Halloween Bucket with Scary Pumpkin

My daughter requested a bucket for Halloween that has a scary pumpkin on it with fangs. That sounded easier than a lot of other things that she could have asked for so I gladly obliged!

Truthfully, I think he's a little cute and a little scary!

This bucket is 8" in diameter and 7" tall, soft handles, and its pretty easy to make. Black yarn is not the easiest thing to work with but you can hide any "mistakes" and the stitch and pattern are easy. There are also handles on both sides for easy carrying and opening, so important for getting all that candy!

I used single crochet for the bottom and the knit stitch for the sides of the basket. The reason I used single crochet on the bottom is that it is difficult to see the black yarn doing a knit stitch in a circle and increases. I just didn't think it was worth it and using single crochet stitches on the bottom makes the whole project very easy to put together.

The bottom and body are worked in continuous rows without slip stitching each row together. Very quick to work up and no line up the side to worry about messing up.

The yarn is all leftovers that I've had from other projects. Any worsted weight yarn in these colors should work fine and I wouldn't bother with anything that is soft since a stiffer yarn works in your favor for keeping the bucket's shape.

These were all Red Heart Super Saver yarn: colors - Black for the background and face, Pumpkin for the pumpkin (!), and Buff for the stem.

Abbreviations:

CH - Chain

SC - Single Crochet

SS - Slip Stitch

BLO - Back Loop Only

KS - Knit Stitch

Items Needed:

black yarn - (about 70% of a skein)

pumpkin yarn - (about 20% of a skein)

buff yarn - (not very much!)

Crochet hook - H8/5mm

Scissors

Needle for weaving in ends

Instructions: (Since black yarn is more difficult to see the stitches in, I will be using other yarns for pictures. Project is worked in the round and rows are not slip stitched together, instead keep working in a continuous circle. To keep track of each row put a stitch marker in the first SC of each row.)

Start with Black color - Make magic circle

Row 1: 6 SC into ring; pull close the ring; do not SS into the beginning of the row. (6)

(Note: There will always be 6 stitches in each row that will have 2 SC, increase of 6 stitches each row. The SC in between the 2 SC will increase by 1 in each row)

Row 2: 2 SC into the first SC from the first row (Put a stitch marker in the first stitch); 2 SC in each stitch around. (12)

Row 3: *1 SC into the first SC from the prior row (Move stitch marker each row); 2 SC in next stitch*; repeat from * to * to end of row (18)

Row 4: *1 SC into each of the next 2 stitches; 2 SC in the next stitch*; repeat from * to * to end of row (24)

Row 5: *1 SC into each of the next 3 stitches; 2 SC in the next stitch*; repeat from * to * to end of row (30)

(Note: to keep the bottom nice and round the 2 SC increases are moved each round. At the beginning of each row there will be 1 SC in each of the next 3 stitches, 2 SC in the next stitch and the number of SC ending the row will increase by 1 SC)

Row 6: 1 SC into each of the next 3 stitches; *2 SC in the next stitch; 1 SC in each of the next 4 stitches*; repeat from * to * to end of row (ending w/1 SC) (36)

Row 7: 1 SC into each of the next 3 stitches; *2 SC in the next stitch; 1 SC in each of the next 5 stitches*; repeat from * to * to end of row (ending w/2 SC) (42)

Row 8: 1 SC into each of the next 3 stitches; *2 SC in the next stitch; 1 SC in each of the next 6 stitches*; repeat from * to * to end of row (ending w/3 SC) (48)

Repeat this pattern until you have 13 rows. If you've dropped a stitch or added one along the way it won't matter for the project. Nice!

Beginning of Sides

1 SC into each stitch BLO (Below picture shows several worked into BLO)

Row 1: Start Knit Stitch. To do the knit stitch insert the hook into the middle of the prior row's SC, instead of the normal spot, and make a SC. The middle of the SC is between the two strands of yarn. This photo shows 5 knit stitches completed in the row. Doing it this way the stitches sit on top of each other in a row instead of on each side.

Keep working in continuous rows for 4 rows and remember to keep moving the stitch marker. Start using the chart for the pumpkin's face starting on row 5.

Pumpkin Face

Carry black yarn along the back. The orange yarn will be brought from the left to the right and both will be covered up while doing the knit stitches.

To switch colors you need to start with the stitch before the color change. Bring up a loop, yarn over with new color and pull through. It is done the same way to switch back to the main color.

Row 5: 35 KS with Black; 9 KS with Pumpkin; KS rest of row in Black. See chart below.

The last row worked in KS is the top of the stem.

Row 30: Row is worked in regular SC. *4 SC; skip a stitch; 1 SC*; repeat * to * to end of row.

Handles and top of bucket

Row 31: 10 SS; CH 40 (this is the handle); skip 10 spaces and SS into space (these are the larger spaces were a stitch was skipped); 25 SS; CH 40 (other handle); skip 10 spaces and SS into the space; SS to end of row.

Row 32: 10 SS (into top 2 loops, see picture below); 40 SS into handle; 25 SS; 40 SS into handle; SS to end of row.

Weave in the ends and you're done!

What will you crochet today?