I've seen fabric pumpkins around for a couple of years, but haven't ever tried to make any. On my last thrift store trip, I found several shirts made from great fall fabric. It inspired me to use those shirts to make DIY Fabric Pumpkins with a twist.
pinnable image at the bottom of the post
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Have you seen the meme that says, "Why buy a finished craft for $12, when I can spend $90 in supplies and 3 hours making the craft?" That always cracks me up because it is SO TRUE and seems to be my crafting motto- as evidenced by my crafting space and all of my supplies.
Well, this project is not like that. I repeat, it is not like that! I spent about $4 to make 6 pumpkins. That's not too bad at all, and it used up some of the supplies that I
Supplies needed to make Fabric Pumpkins with wooden stems
- thrift store shirts*
- needle
- thread
- beans**
- polyfill
- hot glue gun
- wood for stem
*Goodwill sells everything for 50% off on the first Saturday of the month. I found 4 different shirts, in super cute, pumpkin making fabric, for only $1 each.
**Buy super inexpensive dry beans in large bags from the grocery store. I use them for vase filler and all sorts of projects
Directions for making Fabric Pumpkins with wooden stems
1. Find a shirt at the thrift store (or in your closet) in a color and pattern you wish to make a fabric pumpkin. Cut the sleeve off of the shirt. Set the body of the shirt aside to use for another project. I like to use a shirt sleeve because it is already sewn into a column and only the top and bottom need to be sewn closed.
2. Turn sleeve inside out and sew a running stitch around the open end that will be the bottom. Pull strings tight to close the sleeve and tie thread off.
3. Turn sleeve right side out and fill bottom with beans. This will be weight to help the pumpkins stand up.
4. Stuff sleeve with poly fill, making the pumpkin as full and tight as you wish.
5. Fold over the fabric at the top of the pumpkin and stitch the opening closed with the same stitch as the bottom. Don't pull the threads tight just yet.
6. Cut down leftover wood into small pieces for stems. I used old stair banisters, cut into about 3-4 inch pieces with my miter saw.
7. Put a big dollop of hot glue on the wood and stick it inside the opening of the fabric, at the top of the pumpkin. Pull the threads tight around the wood and trim the threads. If necessary, apply more hot glue where the fabric meets the wood.
Once I made one, I kept making more because they were so fun and easy to do! I would have kept going since I can make several pumpkins out of each shirt, but I ran out of polyfill. Once I get more, I'll be making more pumpkins!
These DIY Fabric Pumpkins with the twist of using repurposed shirts and wooden pieces, are a fun addition to fall home decor!
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