Cat in a Pumpkin: A Ribbed Base and Sewn-On Features

By Angelica Nikless | Published August 26, 2026

The orange pumpkin starts as a back-loop ribbed rectangle; the cream cat head is worked separately in continuous rounds. Sewing the head into the gathered top opening creates the seated pose, with two small paws resting on the front of the pumpkin.

Below is an edited written version of that construction. The round arithmetic is checked, but a finished sample size and yarn usage have not been verified. Use the photograph as a visual reference, and check the fit of the head and hat on your own pieces before sewing.

Materials and stitch terms

Use DK cotton yarn in orange, cream, brown and a small amount of pink, a 3 mm hook as a starting choice, a stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors and suitable stuffing. Make a small single-crochet sample to check that the fabric holds the filling without visible gaps. Adjust the hook if necessary; there is no fixed finished height attached to these instructions.

The pattern uses US terms: ch means chain, sc means single crochet, sl st means slip stitch, inc means 2 sc into one stitch, and dec means a single-crochet decrease over two stitches. BLO means work through the back loop only. Turning chains do not count as stitches. Use both loops except where BLO is specified.

The head, ears, paws and stem use continuous rounds: do not join or turn them. Move a marker into the first stitch of every new round. The pumpkin and hat panels are worked in rows and turned.

The pumpkin panel

Row 1: with orange, ch 25. Sc in the second chain from the hook and each remaining chain: 24 sc. Turn.
Rows 2–38: ch 1, sc BLO in each of the 24 stitches. Turn after each row.

Count 38 rows in total, including the foundation row. Mark the first and last stitch of a few early rows while you establish the repeat. A missed edge stitch narrows the panel and makes gathering uneven.

Join the panel into a tube

Bring the foundation-chain edge to the last-row edge. Match the 24 stitch positions and join across them with a seam or slip stitches. The two rows become neighbours around the tube; the edges made from row ends remain open at the top and bottom. Do not join the two row-end edges instead, as that changes the orientation of the ribbing.

Gather one open row-end edge with a strong yarn tail and secure the centre. Add stuffing gradually. Gather the other open edge while leaving room to seat the lower opening of the cat head. Keep the gathering yarn accessible until you can trial the head against it.

Use a separate long orange strand to form six pumpkin sections. Pass it around the outside from the upper gathered centre to the lower centre and back, securing each section as you go. Space the sections evenly before tightening them. Compress the filling enough to show the divisions without pulling so hard that the stitches or yarn fail.

Cat head in cream

Round 1: 6 sc into a magic ring. Tighten the ring: 6 stitches.
Round 2: inc in each stitch: 12.
Round 3: (1 sc, inc) six times: 18.
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) six times: 24.
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) six times: 30.
Rounds 6–10: sc in each stitch: 30 in each round.
Round 11: (3 sc, dec) six times: 24.
Round 12: (2 sc, dec) six times: 18.
Round 13: (1 sc, dec) six times: 12. Fasten off with a long sewing tail.

Add the face before access to the inside becomes difficult. If using eyes with internal backings, fit them before the decreases and follow the fittings’ instructions. The earlier placement of eyes between rounds 7 and 8 is a starting position to assess on the actual head, not a guarantee of the photographed expression. Keep the face centred and check the spacing before committing.

Stuff the head gradually as it narrows. Leave the 12-stitch lower opening available for joining to the pumpkin. Embroider the nose and mouth with pink thread or yarn, avoiding long loose strands on the surface. Hardware called “safety eyes” does not establish the finished item’s suitability for a child; this page describes a decorative project.

Ears: make two in cream

Round 1: 4 sc in a magic ring: 4.
Round 2: (1 sc, inc) twice: 6.
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) twice: 8.
Round 4: sc around: 8. Fasten off, leaving a sewing tail.

Flatten each ear without stuffing it. Place them on opposite sides of the top of the head and compare their angles before sewing. These small flattened pieces do not have a separately specified pointed-ear shaping round; do not expect stitching pressure alone to produce an exact photographic outline.

Front paws: make two in cream

Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring: 6.
Round 2: inc around: 12.
Rounds 3–4: sc around: 12 in each round.
Round 5: (1 sc, dec) four times: 8. Fasten off with a long tail.

Add a small amount of stuffing, flatten the opening, and sew across it. Position the closed ends against the front rim of the pumpkin, leaving the rounded ends visible. Wait until the head is attached before fixing their final spacing.

Orange hat and brown stem

Hat row 1: ch 13, sc in the second chain and across: 12 sc. Rows 2–24: ch 1, sc across all 12 stitches, turn. This hat section uses ordinary single crochet; unlike the pumpkin, it is not a specified BLO ribbed panel.

Join the foundation edge and final-row edge across their 12 positions to form a tube. Gather one row-end edge for the top and leave the opposite edge open. Trial it on the head before finishing the seam and gathering. Row count controls the tube’s circumference, so inspect that measurement instead of assuming 24 rows will fit every yarn and tension. Remake or adjust the panel after measuring if the fit is wrong.

Stem round 1: with brown, 6 sc into a magic ring. Rounds 2–4: sc around, 6 each round. Fasten off with a sewing tail, lightly stuff, and attach the open end to the gathered top of the hat.

Assemble from the centre outward

Place the head in the pumpkin’s upper opening and align its face with the intended front.
Adjust the gathering so the head sits securely without being buried or forced sideways.
Sew around the lower edge of the head, catching firm stitches on both pieces rather than loose gathering strands alone.
Attach the paws to the front rim at matching heights.
Fit the hat and check that it does not push the ears over the face.
Weave in the sewing tails and check each connection under a gentle pull.

If the figure leans, inspect the pumpkin’s lower gathering and redistribute stuffing before moving the head. If a paw sits higher, compare the rim attachment positions before remaking the paw itself. Keep notes of any fit changes so a second version can be made consistently.

Care depends on the yarn, filling and fittings together. Follow their labels and test a cleaning method on a spare sample. Allow the stuffed centre to dry thoroughly; do not assume that a machine-washable yarn makes the entire assembled decoration machine washable.