Harvest Moon Stacking Gourds Free Crochet Pattern
Gauge
Gauge: 4 single crochet stitches x 4 rounds = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in single crochet.
Why gauge matters: Gauge is simply how big your stitches turn out. If your stitches are larger than the gauge, your gourd will come out bigger than the finished size listed above. If your stitches are smaller, your gourd will come out smaller. Because this pattern is a decorative amigurumi-style piece, exact size is not critical, but matching the gauge keeps your three gourds consistent with each other and makes sure your stuffing does not show through loose stitches.
How to make a gauge swatch: With your 4.5 mm hook and worsted yarn, make a magic ring and work 6 sc into it. Work 2 sc in each stitch around (12 sts), then work plain single crochet rounds (1 sc in each stitch) until your swatch is about 2 inches across. Lay a ruler on a flat surface, place your swatch on it, and count how many stitches fit across 1 inch and how many rounds fit in 1 inch. If you get about 4 stitches and 4 rounds per inch, you are right on target. If you get fewer stitches per inch (your stitches are big), try a smaller hook. If you get more stitches per inch (your stitches are tight), try a larger hook.
Beginner Tips Before You Start
- Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of every round. Because you are working in a continuous spiral, there is no seam to tell you where a round begins and ends. Place a marker in the very first stitch you make in each round, and move it up each time you start a new round. This is the single best way to avoid losing count.
- Do not pull your yarn too tight. Beginners often grip the yarn so firmly that the stitches become stiff and hard to work into. Keep a relaxed, even tension so your hook slides in easily. Your gourd should feel soft and squishy, not rock hard.
- Count your stitches at the end of every round. The stitch count in parentheses at the end of each round is your safety net. If your count is off, fix it right away by adding or removing a stitch rather than discovering the mistake several rounds later.
- Stuff firmly but in small handfuls. Add fiberfill a little at a time and push it into the sides, not just the middle. This gives you a smooth, round gourd instead of a lumpy one.
- Keep your magic ring tail long. Leave a 4 to 6 inch tail when you start so you have plenty to pull the center closed and to weave in later.
- Work the three gourds one at a time. Finish and stuff one completely before starting the next. It is much easier to keep track of your rounds when you only have one piece going at once.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Gourd Body (make 3, one in each color: burnt orange, sage green, and cream)
Work in a continuous spiral. Do not join rounds and do not turn your work. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round.
Round 1: Make a magic ring, then work 6 sc into the ring. Pull the tail tight to close the center hole. (6 sts)
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Round 3: [Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] repeat around — that means you work that pair of stitches 6 times total. (18 sts)
Round 4: [Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] repeat around — that means sc, sc, then 2 sc in the same stitch, 6 times total. (24 sts)
Round 5: [Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] repeat around — that means sc, sc, sc, then 2 sc in the same stitch, 6 times total. (30 sts)
Rounds 6 through 12: Sc in each st around. Work this plain round 7 times total (Rounds 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). (30 sts)
Round 13: [Sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] repeat around — that means sc, sc, sc, then single crochet two stitches together, 6 times total. (24 sts)
Round 14: [Sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] repeat around — that means sc, sc, then single crochet two stitches together, 6 times total. (18 sts)
Round 15: [Sc in next st, sc2tog]
