This chart comes from a photo of a carved pumpkin, so the face glows like a real jack-o’-lantern: yellow at the center of each opening, then orange, then red, then the dark maroon of the skin. Two slanted eyes, a small nose and a wide grin with notched teeth stand out against the mostly black pillow cover, with long stretches of black between them. The glow is where you slow down, with four colors changing within a few stitches around each opening. Along the right edge, maroon marks the pumpkin’s ridges, with a few stitches on their own, so use the rows written out to keep track there.

The free pattern has the full color chart (64 stitches by 74 rows, 5 colors), every row written out with its colors in the order you work them, a printable pattern, and the chart as a picture to download. It explains how to read the chart, carry the colors, make the back (crocheted or fabric) and put the pillow together.

You need: worsted weight yarn (medium, 4) in 5 colors (Black, Maroon, Yellow, Orange, Red), a 4 mm (US G-6) or 4.5 mm (US 7) hook, and a 16 inch (40 cm) pillow insert. For the back, more yarn in one color, or fabric.

Gauge: 16 stitches and about 18.5 rows in 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet, carrying the colors. US terms.

Our chart software made this chart from a photo of a carved pumpkin. No image AI was used.