Fabric Pumpkins

This DIY has been a fall favorite of mine for years now. It all started with my sweet and crafty best friend in college. She made these pumpkins and mailed me two after her and her husband had moved away for the airforce. I had to learn how to make them too, and of course send her some so we each had a piece of each other every fall. This became a fun way for me to send some fall love to family and friends.

Here's what you will need:

-Fabric of choice. The Fat Quarters at Joann's work perfect for this project. Pick up at least one green or brown, and the rest you do solids or patterns, orange or fall colors.

-Sewing needle and thread (or a simple machine will do)

-Yarn or twine

-Yarn needle (looks like this)

-Cotton for stuffing

Instructions:

-Cut your fabric into a rectangle. For a round pumpkin, the length needs to be 2 times the width (ex. 10″ wide by 20″ long). For a slightly squattier pumpkin, the length should be 2.5 times the width (ex. 10″ wide by 25″ long). You can play with the measurements once you get the hang of it.

- Fold the fabric lengthwise with right sides together. Use a sewing machine or hand stitch along the open edge, leaving one end open. Tie one end up like this, or sew and pull thread tight and tie.

-Next using the open end, stuff the pumpkin with cotton until firm. Sew top end shut and pull tight so it is the same as the bottom. You should now have a ball like the picture below.

-Using your yarn needle and yarn it's time to form the pumpkin shape. Starting at the bottom poke the needle through the ball and up out the top. Now pull the yarn tightly down and around to the bottom on the outside. Tie at the bottom to secure your yarn.

-Push the needle back up and through the pumpkin again, only this time there is no need to tie it.

-Repeat this process about 4 more times (creating wedges as you go, and remembering to pull tight).

-To top off the pumpkin you can either sew a small stem with your brown or green fabric (cut two pieces of fabric about the size and shape of your thumb. Sew together and stuff with cotton, then attach to the top with fabric glew or hang sew)

All Done! Now enjoy and share with your loved ones to spread that fall coziness.

#DIY #Roots