Bring the beauty of fall into your home! Cozy fabric pumpkins can be reused year after year to decorate for autumn, and are a stunning way to embroider for the season.
Supplies
Project Needs & Notes:
- 3/4 yard sturdy fabric (this tutorial uses lightweight upholstery fabric)
- 3/4 yard print quilter's cotton
- Small pieces of craft felt or wool felt (for stem and leaves)
- Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer
- Polyester fiberfill
- Air-erase pen
- Fabric glue
- 1" button
- Large sharp tapestry or upholstery needle and heavy duty thread for some hand sewing
- Leaves or faux leaves (for tracing)
Finished Size:
Large size - 12" in diameter by 8 1/2" high (from the bottom of the pumpkin to the top of the stem)
Small size - 8 3/4" in diameter by 6 1/4" high (from the bottom of the pumpkin to the top of the stem)
To get started, print the PDF of the pattern using the link below. The large size pumpkin pattern has two pieces and will print on two pieces of paper. The small size pumpkin pattern has one piece and will print on one piece of paper.
Designs Used
Cut out the pattern pieces. If you are using the large pattern, tape the two pieces together following the instructions on the pattern pieces.
For the embroidered pieces, lay the pattern piece on top of the fabric, pin in place, and trace the shape using an air-erase pen.
Templates are printouts of embroidery designs, and they are excellent tools for planning where to stitch.
Open the embroidery designs in embroidery software and print them to make templates.
Center the template inside the shape.
Mark the center point and the horizontal and vertical axis lines.
Remove the template.
Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the marks on the fabric.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.
Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric.
Embroider the design.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.
Cut out the shape.
Repeat this process for a total of 4 embroidered pieces.
Then, use the pattern piece to cut another 4 pieces out of the print quilter's cotton for a grand total of 8 pieces.
Assemble the pumpkin.
Lay one of the embroidered pieces flat with the right side facing up.
Align one of the print fabric pieces on top, right sides together, and pin along the right side only.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge only, leaving 1" open at the top (this will allow for turning later on).
Align a second embroidered piece on top of the open edge of the print fabric, right sides together, and pin in place.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge leaving 1" open starting at the top edge.
Repeat this process alternating the print fabric and embroidered pieces.
Align the right sides of the first and last piece together; pin in place.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge once again leaving 1" open starting at the top edge.
Turn the fabric right side out and stuff the pumpkin with polyester fiberfill through the top opening.
Using needle and thread, sew the top opening closed.
Then, flip the pumpkin over, sew down through the center, and sew a button in place at the bottom of the pumpkin -- pull the thread tight to cinch in place.
For the stem, cut a piece of felt to 2" x 8".
Fold the felt together lengthwise (short ends together) and pin in place.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the two long side edges only -- leave the bottom open for turning.
Turn the fabric right side out and fill the stem with fiberfill.
Add a few drops of fabric glue to the bottom of the stem and press it in place in the center top of the pumpkin.
You can create leaves by tracing a leaf or faux leaf onto felt and then cutting out the shapes.
Add fabric glue to the backside of the leaves and press them in place around the stem.
You can also use a real pumpkin stem to decorate your pumpkin!
Remove the stem from your pumpkin using a small hand saw. You can also paint the stem to coordinate with your fabric.
Add fabric glue or hot glue to the bottom of the stem and press it in place.
These stuffed embroidered pumpkins are stunning additions to any fall decorating scheme.
Pick your favorite fabrics and designs to reflect your personal style. Halloween motifs add a spooky-scary look, while goldwork designs on white fabric are an elegant variation.
