Crochet Halloween Dumplings – Pumpkin, Black Cat, Frankenstein & Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost!

The Halloween Dumpling crew is here!

What started with a pumpkin dumpling idea from one of our crafty community members has turned into an entire collection of spooky-cute crochet friends!

Meet Pumpkin, Black Cat, Frankenstein, and my personal favorite surprise… the ULTRA RARE glow-in-the-dark Ghost! Made with Red Heart Super Glow yarn, this little ghost looks perfectly innocent during the day but glows green when the lights go out!

The best part? All four Halloween Dumplings use my original Crochet Viral Dumpling Pattern, with just a few color changes and simple embellishments. They even fit inside those adorable little plastic dumpling steamer baskets!

Let’s make some Halloween Dumplings!

Materials

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Carrot, Spring Green, Cafe Latte, Black, and Lavender Purple >>> SHOP HERE ON YARNSPIRATIONS.COM <<<
Red Heart Super Glow Yarn in Lunar White >>> Shop Red Super Glow Yarn HERE on Yarnspirations.com <<<
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Poly-fil fiber stuffing
Tapestry needle
Safety eyes and noses (see individual designs) – 9mm for the eyes is a good size
Small amount of black yarn for embroidered smiles
Plastic dumpling steamer baskets (optional)

Finished Size: Approximately 4 inches wide.

The original dumpling pattern comes with a photo tutorial AND a video tutorial!
>>> Video is HERE on my youtube channel <<<
>>> Original Dumpling Pattern and Photo Tutorail HERE <<

Abbreviations:

SC = Single Crochet
HDC = Half Double Crochet
DC = Double Crochet
SC Decrease = Single Crochet Decrease
Ch = Chain
St = Stitch

Where to Find the Dumpling Containers

Of course, half the fun of these little dumplings is opening the steamer basket to discover which one is inside!

The plastic containers pictured are from the RMS brand viral squishy dumplings, which I found at Five Below and Walmart. They originally came with the real squishy dumplings inside, but I’ve repurposed the containers for my crochet versions!

The baskets measure approximately 4 inches wide by 2 inches tall.

If you can’t find them in stores, I’ve also linked similar plastic dumpling containers on Amazon.

>>> Plastic Dumpling Containers <<<

IMPORTANT – Choose Your Safety Eyes and Nose Before Starting!

Each Halloween Dumpling has its own unique facial features! Before you begin crocheting, refer to the individual character instructions below to select the correct safety eyes and nose. For example, the Black Cat uses green safety eyes and a pink safety nose, while the Ghost uses black safety eyes and an oval safety eye for its mouth.

Safety eyes and noses must be attached before closing and stuffing your dumpling! You’ll add them after completing Round 11.

>>> My Favorite Safety Eyes and Noses for Amigurumi – and Where to Buy Them! <<<

Basic Crochet Dumpling Pattern

This is the same basic pattern used for all four Halloween Dumplings. Follow the instructions below, then refer to the individual character sections for color changes and embellishments.

Starting with your main yarn color:

Round 1: Magic ring, Ch 1, make 10 SC in ring, join, Ch 1. (10 SC)
Round 2: 2 SC in each stitch around, join, Ch 1. (20 SC)
Round 3: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next stitch, repeat around, join, Ch 1. (30 SC)
Round 4: 2 SC in first stitch, SC in next 2 stitches, repeat around, join, Ch 1. (40 SC)
Rounds 5–9: SC in each stitch around, join, Ch 1. (40 SC)
Round 10: SC Decrease, SC in next 2 stitches, repeat around, join, Ch 1. (30 SC)
Round 11: SC in each stitch around, join, Ch 1. (30 SC)

Time to add your dumpling’s face! Refer to your chosen Halloween character for the correct safety eyes, nose, and facial details. Insert the safety eyes and nose now, securing the backs on the inside of your dumpling before continuing. Most dumplings use 9mm safety eyes between Rounds 8 and 9, approximately 4 stitches apart. Use a tapestry needle and black yarn to embroider a tiny smile.

