Fabric Halloween Pumpkins

Fabric Pumpkins

If you are looking for a cute simple craft you can make to add some adorableness to your Halloween decor, then here are step by step directions on how to make fabric pumpkins.

What you will need:

Fabric
Tips:
1. Stretchy material will create a round shaped pumpkin.
2. Firm material will create a taller, compact shaped pumpkin.
3. To save time you can also use a sleeve from an old shirt or sweater.
Filling (Cotton, poly-fil, plastic bags)
Sewing thread
Thick thread (Embroidery thread, yarn or hemp)
Needles
1. Tapestry needle or yarn darner needle for thicker thread (make sure it will fit the thicker thread or yarn you pick)
2. Sewing needle
Stem (Rolled up card stock, cardboard, fabric, tree branch or cork)
Scissors

Optional items:

Tape measure
Sewing pins
Sewing machine
Thin wire
Berries
Fabric leaves
Rice, or dried beans to add weight

Step 1: Size

Decide how large you would like your pumpkin to be and cut a rectangular shape out of your fabric.

*If you are using a sleeve you can skip to Step 3.

Step 2: Sleeve

Create a sleeve, by sewing the two shortest ends together. You can hand sew or use a sewing machine for this step.

Tip: 1. Make sure the finished side of fabric (design) is on the inside of your sleeve.

2. Use pins to keep fabric together while sewing.

Step 3: Choose bottom

Keep fabric inside out and create a running stitch on one of the remaining openings, all along the edge (do not sew sides together!)

*Note if your fabric has a correct side up, make sure you choose the correct bottom. You don’t want your fabric design upside down.

A short video on how to do a running stitch.

Step 4: Close bottom

Pull your running stitch thread tight to close the opening and tie a knot to permanently close it. It should now resemble a hat.

Step 5: Hat

Turn your fabric right side out so that the detailed fabric is now showing and the rough edges are on the inside.

Step 6: Running stitch expert

Do another running stitch on the remaining opening (top of pumpkin), all along the edge just like in Step 3, but wait to tighten the thread.

Step 7: Time to fill

Add your filling through the top opening. Be sure not to lose sight of your connected thread and needle (OUCH!) It is best to fill it fairly tightly to reduce the number of wrinkles in your fabric once you add the ribs.

*Distribute the filling evenly to help shape your pumpkin.

* To add a little weight, and extra stability use rice or dried beans to the bottom. Make sure to add them in first before the filling so it stays on the bottom.

Step 8: Cinch top

Pull the thread to the top opening tight, but leave a little opening about the size of your finger to fit your stem.

Step 9: Ribs

Using your thicker thread and needle, go through the bottom of the pumpkin through the center and push up toward the top, and around and back down again to create your first rib. You will need to pull tight to make that great indentation.

* How much yarn you will need depends on how large your pumpkin is and how many ribs you would like to create. Try wrapping your thread/ yarn around your pumpkin vertically to signify each rib, to give you an idea and then measure off a little more just for good measure.

* Leave a 3-4-inch tail of thread at the bottom of your pumpkin, to tie off the yarn once you are done creating your ribs.

* Repeat this step until you have achieved a look you like. I find that 6 is a great number.

Step 10: Tie off Ribs

Once all the ribs are evenly spaced and are desired tightness, tie the remaining thread to the tail you left in Step 9.

Step 11: Stem

Create your pumpkin stem by rolling up some card stock, cardboard, fabric, ribbon, etc. into the correct size to fit the hole on top of your pumpkin and glue it in place.