Celebrate Autumn & Halloween with 8 Delightful Free Knitting Patterns

Autumn is in the Air! Celebrate the season and the upcoming Halloween holiday with these fabulous free knitting patterns

At the end of August or beginning of September, kids are returning to school. The summer is either beginning to break, or you’re just hoping it will soon. If you’re really lucky, the air has begun to cool and maybe even swirl a bit.

Maybe you start to see more clouds. The day gets darker earlier. Football games (in the United States) begin.

Can you tell that autumn is my favorite season??

Oh, and by the way… Halloween will be here before you know it.

I know, I know. Way to harsh my buzz, Nicole! Not trying to be a buzz-kill here. But if you want to be ready for Halloween — the first truly fun holiday since, at least in the US, Independence Day — you should probably start preparing soon!

Especially if you want to knit some fun stuff. Am I right?

Here, you’ll find some fun ways to bring Halloween into your home and life and maybe even the lives of people (or charities) around you.

Halloween Wear

Pumpkin socks

• What you’ll need to make them: 385 yards fingering weight yarn; US Size 1 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; stitch markers; stitch counters

• Why you’ll want to:: I love these socks because they don’t really scream “Halloween” in a gimmicky or kitchy way. Instead, the beautiful lace pattern is a subtle way to celebrate the pumpkin harvest season. You don’t have to knit them in orange, of course – any fall color would be delightful!

Halloween scarf

• What you’ll need to make it: 265 yards eyelash yarn (in orange and black); US Size 11 needles

• Why you’ll want: I just love this fluffy, funky Lion Brand scarf pattern. If you have orange and black eyelash yarn in your stash already, great! If not, what better excuse to buy some?

Happy Halloween mitts

• What you’ll need to make them: About 100 yards DK weight yarn (in orange, black, and a tiny bit of green); US Size 6 straight, circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit both flat and in the round; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: These fabulous mittens will warm your hands while you’re passing out Halloween candy. Warning — when your friends see these, they’ll want a pair too.

Easy Red Heart Pumpkin Hat

• What you’ll need to make it: Up to 300 yards orange & a little bit of green worsted weight yarn; US Size 9 needles; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: What better way to top off a Halloween scarf, mitts, and socks? Charming and stylish, this is the perfect hat for Halloween — or really all of October! Best of all, it fits heads from babies to adults. (This pattern is written for flat knitting, but you can easily adjust it for knitting in the round.)

For easy ways to add knitted pizzazz to kiddos’ Halloween costumes, check these out!

Halloween home décor

I can’t think of a better way to get in the spirit of fall and Halloween than by decking your halls. Enjoy these delightful ways to get the autumn crispness into your home.

Pumpkin Dishcloths

• What you’ll need to make it: Small amount of cotton yarn (weight isn’t important); needles to fit your chosen yarn

• Why you’ll want to: When it’s still hot out, and you’re not ready to break out the wool or heavy acrylic yet? Ease the transition with this delightful pattern. Make it all in one color for a subtle look. Bold and adventurous? Work in a green stem!

Fall Wreath

• What you’ll need to make it: About 300 yards each of worsted or bulky weight feltable wool in green, red, and orange colors, and another 400 yards worsted feltable wool in brown; US Size 10 needles; 16-inch foam wreath; 5 sheets medium-weight cardboard; glue stick; fabric chalk; small & very sharp scissors; flexible medium-gauge craft wire; scissors to cut the wire; craft glue; sewing needle & thread

• Why you’ll want to: Greet anyone who comes a-knocking — either before or after Halloween! — with this festive fall wreath. If you’re not really in the mood to make a wreath, no worries. Skip the “wreath” supplies, and just pile the felted leaves in a bowl in the center of your table for a winning centerpiece!

Felted Pumpkins

• What you’ll need to make it: About 250 yards worsted weight feltable wool (in separate colors for pumpkin and stem); US Size 10.5 straight or circular needles (depending on what you prefer to use for knitting flat) plus DPNs; scrap yarn; tapestry needle; sewing needle & thread; plastic grocery bags; stuffing

• Why you’ll want to: Speaking of felted, try adding autumn cheer to the rest of your house with one of these adorable pumpkins. And if you don’t want to felt them, they’ll still look really cute — especially if you use colors other than orange (as you see here)!

Honestly, seeing all these delightful free patterns makes me ready to bring on autumn with my knitting needles. Let’s do this!