Pumpkin Water Bottle Holder Crochet Pattern

September 3, 2026

This fall crochet bottle carrier combines a sturdy cream body, a row of little raised pumpkins, and a long shoulder/crossbody strap.

The project is worked bottom-up in continuous rounds. A flat circular base supports the bottle, a back-loop round turns the base into the wall, and the body stays at one stitch count so there is very little shaping to remember.

Near the top, a contrasting olive-and-orange band contains 12 raised pumpkin bobbles. The strap is crocheted separately and securely sewn to opposite sides of the holder.

The linked design uses worsted/Aran yarn, a 4 mm hook, a ribbed base, long carrying strap, and a designer-specific pumpkin stitch. (Ravelry) The pattern below is an original construction with different counts, a different pumpkin-bobble motif, different upper band, and its own strap and finishing method.

Pattern at a Glance

Skill level: Confident beginner
Terminology: US crochet terms
Construction: Bottom-up in continuous rounds
Suggested yarn: Worsted / Category 4 cotton or cotton blend
Hook: 4 mm / G
Main stitch count: 48 stitches
Finished holder circumference: Approximately 10½–11¼ inches
Finished body height: Approximately 7–7½ inches
Base diameter: Approximately 3½ inches
Pumpkins: 12
Sample strap: Approximately 44–46 inches before attachment

This size is designed around a medium-to-large reusable water bottle approximately 3¼–3½ inches in diameter.

Measure your bottle before beginning.

Colors

For this version use:

Color A — Warm Cream

Main holder and strap

Color B — Moss Olive

Pumpkin band

Color C — Burnt Pumpkin Orange

Raised pumpkins

Optional:

Color D — Deep Brown

Tiny embroidered pumpkin details

Materials

You will need:

150–180 yards warm-cream worsted cotton
20–30 yards moss-olive worsted cotton
20–30 yards burnt-orange worsted cotton
small amount deep brown, optional
4 mm crochet hook
locking stitch marker
yarn needle
scissors
measuring tape

Cotton or a firm cotton blend is recommended because it stretches less than very soft acrylic when carrying a full bottle.

Gauge

Approximately:

17 sc = 4 inches

and:

19 sc rounds = 4 inches

Gauge matters more than usual because the holder should fit the bottle without being extremely loose.

Before Starting

Measure around the widest part of your bottle.

The finished crochet circumference should be approximately:

½–1 inch smaller than the bottle circumference

if your yarn has some stretch.

For the written version, 48 stitches at gauge measures approximately:

11¼ inches around

before stretching.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
BLO = back loop only
inc = 2 sc in same stitch
PB = pumpkin bobble
st = stitch
sts = stitches
rep = repeat

Special Stitch — Pumpkin Bobble

The small pumpkins are made from a five-partial-double-crochet bobble.

PB

In the indicated stitch:

Yarn over.
Insert hook into stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.

Leave the remaining loops on the hook.

Repeat Steps 1–4 four more times in the same stitch.

You should now have:

6 loops on the hook.

Yarn over.

Pull through all 6 loops.

Ch 1 tightly to close the bobble.

Push the bobble gently toward the outside/right side of the holder.

Important

The PB counts as:

1 stitch

The closing ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

PART 1 — CROCHET THE ROUND BASE

Using warm cream, make a magic ring.

Work in continuous rounds.

Place a marker in the first stitch of each round.

Round 1

Work:

6 sc into magic ring

6 sts

Pull ring closed.

The circle should measure approximately:

3½ inches across

and lie reasonably flat.

Place your bottle on top.

The bottom of the bottle should sit almost completely over the crochet circle without a large amount of crochet extending beyond it.

If the Base Is Too Small

If your bottle is slightly wider, add:

Optional Round 9

Repeat:

sc in next 7 sts, inc

around.

You will have:

54 sts

However, if you use 54 stitches, all later pumpkin-band math must be changed.

For the easiest version, use a bottle that works with the 48-stitch base.

PART 2 — TURN THE BASE INTO THE WALL

Round 9

Working through the back loops only:

Sc BLO in every stitch around

48 sts

This leaves a visible ridge around the base and encourages the fabric to turn upward.

PART 3 — MAIN CREAM BODY

Return to normal single crochet through both loops.

Round 10

Sc in every stitch around.

48 sts

Rounds 11–35

Repeat:

sc in every stitch

Keep:

48 sts per round

There are no increases.

At the end of Round 35, the cream body should measure approximately:

5½–6 inches above the base ridge

depending on your gauge.

Fit Check

Slide the bottle into the holder.

The fabric should:

fit closely
stretch slightly
stay upright
not squeeze the bottle excessively
not slide off when lifted

If your bottle is shorter, you can stop the cream body a few rounds earlier.

If it is taller, add several rounds before beginning the pumpkin band.

Keep:

48 stitches

at all times.

PART 4 — OLIVE PUMPKIN BAND

Change to moss olive.

Round 36

Sc in every stitch around.

48 sts

Join neatly at the color change.

