How to Make Plush Fabric Pumpkins Free PDF Pattern and Tutorial
Happy Thanksgiving! Since most of us will be home this year to celebrate, and needing some festive decor, I’ve got a fun DIY for you. This tutorial is a bit of an update from one that I wrote a few years back. The construction and pattern are the same, but I’ll walk you through a few other options for stems. Plus, like the velvet pumpkins that I love to make and gift each year- we can tuft these to give them a more organic pumpkin-y shape.
How to Make a Plush Fabric Pumpkin
Happy Thanksgiving! Since most of us will be home this year to celebrate, and needing some festive decor, I’ve got a fun DIY for you. This tutorial is a bit of an update from one that I wrote a few years back. The construction and pattern are the same, but I’ll walk you through a few other options for stems. Plus, like the velvet pumpkins that I love to make and gift each year- we can tuft these to give them a more organic pumpkin-y shape.
How to Make a Plush Fabric Pumpkins Free PDF Pattern and Tutorial
Materials to Make a Plush Fabric Pumpkin
1/4" of mid-weight fabric (I have used velvet, flannel, silk and cotton.)
Scissors
Thimble (Trust me on this one!)
A pumpkin stem that has been dried OR a small piece of tan felt and a pipe cleaner.
Poly-fill stuffing
Optional: Felt for leaves to add a bit of embellishment
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
I’m Stuffed Plush Pumpkin PDF Pattern
Notes:
Once you print the pattern, measure the scaling square to be sure that it measures 1".
Follow the original tutorial until you get to the step where you insert the stem (stick).
Picture order Left to right, top to bottom.
Cut a 45” length of thread.
Thread needle, doubling over and tie ends into a double knot..
To begin stitching, try to Insert the needle into a seam allowance just inside the pumpkin. Make a small stitch or two to secure.
Using a running stitch about 1/4”-1/2” long, stitch around the opening of the pumpkin.
Pull threads to cinch and tie.
Restitch through each gather of fabric around opening.. Tie and knot to secure.
Do not cut the thread!
Tufting time!
Take the needle and pushit through the center of the pumpkin directing it to come out at center of the bottom. If you don’t already have a thimble on- get one STAT.
Put needle through the center bottom, and turn to sew back up through the center top opening. To help anchor the thread, I take a small stitch just over the lip of the opening each time I pull the needle up. Then when I turn the needle and stitch straight back down, this little step helps to neaten the draw of the fabric.. Pulling the thread taut. Repeat a few times until the pumpkin is the size and shape that you desire.
Knot to secure. Trim thread and tuck inside pumpkin.
Stems
How to dry a natural pumpkin stem
Each Autumn, I prowl pumpkin stands for beautiful stems that beckon to be preserved, After the pumpkin has sat on my porch for weeks, I carefully cut around the stem, remove it and get as much pumpkin flesh off as possible. Then I let them air dry for several days. Once they seem light and dry, I put them on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at a really low temperature (about 225 degrees) for about an hour. This dries out the stem and kills the bugs.
*I encourage you to do a web search to discover other methods of drying.
Take a dry (and baked!) pumpkin stem. Check the bottom to make sure it is somewhat smooth and even. If not, lightly sand with sand paper.
Add bit of glue to the center of opening. Set stem and hold until dry.
How to make a stem from felt and a pipecleaner
Materials
Small piece of felt
Pipe cleaner
Glue
Old Scissors
1. Cut felt into a 4” X 4” square
2. Align and glue pipe cleaner along one side of the felt square.
3. Hold onto the pipecleaner while tightly rolling the felt.
Apply glue to secure.
4. Cut the stem at a 45-degree angle.
To help anchor the stem into the pumpkin, bend the part of pipe cleaner that sticks out in half before inserting.
Insert into pumpkin. Add a bit of glue to secure.
Bend the felt stem to a pleasing shape..
Please be gentle with yourself and those that you love. Find some space and time to rest and don’t forget to call your mom.
Happy Thanksgiving!
