I’ve been drooling over all of these fabric pumpkins floating around that so many of my talented friends are making. I wanted to try it myself and if you know me…I wanted to try it for free. I knew I could come up with something with all of the supplies that I have lying around. So, here goes…
I started off with some plastic sacks from the grocery store. You know the ones that (if you’re like me) you have piled a mile high in your pantry?
I then took some old batting that I had in my craft closet and scrunched it up, kind of pumpkin shaped. You could also use rice or dry beans.
Don’t worry if it’s not perfect because once it’s in the sack and tied tight you can adjust the shape. I tied mine tight at the top and then squished the shape into something more pumpkin like.
You will then need to cut strips of fabric, or I used old jean material from my son’s old ripped up jeans that didn’t fit him anymore. I knew I kept these for a reason!! If you want a solid pumpkin with no strips then there is not need for cutting. After I cut the jean material, I used fabric glue to hold it in place. I’m sure other types of glue would work as well, but fabric glue sticks fast and works great on fabric. I cut my jeans with imperfect edges to make them a little more shabby.
After I had all of my strips in place and the bag was totally covered, I used burlap twine that I had from a previous project to tie the tops shut. I left enough extra to be able to tie a bow. I also wanted some burlap twine running down the sides and front so I tied another to the top and then wrapped it around the sides and tied it again at the bottom. I then cut off the extra twine on the bottom of the pumpkin. When I was finished covering my pumpkins and tying on the twine, I twisted the top of the sack until it was very small and then cut it off down inside the top of the pumpkin (above the part that was tied to hold in the fabric). For the linen fabric pumpkin, I did not use glue… just wrapped the linen fabric around it and tied it at the top.
I just love the way they turned out and what is better than using what you already have. Who knew what a little stuffing, old kids jeans, and some grocery sacks could do?! I used some old rusty bolts that I brought home from my dad’s farm for the stems. I just shoved them down into the tops. I sure am loving these pumpkins and they look great on my diy outdoor farmhouse table! These old dried up palm branches that we cut off of our palm tree also work great for Fall vase filler!
Thanks for stopping by!
I hope that I have inspired you to make some fabric pumpkins of your own. Tis the season!
Affiliate links are used in this post to assist in finding home decor and/or other supplies for projects. I only post companies that I trust.
So so cute!
Thank you so much, Debbie!
These are adorable!
Thank you so much!
This is so clever and what a great way to recycle those piled up grocery bags we all have in our pantry’s lol! Your vignette looks great.
Have a great rest of your week.
Kris
Thank you so much, Kris! You have a great week as well!
Love you pumpkins ideals. I love everything.
Thank you so much, Bertha! ?
I just found your blog this afternoon. Don’t know how I could have missed it but I did. I could move into your house and live happily ever after. LOL I love it that you think outside the box and use what you have, or can get your hands on, to accomplish what you have in your head. I had a 150 yr old home in Indiana that I spent 17 years “redoing” that was a foursquare Greek Revival. It was in Knightstown, IN and my DH and I have lived in Indianapolis since 1972. I read where you were surrounded by Amish where you lived. Our favorite place to visit is Shipshewana, IN. If you lived in Indiana long, I know you are familiar with that community.
I love and appreciate all the hard work you have done in your home because I spent 17 yrs doing it but had to downsize due to my DD’s health (that was suppose to be our forever home) but the maintenance was too much. We had 10 rooms, full attic and full basement with huge garage that use to be a horse barn.
I love the lamp shade light you created on your patio. I just did the same thing to my DR light only using a very old lampshade that I strip off and covered it in a crocheted runner. Your blog really gave me a lift this afternoon and was so happy to see all the neat things you and your DH have accomplished. Mine traveled for years and I learn to use tools after buying the old house too. I love the mountains (son born in Denver) and to see them every day is a wonderful treat. Your home brought back a lot of wonderful memories in the DIY stage and I truly understand how you decorate your home.
Seeing your old dresser on your patio brought back a memory. It was trash day and I saw an old dresser placed at curbside and it was on my block. I hurried home and got the wheel barrel and went and picked it up. My DH asked me what I wanted with that piece of trash and I said it was for my “bedroom garden” – I painted it and placed an old lamp on top and open the drawers and used them for plants.
Keep up with your many adventures in decorating – you are doing a wonderful job.
Thank you so much Connie! I’m so glad you shared some of your story. So fun to hear and imagine what your renovation must have been like. I love love love those older homes! We used to live in Middlebury IN, so super close to shipshewana. I love Shipshe! I actually lived there when the donut place “Rise and Roll” (if you’ve heard of it) was just a little Amish ran business on their farm way out in the country. We would drive there every week to pick up donuts and I would always tell my husband that their business would be so successful if they would start spreading out and make more stores. And they are booming now with multiple stores. Such fun memories I have of IN but I sure don’t miss the winters. ❤️