Special Free Pattern: Pumpkin Earrings

  To welcome the beginning of fall, why not make something quick, simple, and totally fun? Crochet is the Way is offering you an extra free pattern this week in honor of the turn of the season. Made of worsted weight yarn, these pumpkins are large enough to attract attention, but lightweight enough to not wear out their welcome on your ears.



  Follow the provided links if you need help with the stitches needed to complete these cute accessories.



  If bigger earrings aren't your thing, you can still use this pattern for a brooch, pendant, or keychain. Whether you make a fridgie, use as an applique, or hang it in your car, your imagination is the only limit. The pattern only takes a minute to complete, and will help you use up some of that yarn stash.



  Finished size of pattern is 1 1/2" (3.8 cm) wide at center of pumpkin, 2" (5 cm) tall from bottom of pumpkin to top of stem. When assembled as for earrings shown, the height measures 3" (7.5 cm)  from the bottom of pattern to earring hook.

Skill Level:

Materials:
Worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn
-I'm using Red Heart Super Saver in Pumpkin and Coffee; also a sage color I had some scraps of. Brown/tan, light green, dark green, and certain yellows would work well for a stem color. Each motif uses less than a yard of each color.
Crochet hook size H/8-5.00 MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker, if needed
Yarn needle or smaller hook to weave in ends
Jewelry findings for assembly
Fabric stiffener or craft glue

Gauge:
Not important. First round of pattern has a diameter of 1 1/2" (3.8 cm)


Notes:
For the last row of pattern, you may chain more than 2 if you like. This is only for a space to add a jump ring, so adjust it to your needs.


Stitches and abbreviations:
Begin/beginning (beg)
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)
Half-double crochet (hdc)
Double crochet (dc)


Directions:

1. Begin with a sl st in magic circle. Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), (1 hdc, 8 dc, 1 hdc [mark with st marker], 1 sc) in circle. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1. Pull circle tight around stitches.

Bind off, weave in ends.

2. In marked hdc before join, pull color B through, sl st. Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts.

3. Ch 2, turn. Skip next st, sl st in last st. Bind off, weave in ends.

Hardening motif:

*You may use purchased fabric stiffener if you like, just follow the manufacturer's instructions. I'm using diluted craft glue, and will provide directions for the process.

Here I'm using good ol' Aleene's Tacky Glue. Dilute 2 parts of glue with one part water in an appropriate container. You only need enough to cover the motifs you will be hardening.

Gently squeeze out any excess glue, and allow to dry. You may thread string or scrap yarn through them and hang to dry, but I like to lay them flat to dry on some waxed paper. If you do this, move them slightly every 10 minutes or so, to make sure they don't stick.

Assembly of earrings shown:


1. Once dry, attach a jump ring in the ch-2 space at top of stem.

2. Add a second jump ring to the first.

3. Attach a third jump ring to the second, add earring hook before closing.

Happy Fall!