A beautiful and very simple pumpkin made with chenille yarn. It's very soft, so it's an excellent fall-themed gift, especially for the sensory seeking, while the beautiful texture makes it the perfect fall decoration for your home.

The finished size, if you use the recommended yarn and hooks, is 16 cm in diameter by 7 cm in height (without the stem).

Abbreviations (US terms)

Ch - chain;
Dc - double crochet;
EDc - extended double crochet: YO, insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, YO, pull through one loop on hook, repeat {YO, pull through 2 loops on hook} 2 times;
FpEDc - front post extended double crochet (see video): YO, go behind the post of the next St, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through one loop on hook, repeat {YO, pull through 2 loops on hook} 2 times;
FSc - foundation single crochet (see video);
HDc - half double crochet;
MR - magic ring;
Sc - single crochet;
Sl St - slip stitch;
St - stitch;
Tr - treble crochet;
YO - yarn over.

Observations

Instructions in between {curly brackets} are repeat instructions.
You can choose how to start each row, with a standing stitch or a Ch3 (which doesn't count as a stitch), plus the stitch in the instructions

Supplies

Yarn

Baby chenille yarn, such as Himalaya Dolphin Baby or an alternative (find yarn substitutes here: https://yarnsub.com/yarns/himalaya_yarn/dolphin_baby); the yarn weight is 6 or super bulky/super chunky, at 120 meters per 100 grams; the recommended hook on the label is 4.5 mm;

You will need two colors:

Body - around 53-55 grams or 64-66 meters of color 1;
Stem and leaf - around 8-10 grams or 10-12 meters of color 2;

For shaping, you will also need about 1-2 meters of sturdy size 2 yarn (any leftover of acrylic works fine).

Hooks

You'll need one 6 mm hook for the body and leaf, and a 4.5 mm hook for the stem.

Others

stuffing - fiberfill (about 30 grams), small fabric or yarn scraps (cut up into bits no larger than 1-2 cm on all sides), beads or other stuffing you generally use in projects;
large tapestry needle;
scissors.

Step 1: Make the Body

The body is a simple tube, crocheted in the round. It starts with a foundation row of FSc, then your build the tube in rounds. There is no turning and there are 40 stitches on each row.

Use the 6 mm hook and color 1. Leave a long tail (about 20 cm).

R1. Foundation Sc 40 (see first video) and Sl St into top of first Sc (make sure that the foundation row is not twisted), do not turn;

R2. Standing Dc in first St (see second video) or Ch 3 and Dc in first St, Dc in each St around, Sl St into top of first Dc;

R3. Standing FpEDc (see third video), Dc in next St, repeat {FpEdc, Dc} around, Sl St into top of first Dc;

Rows 4-10. Repeat R3 7 more times;

R11. Sc in each St around, Sl St into top of first Sc.

The body is finished and it's time for assembly.

Step 2: Finishing the Pumpkin Body

Using one of the tails and the tapestry needle, go around one opening of the pumpkin, picking up only the back loops, in a spiral, like in the first and second photos. You want to only pick one loop because there are many stitches.

Pull on the tail as you go, tightening the opening until you get back to the first stitch. Close the hole and weave in the end. Flip the pumpkin, so you can fill it up.

Fluff up the fiberfill and put it in in layers going in different directions. Do not overstuff the pumpkin, but fill it up to the top.

Using the same spiral technique, close up the top with the leftover yarn tail, going in a spiral. Pick up only the back loops and pull on the tail as you go. You don't need to close the gap completely, you can leave it slightly open (about 1-2 cm). This gap will be covered by the stem.

Weave in the second and and you are ready to shape the pumpkin.

Step 3: Shaping the Pumpkin Body

Using the extra bit of yarn (the size 2) and the tapestry needle, you'll now be shaping the pumpkin.

You have two options. Either choose to only create the central depression, or make extra ridges along the sides.

I chose to only make the central depression because the textured surface of this pumpkin seems enough.

Tie a knot close to the middle of the top of the pumpkin

If you want to only create the central depression, go with the needle through the center, to the other side. Go back and forth through the middle a few times (at least four), pulling on the yarn as you go.

If you want to create the side ridges, go through the middle, come out on the other side, go around the pumpkin and back into the top of the pumpkin 5 or 6 times, to create 6 or 7 ridges. Pull on the yarn as you go, to shape the pumpkin.

After you have your desired shape, make a knot at the top of the pumpkin and cut off the excess yarn. Hide the yarn tails, as you don't need to weave them in.

Step 4: Making and Attaching the Stem

Use color 2 and the 4.5 mm hook. Work into the back bumps of the chains and back loop of the stitches.

Ch6.

R1. 2Sl St, 2Sc, 2HDc, turn;

R2. Ch1, 2HDc, 2Sc, 2Sl St, turn;

R3. 2Sl St, 2Sc, 2HDc, turn;

R4. Ch1, 2HDc, 2Sc, 2Sl St.

Cut off yarn, leaving a long tail. Fold the piece in half along the rows and, using the tail at the narrow end, sew down the sides, in a spiral, to form a tube.

Add a small amount of stuffing to the stem, to keep it from collapsing into itself.

Using the tapestry needle and the tails, sew the stem to the small opening left in the middle of the pumpkin. Go around the base of the stem, putting the needle through both the pumpkin and the stem.

Make at least 6 stitches, spread around the base of the stem.

Weave in the remaining tails.

Step 5: Optional: Making and Attaching a Leaf

Use color 2 and the 6 mm hook to make the leaf.

Start with a magic ring or Ch 4 and Sl St into the first Ch.

R1. Ch3 (counts as Dc) and 8 Dc in MR, turn;

R2. Sl St into next Dc, Ch2, Dc in same St, [Dc, Ch2 and Sl St] into next St, Sl St into next St, Ch2, EDc in same St (see video for EDc), Tr, [EDc, Ch2 and Sl St] into the next St, Sl St into next St, Ch2, Dc in same St, [Dc, Ch2 and Sl St] into next St.

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. Using the tapestry needle, bring the tail to the MR in the middle.

Tie the two ends around the base of the stem using a double knot, then weave in the ends.

The pumpkin is ready.

Enjoy!