How to Crochet a Pumpkin Post Topper

The post at the top of my staircase has a ball shaped cap. Do you have one like that? Learn how to crochet a pumpkin cover for it! This stretchy cover fits over round post tops for a fun, fall decoration.

My husband was the one who came up with the idea for this pattern. We were talking about ideas for fall projects. When I said I already have a pattern for a pumpkin hat, he said I should make one for the staircase post. I think he may have been kidding, but he also wasn’t surprised that I actually did it.

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A Newel Post Finial?

Here’s a bit of trivia if you didn’t know: these staircase posts are called “newel posts” and the toppers or caps are called “finials.” Don’t have a ball shaped finial? Use this cover on any ball shaped object, or stuff your pumpkin and sew the bottom closed instead!

Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn

Over the years, Lion Brand has sent me free Vanna’s Choice Yarn to use for various different designs. It’s one of my go-to, worsted weight yarns. It’s soft and easy to work with, and comes in a wide variety of colors. This means I have a large stash of leftover yarn to use up! I made this crochet pumpkin cover with some of those leftover skeins.

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Pumpkin Post Topper Pattern

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Materials

• Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn
  • 35 yds Rust (orange)
  • 10 yds Taupe Mist (brown)
  • 10 yds Olive (green)
• Size H/ 5 mm hook, or size needed to match gauge
• Yarn needle
• A pinch of fiber fill for stem (optional)

Project Level

Intermediate: Working into back loops, working in the round and in rows, some seaming.

Size

Designed to fit a 3.5-inch diameter, ball-shaped newel post finial, but will stretch to fit slightly larger or smaller sizes too.

Gauge

Working in back loops only, 16 dc x 8 rows = 4 inches. Use pumpkin as swatch – after row 4, work should measure 4 inches long x 2 inches wide at widest part. Exact gauge is not critical.

Abbreviations used

(Pattern is written in US terms)
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
sk = skip
sp = space
ch sp = chain space

Recommended Resources

• Working into the back bump
• Front Loop Only or Back Loop Only

Instructions

Pumpkin:

Foundation: With orange, ch 17

Row 1 (WS): Working into back bump of chs, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 chs, hdc in next 3 chs, dc in next 3 chs, hdc in next 3 chs, sc in next 3 chs, sl st in last ch. (15 sts, 1 sl st).

Row 2: Ch 4, turn, sk first sl st, working in back loops only: sc in next 3 sc, hdc in next 3 hdc, dc in next 3 dc, hdc in next 3 hdc, sc in next 3 sc. (15 sts, 1 ch-4 loop)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, working in back loops only: sc in first 3 sc, hdc in next 3 hdc, dc in next 3 dc, hdc in next 3 hdc, sc in next 3 sc, sl st in ch-4 loop from row 2. (15 sts, 1 sl st)

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, working in back loops only: sk first sl st, sc in next 3 sc, hdc in next 3 hdc, dc in next 3 dc, hdc in next 3 hdc, sc in next 3 sc. (15 sts)

Rows 5-22: Repeat rows 3-4 nine times more.

If needed, you can work more or fewer repeats of rows 3-4, until your pumpkin fits comfortably around your finial. Just be sure to end after a RS row.

Turn, and line foundation edge up behind current row so that right sides are together, and wrong side is facing out.

Joining Row / Seam: Ch 1, working through both loops of both layers, sk first sl st, (sl st, ch 1) in each st across.

Weave in ends and turn work right-side-out.

Stem:

With brown, and leaving an 8 inch tail, ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, do not join. (6 sc)

Rnds 2-5: Sc in each st around. At the end of rnd 5, sl st in next st, fasten off leaving an 8 inch tail.

Fold rnd 5 so it is flat and sew the stitches together using a whipstitch with the ending tail. Weave in the end and pass it to the inside of the stem.

Stuff stem lightly if desired, then sew to top of pumpkin using the starting tail. Weave in the end.

Vines:

With green, ch 21.

Row 1: 2 sc in each st across, allowing work to curl as you go. Fasten off.

Weave in ends

Leaf:

Row 1 [WS]: With green, ch 2, 8 hdc in 2nd ch from hook.  Do not join. (8 hdc)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 3 dc in first st, (dc, sl st, dc) in next st, (2 dc, sl st) in next st, (sc, hdc, dc) in next st, (dc, hdc, sc) in next st, (sl st, 2 dc) in next st, (dc, sl st, dc) in next st, (3 dc, sl st) in last st. Fasten off, leaving an 8 inch tail.

Finishing:

Fold vine in half and place the mid-point against where stem and pumpkin meet, then place the leaf on top. Using the tail from the leaf, sew the three layers together.

Weave in any remaining ends.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to crochet a pumpkin post topper. A downloadable pdf of this pattern is also available on Ravelry, for a small fee. The fee for the pdf format is to offset the advertising revenue lost when you print or download the pattern rather than viewing it online.

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