This pumpkin daisy granny square combines a soft cream open-granny background with four simple white flowers and a layered orange pumpkin in the center. The pumpkin is built from overlapping crochet lobes with a short brown stem, which gives the center a much clearer pumpkin silhouette than a single round orange medallion.
The square is worked first and blocked flat. The pumpkin lobes, stem, and four matching daisies are crocheted separately, then sewn onto the front. Most of the decorative pieces are attached around their centers or overlapping edges so the motif keeps the slightly raised handmade look.
Project at a glance
| Skill level | Advanced beginner |
|---|---|
| Terminology | US crochet terms |
| Construction | Open granny square with separately crocheted pumpkin and flower appliqués |
| Yarn | DK or light-worsted cotton or cotton-blend |
| Hook | About 3.5 mm, or a size that gives neat defined stitches |
Exact gauge is not important for this motif. The important check is that the cream square lies flat, the granny spaces remain open, and the appliqué pieces feel firm enough to keep their shapes without becoming stiff.
Materials
- DK or light-worsted cream cotton or cotton-blend yarn for the square
- A small amount of pumpkin-orange yarn for the pumpkin
- A small amount of medium brown yarn for the stem
- A small amount of white yarn for the flower petals
- A small amount of muted golden-yellow yarn for the flower centers
- 3.5 mm crochet hook, or a hook that suits your chosen yarn
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Blocking pins and a blocking surface
A smooth cotton or cotton-rich blend works especially well here. It keeps the cream clusters crisp, gives the flowers enough structure to hold their four-petal shape, and helps the overlapping pumpkin lobes stay clearly defined.
Stitches and abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – work 2 sc in the same stitch
- sp – space
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Before you start
The cream base is worked in joined granny rounds with the RS facing throughout. Do not turn between rounds. The beginning ch 3 counts as the first dc; slip-stitch joins do not count as stitches.
The pumpkin is deliberately layered. Two larger orange circles form the left and right outer lobes, and a smaller vertical oval sits over their center overlap. This arrangement creates visible pumpkin divisions without adding complicated surface embroidery or raised cords.
Make all four flowers from the same instructions. Each flower has exactly one golden center and four broad white petals.
Crochet pattern
Cream granny square
With cream yarn, ch 4 and join with a sl st in the first ch to form a small ring.
R1: Ch 3, 2 dc in the ring, ch 2, [3 dc in the ring, ch 2] × 3. Join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. Do not turn. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces; 4 clusters)
Sl st across the next 2 dc and into the next ch-2 corner sp.
R2: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp, ch 1, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp, ch 1] × 3. Join to the top of the beginning ch 3. (24 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 4 ch-1 spaces; 8 clusters)
Sl st across to the next ch-2 corner sp.
R3: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp. [Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp] × 3. Ch 1, 3 dc in the remaining ch-1 sp, ch 1. Join to the top of the beginning ch 3. (36 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 8 ch-1 spaces; 12 clusters)
Sl st across to the next ch-2 corner sp.
R4: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp. [[Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 2, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp] × 3. [Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 2, ch 1. Join to the beginning ch 3. (48 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 12 ch-1 spaces; 16 clusters)
Sl st across to the next corner sp.
R5: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp. [[Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 3, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp] × 3. [Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 3, ch 1. Join to the beginning ch 3. (60 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 16 ch-1 spaces; 20 clusters)
Sl st across to the next corner sp.
R6: Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp. [[Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 4, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp] × 3. [Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] × 4, ch 1. Join to the beginning ch 3. (72 dc, 4 ch-2 corner spaces, 20 ch-1 spaces; 24 clusters)
Outer edging
The narrow edging is worked as a separate final round so the outside of the square has a smooth continuous line while the interior remains open.
Sl st into the next ch-2 corner sp.
R7: Ch 1; this does not count as a stitch. Work 3 sc in the corner sp. Continue around with 1 sc in each dc and 1 sc in every ch-1 sp. Work 3 sc in each remaining ch-2 corner sp. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. (104 sc)
🧶 Checkpoint: Block the cream square before adding the appliqués. The sides should sit straight, the open granny spaces should remain clearly visible, and all four corners should have the same softly rounded shape.
Large pumpkin lobes — make 2
Make two matching orange circles. These form the wide left and right sides of the pumpkin and remain partly visible beneath the smaller center lobe.
With pumpkin-orange yarn, make an adjustable ring.
R1: Work 8 sc in the ring. Do not join; continue in a spiral and mark the first stitch. (8 sc)
R2: 2 sc in each st around. (16 sc)
R3: [Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st] × 8. (24 sc)
R4: [Sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st] × 8. (32 sc)
Sl st in the next stitch and fasten off with a long sewing tail. Flatten the circle gently.
Repeat for the second lobe.
Center pumpkin lobe
The smaller center lobe is worked as a short oval around both sides of a foundation chain. Its narrower shape creates the central pumpkin section while allowing the two larger side lobes to remain visible.
With orange yarn, ch 4.
R1: Work 2 sc in the second ch from the hook, sc in the next ch, 4 sc in the final ch. Rotate the foundation chain and work into the unused loops on the opposite side: sc in the next ch, 2 sc in the remaining loop of the first ch. Place a marker. (10 sc)
R2: 2 sc in each of the first 2 sts, sc in the next st, 2 sc in each of the next 4 sts, sc in the next st, 2 sc in each of the final 2 sts. (18 sc)
R3: [Sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st] × 2, sc in the next st, [sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st] × 4, sc in the next st, [sc in the next st, 2 sc in the next st] × 2. (26 sc)
Sl st in the next stitch and fasten off with a long sewing tail.
