Pumpernickel the Pumpkin Turtle Free Crochet Pattern

Pumpernickel the Pumpkin Turtle is my newest Halloween-themed free crochet pattern!

Read on to learn more about my design process and inspiration, or scroll to the end to get the free pattern. If you’re in a hurry and need to take this pattern offline, grab the beautifully formatted, ad-free, PDF pattern from Etsy here.

The easiest crochet pumpkin ever!

If you’ve been around a while you’ll know that I love making crochet pumpkins! I used to think that they were really intimidating, but it turns out all you need is one simple sewing technique (and a video tutorial — beginners I gotchu) to turn a simple ball into an adorable pumpkin!

These are so great for the fall season to spice up your desk or window sills. The best part is they’ll never wither or go bad so you can keep them around for next year (and add to your collection)!

Pumpernickel the Pumpkin Turtle was born out of a desire to make a cute pumpkin even cuter. I’ve made a few patterns like this before (e.g. Secret the Pumpkitten), but I wanted to make an adorable turtle for this year. I think it turned out so great and I hope you do too!

Tips for success with this pattern!

I would consider this pattern to be a confident beginner pattern. This means that before you make this pattern, you hopefully have had a few basic projects under your belt and understand how to read a pattern and can crochet a ball. (If you’re not quite there yet, check out my comprehensive blog post for beginners!)

This pattern is a little more challenging because it involves sewing multiple parts instead of just one or two (I’m looking at you, legs), as well as manipulating a few small parts.

If you struggle with sewing, read my blog post here all about how to tackle sewing any amigurumi piece (it even has a video!). It’ll help you understand the basic formula to sewing amigurumi pieces together while making sure that the ends don’t show.

The other reason why this pattern is a little trickier is because of the aforementioned sewing step that will ~ magically ~ create the pumpkin. This is a step that isn’t common in the amigurumi world (I pretty much only use it for pumpkins, haha), but I have an in depth video walking you through it, so rest assured you have the resources to tackle it.

I would say it’s a good project for those who have made the standard whale and ball shaped amigurumi but want to try something new!

The Pattern

  • If you want to take this pattern offline, grab the beautifully formatted, ad-free, PDF pattern from Etsy here!

Description

Pumpernickel the Pumpkin Turtle is an adorable amigurumi toy of a turtle whose body is a pumpkin! Although this pattern looks complicated, it’s actually very straightforward—if you can make a ball, then you can make this pattern! He is perfect decor for the fall season, and an adorable way to celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Yarn

Confused about materials? For all my personal recommendations of my most-used tools, yarns, and supplies, check out my favorites in this complete guide!

  • WeCrochet Brava Sport (sport)
    • (<1 skein) Peapod (grass green)
    • (<1 skein) Caution (orange)

Notions

  • Size D 3.25 mm Clover Amour Hook
  • 4.0 mm safety eyes
  • tapestry needle
  • polyester fiberfill
  • stitch markers

Abbreviations

  • BLO: back loop only
  • ch: chain
  • CC: contrast color
  • dec: decrease
  • inc: increase (work two single crochets in one stitch)
  • MR: magic ring
  • sc: single crochet
  • x sc: work x number of single crochets
  • st(s): stitch(es)
  • (x sts): total number of stitches for the round
  • (…) x: work all steps within parentheses x number of times

Technical Notes

  • Crochet in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified.
  • When filling with polyester stuffing, pull apart each large chunk into many smaller chunks. This ensures an even distribution of firmness.
  • To avoid large holes in the crochet fabric, increase tension until the holes cannot be seen, or choose a crochet hook a size down.
  • Stuff the head and the body firmly at the openings so that the neck is stable upon completion.

Color Coding

For this pattern, MC is orange and CC1 is green.

Amigurumi Basics Tutorials for Beginners

Final Size

3″ x 3″

PUMPKIN (in MC, see Technical Notes for color coding)

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6 sts)
  • Round 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
  • Round 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18 sts)
  • Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24 sts)
  • Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 (30 sts)
  • Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x6 (36 sts)
  • Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x6 (42 sts)
  • Rounds 8-13 (6 rnds): sc around (42 sts)
  • Round 14: (5 sc, dec) x6 (36 sts)
  • Round 15: (4 sc, dec) x6 (30 sts)
  • Round 16: (3 sc, dec) x6 (24 sts)
  • Round 17: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18 sts)
  • Stuff.
  • Round 18: (sc, dec) x6 (12 sts)
  • Invisible finish off, leaving a tail of around 2 feet. There will be a gap in the middle (fig. 1 and 2).

Make a well in the center of the pumpkin by pushing your finger all the way to the bottom through the stuffing.

Click here for a video tutorial. Using a tapestry needle, push the tail end of the yarn through the middle and out the bottom of the pumpkin. Then, draw the needle up and over the outside of the pumpkin and push it through the base again tightly and secure, creating a groove in the side of the pumpkin. Repeat 5 more times evenly around the pumpkin. Finish off by tying a knot and weaving in the end to secure (fig 2 and 3).

HEAD (in CC1)

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6 sts)
  • Round 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
  • Round 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18 sts)
  • Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 (24 sts)
  • Round 5-8 (4 rnds): sc around (24 sts)
  • Insert 4.0mm safety eyes between rounds 6-7. Insert the 1st eye after the 1st sc, and the 2nd eye after the 14th sc.
  • Round 9: (2 sc, dec) x6 (18 sts)
  • Round 10: (sc, dec) x6 (12 sts)
  • Stuff.
  • Round 11: 3 sc, 6 hdc, 3 sc (12 sts)
  • Round 12-14 (3 rnds): 12 sc (12 sts)
  • Round 15: dec x6, slst to first stitch (6 sts)
  • Finish off, leaving a tail for sewing. Leave the portion after round 10 unstuffed. See fig. 4.
  • Line up the bottom of round 15 of the head with the 9th row of the pumpkin (counting from the bottom), and sew the head to the side of the pumpkin, making sure that it’s in front of a groove (fig. 4).

LEGS (in CC1, make 4)

  • Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6 sts)
  • Round 2: inc x6 (12 sts)
  • Round 3: BLO, sc around (12 sts)
  • Round 4: 4 sc, 2 dec, 4 sc (10 sts)
  • Round 5-6 (2 rnds): sc around (10 sts)
  • Stuff lightly. Invisible finish off (video tutorial here). Make three more legs identically (fig. 5). Sew to the bottom of the pumpkin (see fig. 6 for positioning).

PUMPKIN STEM (in CC1)

  • Round 1: 5 sc in MR (5 sts)
  • Round 2-3 (2 rnds): sc around (5 sts)
  • Round 4: inc x5 (10 sts)
  • Round 5: (sc, inc) x5, sl st to first stitch (15 sts)
  • Do not stuff. Invisible finish off, leaving a tail for sewing (fig. 7). Sew to the center of the pumpkin top (see fig. 8 for reference).

TURTLE TAIL (in CC1)

  • Round 1: 5 sc in MR (5 sts)
  • Round 2-3 (2 rnds): sc around (5 sts)
  • Do not stuff, and finish off, leaving a tail for sewing (fig. 8). Sew to the back of the pumpkin, opposite the head.

I hope you enjoyed making Pumpernickel the Pumpkin Turtle! pattern! If you run into any problems feel free to ask me a question in the comments section below or through email at littleworldofwhimsy@gmail.com.

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