XO, Hilarie
Last year’s harvest.
DIY Easy Mini Felt Bunny Ornaments
Easter is on Sunday! Since quarantine began, I am never really quite sure what day it is anymore. Somehow in all of this uncertainty, I hadn’t gotten around to putting out any type of seasonal decoration. With a daughter called Bunny, we generally take Easter decorating pretty seriously around here. So, in an effort to jump start on all things Bunny, here is a quick hand-sewing project for you to make and enjoy.
DIY Easy Mini Felt Bunny Ornaments
Easter is on Sunday! Since quarantine began, I am never really quite sure what day it is anymore. Somehow in all of this uncertainty, I hadn’t gotten around to putting out any type of seasonal decoration. With a daughter called Bunny, we generally take Easter decorating pretty seriously around here. So, in an effort to jump start on all things Bunny, here is a quick hand-sewing project for you to make and enjoy.
DIY Easy Mini Felt Bunny Ornaments Free Pattern and Tutorial
MATERIALS
These mini felt bunnies sew together pretty quickly and it is likely that you already have the supplies on hand.
To make an assortment 2 1/2-inch bunny place ornaments:
9 X 12-inch sheets of felt in assorted colors; each sheet will make one bunny plus a little felt left over.
Embroidery Floss or Pearle Cotton (if you don’t have either, thread is fine.)
A Felt Mini Bunny Ornament template available for free download here, printed and cut out.
Craft glue
Embroidery needle
Scissors
PATTERN
FINISHED SIZE
About 2.5” inches high, plus ears
CUTTING
Cut eight circles from the felt and two ears
Press each of the cut circles in half, making a crease along the center. Place the ears aside for now.
SEWING
Cut a piece of thread about 20” long. Thread a needle and knot the end to tie. Insert the needle from the back of one of the circles and make a small stitch to secure.
*This thread should be long enough to complete one bunny. The idea is to keep sewing with the same strand of thread between all layers. If you run out- no worries. Just tie off the end and rethread another strand.
Fold the circle in half. Grab a second circle, keeping it folded in half as well, and align both so that the straight fold of each piece mirrors the fold of the other.
You might find it helpful to think of each piece as a folded tortilla.
Stitch the two pieces together along their crease lines with a small hand stitch.
Try to keep your stitches even and be sure that both circles are aligned. Sew across the entire fold and stop. Keep your working thread- do not cut.
Fold the pieces that have just been sewn in half, like two tortillas.
Grab two more felt circles and layer them with the just sewn pieces in between.
Doesn’t it look like a tortilla sandwich? Make sure that the center fold creases remain aligned with the center seam of the inner layer
With the working thread, sew these two new pieces together along their center fold lines in the same manner as before.
Sew to the end of the folded crease. Remember-don’t cut your thread.
Now we are going to repeat that same step again, by folding all of the circles closed and placing the two more felt circles on the top and bottom. Be sure to align the creases.
Sew these two pieces together through the center as before. At this point the felt is getting a bit bulky to sew through. Just be patient- you are almost finished.
Repeat this process for the final two creased circles, layering them opposite to one another through the center and stitch.
Sewing is complete!
FINISHING
Give each section a little tug to straighten, then divide the circle in half to place the ears.
For the ears, I dabbed a bit of glue on each side and placed the ear. You may need to pinch it for a minute or two to set.
If you plan to have your bunny sit, you may need to flatten the bottom just a bit. To do this, I pinched the circle in half and gave it a bit of a trim. Just watch your stitching. If you happen to cut through- add a bit of glue and pretend it never happened.
All done! Doesn’t it remind you a bit of a weeble?
Wouldn’t these look adorable strung as an Easter bunny garland?
I made one into a chick by cutting two hearts for wings and one tiny heart for a beak.
This Easter may be the perfect opportunity to focus on renewal. Let it serve as a reminder that life goes on and that love is greater than fear. With that sentimant in mind, I wish you all a lovely Easter holiday.
XO, Hilarie