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    Home » Decor

    September 3, 2021

    How to make a fabric pumpkin - Inexpensive and easy

    Fabric pumpkins decorated with twigs, ribbon, a raffia bow and a tassel.

    Today, I'm sharing how to make a fabric pumpkin. If you enjoy simple sewing crafts you will love this easy fabric pumpkin DIY. These fabric pumpkins are so quick to make that you can have them finished in fifteen minutes. I used a sewing machine to sew the short end but if you can sew tiny neat stitches you can also sew them by hand instead.

    Once you've learned how to sew a fabric pumpkin, you can use them to create beautiful vignettes and decorate your home for Fall and Thanksgiving.

    The inspiration for making these cute fabric pumpkins came from my idea to add a little bit of subtle colour to my neutral and natural Fall décor this year.

    Pumpkin blog hop

     I've joined up with some crafty blogger friends to bring you this pumpkin decorating blog hop. Don't forget to check out their pumpkin ideas at the bottom of this post.

    Before you make a fabric pumpkin – Tips & Tricks

    Before you start making your fabric pumpkin, here are some tips for success.

    Don't make your fabric pumpkin too large. Of course, you can sew your pumpkin any size you like but there are two things to consider:

    • The larger the pumpkin, the more stuffing you will need. Even small fabric pumpkins use up a lot of stuffing material - you'll be surprised!
    • You will need to push a needle through the middle of the fabric pumpkin many times. It's easier to get a needle through a smaller pumpkin.
    • If you are set on making larger pumpkins, a long upholstery needle with a large eye will make your life much easier!

    A QUICK REMINDER: When attempting any DIY project, please take care to undertake the necessary safety precautions. You should always follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations when using any product or tool. When following my instructions for a DIY project, you are doing so at your own risk.

    Love the look but don't have time?

    If you love the look of these fabric pumpkins but don't have time to make one, take a look at the bottom of this post for some gorgeous ready-made options.

    Save this idea for later!

    If you'd like to save this idea for later, be sure to pin it to your most relevant Pinterest board - hover over or tap the top left corner of the image below and the Pinterest 'Save' button will appear.

    A fabric pumpkin decorated with twigs and ribbon
    How to make a fabric pumpkin

    Which fabric can I use to make a fabric pumpkin?

    You can make a fabric pumpkin with recycled linens. The pretty fabric I used for this project is actually a second-hand duvet cover. The duvet cover was given to me to rip up for rags to use for my furniture projects! Luckily, I haven't done that yet, so I've been able to use some of it to make these lovely DIY fabric pumpkins.

    You can find very affordable fabric to turn into pumpkins at your local thrift store. Look for sheets, duvet covers or even men's flannel shirts. Cable-knit sweaters can be used to make gorgeous DIY pumpkins too.

    More pumpkin decorating ideas

    I use pumpkins of some sort to decorate my home every Autumn. Last year, I used stencils to make glamourous pumpkins in black and gold. Those stencilled pumpkins were gorgeous! They lasted such a long time too!

    Easy to make Fabric Pumpkins

    This DIY fabric pumpkin tutorial is super easy to follow although, you can also make no-sew fabric pumpkins.

    To make a no-sew pumpkin, you will need to use one of these:

    • Shirt sleeves
    • Sweater sleeves
    • Socks

    Simply put, to make a no-sew fabric pumpkin, you will need to use fabric that is already in the shape of a tube.

    We're not making a no-sew pumpkin today. Our pumpkin involves a little bit of sewing with a sewing machine.

    For your convenience, this website contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission. You pay the same price whether you use my link or not. Thanks so much for your support of Chalking Up Success! Please read my full disclosure here.

    Supplies for making a fabric pumpkin

    • Paper template
    • Fabric
    • Thread to match your fabric
    • Paper scissors
    • Fabric scissors or
    • Rotary cutter and
    • Cutting mat
    • Tailor's chalk or
    • Fabric pen
    • Pins
    • Tape measure
    • Upholstery needle or
    • Long sewing needle
    • Wool or cooking string (that will fit through a large needle)
    • Polyester filler material

    Shop fabric pumpkin supplies

    What do you need to decorate a fabric pumpkin?

    Supplies for decorating a fabric pumpkin

    • Small sticks (For making the stem) or buy dried pumpkin stems
    • Small twigs (bound up with raffia)
    • Raffia
    • Ribbon (This is the one I used)
    • Cooking string (I used this) or
    • Cotton thread (doubled up) or
    • Embroidery thread

    Shop fabric pumpkin decor

    What can I use for pumpkin stems?

