Moonlit Harvest Trick-or-Treat Bag Free Pattern – A Chunky Knit Halloween Basket

Are you tired of flimsy plastic pumpkin buckets that crack by the end of October? This Halloween, craft a treasure that will last for generations. The Moonlit Harvest Trick-or-Treat Bag is a soft, textured, and utterly charming alternative. Knitted in cozy super bulky yarn, this bag features a deep midnight purple body, a starry night motif, and a plump orange pumpkin. It is the perfect project for a cozy autumn evening, resulting in a sturdy, beautiful basket for collecting candy or displaying seasonal decor. This pattern is designed to be accessible for confident beginners ready to try working in the round and simple colorwork.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather your supplies. This project works up quickly due to the chunky yarn, but you will need a few specific items to get started.

• Yarn: Super bulky weight yarn (Weight 6). You will need approximately:
  • 200 yards in Deep Purple (Main Color)
  • 100 yards in Orange (Pumpkin)
  • 50 yards in Black (Top band & handles)
  • Small amounts in Yellow (Stars) and Green (Stem)
• Needles: US 11 (8.0 mm) circular knitting needles (16-inch length) for the main body. You will also need double-pointed needles (DPNs) in the same size for the small handle sections, or you can use a magic loop method.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and scissors.

Gauge: 10 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). Always check your gauge to ensure the bag is the correct size.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This bag is knitted in the round from the bottom up, creating a seamless, cylindrical shape. We will use a magic loop or circular needles for the main body. Let’s get started!

Part 1: The Base

We begin by casting on and increasing to create a flat, sturdy bottom for the bag.

1. Cast On: With the Deep Purple yarn, cast on 40 stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round and join in the round, being extremely careful not to twist the stitches.
2. Round 1: Knit all stitches. (40 stitches)
3. Round 2 (Increase Round): *K1, increase 1 (knit front and back)* repeat to end of round. (60 stitches)
4. Rounds 3-6: Knit all stitches. The base is now complete and should lay flat.

Part 2: The Bag Body

Now we will knit the main cylindrical body of the bag, incorporating the black fold line for the top casing.

5. Rounds 7-10: Continue knitting all stitches in Deep Purple. This establishes the lower body of the bag.
6. Round 11: Switch to the Black yarn. Knit all stitches.
7. Round 12: With Black yarn, purl all stitches. This purl row creates a distinct fold line that will be used later for the top edge casing.
8. Rounds 13-14: With Black yarn, knit all stitches.
9. Round 15: Switch back to Deep Purple yarn. Knit all stitches.
10. Continue Body: Continue knitting in stockinette (knit every round) until the bag measures 8 inches from the base. This is the main purple section where the motif will go.

Part 3: The Pumpkin & Star Motif (Intarsia)

This is where the magic happens! We will create the pumpkin and stars using a simple intarsia technique in the round. The front half of the bag is 30 stitches wide.

11. Positioning: The front of the bag is the 30 stitches directly opposite your stitch marker. You will work the motif only on these 30 stitches. The back 30 stitches will remain in Deep Purple.
12. Pumpkin Shape: Using the Orange yarn, knit a 10-stitch wide, 8-row tall pumpkin shape in the center of the front 30 stitches. To create a slight taper, you can decrease one stitch on each side of the pumpkin for the middle 4 rows. Work the background in Deep Purple, carrying the Orange yarn loosely across the back of the work (or using separate bobbins to avoid long floats).
13. Stem: After completing the pumpkin, use the Green yarn to knit a small stem. This is 2 stitches wide and 3 rows tall, positioned directly on top of the pumpkin's center.
14. Stars: Use the Yellow yarn to knit small stars. Each star is 3 stitches wide and 3 rows tall. Scatter 3-4 stars around the pumpkin on the Deep Purple background. You can place them randomly for a night-sky effect.
15. Resume Body: After completing the motif, cut the Orange, Green, and Yellow yarns, and continue knitting in Deep Purple until the bag measures 12 inches from the base.

Part 4: Top Edge and Casing

We will now create the neat, finished top edge of the bag that will hold the handles.

16. Round 1: With Black yarn, knit all stitches.
17. Round 2: With Black yarn, purl all stitches. This creates the second fold line.
18. Rounds 3-4: With Black yarn, knit all stitches.
19. Bind Off: Bind off loosely. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (approx. 20 inches).
20. Create Casing: Fold the top edge inward along the purl row you created in Round 2. Using the long tail and a tapestry needle, sew down the folded edge to the inside of the bag. This creates a neat, sturdy casing for the handles.

Part 5: Handles (Make 2)

These sturdy strips will be the handles of your bag.

21. Cast On: With Black yarn, cast on 8 stitches onto your double-pointed needles.
22. Work: Work back and forth in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 12 inches. Bind off.
23. Repeat: Repeat to make a second handle.
24. Attach: Sew each handle securely to the inside of the bag, opposite each other, just below the top casing. Make sure they are evenly spaced.

Part 6: Finishing Touches

25. Weave in Ends: Use your tapestry needle to weave in all loose ends securely on the inside of the bag.
26. Blocking: Gently block the bag to shape. You can lightly steam it or wet block it to even out the stitches.
27. Enjoy: Fill with treats and enjoy your beautiful, handmade creation!

This Moonlit Harvest bag is more than just a candy holder; it's a piece of autumn decor that brings warmth and charm to any Halloween celebration. Happy knitting!