makes a lovely personalised touch. Swiss darning works well for this, and free alphabet charts are easy to find online.
If you enjoyed Patch, you might also like to meet Pip the Christmas gnome and Harold the gonk, two of the motifs already waiting in the Blank Canvas Motif Library.
More Halloween Knitting Patterns for Children
If you are planning halloween gift knitting, you might also enjoy the full collection of halloween patterns in the shop. Character jumpers, accessories, and more, all sized for babies and children.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Pumpkin Knitting Chart
Is this pumpkin knitting chart suitable for a complete beginner?
Yes. The stocking stitch construction is straightforward and the main body of the chart uses just two orange shades, which makes this one of the more beginner-friendly motifs in the library. The stalk and facial features can be added afterwards in duplicate stitch if you prefer to avoid managing multiple small bobbins.
What yarn do I need for the Patch pumpkin motif?
The motif uses Stylecraft Special DK in Copper (1029), Spice (1711), Grass Green (1821), and Black (1002). You will need only small amounts of each motif colour, no more than 10g of any single shade. The background and contrast colours for the base sweater are listed in the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater pattern.
Why does the pumpkin have heart-shaped eyes?
Because this is a halloween motif for babies and small children, and a pumpkin that looks pleased to see you is considerably more gift-appropriate than one that is trying to be frightening. Patch is a friendly pumpkin. He belongs in a pumpkin patch, not a horror film.
What sizes does this pumpkin knitting chart work in?
Patch works with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater, which is sized from 0-6 months up to 4-5 years. The chart is 24 stitches wide and 30 rows tall, and fits neatly on the front panel in all six sizes.
Where do I get the full sweater pattern?
This blog post gives you the pumpkin knitting chart and the front panel placement instructions. For the full jumper, including the back, sleeves, neckband, and finishing, you need the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater base pattern, which is free on the blog and available as a PDF in the shop.
Can I use this chart on something other than the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater?
Yes. The chart is 24 stitches wide by 30 rows tall and will work on any stocking stitch project knitted at the same tension. It can also be added to an existing plain knitted garment using duplicate stitch, so you do not need to start from scratch.
This pattern is for personal use only. Finished items may be sold in small quantities with credit given to Jane Burns for the design. Pattern designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting and crochet patterns for babies and children.
Never Miss a New Motif
New charts are added to the Blank Canvas Motif Library throughout the year. Sign up to the Jane Burns newsletter and I will let you know the moment a new one lands, along with free patterns, tips, and the occasional dry observation about the knitting life.
About Jane
I’ve been creating knitting and crochet patterns for 18 years, designing characterful pieces for babies and children that are as fun to knit as they are to wear. You can find all of my patterns at shop.janeburns.co.uk, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, or pin your favourites over on Pinterest.
