Rustic Glam Fabric Pumpkins DIY

How to make a stuffed fabric mini pumpkin with a rustic glam vibe. 
Makes a lovely decor piece for your Fall mantel or Thanksgiving tablescape.

Hey there friends! It’s been a long time! I hope your fall has started out well. Around here, summer weather finally decided to show up. So even though the temperatures are soaring and the humidity is high, the summer flowers are long gone. It’s time to decorate for Fall!

All over social media I’m seeing photos of gorgeous pumpkins and pretty gourds. But… there are none in the stores around here yet! So I took matters into my own hands and decided to make something new and pretty for Fall in our home.

My local fabric store has all their upholstery fabrics significantly marked down in price right now, so I started there. I bought a rich looking burnt orange velvet and a muted green one. Then I found an amazing silk plaid that co-ordinated perfectly (also on sale woo-hoo!).

There are instructions all over the internet for making fabric pumpkins. I adapted for my skill level and the materials I had… that meant hand sewing only, and no “real” pumpkins stems. Check out how I made mine in a few simple steps!

Materials:

1. Fabric in fall colours
2. A large circular item (approx 15 inch diameter)
3. Scissors
4. Long sturdy sewing needle
5. Heavy cotton thread
6. Dried beans, peas, or rice
7. Batting
8. Short pieces of tree branch
9. Hot glue (optional)

Be creative in finding something to use as a circular template. I have a wicker tray that I used. Look through your cake pans or cooling racks, mixing bowls or empty flower pots.

Instructions:

1. Lay your fabric reverse side up on the work surface. Draw around your template and cut out the circle of fabric.

2. Cut a length of thread as long as the outside of the circle. Knot one end. Hand sew a loose running stitch around the edge of the circle, about an inch from the edge.

3. Pull the ends of the thread together until the top is loosely gathered. Pour about one cup of dried beans into the fabric circle. (Using a funnel is helpful but not necessary.)

4. Take a large handful of batting and stuff it into the circle.

5. Pull the thread ends together as tightly as possible. Make sure all the batting is inside the fabric and the fabric edge is neatly gathered.

6. Tie off the thread as tightly as possible.

7. Carefully start tucking the raw edge of the fabric into the inside of the “pumpkin”, and make your way around until the whole edge is tucked in.

8. Push the piece of branch into the opening, using some hot glue to secure it if necessary.

Using a trio of fabrics results in a pretty vignette of pumpkins. Pile them on your mantel or sideboard. Or use them as a Thanksgiving centerpiece. If you add a little tag to the stem you can give them away as hostess gifts.

But tell me… have you bought your Real Pumpkins already? I'm heading out today to see if I can find any yet… hope you are easing into your Fall season too!

xo andrea