How to Make Easy Fabric Pumpkins

Learn how to make DIY fabric pumpkins! A quick, easy, and affordable fall project. 

Are you looking for a cute and easy fall project?  

Have you always wanted to learn how to make DIY fabric pumpkins?  

Well, you're in luck!  I've got a super easy tutorial that will show you how to make DIY fabric pumpkins in just a few easy steps.  No sewing machine is required! 

I love the many options for creating these easy fabric pumpkins.  From using different fabrics and embellishments to varying the size of the pumpkins, they can make the perfect fall decor addition. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE DIY FABRIC PUMPKINS

- Large round object for tracing (these will be your pumpkin patterns)

- Fabric (velvet, canvas, wool, flannel, or tweed work well)

- Fiber Fill stuffing

- Nylon upholstery thread

- Fabric scissors or rotary cutter

- Mat (if using a rotary cutter)

- Pen or chalk for tracing

- 4" sewing needle

- Hot glue gun with glue sticks

- Sticks (for pumpkin stems)

- Coping saw (if you can't break sticks by hand)

- Naturally wrapped craft wire (unwrap the outer layer)

- Craft paint (if painting pumpkins)

INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO MAKE DIY FABRIC PUMPKINS

One of my favorite aspects of creating DIY fabric pumpkins is that they can be made using free, recycled, and inexpensive materials from thrift stores.  Scrap fabric, secondhand flannel shirts, and old sweaters are all ideal pumpkin materials. 

I decided to use leftover natural duck fabric given to me a couple years ago.  

STEP ONE: TRACE AND CUT OUT PUMPKIN

Round lids from trash cans and pots make wonderful pumpkin templates.  Choose a lid at least 12" in diameter for small pumpkins and 18" for large pumpkins.  

Lay the lid on top of the fabric, trace around the lid then cut out the circle template using fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. 

STEP TWO: SEW AND STUFF PUMPKIN

Thread a 4" long upholstery needle with nylon upholstery thread then sew a running stitch 1/2" from the edge of the fabric.

Once done, grab both ends of the thread and pull them together, gathering the fabric to create a bowl shape.  Stuff the inside of the gathered fabric with fiber fill, pull the stings tightly together then tie off the ends to secure the thread. 

STEP THREE: ADD TEXTURE

Sectioning off the gathered fabric creates much needed texture and definition.  

Cut a piece of the same nylon thread long enough to wrap around your pumpkin multiple times.  Turn the pumpkin bottom side up and cross the thread over the bottom of the pumpkin.  Continue wrapping and crossing the thread over the pumpkin to create eight pie-like sections.  

To give the pumpkins a more finished look, thread the needle through the top of each pumpkin so it comes out the bottom where the threads intersect.  Stitch over the intersecting threads and back up through the pumpkin, pull tight on the thread, repeat the same process a few times then knot off the end.

   

STEP FOUR:  ADD PUMPKIN STEM

Cut a small piece of wire then wrap it around a pen or pencil to create a curly "vine". 

Add a few dabs of hot glue to the top of the pumpkin then place the wire and a piece of stick into the glue.  

If you prefer orange pumpkins over neutral ones, here's another easy fabric pumpkin idea. 

I used thicker, darker upholstery fabric, roughly painted the pumpkins with orange craft paint then finished them with a stem from an inexpensive Target Dollar Spot pumpkin.

I like to keep my pumpkins simple, but you can dress yours up even more with fabric, paint, felt or paper leaves, and other fun embellishments.  The possibilities are endless! 

     

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