Keep this piece slightly taller than wide when you flatten it. The center oval should cover the inner edges of the two larger lobes without hiding them completely.
Brown pumpkin stem
The stem is a small separate oval. It is attached behind the pumpkin so only its upper portion remains visible.
With brown yarn, ch 4.
R1: Work 2 sc in the second ch from the hook, sc in the next ch, 4 sc in the final ch. Rotate the chain and work into the unused loops on the opposite side: sc in the next ch, 2 sc in the remaining loop of the first ch. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (10 sc)
Fasten off with a long tail. Flatten the oval vertically.
Daisy flowers — make 4
Each flower is made as one small golden center followed by exactly four white petals.
With golden-yellow yarn, make an adjustable ring.
R1: Work 8 sc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off the yellow yarn. (8 sc)
Join white yarn in any sc.
Petal round: [Sl st in the next sc, ch 2, 4 dc in the next sc, ch 2, sl st in the same sc] × 4. Fasten off.
You should have exactly four broad white fan-shaped petals arranged around one small yellow center.
Gently spread each petal so it forms a short rounded oval rather than a narrow point. Make all four flowers from the same instructions.
🧶 Checkpoint: Before assembly, place the four flowers side by side. Each one should have one yellow center and exactly four similarly sized white petals. Small handmade differences are fine, but none of the flowers should have an extra fifth petal.
Assembling the pumpkin
Attach the stem first
Lay the cream square RS up and locate its center. Position the brown stem vertically above the center point. Approximately the lower half of the stem will eventually be hidden behind the orange lobes.
Sew the lower half of the stem securely to the square with brown yarn. Leave the upper rounded portion visible.
Position the two outer lobes
Place the first large orange circle slightly left of the square’s center. Place the second circle slightly right of center so the two pieces overlap through their middle sections.
The finished orange silhouette should be noticeably wider than tall. Align the two circles so their top edges form two gentle humps with a shallow dip directly beneath the brown stem. Their lower edges should overlap enough to create one continuous pumpkin shape rather than two separate circles.
The pumpkin should occupy roughly the central two-fifths of the square’s width, leaving a generous cream area between the pumpkin and all four corner flowers.
Sew around the exposed outside edges of both large lobes with matching orange yarn. Through the central overlap, add only enough hidden stitches to keep the two pieces flat.
Add the center lobe
Place the smaller orange oval vertically over the join between the two large lobes. Center its top directly beneath the stem and its bottom over the slight lower dip between the two outer circles.
The oval should cover much of the central overlap while leaving a broad curved section of both the left and right lobes visible. This three-piece arrangement creates the pumpkin’s visible lobe definition without requiring decorative surface lines.
Sew the center oval around its outer edge with orange yarn. Keep the stitches small and relaxed so the edge remains slightly raised rather than being pulled tightly into the lower layers.
🧶 Checkpoint: The center should now read immediately as a pumpkin: one short brown stem, two broad rounded side lobes, and a smaller central lobe. If it still looks like three unrelated circles, increase the overlap before completing the sewing.
Attach the four corner daisies
Arrange one flower in each corner area of the cream square. All four flowers should sit diagonally around the pumpkin, with their yellow centers at approximately equal distances from the nearest two outside edges.
For consistent placement, look at R5 of the cream square. From each corner, follow the side toward the center and locate the second ch-1 side space. Position the flower center over this general area, then adjust slightly if needed so the flowers form a balanced rectangle around the pumpkin.
Keep a visible band of cream granny texture between every flower and the orange center. The flowers should not touch the pumpkin.
Using golden-yellow yarn, sew each flower center securely to the square. Add one small hidden tack near the base of each white petal if needed, but avoid stitching around the entire petal edge. Leaving the outer halves slightly free creates the soft raised floral appearance.
Rotate the four-petal flowers so the petals generally point up, down, left, and right rather than diagonally. Keep all four flowers approximately consistent in orientation.
Finishing your square
Weave all remaining ends into the WS. When working behind the cream square, weave through solid granny clusters rather than stretching yarn across the open spaces.
If sewing the appliqués has pulled the square slightly inward, lightly damp-block the completed motif again. Pin only the outside cream perimeter into shape, then smooth the pumpkin and petals gently with your fingers.
Allow the piece to dry completely before removing the blocking pins.
Troubleshooting
- The cream square cups or pulls inward: the ch-2 corner spaces or final sc edging are probably too tight. Relax those stitches and block the square flat before attaching the appliqués.
- The pumpkin still looks like a plain orange circle: increase the overlap of the two outer lobes and make sure the smaller center oval is clearly visible over their join, with the brown stem centered above the top dip.
- The pumpkin looks like three separate circles: overlap the side lobes more deeply and sew the center lobe across both pieces so no cream background shows between them.
- The flowers look inconsistent: check that every yellow center has 8 sc and that each flower has exactly four white petal fans worked from the same stitch sequence.
- The flowers overpower the pumpkin: keep the petals lightly spread rather than aggressively stretched during blocking, and maintain visible cream space between each flower and the central appliqué.
Final check
- The cream base has six open granny rounds followed by one narrow single-crochet edging round.
- The center reads as one pumpkin with two broad outer lobes, one smaller center lobe, and one short brown stem.
- There are exactly four flowers, and every flower has one golden center and four broad white petals.
- The four flowers are spaced evenly around the pumpkin without touching it.
- The complete square lies flat while the pumpkin and petals retain a subtle raised appliqué texture.
Once the finished motif is blocked and dry, the layered orange pumpkin should stand out clearly against the open cream square while the four simple daisies balance the corners. If you make this square, feel free to share your finished version or leave a question if you get stuck on one of the appliqué pieces.
