Pumpkin Hat Topper Free Tutorial
I love fall. Not as much as I love winter but It’s a close second. I’m usually up for decking myself out head to toe in a full and, usually, uncomfortable costume. This year we don’t have any plans so I thought I’d keep it simple with a family of pumpkin hats. Cozy, still festive, and I think capable of being rocked from Mid September through the end of November. THEN, obviously, it’s time for elf hats. duh.
I got to thinking that this is a really simple modification for ANY hat pattern that you already have and like to make. OR there's an easy way to add this onto an existing hat too! (if you don’t mind sewing elements onto an existing knit or crochet hat) so I thought I’d share it with you!
I will be modifying a pattern of my own called Swirl Hat Worsted and you can find that in my Etsy or my Ravelry stores if you like the look of this version. Go directly to the pattern on Ravelry HERE or on Etsy HERE.
Make the base.
Either work the first few rounds (in this case I did 3 rounds) of your hat in the green, as I have done here, then finish the rest of the pattern in orange OR if you are going to join this to an existing hat:
Make a circle by making a CH 2 and then 12 DC in a magic loop. Join with a SL, then CH 2. -CH 2s do not count as a DC here or throughout patten (12 ST)
Make 2 DC in each ST around. Join with a SL, then CH 2. (24 ST)
Make 1 HDC in the first ST and 2 HDC in the next ST. Repeat from round the circle. Join with a SL. Bind off. Leave a nice long tail for sewing this circle onto your other hat but don’t do that yet (36 ST)
Make the vine.
For a vine this long chain 18.
Make a SL in the second and 3rd CH from the hook.
Make 3 SC in each CH all the way up to the top. After a few stitches it will start to coil up! You can make the vine as long as you like by just making more chains to begin with. I just worked them right up one side of the CH because it’s way easier, but if you like to work them through the back bumps of the chain because you like the look of that go right ahead.
Make the stem.
CH 10.
Turn your work. SC in each ST across. (9 ST)
Turn your work. CH 2. DC in the top of the first ST. FPHDC (front post HDC) in the next 2 ST. FPSC (front post SC) in the next 7 ST. SC in the top of the last ST. (10 ST)
Turn your work. CH 1. SC in each of the next 9 ST. Allow the DC at the end of the row to remain unworked. (9 ST)
Repeat rows 3 and 4 - 3 more times (Or as many times as you like. You might want a skinnier or wider stem than mine.)
CH 2, Match the two edges together with the ridges on the outside. SL through the first CH on the starting edge. CH 2, SL through the matching ST on the opposite edge. Now SL the rest of the way up, going through both edges to join them.
Bind off and cut yarn leaving a long tail.
Make it a pumpkin
Using the long tail sew up the top of the stem. (That’s the end that is all SC and the end that your yarn tail should already be on). I like to do this like an asterisk just cause I like the way it looks but do it however suits your fancy. Then poke that tail down through the top center to the bottom of the stem. I just tie the starting tail and this tail in a knot making sure not to pull too tight or you’ll squish the stem down.
Sew the bottom of your stem onto the green part of your hat or onto the green circle you made. Tie off your ends underneath.
Attach your vine where ever makes you happy by weaving the two tails through and tying them off. Voila! you’re a pumpkin!
OR Attach your stem circle to the top of a ready made hat by stitching it around the edge with the tail you left on your circle base. Tie that off on the inside of the hat and Voila! You’re a pumpkin!!
I really hope that you enjoyed this little mini tutorial and that it gave you an idea of what its like to purchase a ready made pattern from my shop. They all come with lots of photos for the tricky bits but there are also, instruction only pages at the beginning for folks that don’t need the photos and folks that like to print out their patterns but don’t want to waste the ink and paper on a bunch of photos.