DIY Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

 

Here it is as promised!  The DIY Fabric Pumpkins Tutorial!

 

 

I came across this project that was done by StoneGable . 

It was for these really cute Sweater Pumpkins. 
I love them!!

 

The problem I was faced with was the lack of sweaters.  Well, ones to cut up.  (Trust me there is no lacking in the sweater department of my closet.)  I LOVE sweater weather.  

After seeing this post, I decided to head to the thrift store to find some.  Since I am a super cheap-o, I couldn't justify spending the money for a sweater I was going to cut into pieces.  So it was time to get creative. 
 

I searched though all my fabric, and was lucky to find some leftovers from last Halloween.  Why not just use it? 

(this ended up being a FREE project for me, I already had everything I needed.)

 
 

 Let's get started.....

 

First gather what you need: 

• Fabric
• Twine
• Rubber bands
• Poly-fil
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Ruler

  



Time to cut the fabric.  
(I had to guess on the amount since I really didn't know how they would turn out.) 
 

I cut mine between 6-8 inches wide X 12-14 inches long, depending on the pumpkin.  This size will make small pumpkins.  If you want to make a large one, just adjust the measurements. 
(the width of the fabric will be the width of the pumpkin.) 
When it is folded over it makes a rectangle.  

Then, with the wrong sides together,

make a quick straight stitch with the sewing machine.

You will notice the size on this is bigger than what I said.

I forgot to take a picture, this happens often. 

 (I had to make one quick to be able to show you this step.)   

Here it is close up. 

I used Red thread so you could see it better, you can use any color because it won't show.

 

For those of you that hate to sew, NO MORE SEWING.  I promise.

 

Now, cut 6 pieces of twine, long enough to stick out both sides of the fabric.  Gather up the fabric around the twine and use a rubber band to hold it together.

 

Large rubber bands work best.  Wrap it as many times as you can, so it will be nice and tight.

 

 Time to turn it inside out, or right side out.

Next, stuff it with poly-fil.

(I found after many attempts, it worked best if it was stuffed to the max.)
Gather up the fabric like you did with the bottom.  
Evenly space the twine over the pumpkin.

Again secure it with a big rubber band. 

  

Go around, pulling on each piece of twine tight.  It may take a few times of pulling each piece to even them out. 
The tighter you pull the deeper the creases will be.

(It may become a little lopsided if you don't pull all the twine.  This is easy to fix.  Just pull the pieces on the opposite side and it will even it out.)

 

Now that you have the look you want...

  The final step is making the stem.

 

Figure out how long you want your stem to be.

(I made mine about an inch, inch and a half)

 

For an 1 1/2" stem, cut the excess fabric, leaving about 1 1/4".

 

Cut a long piece of twine to wrap around the stem.

(I tried to use the twine already on the pumpkin but I found it would mess up the creases.)

 

Starting at the base of the stem secure the twine to the pumpkin. 
I tucked the twine into the rubber band but you could also hot glue it on.
Time to start wrapping. 

Using the hot glue gun.....Put a small dot of glue every few times around to hold it in place. 

Make sure you wrap evenly, we don't want any large gaps.

 

Keep wrapping all the way to the top. 

 

Continue to coil the twine over the top, so the fabric is fully covered.

Making sure to secure it with the hot glue.

When you are finished, cut off the excess twine.

 Glue down the end where you made the final cut. 

(I found that if I didn't do this step the twine would start to fray.)

Now you have a finished Fabric Pumpkin.

 

It is really a quick and easy project once you get the hang of it.

 

 

I made a few more to add to my Easy Decorated Halloween Table.

Click on over and check it out.

Happy Pumpkin Day!!!

 

 

 

Please comment below if you have any questions or anything to add. 

 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Take a look around at my other posts and check back often. I have many new things to share.

 



Easy Decorated Halloween "Mantel"

Hello Again! 

I know it has been a while since I have posted on the blog.  Life has been crazy, hectic but I finally feel like things are slowing down.  I am excited because I can finally get back to sharing all my fun projects with you.  So here we go.......

 

 

My Halloween Table

 

Sadly, I don't have a mantel on my fireplace to decorate.  So instead, I decorate the area at the top of the stairs in our living room. 
I have the whole wall to decorate.  A nice blank slate to work with. 

 

I had planned to decorate last year but never found the time.  This year I was determined to get it done.  Here is the finished product. 

 

(I love it, don't you?)

 

Here is the breakdown of what I did......

 

Only a few of the items were purchased and untouched. 

 

The first was the clock.

 

I purchased this clock last year at Ross, on clearance, for $6. 

It was a perfect fit for Halloween.  The clock does work, but I left the battery out and put it on Midnight.  Since that is when the ghosts and goblins come out. 

 

Also, this sign.

Normally I would make my own, but I couldn't resist this one. 

It was 75% off after Halloween last year, which made it only $2. 

You know me, I can't pass up a deal like that.
 

 

Here are the items that I either refreshed or are homemade.

 

#1... was the Witches Hat.  This cute little hat my Mom found at the Goodwill. 

It was old and needed some love.

 

Here is what it looked like before:

 

 

I removed the flower buds and ribbon.

Gave it a fresh coat of paint and added a new bow. 

I had to keep "The Witch is in!" tag.  It was too cute not to.
 

Here is what she looks like now....

 

Quick and easy project.

 

#2.... My Framed E-E-K letters.

This was another quick and easy project. 

 

I found a font that I liked.  (I am a free font junkie!) 

The font I picked for this one is called Belshaw.  You can download it for free here!

Then all I did was cut out 3 pieces of fabric to fit the frames.  Traced the letters onto the fabric.  

I then used a Sharpie Paint Pen to color in the letters.

 

(you can find them at any craft store)

  Placed them in the frames and DONE!!!

 

#3.... The once Silver Serving Platter
 

Here is a quick breakdown of the platters transformation.

 

               

I bought this platter at the Goodwill for $2.       Painted it with black chalkboard paint.

Found the numbers that I wanted.          Traced them onto the platter.

    

 

Painted the numbers with some white craft paint and......

 

DONE!!!

 

 

#4..... The Witches Books

 

I had seen some books for sale online (here) and thought.... I can do that.  So I did!

I went to the thrift store and bought some old books. 
 I painted them with some black chalk paint, found a font I liked, and traced it on to the bindings of the books. 

Then carefully painted the letters with some off-white craft paint and......

 

(Oh, and added a little bottle of Witches Potion I purchased at Joann's.)

I think they are the perfect addition to my table.

 

#5  A few hand painted signs.....

 

          

I love to make signs out of old salvaged wood and have come up with an easy way to do them.

(tutorial coming soon)

 

#6  My Favorite Project of them all....

The Fabric Pumpkins

 

 

   

I love the way they turned out.  It was so simple and easy. 

For the tutorial on how to make these little pumpkins, click here !!

 

 

#7   To finish it off....

 I added this little bat table runner and a couple black crows that I picked up at the dollar store.

 

 

 

I couldn't be happier with the end result. 

 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Have a safe and fun Holiday!!! Trick or Treat! 

 

How do you decorate for Halloween?  Do you go cutesy or scary and spooky?