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The Crochet Lady: Usher in autumn with a Jack-o-lantern project that won’t drive you out of your gourd

Hello everyone. Maurita the Crochet Lady here again. This month is a fall season project that can also be used for Halloween. A friend suggested making one in white like a cute snowman version during winter. It can stand alone or have a battery operated "tea light" inside. To allow the pumpkin stack to remain upright, I used three strands worsted weight yarn together and crocheted as tight as comfortable with "K" size hook. To leave off faces or stuff project, crochet evenly with current stitch type instead of special directions.

STITCHES: CH= chain. SC= single crochet. DC= double. TRC= treble or triple. DTRC= double treble. DEC= decrease. INC= increase. SL ST= slip stitch- used to join at end of every round. Beginning CH2= 1st DC.

SPECIAL DIRECTIONS:

DECREASES: work stitches listed except for last 'pull through 2', then pull through all loops together.

MOUTH- use two angled decreases with chain space between= (DC, TRC, DTRC), chain5, mark middle chain with stitch marker, (DTRC, TRC, DC).

SPACE ABOVE MOUTH: 1 stitch in each chain, place stitch marker in middle stitch for eye increase.

EYE SECTION: 5sts before marked mouth chain, DC DEC, CH1, in marked stitch– ( DTRC, TRC, DC, TRC, DTRC), CH1, SKIP 3STS, DC DEC.

DIRECTIONS: (using 3 strands orange yarn) start at base of largest pumpkin: CH4, SL St to form ring.

RND1: CH2, 11DC in ring, SL ST.

RND2: CH2, DC in same ST, DC INC around, join.

RND3: CH2, DC INC, repeat around–(DC, DC INC), join.

RND4: work on back loops only to leave Ridge- SC around, (36STS total) join.

RND5: CH2, DC, DC INC, repeat around--(2DC, DC INC), join.

RND6: CH2, 20DC, MOUTH, 21DC, join.

RND7: CH2, DC EVERY STITCH- remember to place stitch marker for space above mouth, join.

RND8: CH2, DC then work EYE DIRECTIONS, DC to end of RND, join.

RND9: CH2, DC every stitch including chain of eye, join.

RND10: CH1 (ignore this chain), DC DEC in current ST, DC DEC AROUND, join.

RND11: SC in front loops only, (24STS total), join.

(starting second pumpkin) RND12: CH2, DC INC, repeat around--( DC, DC INC), join.

RND13: 15DC, MOUTH, 15DC, join.

RND14: SC in each ST and CHAIN around, join.

RND15: DC until eyes, EYE SECTION, DC until end, join.

RND16: CH1 (ignore), DC DEC around.

RND17: in front loops only--SC around (18STS total), join.

(starting third pumpkin) RND18: CH2, DC INC, repeat around--(DC, DC INC), join.

RND19: 10DC, MOUTH, DC around, join (note: 13sts on one side, 14sts on other).

RND20: SC in every STITCH, join.

RND21: DC to eyes, EYE SECTION, DC around, join.

RND22: CH1 (ignore), DC DEC around, join. Fasten off leaving tail of yarn to sew in.

STEM: (using double strand of brown yarn):

RND1-2: CH2, DC around, join. Fasten off and hide yarn tails.

LEAF: (using single strand green yarn): at base of stem on orange stitches:

ROW1: 5SC.

ROW2: in center SC of ROW1- (2DC, TRC, DTRC, CH3, SL ST in 1st CH, DTRC, TRC, DC, SL ST in final SC of ROW1. Fasten off and hide yarn tails.

I hope you enjoy making this cute pumpkin stack. A smaller version can be made using only one strand of yarn for the entire project. More leaves can be added between the pumpkins, for example, on RND11 or RND17 over the SINGLE CROCHET RNDS. Until next time, happy crocheting.