Meet Jack-You can knit one too!

Here is another free pattern for your enjoyment.  You can knit him up in traditional halloween colors or go with more subtle shades for look that will work through Thanksgiving.

Kokomo the shop knitting cat and Jack

This pattern is worked back and forth in a rectangular shape and then stitched up into a tube.  The bottom and top are gathered up and then secured with a button on the bottom connected up through the center  to secure the stem and create a dimple to make the pumpkin stand flat.

Needle:  Size 6

Yarn: Worsted Weight (I used Cascade 220 in Orange, Green and Black) but beiges and yellows would be pretty too.

Cast on 43 stitches.

Knit 5 slip 1 with the yarn in front across each odd numbered row. You will have one knit stitch following a slip at the end of each row.

Purl across each even numbered row.

Work until your piece is as approx. 8inches long and ending ready to start a knit row.

Switch to green yarn.  Knit 4 rows.  Knit every other stitch together (28 stitches remain).

*Slip the first stitch with yarn in back, knit and then pass the first stitch over the second. 

Knit 8 (leaving remaining stitches on the needle for now-first 18 then 9 then remaining). 

Turn, Slip the first stitch on the needle (with yarn in the back), knit 1 and slip the first stitch over the second.  Knit the remaining stitches.

Continue in this manner slipping the first stitch on the needle, knitting the second and then slipping the first over the second at the beginning of each row until only two stitches remain.

Knit these two stitches together, cut yarn and pull loop through**.

Repeat this process (from * to ** for the remaining 2 sets of 9 stitches. 

The stem:  Cast on 12 stitches.  Knit across odd rows and purl across even rows until piece is 1.5 inches long and ending prepared to start a knit row.  Knit 2, knit 1 in front and back.  Repeat until all 12 stitches have been used and you have increased 4 stitches (16 stitches).

Purl across

Purl across the right side.

Purl across the wrong side.

Cast off

Using a scrap of green yarn and a crochet hook create a 15 inch chain.

Assembling:

With right sides together, using a whip stitch create a tube with your knitted square.  With a scrap piece of yarn and a darning needle baste around the bottom opening of your tube.  Pull tightly and secure the two ends with a strong knot.  You will have a cylinder shape with a round bottom.

Turn the pumpkin right side out.  Stuff with fiberfill.

Using a scrap piece of green yarn secure the top of the stem by stitching around the edge and drawing it tight.  Tie into a knot and the hide the ends on the inside.  With wrong sides together stitch up the side of the stem with a whip stitch and then turn the piece right side out.  Using a small piece of fiberfill stuff the stem.  Using a scrap of thread baste around the bottom of the stem and pull it close closed.

Position the stem down the top opening of the pumpkin.

With a darning needle weave the chained yarn in and out where the green color change appears on the tube (top of the pumpkin).  Pull the chained yarn tight and secure with a knot trapping the stem into the top opening.

Using a small button and a long needle, secure the yarn on the bottom of the pumkin, through the button holes, back into the pumpkin, up the center of the pumpkin and into the bottom of the stem.  Insert the needle back down through the center of the pumpkin and stem and back through the button.  Pull securely until you have a dimple in the bottom of your pumpkin. Secure by wrapping around the base of the button and tie the yarn off.

Using scraps of flexible wire (a garbage bag twist tie works well if you do not have wire laying around).  Push the wire into the chained and knotted ends.  Twirl them around a pencil to make pumpkin tendrils.

Using black or yellow yarn embroider a face on your pumpkin.  I used a chain stitch.