    In this pumpkin making tutorial, I'm using some small sticks from the garden to make pumpkin stems. Here are a few more ideas for how to make pumpkin stems from items you may already have at home:

    • Rustic Cinnamon sticks (the lovely aroma is a bonus)
    • A piece of rolled-up fabric felt or jute
    • Save the stems of real pumpkins
    • Buy real pumpkin stems

    How to sew Fabric Pumpkins

    Creating a Fabric Template

    Fabric pumpkins can be made any size you want. The only thing to remember is that the width of your fabric should be at least twice as wide as the height.

    It's best to make a template with paper or baking parchment before you start. Measure and cut out your template and pin it to your fabric.

    A person showing how to make a fabric pumpkin by cutting out a template from paper.
    Make a paper template for your fabric pumpkin
    1. Draw around the template with tailor's chalk or a disappearing ink pen.
    2. Remove the template and cut the fabric along the lines you just drew.

    Here are the measurements I used for my fabric pumpkins:

    18 inches wide (46cm) and 7 inches tall (18cm).

    If you want to make a more rounded pumpkin, you could make it 18 inches wide (46cm) and 9 inches tall (23cm).

    Instructions for sewing a fabric pumpkin

    Now that you have your fabric rectangle, turn the fabric so that the right side (pretty side) is facing downwards.

    Fold the fabric

    Fold the fabric in half and pin the short sides together.

    A person showing how to fold over the fabric in order to make a fabric pumpkin
    Fold the pumpkin fabric in half, right sides together

    Sew

    Take the fabric to the sewing machine and sew a quarter inch seam down the length of the short side (which you just pinned).

    If you prefer, you can use a DIY hemming guide like the one I used in my last post when making fabric napkins.

    A person pointing at the seam allowance line used to make a fabric pumpkin
    Sew a quarter-inch seam along the short side of the fabric

    Press open the hem with your iron. Now you have a 'Tube' of fabric.

    Next, we're going to make a running/basting stitch along one of the short edges. (This will be the bottom of the pumpkin).

    Thread a hand sewing needle with a long length of thread. Double the thread and make a knot at the end of it.

    Sew a running stitch about a quarter of an inch down from the edge of the fabric. You are not sewing the two sides together here, you are just sewing around the single layer of fabric. (We will be drawing in the running stitch to close up the bottom of the pumpkin.)

    A needle and thread, running through fabric to make a fabric pumpkin
    Hand sew a running/basting stitch along one of the short edges of the pumpkin fabric

    Once you've made a running stitch all the way around one of the short edges of the fabric, pull the needle tightly to gather the fabric together.

    Hold the thread tightly in place and sew the gathered area together.

    Hands gathering in the top of the pumpkin by pulling the thread
    Pull the needle and thread tightly to gather the fabric together

    Repeat the running stitch on the other end of the pumpkin but this time, don't gather the fabric together when you are finished.

    With your needle and thread still attached, turn the fabric the right way out. (Raw seam on the inside, pretty fabric on the outside).

    A person showing how the pumpkin looks after sewing and gathering one side together
    With the needle and thread still attached, turn the pumpkin fabric right side out

    Start making your fabric pumpkin by adding your stuffing material and pulling the thread closed as you go. Keep adding stuffing until you find it hard to keep the pumpkin closed. Push the filling down and out to the sides, then add some more if there are gaps. You will need to pack the fabric pumpkin really well before we move on to the next step.

    How to close the fabric pumpkin

    Once the fabric is packed full of stuffing, pull the needle to gather up the fabric.

    Once the fabric is tightly gathered, hold it tightly closed with one hand whilst you sew back and forth through the gathers with your needle.

    Now you have the base of your fabric pumpkin, it's time to add some definition to it.

    How to make segments

    I used white cooking string for this part but you can also use embroidery thread or cotton thread doubled up. By the way, I was only able to use cooking string because I used a long upholstery needle for this part. If you are using a smaller needle, make sure it's one with a large eye which will make it easier for you to thread.

    Also, as I mentioned above, the longer the needle, the easier this part will be.

    First, make a knot at the end of your thread.

    Push your needle through one end of the fabric pumpkin (through the gathering) and pull it out through the other end.

    Hands pushing a long needle through the centre of the fabric pumpkin
    Push a long needle and thread through the middle of the fabric pumpkin

    Pull your thread/string down over the side of the pumpkin to the bottom and hold it tight.

    Hands making a pumpkin segment with string on a fabric pumpkin .
    Make pumpkin segments using string/thread

    Push the needle back up through the gathered fabric and out of the top again.

    Hands pushing a long needle right through a fabric pumpkin
    Hold the string/thread tightly whilst you push the needle through the fabric pumpkin

    Repeat the above process until you have made as many segments as you wish (six to eight looks good). Making the segments was easy with my striped fabric because I could add a segment between each stripe (eight pumpkin segments).

