How to Make Fabric Pumpkins

Add dimension to your display by using assorted fabrics, like silk, linen, and velvet.

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Martha Stewart Editors
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Martha Stewart Editors

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Madeline Buiano
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Madeline Buiano
Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry.
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Updated on September 1, 2023
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Complete your autumnal display with these fabric pumpkins, which look great on a mantel, as a centerpiece, and anywhere else you choose to display them. With some batting, fabric of your choice, and needle and thread, you can easily DIY a stunning pumpkin patch that will last the entire fall season.

Add texture to your display by choosing a few different fabrics for your pumpkins. Ours are rendered in linen, silk, and velvet in various colorways that call to the season. Set your fabric pumpkins among real ones and complete the cool autumnal scene by adding spare branches and scattered leaves spray-painted silver.

What You'll Need

Materials

  • Assorted fabrics
  • Sewing machine
  • Batting
  • Long sewing needle
  • Needle and thread

Instructions

  1. Cut out fabric:

    Cut out a fabric rectangle on the bias that's twice as long as it is wide. (We used 5-by-10-inch, 8-by-16-inch, and 11-by-22-inch pieces for our three pumpkin sizes.)

  2. Make pouch:

    Fabric cutouts

    Fold rectangle, right side up, so short sides meet; stitch along that edge with 1/4-inch seam allowance. With doubled thread and running stitches, sew along 1 end; pull thread to cinch fabric closed, and stitch to secure.

  3. Stuff pouch with batting:

    Turn pouch right side out; stuff with batting. With doubled thread and running stitches, sew around open end; pull thread to cinch fabric, and stitch to secure.

  4. Wrap floss around pumpkin:

    Fabric pumpkins

    Thread long needle with floss. Wrap floss around pumpkin, pulling through the core several times, to add ridges.

  5. Make the stem:

    For stem, cut out 2 stem-size pieces of fabric. Stitch pieces, right sides facing, leaving base open. Turn right side out; stuff with batting. Secure open end to pumpkin with slip stitches.

Originally appeared: MARTHA STEWART
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