Simple Fabric Pumpkin

This is a cute, simple pumpkin that uses one piece of fabric and a running stitch. The look varies so much depending on the fabric, so have fun with it! It works with a range of fabric types: flannel, fleece, quilting cotton, knits, and stretch velvet. I’ve even used an old (very stained) woven table cloth.

Since we’ll be stuffing this pretty firmly, I’d suggest doubling up the thread for all the stitching on this project.

Materials:

-fabric (¼ yard or less)

-strong thread

-needle 

(a regular sewing sharp and a longer larger eyed needle is a plus)

-pins

-scissors

-stuffing

-stick

-felt

-hot glue gun

Optional:

-embroidery floss

-coordinating button

-branch clippers

-thimble

-sewing machine

You’ll need a piece of fabric that’s about twice as wide as it is high. The largest one I’ve made used a piece of fabric 9”x18” to show off the pattern, the smallest was 5”x10” This example is roughly 6”x12”

Start by sewing the fabric into a wide tube. Fold the fabric so the short sides are lined up with the pattern facing inside. Pin.

Use a simple in and out running stitch about ½” in from the raw edge of the fabric to sew from top to bottom.

Now that you have a tube, decide which side is going to be the bottom.

With it still inside out, start to one side of the seam and sew a loose running stitch about ½” in from the bottom. Make a large knot at the end of the thread before you start stitching.

When you get to the other side of the seam, don’t make a knot. Instead, hold that side of the thread in your hand while pulling at the large knot you made to gather the bottom together.

Pull slowly to get the gathering as tight as you can. Knot the two ends of your thread together. Wrap the extra thread around the bundle and make another knot to help the gathered fabric stay in place. Take a few stitches right through the gathering to make sure it holds tightly.

Turn the fabric right side out. It will look like a little bag.

Take your batting and stuff your pumpkin until it looks full, then try to stuff a little more in.

Again you’ll want to start gathering by making a large knot at the end of your thread. We’re still working out from the seam around the top to the other side of the seam, but this time you want to make sure your knot is on the outside of your fabric.

Make a loose running stitch about ½” in from the top of the pumpkin.

When you get to the other end of the seam, gather the fabric and tie a knot. There's a good chance you'll end up with an opening at the top, that's okay.

(If you’re doing this with a friend, take turns helping each other at this point, if you have enough stuffing it’s going to fight you all the way!)

Cut a long length of thread or embroidery floss. Make a large knot at the end.

Start at the bottom of the pumpkin. Take a small stitch through one of the gathers at the center, hiding the knot under the fold.

Next, run the thread along the outside of the pumpkin to the top.

If you have a large gap at the gather like mine, run the thread across the far side of the gap, then put the needle through the pumpkin to come out the center of the bottom.

(This is where the longer needle or thimble helps. I’ve done a 9” pumpkin with a 2” needle, but stabbed myself each time trying to make sure it was centered.)

Pull the thread tightly so that it creates a divot in the pumpkin.

Now bring the thread back towards the top, on the opposite side of your first run.

Repeat bringing the thread across the gap then back down and out the bottom of the pumpkin, pulling tight again. At this point you'll have a squashed circle pinched in at either side.

You're going to want to repeat this four more times to get a pumpkin with six segments.

Bring the thread from the bottom across to the top again, this time about a third of the way between the two divisions you already made. Go through the top and out the bottom, still pulling tight. Make the next division directly across from this latest one and come out through the bottom.

At this point you should have two narrower and two wider segments. The last two stitches will be in the middle of the larger segments.

Once you have 6 roughly even segments, knot your thread at the bottom. Put the needle through the pumpkin and pull tight, then trim the thread. That will keep the end inside the pumpkin.

I did an image search for clipart pumpkin leaves until I found one I liked and sketched it out. Then I used it as a pattern to cut out a felt leaf.

If you want to add a little dimension to the leaf, you can put a dab of hot glue at the very bottom of the middle and then pinch it.

I pick up fallen sticks when I walk, this time of year they’re usually dry enough to snap. Since -this is a small pumpkin, I’m going to use the shorter piece.

Put a blob of hot glue in the middle of the pumpkin and add your stem.

Once you have the stem on, add your leaf wherever you want. (It can be a great cover if the glue oozes or if there’s one stitch that’s really bugging you.)

If you want to neaten up the bottom of the pumpkin, you can hot glue a coordinating button onto the gathering and stitches to hide it.

*You can tweak the proportions a little: one a little less than half the width will make a fatter pumpkin, and one a little more than half the width will make a taller pumpkin.

*If you have a good eye for distance you might be able to tell I can’t hand sew in a straight line and somehow my ½” almost always ends up being ⅜” It’s not a detail oriented project. You just want it in enough that the raw edges don’t escape, especially at the bottom gather.

*I just pick up sticks I see when I’m waking, but you can also use a cinnamon stick if you want it to smell nice.

*You can use this method to make pincushions too. I’d suggest using a knit fabric that gathers tightly and gluing a decorative button to the top instead of adding a stem. (T-shirt scraps are great for this)