September 11th, 2022
Free Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern — Beginner Guide
This cable knit pumpkin pattern is one of the most beautifully textured fall projects you can knit — a classic chunky pumpkin knit in the round with a beginner-friendly cable design that creates the iconic ribbed-and-twisted look that elevates a simple knit pumpkin into something truly special. The full pattern is free right here on the blog, with step-by-step photos of every stage, so even if you’ve never tried cable knitting before, you’ll have everything you need to make this project a success. Sized as a perfect mantel or tiered-tray pumpkin, this is the handmade fall décor piece that gets the most “where did you get that?” comments.
Make this cable knit pumpkin pattern as a single statement piece in classic orange, a coordinated trio in graduated sizes, or a whole pumpkin patch in modern neutrals (cream, sage, dusty rose) for a designer-look fall display. The cable detail photographs beautifully, making this the kind of handmade décor piece you’ll want to feature front-and-center in your fall styling.
Free Pattern Below
Knit It Free, or Get the Printable PDF
The complete cable knit pumpkin pattern is free on this page. Jump to the free pattern ↓ Prefer a clean, ad-free copy to print or keep offline? The PDF is an instant download in my Etsy shop. Use code SEELOVE15 for 15% off your order.
Why You’ll Love This Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern
- Free and beginner-friendly — the full written pattern and step-by-step photos are right on this page
- Beautifully textured — the cable design creates iconic ribbed-and-twisted pumpkin shape
- Versatile sizing — easy to scale up or down by adjusting yarn weight and needle size
- Customizable colors — classic orange, modern neutrals, or unexpected colors like dusty pink
- Reusable handmade décor — the kind of fall piece you’ll bring out year after year
- Photographs beautifully — the cable texture catches light and gives real visual depth
Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern Details
- Skill Level: Advanced Beginner — full beginner cable guide included
- Construction: Knit in the round, cinched at both ends, stuffed, then shaped with yarn
- Yarn Weight: Bulky (#5)
- Format: Free written pattern below, or a printable ad-free PDF on Etsy and Ravelry
Free Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern
Here is the complete cable knit pumpkin pattern, free. Everything from the printable PDF is below: notes, materials, the round-by-round instructions, and photos of every assembly step. Prefer a clean, ad-free copy to print? Grab the PDF on Etsy.
Pattern Notes
- The pattern is worked in the round.
- The stitch pattern is a multiple of 9 stitches (P3, K6).
- Adjust the size of the pumpkin by increasing or decreasing the cast-on in multiples of 9 stitches.
Measurements
Approx. 8in wide and 5in tall. Adjust up or down in multiples of 9 stitches.
Materials
- 8.00mm (U.S. 11) circular knitting needle with a 16in cord
- Cable needle (cable stitch holder)
- Bulky #5 yarn in autumn colors. Pictured: Bernat Maker in Cream and Bernat Blanket Brights in Carrot Orange.
- Tapestry needle
- Poly-fil stuffing
- Scissors
- A cinnamon stick for the stem
Gauge
13 sts and 17 rows with an 8mm (U.S. 11) knitting needle.
Abbreviations
- K: knit
- P: purl
- st(s): stitch(es)
- cn: cable needle
- rep: repeat
- rnd: round
- CO: cast on
- BO: bind off
Pattern
Cast on 45 stitches (or any multiple of 9) using your preferred cast-on method. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
Rounds 1–3: *P3, K6*; repeat from * to * around.
Round 4 (Cable Round): *P3, slip the next 3 sts to a cable needle and hold in front, K3, then K3 from the cable needle*; repeat from * to * around.
Visual aid: in the photo below, the bottom arrow shows the 3 sts held in front; the top arrow shows the 3 sts being knit before you return to the held sts.
Rounds 5–10: *P3, K6*; repeat from * to * around (same as Round 1).
Round 11 (Cable Round): *P3, slip the next 3 sts to a cable needle and hold in front, K3, then K3 from the cable needle*; repeat from * to * around.
Repeat Rounds 5–11 four more times.
Final Rounds: Repeat Rounds 1–3 once more.
Bind off, leaving a long tail (approx. 18in) to shape the pumpkin. Your piece should look like this:
Assembly
Step 1: With a piece of scrap yarn and your tapestry needle, weave along the bottom edge of the work and cinch it tight. Tuck the loose end inside the pumpkin (you won’t see it!).
Step 2: Stuff with poly-fil.
Step 3: With the long tail left from the knit work, weave the tapestry needle along the top edge and cinch it tight. Do not fasten off yet.
Step 4: With the long tail and tapestry needle, shape the pumpkin. Pull the needle through the center of the pumpkin, wrap the yarn around the side between 2 cables, and pull to create a crease. Repeat 4 more times between the remaining cables. Fasten off and tuck in the loose end.
Step 5: Push the cinnamon stick into the top for the stem, and enjoy!
Thank you so much for making my pattern! Tag your finished pumpkins with @SeeLoveShare. I’d love to see what you make. Happy knitting! Ashleigh
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The full written pattern, photos and notes — clean, ad-free, and yours to keep and print. Use code SEELOVE15 for 15% off.
