Crochet Trick-or-Treat Bag: A Sturdy Pumpkin Candy Bucket
A round-bottomed pumpkin bucket with built-in handles that holds a whole night of candy. Worked in half double crochet, so it grows fast.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) acrylic, about 280 yd orange plus black scraps
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- About 4 hours
- Finished size
- About 8 in (20 cm) across, 8 in (20 cm) tall
You'll need
- Worsted weight (#4) acrylic — about 280 yd orange
- Black yarn or black felt for the face
- 5 mm (H-8) hook
- Stitch marker, tapestry needle
In this post
Plastic pumpkin buckets crack. This one won't, and it folds flat for next year. It's a flat circle base, straight sides in half double crochet, and two handle openings worked right into the top — so there's no strap to sew on and nothing to snap off.
Acrylic is the right yarn here: it's tough, washable and doesn't mind a dropped lollipop.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The pattern
Joined rounds. Ch 2 at the start of each round doesn't count as a stitch; sl st to the first hdc to join.
Base
- Rnd 1: 8 hdc in a magic ring. Join. (8)
- Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each st. Join. (16)
- Rnd 3: Ch 2, (hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (24)
- Rnd 4: Ch 2, (2 hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (32)
- Rnd 5: Ch 2, (3 hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (40)
- Rnd 6: Ch 2, (4 hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (48)
- Rnd 7: Ch 2, (5 hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (56)
- Rnd 8: Ch 2, (6 hdc, 2 hdc in next) 8 times. Join. (64)
Sides
- Rnd 9: Ch 2, hdc in the back loop of each st. Join. This makes the sharp edge between base and side. (64)
- Rnds 10–24: Ch 2, hdc in each st. Join. (64)
Handles
- Rnd 25: Ch 2, hdc 5, ch 22, skip 22, hdc 10, ch 22, skip 22, hdc 5. Join. (20 hdc + 2 ch-22 spaces)
- Rnd 26: Ch 2, hdc 5, 22 hdc into the ch-22 space, hdc 10, 22 hdc into the next ch-22 space, hdc 5. Join. (64)
- Rnd 27: Sl st in each st around. Fasten off. (64)
Working the handle hdc into the space rather than into each chain wraps them around the chain and makes a padded, comfortable grip.
Jack-o'-lantern face
- Eyes (make 2, black): Ch 2, 3 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st (6), ch 1, turn, sc 6. Fasten off — a small triangle.
- Mouth: Ch 16, then work a row of (sl st, hdc, dc, hdc) along it for a zigzag. Or cut the face from black felt.
- Attach: Sew the face to the side opposite the join seam.
Make it your own
- Ghost bucket: white yarn with a black oval face.
- Year-round basket: leave off the face and it's a toy or yarn basket — see our crochet basket for a lidded version.
- Glow trim: work Rnd 27 in glow-in-the-dark yarn so it's easier to spot on dark streets.
Common questions
Will the bucket hold its shape?
With worsted acrylic and a 5 mm hook in hdc, yes. For a stiffer bucket, hold two strands together with a 6.5 mm hook and work the same stitch counts.
Can a small child carry it?
Yes. For a toddler, stop the sides at Rnd 18 so the bucket is about 6 in tall and lighter when full.
Why does my base curl up like a bowl?
Your tension is tighter than the pattern. Go up half a hook size for the base, or add one more increase round.
Is it washable?
Acrylic can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle in a laundry bag; lay it flat to dry.
How much candy did yours hold? Tell us the record. 🍭
Did you make this?
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