Cool weather and bright orange, yellow and red autumn leaves bring out the decorating enthusiast in all of us. A great item for your mantle or tabletop is a fabric pumpkin. Even better than a single one, make three in graduated sizes using colorful material and surround it with twigs, silk leaves and berries. Read the following instructions and you can make your pumpkins in an afternoon.
Choose colorful fabric in shades of orange, red or yellow. Don't limit yourself to solid colors. Plaids and checks add character. Any type of material will do-an old wool blanket adds wonderful texture. Note that the thicker fabric is a little harder to work with.
2
Use a dinner plate as a template for the medium-sized pumpkin. Cut another one 3 inches smaller in diameter and one 3 inches larger. Choose different fabrics for each to make the display more interesting.
3
Thread a needle with embroidery floss. Half an inch in from the outside of the circle, make a running stitch all the way around. Pull thread and evenly gather the material. Leave an opening large enough to insert fiberfill, but don't tie off the threads yet.
4
Stuff the pumpkin tightly with polyester fiberfill. Pull the gathering threads until the opening is almost closed. At this point hot glue a twig into the opening. Pull fabric tightly around the stem and stitch. Do not cut your thread but continue by running the needle through the pumpkin from top to bottom and then back to the top. Pull the thread until an indentation for the stem area is made. Knot the thread securely.
5
Separate the embroidery floss and use three strands to wrap the pumpkin--a single strand of yarn can be used for this step. Knot the end of the floss and thread it through the fabric at the opening to secure. Wrap the floss around the pumpkin in eight equal intervals pulling tight enough to form indentations and create the pumpkin shape. Stopping at the stem area, securely knot the thread.
6
Embellish your finished pumpkin. Use hot glue to add silk fall leaves and berries around the stem. Keep adding until you are satisfied with the look. More is better. Display them together for the strongest impact.
Tips & Warnings
Check out items you have on hand before shopping for materials.
Make the fabric pumpkin out of an old flannel shirt.
Take leaves and berries from a worn out flower arrangement.
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