You can also embroider any smiles at this point, or wait until the dumpling is finished.
Once your facial features are in place, add Poly-fil stuffing and continue with Round 12.
Stuff with Poly-fil, but don’t overstuff! You want to keep that soft, squishy dumpling shape.

Round 12: SC Decrease, SC in next stitch, repeat around, join, Ch 1. (20 SC)
Round 13: SC in each stitch around, join, Ch 1. (20 SC)
Round 14: SC Decrease all the way around, join, Ch 1. (10 SC)
Round 15: SC in each stitch around, join, fasten off, leaving a long tail. (10 SC)

Using a tapestry needle and the long yarn tail, weave underneath the stitches of Round 15 and pull to cinch the top closed. This creates the classic pinched dumpling top!

Weave in ends securely.

Important: Be sure to follow the character-specific notes below before finishing your dumpling. Some designs require color changes or different facial features.

Pumpkin Dumpling

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Carrot, Cafe Latte, and Spring Green.

This is the little dumpling that started the entire Halloween collection!

Follow the basic dumpling pattern using Carrot yarn until the final round.

Pumpkin Stem: Change to Cafe Latte for Round 15 and work one additional round of 10 SC in brown (Round 16). Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Cinch the top closed as directed in the original pattern to create a little brown pumpkin stem.

Pumpkin Vine: With Spring Green yarn, Ch 10. Work 2 SC in the second chain from hook and 2 SC in each remaining chain. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Attach the curly green vine to the side of the brown stem.

Frankenstein Dumpling

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Spring Green and Black.

Frankenstein’s little zigzag hairline is surprisingly easy to crochet!

Begin the basic dumpling pattern in Spring Green.

Round 11: Change to Black yarn. Alternate one regular SC with one elongated SC worked into the stitch directly below the next stitch. Continue alternating around the round to create a jagged black hairline.

Finish the remaining rounds of the dumpling in Black yarn.

Add black safety eyes and a sweet embroidered smile.

Tip: When making the elongated stitches, reach down into the previous round so the black stitches extend into the green section. This gives Frankenstein his signature uneven hairline!

Black Cat Dumpling

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Black and Lavender Purple.

Work the entire basic dumpling pattern using Black yarn.

For the face, I used bright green safety eyes and a little pink safety nose. These colorful features really stand out against the black yarn!

You can find more information about my favorite safety eyes and noses, including links to purchase them, in my Favorite Safety Eyes and Noses for Amigurumi blog post.

Crochet Cat Ears (Make 2)

Starting with Lavender Purple yarn:

Ch 4. SC in second chain from hook, HDC in next chain, DC in last chain.
Join Black yarn and turn.
SC along one side of the ear, make 2 SC at the top point, then SC down the opposite side, leaving the bottom edge unworked. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Make two ears and stitch them securely onto the top of the dumpling, positioning one ear behind and to the side of each eye.

Those little purple ear centers and green eyes give this black cat so much personality!

Ultra Rare Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Dumpling

Yarn: Red Heart Super Glow in Lunar White.
>>> Shop Red Super Glow Yarn HERE on Yarnspirations.com <<<

Every mystery dumpling collection needs an ultra rare surprise, right?!

This ghost is made using Red Heart Super Glow yarn in Lunar White. It looks like an adorable white ghost in daylight, but when the lights go out, it glows a fun green color! For the face, add two small black safety eyes and an oval black safety eye for the open mouth. It’s the perfect little surprised ghost expression!

A note about the yarn: Red Heart Super Glow is slightly thicker and slicker than regular Red Heart Super Saver. You may want to go up a hook size if needed. I used my usual H hook, but found myself pulling my stitches a little too tightly while working with this yarn. Don’t overcompensate by tightening your tension!

And just like that, you’ve made your own ULTRA RARE Halloween Dumpling!

A Whole Halloween Dumpling Collection!

I love how a few simple embellishments can completely transform the same crochet pattern into four different Halloween characters.

And if you recognize some of these designs, there’s a reason! My Halloween Crochet Cups were the perfect inspiration for these little dumpling faces and embellishments.

You can make one of each, fill a whole collection of steamer baskets, or surprise someone with their very own mystery Halloween Dumpling!