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fabric pumpkins arranged on table.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Fabric Pumpkins Tutorial

These darling fabric pumpkins are easy to make and are perfect for fall. Make them in any size you'd like with our easy-to-follow tutorial.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Yield: 1 pumpkin
Cost: $1

Equipment

  • sewing machine
  • measuring tape
  • scissors
  • long sewing needle
  • hot glue gun/glue
  • small pliers (optional)

Materials

Instructions

  • You can make any size of pumpkin that you'd like by doubling the width measurement. For example, my fabric was 8" wide and 16" long.
    CUTTING GUIDE
    Cut fabric into a rectangle that measured 8" x 16".
    Cut a piece of felt that is 1"x 6" for the stem.
    Cut a 2" oval of felt for the bottom of the pumpkin.
    fabric, felt, thread, scissors and pillow stuffing.
  • Fold the fabric in half with the right sides together.
    fabric folded in half inside-out.
  • Sew along the seam using a 3/8" seam allowance.
    sewing machine stitching side seam of fabric
  • You should now have a tube of fabric. Look at the pattern and note which side will be the bottom and which side will be the top.
  • Thread a long piece of embroidery thread through a needle.
    Stitch a gathering stitch around the bottom opening of the pumpkin.
    Note: To gather, you'll create a wide running stitch along the top of the opening, about 1/4" away from the edge. Leave the ends of the string long so that you can pull them to gather the fabric later.
    pumpkin opening before being cinched closed.
  • Pull the end strings tight to close off the bottom of the pumpkin.
    pulling thread tight to close pumpkin opening
  • Tie the strings in a double knot and trim excess. Save the needle and thread for a later step.
    hands tying thread in a knot to close off pumpkin opening.
  • Turn the pumpkin right-side out.
    fabric turned right-side out.
  • Fill the pumpkin with stuffing.
    stuffing inside fabric pumpkin
  • Grab your needle and thread and stitch a gathering stitch around the top opening of the pumpkin.
    hand poking needle into fabric
  • Pull the end strings tight to close off the top of the pumpkin.
    thread being pulled to close off pumpkin opening
  • Tie strings in a double knot and trim excess.
    needle poked into fabric pumpkin
  • Cut a strand of embroidery thread that is 48" long. Thread it through a long needle and tie a knot at the end.
    Press the pumpkin down to squish it down a bit (this makes it easier to insert the needle).
    Poke the needle through the center of the pumpkin and out the back. Pull until the knot hits. Bring the needle around to the top again, insert through the center and out the back again, then pull the thread TIGHT.
    You'll notice that you've created one of the pumpkin grooves on the side of the pumpkin.
    thread being pulled through stuffed pumpkin.
  • Continue this process until you have 6 sections (dimples). It can sometimes be a little difficult to pull the needle through the stuffing. A small pair of pliers can be helpful in grabbing the needle.
    NOTE: I highly recommend referring to my step-by-step video for a great visual on how to create the pumpkin sections/shape using the thread.
    pliers pulling needle through fabric pumpkin
  • Roll up the piece of felt.
    hands rolling up a thin piece of felt.
  • Hot glue the end of the piece of felt to secure it.
    hot glue on end of felt stem.
  • Glue the stem to the top of the pumpkin.
    hand gluing felt stem on top of pumpkin
  • Glue the oval of felt on the bottom of the pumpkin (this adds a finished touch and hides any knots and unfinished edges on the bottom of the pumpkin).
    small piece of felt glued to the bottom of the fabric pumpkin.

Video

Notes

Suggested cutting guide for small, medium, and large pumpkins:
  • 6" x 12" (small pumpkin)
  • 8" x 16" (medium pumpkin)
  • 10" x 20" (large pumpkin)
If making a larger or smaller pumpkin, adjust the stem size by adding a bit to the width and length.
Small and medium pumpkins are my favorite to make because it's easier to pull the needle through the center. The more stuffing that you have (large pumpkin) the wider the area the needle will have to pull through. Just use a long needle and pliers to make that step easier.