Fabric Pumpkin How-To
Learn how to make fun fabric pumpkins with this visual how to. Great DIY fall home decor!
Fall decor is all about pumpkins, in every color, size, and shape! Making your own DIY version of this seasonal home decor staple can be a great way to multiply your autumn accessorizing. With a few thrift store sweaters or some old fabric scraps, you can have your own fabric pumpkin patch growing at your house! Once you get the simple how-to down, you’ll want a whole variety for your fall deccor! Enjoy this Fabric Pumpkin How-To!
It all started with the give-away pile of sweaters Happy Girl had left in her room when she headed college-way. Gold, brown, cream, and to top it off an ugly orange terrycloth robe. Hmmm…those look like pumpkin colors.
I know that fabric pumpkins are anything but new in the Pinterest world, but truth be told, I’ve never taken a stab at making any, and felt like this was the year to play around with them. So I perused Pinterest and made a whole board committed to pumpkin-making. You can check it out here: “Pumpkin and Fall Inspiration”. And while you’re there, please follow me!
There are so many different ways of making fabric pumpkins and so many great tutorials out there, I wasn’t intending on showing you how I whipped them up, but guess it’s just habit to take pics while I’m doing something, and figured maybe my way would motivate someone else out there to give it a try. (Because honestly, I have a problem with focus sometimes and didn’t actually read anyone’s tutorial very thoroughly before I just jumped in and started experimenting.) And for that very reason, I’m going to go with more pictures, less words!
If you’re like me and need a paper version to look at, rather than keeping your computer screen on, I created a downloadable, printable PDF you can grab at the end. It’s available in my FREE Insider’s Resource library.
Fabric Pumpkin How To
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Materials Needed
Old sweaters or fabric scraps
Dried beans/chickpeas/weight
Directions
- I cut off 6 1/2 inches of the sweater sleeve. I turned the right sides in and did two basting stitches on the sewing machine close together at one of the ends. I pulled the threads a little tighter just to pucker the seam a little, so it wasn’t quite so square-ish at the bottom.
- Turn right sides out.
- I stood the little sweater sleeve up and placed some pillow stuffing in the bottom 1/3. I then placed about 1/2 cup of dried garbanzo beans in. ( you could also use kitty litter or any other type of heavy filler). I added more stuffing over the top to almost fill the sleeve.
- With some embroidery floss I did a simple running stitch around the top edge, pulling the two ends tight and knotting when I was done.
- I was left with a little pouf, ready for it’s ribs.
- With a large eye upholstery-type needle I used a long length of jute twine to poke all the way through the pumpkin from the top gathered spot to the sewed bottom. I left a tail of twine out so I could knot the first rib.
- I continued around the pumpkin, poking all the way through till I created all the ribs I wanted. If you tighten gently, the chubby shape of the pumpkin will begin forming before your eyes.
- I finished off by knotting off my twine. You can choose which end you like better for the top, and then hot glue a piece of stick for a handle. You could also glue a little spanish by the handle for added texture.
I tried different things for the ribs, embroidery floss, vintage seam binding, and ended up liking this thinner craft twine the best.
The tighter weave sweater and the softer fabrics worked best. The looser weaves showed the stuffing too much for my tastes. When I had used up all the sleeves of the sweaters, I started sewing a little sleeve of fabric instead, which worked just as well. The height of your sleeve is usually shrunk by about half once you start creating the ribs.
Get my full tutorial to print (for free) in my resource library
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Other Ways to Enjoy Your Fabric Pumpkins
Once you’ve figured out the small version pumpkin, you can create larger ones with other fabrics, or feature them en masse on a wreath. See my larger versions with doorknob handles in “Fall Colored Brights in the Bedroom”. Or follow my how-to and create a stunning wreath, “Fabric Pumpkin Harvest Wreath”.
If you’re like me, once you get started making these cute fabric pumpkins, you’ll want some in every size and color variety! They’re perfect to give as gifts, to sell, or to decorate your own home. I hope this Fabric Pumpkin How-To got you in the mood to fill your home with autumn beauty!
Sharing at these lovely parties:
Two years ago I got a little carried away and bought a LOT of $1 clothes at Goodwill. Mostly oranges, but fall colors with an occasional print and one orange/navy flannel shirt. I am STILL making pumpkins from them. I have worked on them in the car while a passenger sewing bottoms shut and gathering the tops. I put them in my booth, add them to theme baskets, and use them as raffle items and gifts.
oh my they are so cute! I love the sweater pumpkins! I’ll be featuring you this week as part of Thursday Favorite Things! Angelina @ Petite Haus
Awesome, Angelina; thanks!
They are perfect:-))) And the wreath, simply beautiful:-)))
Thanks, Anita! They’re pretty fun;)
Thanks for sharing this. I’m going to try them. Except maybe I will use clean cat litter instead of the beans. I’ve had mice rip open material of something that was handmade and filled with rice.
Good idea, Lynne! Hate those pesky critters. I’ve had issues with them getting into my decor before; especially when selling at a not-pest-free location! Have fun with them! Did you see the whole wreath of them, too? Here’s the link: https://lorabloomquist.comfabric-pumpkin-harvest-wreath/ Which reminds me…I need to put that link on that post; thanks!
These are adorable, Lora! Thanks for sharing how to make them.
Thanks, Carol! Your welcome.
So fun! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks, Cecilia!
So cute!! Love it.
Thanks, Julie!