In a previous job working with at-risk and disadvantaged youth, a coworker and I had a code word. When things are hard, you have to find the light, and when the dying ravages of summer were calming down into the quietness of fall, we would pass this word along in the hallway: autumnal. The word booms in your mouth, brings the dignity and beauty of the season’s slowness into its three syllables. In a place where the good days are hard and the hard days can be heartbreaking, any glimmer of light was welcomed.
It’s with her in mind as I designed this little pattern. It’s humble and small, quickly knit within an hour for experienced hands and an afternoon for beginners. In these quickly darkening mornings as September slips into October, this little cozy warms my hands and brings a little light to those solemn mornings.
How Do I Make an I-Cord?
The most advanced technique for this pattern is making an I-cord. It is truly a simple method, but if you have never done it before, it can feel super strange. Very Pink Knits on YouTube has an excellent series of knitting tutorials, including one for knitting an I-cord.
In this pattern, you will pick up 3 stitches in the middle of each side of the pumpkin. You will knit an I-cord from these three stitches to make each tendril and leaf.
When you pick up those three stitches, you do NOT turn your work. Using DPNs, slide the work from the left of the needle to the right tip. Pull the yarn to the right, insert the other needle into the first stitch to knit, and knit the stitch. You are basically pulling the yarn into a tube by always working on the RS of the knitting and NEVER turning the work.
Once you get to the leaf section, you will resume working garter stitch like normal.
Personalize your Good Morning, Pumpkin Cozy
Make this cozy your own! Changing up the pumpkin colors would be a great way to personalize your cozy. If you used thicker weight yarn, you could easily make this bigger for a French press or thermos, although I would suggest keeping the tendril ties worsted weight. I used Dishie cotton for my cozy, but you could use a washable fiber or wool, even, for a different look.
The Good Morning Pumpkin Cozy would make a beautiful gift paired with a Twistcloth Knitted Dishtowel. The fall color combos you could make are gorgeous.
What will you wrap this around? Let me know in the comments!
Good Morning, Pumpkin Cozy Pattern
The pattern as written makes a size fitting to a typical coffee mug. Using larger yarn and needles will increase the size, though the tendril ties should be made in worsted weight yarn.
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on
- BO: bind off
- k: knit
- p: purl
- kfb: knit into the front and back of the stitch
- k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
- k3tog: knit 3 stitches together
Sizing
- 4” across the widest part of the pumpkin
- 4” top to bottom
- 9” for each tendril tie
Materials
- Yarn: Worsted cotton
- Main color: approximately 20 yards
- Second color: approximately 10 yards
- Shown in Knit Picks Dishie
- Gauge: 18.0 to 20.0 sts = 4 inches
- Needles: US #8 straight and DPNs
- Notions: Darning needle, stitch marker
Pattern
Pumpkin
CO 8 stitches in main pumpkin color.
- Kfb, kfb, p, kfb, kfb, p, kfb kfb
- Knit all stitches.
- Kfb, k2, kfb, p, kfb, k2, kfb, p, kfb, k2, kfb
- Knit all stitches
- Kfb, k4, kfb, p, kfb, k4, kfb, p, kfb, k4, kfb
- Knit all stitches
- K8, p, k8, p, k8
- Knit all stitches.
Repeat Rows 7-8 for 6 more times.
- K2tog, k4, k2tog, P, k2tog, k4, k2tog, P, k2tog, k4, k2tog,
- Knit all stitches.
- K2tog, k2, k2tog, P, k2tog, k2, k2tog, P, k2tog, k2, k2tog,
- Knit all stitches
- K2tog, k2tog, P, k2tog, k2tog, P, k2tog, k2tog (8 stitches)
Break yarn and switch to stem color.
- K1P1 across for 4 rows.
- k2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2tog
- BO all stitches.
- Weave in all ends.
Tendril Ties
You will use these instructions to make 1 tie, then do them again to make the other tie.
With RS of the pumpkin facing, find the middle of the side by turning the pumpkin 90 degrees and locating the middle of the curve.
For the RIGHT tendril tie: the stem end of the pumpkin will now be on your left.
For the LEFT tendril tie: the stem end of the pumpkin will now be on your right.
Tendril Section
Using the stem color yarn and your DPNs, pick up 3 stitches.
Knit in I-cord for 8-9”.
Leaf Section
You will now stop working in I-cord and will resume working back and forth, turning your work after each row in the traditional way of knitting.
- Kfb, k, kfb
- Knit all stitches.
- Kfb, kfb, k kfb kfb
- Knit all stitches.
- K2tog, k5, k2tog
- Knit all stitches.
- K2tog, k3, k2tog
- Knit all stitches.
- K2tog, k1, k2tog
- Knit all stitches.
- K3tog
- Break yarn and pull the tail through to BO.
- Weave in ends.
Repeat this on the other side of your pumpkin. Wrap around your favorite mug and enjoy!
Check out a PDF version of this pattern below.
For more photos of this recipe and all the other homemaking projects I’m doing, including recipes, knitting patterns, and other fun stuff, find me on Instagram!
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