    If you are making these fabric pumpkins with a solid coloured fabric it might be easier to do it this way instead:

    • Make two segments opposite each other (half).
    • Turn the pumpkin around and make another two segments in the opposite direction (quarters).
    • Split the quarters in half again to make eight segments.

    Make a few stitches through the fabric to finish then, cut your thread. I switched needles for this bit. I found it easier to use a smaller needle rather than my large upholstery needle. The smaller sewing needle I used had a large enough eye that meant I could thread the cooking string through it.

    How to make a pumpkin stem

    As I explained above, I used small sticks to make stems for both of my pumpkins. You will need a glue gun for this bit.

    Add a small blob of hot glue to the middle of the pumpkin (over the gathering) and pop a small stick into the hot glue. Hold the stick in position with your hand until the hot glue is cool enough that the stick stands up by itself (about 30 seconds).

    A person using a glue gun to glue a stick to the gathered area of the fabric pumpkin.
    Attach the stalk to the centre of the fabric pumpkin with a drop of hot glue

    How do you decorate a fabric pumpkin?

    There are many ways to decorate a fabric pumpkin. You could cut out leaves from book pages or felt and glue them next to the stem. You could also decorate your pumpkin with dried, pressed leaves.

    I decorated my first pumpkin with a tassel, some raffia and two short pieces of ribbon.

    Two fabric pumpkins made from pretty orange and cream striped fabric. The top of the fabric pumpkins is decorated with small twigs tied together, some curly ribbon and a raffia bow. The stalks have been made from small sticks.
    Tie raffia and ribbon around the pumpkin stalk to finish

    How to make a tassel:

    1. Wrap some thin string around your fingers a few times.
    2. Snip the ends with the scissors.
    3. Tie another piece of string around one end and make a loop for hanging.

    To make curly ribbon:

    1. Wrap a short piece of ribbon around a pencil.
    2. Spray the ribbon with hairspray and let it dry.
    3. Once the ribbon is dry, pull it off the pencil and arrange it however you like.
    4. Attach the ribbon to the fabric pumpkin with a glue gun.

    For the second pumpkin, I added a small bundle of twigs wrapped with some raffia to the top of the pumpkin.

    A fabric pumpkin made from pretty orange and cream striped fabric. The top of the fabric pumpkin is decorated with small twigs tied together, some curly ribbon and a raffia bow. The stalk has been made from a small stick.
    Fabric pumpkin display/decorating idea

    That's it! Now you know how to make a fabric pumpkin! Have fun crafting these Autumn pumpkin decorations with all kinds of fabric.

    Happy crafting!

    Watch it on YouTube

    Watch this fabric pumpkin tutorial on YouTube!

    Where to buy fabric pumpkins!

    Do you love the look of these fabric pumpkins but don't have time to make one?

    Here are some gorgeous ready-made pumpkins you can purchase online.

    WAIT!

    Before you go, if you’re not part of our amazing creative community yet but would love to join us, you can sign up for the weekly newsletter through the form below – we’d love to have you on board. By signing up, you’ll also receive a copy of the free ‘Furniture Flip Checklist’ and gain access to all the other printables, e-books and labels in the VIP Resource Library.

    Enjoyed this post? Show your support!

    Please consider leaving a comment if you enjoyed this post. I also very much appreciate shares to Pinterest or social media - it really helps me a lot and only costs you a minute of your time!

    These posts are great too!

    cute painted pumpkins, ideas for your fall table
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    how to make pressed flower glass jar lanterns

    More pumpkin ideas

    Here are some more ideas for creative pumpkin crafts from some of my crafty friends.

    Embroidery hoop paper pumpkins

    Kippi from Kippi at home shows us how to craft easy paper pumpkins with embroidery hoops, floral, and a gorgeous bow. These cute pumpkins are perfect for fall decorating.

    Paper pumpkins with embroidery hoops
    Paper pumpkins with embroidery hoops

    Yarn wrapped pool noodle pumpkins

    Olivia from Olivia O'Hern shows us how to create glam pumpkins using supplies from Dollar Tree. This simple sequin craft will be a lovely addition to your Fall decor.

    Yarn wrapped pool noodle pumpkins
    Yarn wrapped pool noodle pumpkins

    Braided yarn pumpkins

    Visit Janet of A Life of Balance to find out how to turn Dollar Tree foam pumpkins and yarn into easy DIY pumpkins for your fall decor. These pumpkins have lots of texture making them the perfect fall decoration.

    Braided yard pumpkins in a vintage wooden box
    Braided yard pumpkins

    Ombre sequin pumpkin

    Create your own glam pumpkins using supplies from Dollar Tree. This simple sequin craft from Rebecca at Zucchini Sisters will be a lovely addition to your Fall decor.

