I have a slight issue with having an excessive fabric stash. Most of it is leftover from other projects I’ve completed, but I also struggle with passing up a cute clearance fabric, and then it just sits until I figure out something to use it for.
I tried out these fabric pumpkins by sewing and using a no-sew technique, and both worked great. If you’re looking for tips on how to make these without a sewing machine, scroll down to the second half of this post.
In the tutorial pictures, you’ll see I used pinking shears to cut the fabric. For this pumpkin, I decided to leave the edges exposed (to give the seams some definition, and a rustic look). In my no-sew pumpkin, I created the pumpkin with hidden seams, so just choose the look you like better.
- I started by cutting strips of fabric, about 2 inches wide by 7 inches long. I actually started varying the widths of fabric and I like the look of that, but if you like a symmetrical pumpkin, you’ll want to cut strips in equal widths.
- Stitch 6-8 of the strips together. Then, sew the two ends strips together. To achieve the frayed look, stitch with wrong sides together. For normal seams, stitch with right sides together.
- Turn the pumpkin (right now it will just look like a fabric tube) inside out. Double thread a needle and tie a knot at the end. Sew a gathering stitch (wide stitches spaced apart) around the bottom and pull thread to tighten. Tie a knot to secure in place.
- Turn fabric right-side out and add stuffing. Once it is the size you’d like, sew a gathering stitch on the top, and secure with a knot once the thread is pulled tight.
- Cut off the excess fabric and then you are reading to add your stem!
I used stems from the butternut squash that I had just picked from my garden, but you could find sticks, or maybe pop the stems off of a few small pumpkins. A dab of hot glue holds them in place.
I also experimented with a no-sew version and used Stitch Witchery for the first time. Basically, all of the steps are the same, except instead of sewing, you add a strip of the Stitch Witchery between the two pieces of fabric and follow the directions on the package to iron it in place. I wish I had known about this stuff before, when I didn’t have a sewing machine!
In order to create grooves running down the sides of the pumpkin, I just used some jute cord and wrapped it around the pumpkin in line with the seams. You could use thread, ribbon, or just plain old string for this, but it just gives it a more pumpkin-y look.
I’ll be creating and posting my repurposed and upcycled holiday decor items for the entire month of October. I hope you follow along and gain some inspiration to create your own DIY holiday items!
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Pink When | DIY Show Off | Making it in the Mountains | Refresh Restyle | Huckleberry Love | Finding Silver Pennies | Dwelling in Happiness | The Crowned Goat | 2 Bees in a Pod | Cedar Hill Farmhouse | My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Kammy’s Korner | Home Stories A to Z | Just a Girl & Her Blog | The DIY Dreamer | Saavy Southern Style | Dandelion Patina | Gingersnap Crafts | Knick of Time | Posed Perfection | Live Laugh Rowe | Canary Street Crafts | Addison Meadows Lane | Blue i Style | Craftberry Bush | Miss Mustard Seed | The Girl Creative | Little Miss Celebration | Redoux Interiors | Sew a Fine Seam | Craftaholics Anonymous | Dagmar’s Home | Tatertots & Jello | Funky Junk Interiors | House of Hipsters | Confessions of a Serial DIYer | Not Just a Housewife | Remodelaholic | Thrifty Decor Chick | C’mon Get Crafty | Oh My Creative | Our House Now a Home | Natasha in Oz
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These are super cute. Such a great idea for Fall decor!
Thanks, Naomi!
Super cute! Anyone who sews or does fabric crafts could use their left-overs for these. If you have any wooden dowels left-over from other projects they might work as the stems, too.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Great ideas! It was so fun to dig through my fabric scrap drawer to find different designs to use.
These are so stinkin’ cute! Thanks for sharing. They’re seriously adorable. I’m off to find some leftover fabric!
Thanks! Have fun digging through your old scraps!
Love these!!
You are on fire with all of the Fall decor ideas! I’ve never heard of Stitch Witchery but I may have to acquaint myself! Thanks for sharing 🙂
So crafty! I love this. Every time I see one of these in the store I want to buy one, but the PRICE! So glad to see that they are not as hard to make as they look. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post!
These pumpkins are so fun! And what a great repurposing project. Love the colorful one too! Thanks for sharing this with us at Merry Monday! We hope you’ll join us again next week! 🙂
Thanks, Christine! I really like the colorful one, too. I think I need to make some more random ones!
Hi, Jenny ~ I chose these adorable pumpkins as my feature at this week’s Merry Monday Link Party! Thanks so much for sharing them with us. We’d love to have you join us again this week!
Thanks so much for picking them as your feature! I already added my new upcycled fall projects this week to your party. 🙂
Awesome Project -These pumpkins are the cutest I’ve seen all season!
That’s so nice of you to say, Carole! Thanks so much.