My Black Pumpkin Patch Bandana

My yarn basket — what I used

For this one I used worsted cotton — black for the base, pumpkin orange for the pumpkins, and leaf green for the little stems on top. Black is 120 grams, orange is 50 grams, green is just 15 grams — little scraps.

I used a 5.0mm hook for the black triangle so it's drapey and not stiff — it falls nice on your head. For the pumpkins I use a 4.0mm hook so the puff is tight and pops out. I work on my linen table with maple leaves around, just like in my photo — that photo is my favorite because the light was so soft.

I like cotton for bandanas because it breathes — acrylic is too hot when you wear it all day at market.

How a triangle grows — so you never get lost

I start at the bottom point and get wider every row. Each row I add one more cluster on each side of the center point. So row 1 has 2 clusters, row 2 has 4, row 3 has 6 — it goes by twos. That's my formula: clusters at row n = 2 × n. I checked it every row when I made mine.

Between clusters I always do chain 1. The center point is always 3 double crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochet — that's what makes the point sharp, not rounded. If you forget chain 2, point goes round.

After each row, count your chain-1 spaces per side — that's your checkpoint. After row 2 you have 1 space per side, after row 3 you have 2, after row 4 you have 3. So after row n, spaces per side = n - 1. I write it on paper as I go: R2=1, R3=2, R4=3. That way I never get lost. When I get to row 14, I should have 13 spaces per side.

My black triangle growing — starting at the point, getting wider — 4.5mm hook, black yarn.

Puff pumpkin — how I make it pop

The pumpkins in my photo are puff stitches — they puff out from the black. I love them because they look like real little pumpkins sitting on the bandana.

Each pumpkin is one puff + tiny green stem. In my photo they are spaced every other row, staggered like pumpkins in a patch — not in straight lines. That's what makes it look like a real patch.

My puff pumpkin — orange puff popping out of black — with tiny green stem on top.

Row by row — from point to wide top — precise math

I start at bottom point with black. Every row I turn. I use 5.0mm hook for black so it's soft.

This is exactly how I made mine in the photo — 14 rows, 28 clusters at the end, 13 spaces per side. I measured mine: 24 inches wide at top edge, 13 inches tall to point — that's the size in your photo too.

Formula I use: clusters = 2 × row number, spaces per side = row - 1. So R14: 28 clusters, 13 spaces. It always matches — I counted three times while making it.

Where to put pumpkins — my map — 22 pumpkins

In your photo I counted 22 pumpkins — I counted them one by one on my linen table with my white pumpkins around. They are staggered like pumpkins in a patch — not in straight lines. I made mine the same way — one clean method that gives 22 pumpkins exactly like the photo.

That's how I did mine — I start at row 5 so the very point stays black and sharp, then every other row I add pumpkins. I skip 2 black spaces between pumpkins — that gives each puff room to pop out. And I stagger — if row 5 has a pumpkin in space 2, row 7 has its first pumpkin in space 2 as well but because row 7 is wider, they don't line up — they look scattered like a real patch.

When I work a pumpkin, I cut black, join orange in that ch-1 space, make one puff pumpkin, chain 1, cut orange, and continue with black in next space. I don't carry yarn behind — I cut and weave later so orange stays bright and black doesn't show through. Each pumpkin takes me about 2 minutes.

If you count as you go: R5 2, R7 3, R9 4, R11 6, R13 7 — add them — 22. That's exactly what I have in my finished photo, and you can see them spread like pumpkins in a field.

Green stems — tiny and quick

Each stem is chain 3, 2 single crochet back, slip stitch to puff. It takes 30 seconds. I do it right after each pumpkin so I don't forget. In my photo stems are dark green, little curly — I like them a bit bent, not straight up.

Ties that don't curl

I make my ties longer for this one — 14 inches — because black bandana is a bit bigger and I like to tie it around my bun. The single crochet back along chain keeps it from curling — if you just chain, it curls and looks messy. I learned that the hard way on my first bandana.

Finishing — weaving and washing

I weave in all my tails inside the black clusters — I hide orange tails inside black so they don't peek through. I hide green tails inside orange puff tops. It takes a while with 22 pumpkins — about 20 minutes of weaving — but it's worth it.

I steam it lightly with my iron not touching — just steam over it — so the triangle lays flat and the puffs pop more. I don't press the puffs flat — I want them puffy.

I wash mine cold and lay flat to dry — black cotton can fade if hot water, and cotton stretches if you hang it. I spray with a little lavender water before storing so it smells nice in my drawer.

If your bandana curls at edges, you forgot a chain 1 between clusters. If point is rounded, you forgot chain 2 in center. If pumpkins don't puff, you only did 2 loops in puff — you need 4 yarn overs to make 9 loops, then pull through 8, then 2.

Finished bandana — my favorite photo

Here she is — my black pumpkin patch bandana finished. Black triangle with 22 little orange pumpkins with green stems — just like in my photo on my linen table with little white pumpkins and maple leaves around.

I wear mine in October with my orange sweater and black boots. It goes with everything fall. When I wear it to market, people always ask where I got it — I tell them I made it with tea and autumn music.

Finished — black triangle bandana with orange puff pumpkins and green stems — my pumpkin patch — 22 pumpkins, 24" wide × 13" tall.

— Sara

SARA RAIN CROCHET · HANDMADE WITH LOVE

This pumpkin patch bandana is my coziest October make. I made it with maple leaves on my table and little pumpkins around, and I wear it every time the air gets crisp. I hope you love making yours too — 22 little pumpkins, one by one, with tea. 🎃🖤🍂