PART 5 — RAISED PUMPKIN ROUND

Change to burnt pumpkin orange.

Round 37

Repeat around:

Sc in next 3 sts, PB in next st

Repeat the sequence:

12 times

You should have:

36 ordinary sc
12 pumpkin bobbles

Total:

48 stitches

What the Pumpkin Round Should Look Like

There should be exactly:

12 evenly spaced orange bobbles

around the bottle holder.

Each bobble should sit on the outside of the fabric.

The olive round beneath it creates a subtle vine-like background.

PART 6 — COMPLETE THE PUMPKIN BAND

Change back to moss olive.

Round 38

Sc in every stitch around.

When reaching each pumpkin bobble, work one sc into the top of the bobble stitch.

Do not work into the closing ch 1.

Sl st loosely in every stitch around.

Fasten off.

Do not make the slip stitches tight or the bottle opening may become difficult to stretch.

Check the Finished Body

The bottle holder should now measure approximately:

7–7½ inches high

from the bottom to the top rim.

The bottle neck or lid should remain exposed and easy to access.

PART 8 — OPTIONAL PUMPKIN DETAIL

If you want the bobbles to read more clearly as tiny pumpkins, use a small amount of deep-brown yarn.

Thread it onto a yarn needle.

For each orange bobble:

Make one tiny vertical stitch over the center of the bobble.

Keep the stitch loose enough that it creates a slight groove rather than crushing the bobble.

Then add one tiny brown stitch directly above it to suggest a stem.

This step is optional.

The holder still works well with plain orange bobbles.

PART 9 — CROCHET THE STRAP

Use warm cream.

Because everybody has a different preferred carrying length, measure the chain rather than relying on an exact chain count.

For the sample crossbody strap:

Chain until the foundation measures approximately 46 inches without stretching.

For a shorter shoulder strap:

Aim for approximately:

34–36 inches

For a longer crossbody strap:

Aim for approximately:

50–52 inches

Strap Row 1

Starting in the second chain from the hook:

Sc in every chain across.

Ch 1.

Turn.

Strap Row 2

Sc in every stitch across.

Ch 1.

Turn.

Strap Row 3

Sc in every stitch across.

Fasten off leaving approximately:

12 inches of yarn

for attaching.

The strap should be approximately:

¾–1 inch wide

depending on your yarn and tension.

Why Use Three Rows?

A single chain strap can stretch considerably when carrying a full bottle.

Three dense sc rows distribute the weight more comfortably and make the strap much stronger.

PART 10 — FIND THE STRAP POSITIONS

Lay the holder flat with the pumpkin band facing you.

Choose one side of the holder as:

Position A

The opposite side becomes:

Position B

The strap ends need to sit approximately:

24 stitches apart

because the holder contains 48 stitches around.

This puts the strap attachments directly opposite each other.

PART 11 — ATTACH THE FIRST STRAP END

Overlap approximately:

1½ inches

of one strap end against the inside of the holder.

Position the end so its lower edge reaches slightly below the pumpkin band.

Using the long yarn tail and yarn needle, sew through:

strap
holder wall
strap
holder wall

several times.

Create a small rectangular stitching area.

Then stitch diagonally across that rectangle to form an:

This creates a strong attachment.

Do not sew only through the uppermost rim.

The strap should be anchored across several body rounds.

PART 12 — ATTACH THE SECOND END

Before sewing the second end:

Make sure the strap is not twisted.

Position it directly opposite the first attachment.

Overlap approximately:

1½ inches

inside the holder.

Sew using the same:

rectangle + X

reinforcement.

Weave in the tail securely.

Strap Test

Before using the holder outdoors:

Place the bottle inside.

Hold the carrier a few inches above a soft surface.

Check:

both strap attachments
top rim
base
bobble band
overall stretch

Do not use the carrier until both attachment points feel secure.

OPTIONAL STRAP REINFORCEMENT

Cotton usually stretches less than acrylic, but you can make the strap even firmer.

Join cream yarn at one strap attachment.

Work a line of:

surface slip stitches

straight down the center of the strap.

Stop at the opposite attachment.

Fasten off.

This adds another reinforcing strand through the entire strap.

Finished Measurements

Approximately:

Base

3½ inches diameter

Body circumference

10½–11¼ inches

Height

7–7½ inches

Strap

Approximately 44–46 inches finished, depending on tension

The finished dimensions can vary slightly.

Bottle Size

The written version works best for bottles approximately:

3¼–3½ inches in diameter

with a usable body height of around:

7–8 inches

The bottle lid should remain above the holder.

How to Fit Your Own Bottle

Measure the bottle circumference.

Then crochet a small sc swatch.

Calculate your stitches per inch.

Use:

bottle circumference × stitches per inch

Then subtract a small amount for stretch.

Round the result to a number that works comfortably with your decorative repeat.

For this pumpkin band, the stitch count should be divisible by:

because each repeat uses:

3 sc + 1 pumpkin bobble

Easy Size Formula

The pumpkin repeat is:

multiple of 4

So good possible body stitch counts include:

If you change the body stitch count, make sure your circular base finishes with the same number of stitches before beginning the straight walls.

