Harvest Moon Pumpkin Tunisian Crochet Dishcloth Free Pattern
Bring Autumn to Your Kitchen with the Harvest Moon Pumpkin Dishcloth
There's something magical about the transition to fall—the crisp air, the warm spices, and the cozy feeling that settles into our homes. What better way to celebrate the season than by creating something both beautiful and practical? The Harvest Moon Pumpkin Tunisian Crochet Dishcloth is the perfect autumn project that combines functionality with festive charm.
This delightful dishcloth features a dense, absorbent Tunisian crochet fabric that's ideal for kitchen use, while its pumpkin shape brings a touch of rustic warmth to your daily chores. Whether you're an experienced Tunisian crocheter or looking to try this versatile technique for the first time, this pattern offers a rewarding project that results in a stunning, handmade piece you'll be proud to display or gift.
The textured, woven-like appearance of Tunisian crochet creates a fabric that's not only beautiful but also highly effective at wiping counters, drying dishes, or protecting your hands from hot pots. With its rich orange hue and charming green stem, this dishcloth captures the essence of harvest season in every stitch.
Materials Needed
Before you begin your pumpkin creation, gather these essential supplies:
- Yarn: Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn in orange (approximately 100g) for the pumpkin body, plus a small amount of green yarn for the stem. Cotton is essential for absorbency and durability in kitchen items.
- Tunisian Crochet Hook: Size 6.5mm (US K) with a 10-inch cable. The cable allows you to hold all your loops comfortably as you work.
- Standard Crochet Hook: Size 5mm for creating the pumpkin stem.
- Yarn Needle: For sewing pieces together and weaving in ends.
- Scissors: For cutting yarn.
- Optional: Cotton balls or yarn scraps for lightly stuffing the pumpkin to give it a plump shape.
Gauge: 14 Tunisian simple stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Tunisian simple stitch. While gauge is important for size, this dishcloth is forgiving—even if your gauge differs slightly, you'll still create a beautiful pumpkin.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Understanding the Tunisian Crochet Basics
Tunisian crochet, also known as Afghan crochet, creates a dense, woven-looking fabric. Each row consists of two passes: the forward pass where you pick up loops, and the return pass where you work them off. This pattern uses two main stitches:
- TSS (Tunisian Simple Stitch): Insert hook under the vertical bar of the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop.
- TKS (Tunisian Knit Stitch): Insert hook between the vertical bars from front to back, yarn over, pull up a loop.
Abbreviations Used:
- TSS: Tunisian Simple Stitch
- TKS: Tunisian Knit Stitch
- inc: Increase (work 2 stitches in the same vertical bar)
- dec: Decrease (work 2 stitches together)
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single Crochet
- sl st: Slip Stitch
Creating the Pumpkin Body
The pumpkin body is worked flat in Tunisian crochet, starting from the bottom and shaping with increases and decreases to create a rounded form. Follow these instructions carefully, remembering that each row includes both a forward pass (picking up loops) and a return pass (working them off).