    Pumpkin decorated with sequins
    Ombre sequin pumpkin

    Chalk painted pumpkins

    Chalk painting pumpkins is a great way to make fake pumpkins look real. In this tutorial, Cindy from Cloches and Lavender shows us how to mix colors and techniques that are easy to follow and do. She also adds real stems to them to make them look more real.

    White and orange chalk painted pumpkins
    Chalk painted pumpkins

    Beach vibe pumpkin

    For cottage beach style Fall decorating, create a one-of-a-kind Sea Shell Pumpkin. It's an easy craft that anyone can do. With a faux pumpkin, a dollar store shell necklace and a piece of driftwood you can design a beautiful and unique style for your Fall style. Vist Meegan of Meegan Makes to find out how it's done.

    Beach vibe pumpkin decorated with shells
    Beach vibe pumpkin

    Chunky Knit Pumpkin

    Spruce up a plastic pumpkin with beautiful chunky knit yarn. Following the easy tutorial, very few supplies, and about 45 minutes and you will end up with a beautiful farmhouse rustic-looking pumpkin. The perfect craft to decorate for fall. Visit Kristin of My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia to get the tutorial.

    A white pumpkin made with chunky knit yarn
    How To Make A Easy Chunky Knit Pumpkin

    Pumpkin tea towels for Fall

    Learn how to make beautiful DIY tea towels with a pumpkin theme using transfer sheets. It only takes minutes to add this farmhouse-style accent to your seasonal home decor. Crissy of First Day of Home shows us how.

    A tea towel with a blue truck and pumpkins and a tea towel with a red wagon filled with pumpkins
    DIY Fall tea towels

    Now you have lots of pumpkin crafting ideas for Fall, all I can say is...........HAPPY CRAFTING!

    More Decor

    • DIY Valentine's Day decorations Ideas
    • How to prep furniture for chalk paint
    • How to make clay heart ornaments
    • Simple Valentine's wreath DIY ideas to love

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    1. Kristin salazar says

      September 03, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      Your pumpkin is adorable, I love the fabric you picked out!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 03, 2021 at 5:52 pm

        Thanks, Kristin! The fabric for the pumpkin was donated to me to use as rags for my furniture flips!

        Reply
    2. Crissy says

      September 03, 2021 at 7:49 pm

      I love the way your fabric pumpkins turned out, Jayne, and your tutorial is excellent! Those little details like the tassel and raffia are just the right touch. I need to invest in an upholstery needle like yours. Where has that been all my life?!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 03, 2021 at 8:07 pm

        Thanks, so much Crissy! I originally bought the upholstery needle when I made my French tufted mattress cushion but it has come in handy for lots of crafts since!

        Reply
    3. Cindy says

      September 03, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      I love these and this is the only amount of sewing this girl can handle. I love the twigs on top. Anything with nature grabs my attention immediately!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 03, 2021 at 8:14 pm

        Thanks, so much Cindy!

        Reply
    4. Kippi Ohern says

      September 04, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      Your pumpkins turned out perfect! The design of the fabric centered in the pumpkin sections is a wonderful detail.
      Happy Fall,
      Kippi
      Ps. Pinned

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 06, 2021 at 8:24 pm

        Thanks, so much, Kippi! Happy Fall to you too!

        Reply
    5. Meegan says

      September 04, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      What a darling Fall craft. The tutorial was perfectly detailed and informative. Your fabric is so fun for Fall. Pinned for reference.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 06, 2021 at 8:24 pm

        Thank you, Meegan! I'm so glad you enjoyed my fabric pumpkin tutorial!

        Reply
    6. Rebecca says

      September 05, 2021 at 1:08 am

      Jayne, I love the vintage looking fabric you chose. These pumpkins are so unique with the twigs and raffia tied to the top. It gives them a cool rustic look. It was fun crafting with you!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 06, 2021 at 8:23 pm

        Thanks, Rebecca! The pumpkin hop was fun!

        Reply
    7. Janet says

      September 05, 2021 at 4:07 am

      These are so adorable. I love the embellishments. Pinned!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 06, 2021 at 8:22 pm

        Thanks so much, Janet!

        Reply
    8. Carol Karl | Living a Real Life says

      September 07, 2021 at 10:26 pm

      Such a detailed tutorial. I feel like I could follow along easily. I have also fallen in love with those tea towels.

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 08, 2021 at 8:57 am

        Thank you so much, Carol!

        Reply
    9. Marie says

      September 09, 2021 at 2:44 am

      The fabric you chose is so charming! Great tutorial!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 09, 2021 at 8:37 am

        Thank you so much, Marie!

        Reply
    10. Jennifer WIlliams says

      September 09, 2021 at 11:30 am

      Great tutorial! Your pumpkins are fantastic and the stems really make them pop!

      Reply
      • Jayne Westerholt says

        September 09, 2021 at 6:10 pm

        Thank you, Jennifer!

        Reply

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