Zigtastic Pumpkins

Show your appreciation for autumn with these fun loom knit pumpkins!  Simple 2 stitch cables create a fun zig zag pattern that give these pumpkins flair!  

Design by Renita Harvey

LOOM:  His & Her Sock Looms, 64 peg loom for large pumpkin, 56 peg loom for small pumpkin

YARN:  65 yds total of medium/4 weight yarn.  Caron Simply Soft in colors Pumpkin and White (60 yds each) used in samples for the pumpkins and Chocolate (5 yds) for the stems.

NOTIONS:  Loom tool, cable needle, tapestry needle, stuffing

ABBREVIATIONS

K:  Knit (do not use e-wrap knit)

P:  Purl

LC:  Left cross cable

RC:  Right cross cable

MC:  Main color, orange or white

CC:  Contrast color, brown

Rep:  Repeat

SPECIAL STITCHES

LC:  Worked over 2 pegs.  Take working yarn behind peg 1 (skip the peg).  Knit peg 2 and place the stitch from peg 2 onto a cable needle and hold to the center of the loom.  Move the stitch from peg 1 to peg 2 leaving peg 1 empty.  Place the stitch from the cable needle on peg 1.  Knit peg 2.

RC:  Worked over 2 pegs.  Place the stitch from peg 1 onto the cable needle and hold to the center of the loom.  Bring the working yarn in front of the cable needle and knit peg 2.  Move the stitch from peg 2 to peg 1.  Place the stitch on the cable needle onto peg 2.  Knit peg 2.

PATTERN NOTES

Do not use the e-wrap knit stitch.  Use the true knit stitch or u-wrap knit as these stitches will make a tighter fabric more suitable for stuffing.

INSTRUCTIONS

Pumpkin 

Cast on all pegs with MC.  Prepare to work in the round.

R1-4:  *K2, P2, rep from * to end

R5:  *K1, LC, K4, P1, rep from * to end

R6:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R7:  *K2, LC, K3, P1, rep from * to end

R8:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R9:  *K3, LC, K2, P1, rep from * to end

R10:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R11:  *K4, LC, K1, P1, rep from * to end

R12:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R13:  *K4, RC, K1, P1, rep from * to end

R14:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R15:  *K3, RC, K2, P1, rep from * to end

R16:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R17:  *K2, RC, K3, P1, rep from * to end

R18:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

R19:  *K1, RC, K4, P1,  rep from * to end

R12:  *K7, P1, rep from * to end

Rep R5-20, 2 more times for both size pumpkins on either loom

For large pumpkins on the 64 peg loom, rep R6-12 once more.

Rep R1-4

Wrap working yarn around loom 2 times and cut.  Thread tail on tapestry needle.

Run working yarn through all purl stitches and remove the stitches from the pegs while skipping and leaving the knit stitches until all purl stitches are threaded and removed from the loom.

Wrap a second piece of yarn around the loom twice and cut.  Thread on a tapestry needle.

Run this piece of yarn through all the knit stitches and remove the stitches from the pegs until all stitches are removed from the loom.

Gather the purl stitches first.  Then gather the knit stitches.  Pull all 3 ends (1 from the purls and 2 from the knits) to the inside of the tube.  Secure with a square knot.

Stuff the pumpkin around 1 of the tail pieces leaving the other 2 in the middle.  Bring the tail piece up through the other end

Cut 2 more pieces of yarn the same as before.

Thread the first piece through the purls and the second piece through the knits on the cast on edge.   Gather in the same manner as the other end while adding more stuffing if needed.

Secure the ends.

Pull the tail from the opposite end and tie with one of the tails from the cast on end to create a squat appearance.

Stem

Cast on 6 stitches with CC.

Knit all until stem is 1.5″ to 3″  long.

Bind off.

Cut a long tail for sewing.

Let the stem curl onto itself and sew one end over the knots on the cast on end of the pumpkin.  Sew long stitches at the base to create the look of a real pumpkin stem.