Row 1 (Foundation): Chain 20. Insert hook in 2nd chain from hook, pull up a loop, and continue pulling up loops across the row (20 loops on hook). Return pass: Yarn over, pull through 1 loop, *yarn over, pull through 2 loops* across to end. (20 stitches)
Row 2: TSS in each stitch across (20 loops). Return pass as before. (20 stitches)
Row 3: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 16 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (22 stitches)
Row 4: TSS in each stitch across. (22 stitches)
Row 5: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 18 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (24 stitches)
Row 6: TSS in each stitch across. (24 stitches)
Row 7: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 20 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (26 stitches)
Row 8: TSS in each stitch across. (26 stitches)
Row 9: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 22 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (28 stitches)
Row 10: TSS in each stitch across. (28 stitches)
Row 11: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 24 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (30 stitches)
Row 12: TSS in each stitch across. (30 stitches)
Row 13: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 26 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (32 stitches)
Row 14: TSS in each stitch across. (32 stitches)
Row 15: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 28 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (34 stitches)
Row 16: TSS in each stitch across. (34 stitches)
Row 17: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 30 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (36 stitches)
Row 18: TSS in each stitch across. (36 stitches)
Row 19: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 32 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (38 stitches)
Row 20: TSS in each stitch across. (38 stitches)
Row 21: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 34 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (40 stitches)
Row 22: TSS in each stitch across. (40 stitches)
Row 23: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 36 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (42 stitches)
Row 24: TSS in each stitch across. (42 stitches)
Row 25: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 38 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (44 stitches)
Row 26: TSS in each stitch across. (44 stitches)
Row 27: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 40 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (46 stitches)
Row 28: TSS in each stitch across. (46 stitches)
Row 29: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 42 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (48 stitches)
Row 30: TSS in each stitch across. (48 stitches)
Row 31: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 44 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (50 stitches)
Row 32: TSS in each stitch across. (50 stitches)
Row 33: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 46 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (52 stitches)
Row 34: TSS in each stitch across. (52 stitches)
Row 35: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 48 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (54 stitches)
Row 36: TSS in each stitch across. (54 stitches)
Row 37: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 50 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (56 stitches)
Row 38: TSS in each stitch across. (56 stitches)
Row 39: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 52 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (58 stitches)
Row 40: TSS in each stitch across. (58 stitches)
Row 41: TSS in first stitch, inc in next, TSS in next 54 stitches, inc in next, TSS in last stitch. (60 stitches)
Row 42: TSS in each stitch across. (60 stitches)
You've now completed the widest part of your pumpkin. The increases have created a gentle curve that will form the rounded bottom half. Now we'll begin decreasing to shape the top of the pumpkin.
Row 43: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 54 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (58 stitches)
Row 44: TSS in each stitch across. (58 stitches)
Row 45: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 52 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (56 stitches)
Row 46: TSS in each stitch across. (56 stitches)
Row 47: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 50 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (54 stitches)
Row 48: TSS in each stitch across. (54 stitches)
Row 49: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 48 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (52 stitches)
Row 50: TSS in each stitch across. (52 stitches)
Row 51: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 46 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (50 stitches)
Row 52: TSS in each stitch across. (50 stitches)
Row 53: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 44 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (48 stitches)
Row 54: TSS in each stitch across. (48 stitches)
Row 55: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 42 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (46 stitches)
Row 56: TSS in each stitch across. (46 stitches)
Row 57: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 40 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (44 stitches)
Row 58: TSS in each stitch across. (44 stitches)
Row 59: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 38 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (42 stitches)
Row 60: TSS in each stitch across. (42 stitches)
Row 61: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 36 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (40 stitches)
Row 62: TSS in each stitch across. (40 stitches)
Row 63: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 34 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (38 stitches)
Row 64: TSS in each stitch across. (38 stitches)
Row 65: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 32 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (36 stitches)
Row 66: TSS in each stitch across. (36 stitches)
Row 67: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 30 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (34 stitches)
Row 68: TSS in each stitch across. (34 stitches)
Row 69: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 28 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (32 stitches)
Row 70: TSS in each stitch across. (32 stitches)
Row 71: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 26 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (30 stitches)
Row 72: TSS in each stitch across. (30 stitches)
Row 73: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 24 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (28 stitches)
Row 74: TSS in each stitch across. (28 stitches)
Row 75: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 22 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (26 stitches)
Row 76: TSS in each stitch across. (26 stitches)
Row 77: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 20 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (24 stitches)
Row 78: TSS in each stitch across. (24 stitches)
Row 79: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 18 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (22 stitches)
Row 80: TSS in each stitch across. (22 stitches)
Row 81: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 16 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (20 stitches)
Row 82: TSS in each stitch across. (20 stitches)
Row 83: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 14 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (18 stitches)
Row 84: TSS in each stitch across. (18 stitches)
Row 85: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 12 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (16 stitches)
Row 86: TSS in each stitch across. (16 stitches)
Row 87: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 10 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (14 stitches)
Row 88: TSS in each stitch across. (14 stitches)
Row 89: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 8 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (12 stitches)
Row 90: TSS in each stitch across. (12 stitches)
Row 91: TSS in first stitch, dec, TSS in next 6 stitches, dec, TSS in last stitch. (10 stitches)
Row 92: TSS in each stitch across. (
