A grinning jack-o-lantern basket with a handle, a little ghost in a witch hat and a mini pumpkin make a spooky trio; the basket even holds a few treats. It is a complete amigurumi crochet kit for beginners: you crochet the pieces, stuff them and stitch them together into a little keepsake you made yourself.
Carving jack-o-lanterns began with turnips in Ireland and Scotland, and Irish immigrants in America switched to the bigger, easier pumpkin. Amigurumi took off in Japan and spread around the world through craft blogs and video tutorials, and today it is one of the most popular ways to learn to crochet.
Why this kit: a beginner-friendly pattern built from basic stitches worked in the round; practice yarn to warm up on before you start the real piece; and video tutorials plus an illustrated brochure, so you can follow along step by step.
Kit includes: orange, yellow, brown, black and white yarn, black felt, practice yarn, crochet hooks, a yarn needle, stitch markers, fiberfill, safety eyes with backs, a hot-melt glue stick, a basic brochure and crocheting instructions, in a Halloween gift box. Video tutorials are available to follow along. Not included: scissors.
Start with the video tutorials and practice the basic stitches on the practice yarn, then follow the pattern one piece at a time: crochet each part in rounds, mark the start of every round with a stitch marker, stuff it with fiberfill and sew the parts together with the yarn needle. The finished pieces are decorations for adults and teens, not toys for young children, as safety eyes and small parts can be a choking hazard.
Finished size: basket about 3.74 x 6.29 in (9.5 x 16 cm), ghost 1.77 x 3.54 in, mini pumpkin 1.77 x 1.37 in. It is a natural fit for a Halloween table, a porch or a candy station, and makes a thoughtful gift for a Halloween lover or a family that decorates early.
