Last-minute free Halloween knitting pattern, Jack O'Lantern
KatieETA 10/2011- There was a small error in the pattern, I just corrected it and uploaded the new version. Sorry about that!!
This weekend I was busy tying up the loose ends of our ebook, but I also managed to squeeze in just a few minutes of knitting. Here's what I made-
He might be the cutest thing I've ever made. This Jack O'Lantern is knitted and felted and he is hollow and sturdy. You could make two or three in a good evening of knitting so there's still time to make a little felted pumpkin friend for this year's Halloween decorations.
Click here for the free pdf pattern!
I thought it would be fun to show the steps to get from a ball of yarn to the finished little guy, so even if you don't knit you can see how simple it is. For those of you who do knit, consider this a photo-tutorial to accompany the pattern. I think that sometimes as knitters, we expect the project to be pretty much done when we bind off. With felting knits, that's just the first step. Hand felting and drying a piece of knitting is like sculpting and I love the malleability of the wool. Of course, this is a super-simple project, so there's not much shaping to do, but it's still a good look at the process.
First, knit the pieces.
Then felt them by hand in a basin of hot water and a squirt of dish soap.
Felting is simple, you just rub the pieces together in your hands and knead them kinda like bread dough. Or I pretend I am trying to roll the pieces into a ball in my hands. After a few minutes, the stitches will disappear and you will have a sturdy, solid piece.
Roll in a towel to dry and blow up a balloon inside the pumpkin to shape. Stretch the edges of the lid into shape.
Tie yarn tightly to divide the pumpkin into six wedges. Pull the yarn really tight!
Wait patiently for everything to dry thoroughly. (Or not so patiently, I may have put my in the oven on the lowest setting!)
Pop the balloon and remove. Cut out eyes and a mouth using sharp little scissors. I didn't even mark my face on first, I just made small cuts for the placement and then cut out the features.
That's it! See, easy. I hope you have time to make a quick little Jack O'Lantern of your own.
Reader Comments (19)
Katie, this little guys i so very cute! I love it!
This is awesome - I've never seen this technique before with the balloon. I think I'm going to try this with crochet...so sweet. :)
That is one adorable pumpkin!
This is just too cute for words! I am going to try this in several sizes!
I love the detail that the strings make on the pumpkin! I don't know how to knit, but I bet I could fudge a crochet version of the little cutie.
Diane just sent me a link to your post! i think you have been successful in encouraging her to learn to knit! She is wanting to make your pumpkins really bad! MEEEEE TOOOOO!
Thank you for the fabulous and inspiring idea and tutorial.
these are ADORABLE!!! great job!!
oh so cute!! i made a fun jack o lantern myself yesterday from a felted sweater. i posted about it. this one is SO cute!! no way it's happening this year since i am just starting work on the costumes, but definitely saved for next year!
by the way, i figured out my problem with the snake pattern that i e-mailed you about. it is coming along nicely now!
Brilliant!
Shucks, I missed it this year. But I'm knitting one next year!
I think we also can make them as little sacs to put on the floor for that doors don't close with the wind
(Sorry, I don't know its name, a little sac, generally with sand inner).
Very, very easy. Thanks a lot.
Kss....
Could your stitch counts be off?
I just started my pumpkin, cast on 18 sts and joined in the round.
Row 1: knit
Row 2: If I knit 2 sts, then KFB in remaining 16 sts I end up with 34 sts.
Hi Wendy- I think there is an error in there- I will check on it right now and re-upload a corrected pdf. Sorry about that!
Actually Wendy, that's not the error. You repeat (knit 2 sts, KFB, knit 2 sts, KFB...) all the way around. Does that make more sense?
Olenka thanks for your comment, that would be sweet! My boys' bedroom door always falls closed, it would be a good (if tiny) door stop.
I believe there is a mistake in the pattern. for the felted Jack O' Lantern. round four should be a total of 30 stitches, round 6 should be 36 stitches, 8 should be 42 stitches 10 should be 48 stitches
Katie, thank you for the quick response. It now works just perfectly.
You might want to update your PDF anyway to:
Row 2: *(k2, KFB), repeat from * to end of row [24 sts]
Row 3: *(k3, KFB), repeat from * to end of row [30 sts]
and so on for following rows.
That's the way it would be written in most knitting patterns.
I can't wait to pick up that orange yarn this morning and felt one later today.
I put 6 bobby pins on the lid while drying it in order to copy the body's indentations.
I also used a blow dryer to speed up the process. It worked!
You're so tricky Mrs. FT! Thanks for the helpful tips!