Get the printable PDF on Etsy → Get it on Ravelry →Shop the materials
Display Ideas for Your Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern
- Fall mantel display — a single statement pumpkin or a coordinated trio of varied sizes
- Tiered tray styling — perfect mid-size for fall tiered tray decor with mini pumpkins and leaves
- Dining table centerpiece — a row of pumpkins down the center of a Thanksgiving table
- Entryway styling — a single oversized pumpkin by the front door for cozy autumn welcome
- Bookshelf accent — tuck a small pumpkin between fall books for festive shelf styling
- Coffee table styling — paired with candles, leaves, and a fall-scented candle for instant atmosphere
- Coordinated pumpkin patch — group multiple sizes and colors for a layered fall display
Customization Ideas for Your Pumpkin
- Classic fall — pumpkin orange with brown stem and twine wrap
- Modern neutral — cream, oatmeal, or warm beige for a more sophisticated fall palette
- Designer fall — sage green, dusty pink, terra cotta for trending fall color stories
- Mini pumpkins — use DK weight yarn and smaller needles for tiny tiered-tray sized pumpkins
- Oversized statement — bulky yarn and large needles for floor-standing entryway pumpkin
- Real cinnamon stem — use a real cinnamon stick for the stem for fragrant fall décor
- Twine and ribbon details — wrap the stem with twine or tie a small bow at the base
More Free Fall Crochet & Knit Patterns You’ll Love
If you love this cable knit pumpkin pattern, here are more handmade fall projects to add to your queue:
- Free Crochet Pumpkin Pattern with Curly Vines — 6 pumpkin shapes for a whole patch
- Rustic Ribbed Crochet Pumpkins — fall farmhouse style with cinnamon stick stems
- Gingham Plaid Crochet Pumpkin Pattern — beginner-friendly pumpkin in classic gingham plaid
- Free Crochet Maple & Oak Leaf Patterns — quick fall accents to pair with your pumpkins
- Fall Bobble Pillow Pattern Bundle — coordinated pillow set for full fall display
- Browse all holiday and seasonal patterns
What Knitters Are Saying About This Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern
“These patterns from SeeLoveShare are so well written and contain all the info you need to have a successful project! Love this shop!!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Etsy Customer Review
“The instructions were clear, it was easy to create, and I was thrilled with the outcome.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Etsy Customer Review
Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern FAQ
Can a true beginner make this cable knit pumpkin pattern?
Yes — the free pattern above walks through every round, with a photo of the cable twist and every assembly step, so even if you’ve never tried cable knitting before, you’ll have step-by-step instruction. If you can cast on, knit, and purl, you can make this pumpkin.
How long does it take to knit?
About 2-4 evenings of relaxed knitting. The pumpkin is small enough to feel quick but rewarding, and most knitters finish a single pumpkin in a weekend.
What size knitting needles do I need?
The pattern is written for size 11 (8.0mm) circular knitting needles with a 16in cord, and uses bulky weight (#5) yarn for the chunky look. You can scale up or down by adjusting yarn and needle size — DK weight on smaller needles makes a mini tiered-tray version.
How big does the finished pumpkin turn out?
Approximately 8 inches wide and 5 inches tall — perfect mantel or tiered-tray pumpkin size. You can adjust in multiples of 9 stitches to size up or down.
What’s the best yarn for a cable knit pumpkin?
Bulky weight (#5) yarn gives the chunkiest, most textured look. Bernat Maker Home Dec in cream and Bernat Blanket Yarn Brights in orange are both photographed in the pattern. Worsted weight (#4) works for a smaller, more delicate pumpkin.
Is this cable knit pumpkin pattern really free?
Yes. The complete written pattern and photos are free on this page. The paid PDF on Etsy and Ravelry is the same pattern in a printable, ad-free format, if you’d rather knit from paper or support the shop.
Can I sell finished pumpkins from this pattern?
Yes — small-batch sales of finished items are welcome. Please credit SeeLoveShare as the pattern designer and don’t redistribute or resell the pattern itself.
Ready to Cast On?
Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern PDF
The pattern above is free to knit. If you’d like a clean, ad-free copy to print or keep offline, grab the PDF: instant download, ready to print. Use code SEELOVE15 for 15% off.
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More Pumpkin Patterns You’ll Love
Crochet Cable Pumpkin — the crochet version of this same cable look
Nicky the Knit Pumpkin — another chunky knit pumpkin for your mantel- Rustic Ribbed Crochet Pumpkins — fall farmhouse pattern with a cinnamon stick stem
- Farmhouse-Chic Stackable Pumpkins — a neutral pumpkin trio
- Gingham Plaid Crochet Pumpkin — cottagecore texture in classic gingham
Save This Cable Knit Pumpkin Pattern for Later
Want to come back to this cable knit pumpkin pattern later? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it next time you’re planning your fall décor. I’d love to see your finished pumpkins — tag @seeloveshare on Instagram! 🎃
This cable knit pumpkin pattern, photos, and instructions are © SeeLoveShare LLC. For personal use only — please do not redistribute or resell the pattern. Small-batch sales of finished items are welcome with credit. Thank you for supporting an independent designer!