Smaller Bottle Version

For a narrow bottle, use:

44 stitches

for the finished base circumference.

On the pumpkin round repeat:

3 sc, PB

around.

You will have:

11 pumpkins

Larger Bottle Version

For a wider bottle, use:

52 stitches

around.

The pumpkin round will contain:

13 pumpkins

Why Cotton Is a Good Choice

A full reusable bottle can be surprisingly heavy.

Cotton provides:

strong stitch definition
less bounce
less stretching
durable strap fabric
good support

A cotton/acrylic blend can also work.

Can I Use Acrylic?

Yes.

But expect more stretch.

If using acrylic:

crochet firmly
consider a smaller hook
reinforce the strap
test the holder with the full bottle before regular use

Can I Use a 5 mm Hook?

Yes, but your fabric will probably be looser and larger.

Because this holder carries weight, a dense fabric is preferable.

Use the hook that gives you a sturdy fabric rather than following the hook size blindly.

Can I Make the Body Taller?

Yes.

Simply add additional cream sc rounds before Round 36.

Do not change the stitch count.

Then add the pumpkin band and cuff normally.

Can I Move the Pumpkin Band Lower?

Yes.

The pumpkin decoration can sit anywhere on the straight wall.

For the visual style used here, placing it approximately:

1–1½ inches below the top

keeps the pumpkins visible even when the bottle is inside.

Alternative Fall Color Palette

Try:

Body

Oatmeal

Band

Deep forest green

Pumpkins

Burnt rust

Strap

Oatmeal

Softer Autumn Version

Body

Warm cream

Band

Muted sage

Pumpkins

Dusty terracotta

Strap

Warm cream

This creates a less traditional, more modern fall palette.

Halloween Version

Body

Charcoal

Band

Deep olive

Pumpkins

Bright pumpkin orange

Strap

Charcoal

The raised pumpkin row becomes much more dramatic against the dark body.

Can I Add a Bow?

You can, but for this version I would leave it off.

The pumpkin band is already the focal point, and a cleaner holder is easier to use repeatedly.

Can I Add a Button Closure?

A closure is usually unnecessary.

The snug cylindrical body and exposed bottle neck keep a standard bottle secure.

Avoid putting anything over the bottle lid that interferes with normal opening and closing.

What If the Bottom Sags?

Possible causes:

yarn too stretchy
hook too large
bottle too heavy for the fabric

Solutions:

use cotton
crochet the base more tightly
add a removable circular plastic-canvas insert inside the bottom
reinforce the underside with a second round of surface slip stitch

For ordinary reusable water bottles, dense cotton should usually be enough.

What If the Bottle Holder Is Too Loose?

If you are only a few rounds into the wall, undo it and reduce the circumference.

A holder that is slightly snug is better than one that allows the bottle to swing around.

What If the Bottle Will Not Fit?

Do not force it.

Add another increase round to the base and recalculate the body count.

The holder should stretch slightly but should not strongly compress the bottle.

What If the Pumpkin Bobbles Stay Inside?

After completing each PB:

Push it toward the outside of the holder with your finger before continuing.

This is normal with bobble stitches.

What If the Pumpkin Bobbles Are Too Small?

Try making a 6-partial-dc bobble instead of five.

Keep the same technique for every pumpkin so the decorative band remains consistent.

What If the Pumpkins Are Too Bulky?

Use a 4-partial-dc bobble.

Again, keep all pumpkins identical.

Washing

Follow the care instructions for your yarn.

If using cotton:

reshape the holder while damp
straighten the strap
allow it to dry completely before carrying a heavy bottle again

Do not hang the wet carrier by its strap because the extra water weight can stretch it.

Safety and Use

This is a bottle carrier, not a toy.

Before each use, check:

strap attachment
seams
loose yarn
stretched stitches

Use extra care with glass bottles.

Do not use a damaged holder to carry breakable containers.

Long straps can also pose an entanglement hazard for young children, so this version is intended for adult or appropriately supervised use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the holder made from separate panels?

No.

The holder is worked continuously from the center of the bottom upward.

What is the main body stitch count?

48 stitches

How many pumpkins are around the sample?

12 raised pumpkins

Are the pumpkins separate appliqués?

No.

No.

This version intentionally uses a different raised bobble-pumpkin repeat so the construction is original while keeping the broad fall water-bottle-carrier idea.

Final Thoughts

This project looks much more decorative than the construction really is.

The base is just a simple increasing circle.

Once it reaches 48 stitches, the increases stop.

Then you crochet straight upward.

Near the top, every fourth stitch becomes a little orange bobble:

three single crochets, one pumpkin

repeated around.

Add the olive rounds, finish the cream cuff, attach the long strap, and the plain bottle carrier suddenly looks like a tiny row of pumpkins wrapped around your water bottle.

It is useful, quick enough for a seasonal project, and distinctive enough to get attention without requiring complicated tapestry colorwork or dozens of pieces to sew together.

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