Easy DIY Fabric Pumpkin with Real Stem
This post is a tutorial for a DIY fabric pumpkin with a real stem. It looks kind of lonely right now on my hearth, but more will come later)))
DIY Fabric Pumpkin
This fabric pumpkin was so easy to make! I used a soft, jersey-like material with a nice two-way stretch. Stretchy, lightweight fabrics are easier to gather and shape, but you can use almost any kind of material for your fabric pumpkins — just avoid anything too thick or stiff. The fabric I used came from Hobby Lobby.
One of my goals for making this fabric pumpkin was to try to determine exactly what size the pumpkin would turn out to be. It was a question I really couldn’t find an answer to. I had not paid that much attention when I made fabric pumpkins a couple of years ago.
For reference, a 24″ x 24″ piece of fabric made a pumpkin about 10–11 inches wide and roughly 6 inches tall (not counting the stem). The amount of stuffing makes a difference too — less stuffing will let the pumpkin spread out a bit more, while more will give it a taller, rounder shape.
Supplies
Stretchy Fabric
Hand Quilting Thread
Scissors
Darning Needle
Polyfil
Pumpkin Stem
Dried Beans
Hot Glue
Watch the Video
Pumpkin Stems
Last year I started saving my pumpkin stems before tossing the pumpkins — and I’m so glad I did! If you’d like to do the same, here’s a link with more details on how to dry them. The key is to remove as much of the pumpkin flesh as possible without trimming away those nice, pointy edges. Keeping the natural shape gives your fabric pumpkins that realistic, just-picked look.
Save Your Pumpkin Stems!
If you’re interested in making your own velvet pumpkins next year with real stems, don’t forget to save those old stems now!
Painting Pumpkin Stems
Once your pumpkin stems have dried, you can give them a little extra character with paint — the options are endless! Here’s a tutorial that walks you through the process. You can also purchase real stems from Etsy and other online shops. I haven’t found a good source for plastic or faux stems yet, but one year I even made a few from clay, and they turned out surprisingly well. Still, nothing beats the look of the real thing.
And don’t forget to enlist your friends this year to save their pumpkin stems for you! You can always thank them with one of your handmade fabric pumpkins in return. 🎃
Paint Dried Pumpkin Stems
Want to learn how to paint dried pumpkin stems? It’s easy! It only takes a little preparation, but you have to start months ahead of time)))
🍂 What’s Your Favorite Fall Decoration?
I’d love to hear what you’re creating this season! Do you have a go-to fall project or a favorite way to decorate with pumpkins? Share your ideas in the comments — I always enjoy seeing what everyone’s working on! 🎃
So talented! Love this pumpkin.
Thank you Mona, it’s really easy to make….just save your pumpkin stems)) You can buy some plastic ones sometimes and even real ones off Etsy and probably eBay. I’ve even made some out of clay))
Awesome tutorial, Thank so much Jeannie! Always enjoy your teaching .
Thank you so much Kay, I appreciate it))
I just love this white fabric pumpkin you made Jeannie! It’s so beautiful!! Since you asked about your subscriber’s favorite fall decorations…one of mine is to put out some scarecrows that I love, and a few other things. One of the scarecrows I found one day in my city park trash can…brand new! It was just looking up at me like “save me!” Someone just tossed it! I felt so very happy to find it! I was adopted as a baby, and am a HUGE fan, so to speak, of second chances! Sorry to go on so long. God bless you Jeannie!
Thank you Bonnie, I appreciate your following so much. Lucky scarecrow)))