How to Make Fabric Pumpkins
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Want to learn how to make fabric pumpkins? You’re in luck! I’ve got an easy fabric pumpkin tutorial to share that shows you how to make these cute, colorful DIY pumpkins with just about any type of fabric.
There’s a free fabric pumpkin pattern in 4 sizes: Mini, Small, Tall, and Short & Wide. And if you prefer to watch the process, there’s also a video tutorial to walk you through each step.
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DIY Fabric Pumpkins as Fall Decor
My kitchen table has been in need of a little update for fall. I’d been seeing these adorable fabric pumpkins around and wanted to try making a few myself.
I finally did and am tickled pink with how they turned out! (Or should I say tickled orange and purple?)
One of my favorite things about this project is how different the pumpkins can look just by changing the fabric. Make them bright and colorful like mine, use fall plaids, try soft velvet, or dig through your scrap bin and make a whole collection.
Why Sew Fabric Pumpkins?
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Adorable – These DIY fabric pumpkins make the cutest fall decor. They look darling as a centerpiece and would also be cute on a mantel, bookshelf, or tucked into a basket.
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Easy – Each pumpkin starts with a simple rectangle, so there are no complicated curved pattern pieces or lots of seams to sew.
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4 sizes – The free printable pattern includes Mini, Small, Tall, and Short & Wide pumpkins.
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Scrap busting project – These colorful pumpkins only need a bit of fabric, and the new Mini size is especially good for using up little scraps.
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Great for gifts or craft fairs – Fabric pumpkins make a darling handmade fall gift and are also a cute item to sell at a craft fair or Etsy shop.
Recommended Fabric for Fabric Pumpkins
The good news is just about any fabric will work!
- Quilting cotton or scrap fabric
- Velvet
- Canvas
- Thick knits
- Corduroy
- Old sweaters
Quilting cotton is probably the easiest option if this is your first fabric pumpkin because it gathers easily and is simple to sew. Heavier fabrics like velvet, canvas, corduroy, and sweater knits make beautiful pumpkins too.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a pretty great collection of quilting cotton. I’m on a mission to curate a collection that has all the colors so I can make something seasonal or whatever is trending without having to rush off to the fabric store.
I picked up this fall-themed fabric collection from my local fabric store and have a ton of project ideas for it, starting with these easy fabric pumpkins.
More Simple Projects for Your Quilting Cotton Stash
- 45+ Easy Quilt Patterns for Beginners
- Free Pillowcase Dress Pattern
- Simple Elastic Waist Skirt
- Easy Patchwork Pincushion Pattern
- Quilted Fabric Coasters
- 10-Minute Pillowcase Pattern
Free Fabric Pumpkin Pattern – 4 Sizes
These fabric pumpkins are made from simple rectangles, which is what makes this pattern so easy. I’ve included a free printable fabric pumpkin pattern with four different sizes and shapes:
- Mini: 4.25″ × 3.5″ on the fold / 8.5″ × 3.5″ opened
- Small: 7.75″ × 7.5″ on the fold / 15.5″ × 7.5″ opened
- Tall: 10.5″ × 16″ on the fold / 21″ × 16″ opened
- Short & Wide: 16″ × 13″ on the fold / 32″ × 13″ opened
Pro Tip:
Print the pattern pages at 100% or Actual Size and check the 1-inch test square before cutting. The Tall pumpkin pattern is rotated, so the top black dashed line is the edge that goes on the fabric fold.
Want to save paper? You don’t have to print the pattern at all. Since every pumpkin starts with a simple square or rectangle, you can just use the dimensions listed above and measure/cut your fabric directly. The printable is most helpful if you’re making several pumpkins, want to quickly repeat the same sizes, or just prefer having a ready-to-use pattern piece.
Bonus Mini Fabric Pumpkin
I recently added a Mini pumpkin to the pattern, and it may be my favorite size yet. The Mini uses a rectangle that measures 4.25″ × 3.5″ on the fold, or 8.5″ × 3.5″ when opened.
It is made exactly the same way as the larger pumpkins, so there are no separate sewing instructions to follow. Because it uses so little fabric, the Mini is perfect for scraps. These tiny pumpkins would be adorable as bowl fillers, place-setting decorations, wreath embellishments, tiered-tray decor, or grouped together in a little basket.
How to Make Fabric Pumpkins
Would you like to make some fabric pumpkins too? It’s so easy, and you don’t even need a sewing machine!
The best part of this fabric pumpkin pattern is that you can make the pumpkins with fabric scraps you already have on hand.
There is a tiny bit of sewing, but if you don’t have a machine, don’t worry. It is easy to hand-stitch in just a few minutes. You could even use hot glue on the side seam if you aren’t into hand sewing.
Creative Ideas to Fancy Up Your Fabric Pumpkins
- Add burlap, fabric, or raffia leaves.
- Wrap twine around your pumpkin stem.
- Add a few cinnamon sticks along with the stuffing to give the pumpkins a pumpkin spice scent.
- Use homespun, plaid, buffalo check, corduroy, or velvet fabric.
- Make several Mini pumpkins for a bowl, wreath, garland, tiered tray, or place settings.
Time Needed
About 15 minutes.
Skill Level
Easy. You can even sew it by hand.
Materials Needed
- Pattern (or dimensions – found below)
- Fabric
- Polyester stuffing
- Needle and strong thread
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors and ruler
- Something for the stem and leaves. I used sticks I found outside and leaves from an old discarded fake plant. Felt or fabric would also work for the leaves.
- Twine, string, raffia, or yarn to wrap around the pumpkin
Instructions to Make Fabric Pumpkins
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric
Cut your fabric into a rectangle. Different dimensions will give you different pumpkin shapes. For a classic round pumpkin, start with a rectangle about twice as wide as it is tall. For a tall, skinny pumpkin, reduce the width. For a shorter, fatter pumpkin, increase the width.
I wanted a variety of shapes that would complement each other, so for reference, my full opened fabric pieces are:
- Mini: 8.5″ wide × 3.5″ tall
- Small pumpkin: 15.5″ wide × 7.5″ tall
- Short & Wide pumpkin: 32″ wide × 13″ tall
- Tall pumpkin: 21″ wide × 16″ tall
If you’re using the printable pattern, place the marked edge on the fabric fold and cut. Remember, the Tall pattern is rotated, so its fold edge is the top black dashed line.
Step 2: Sew the Side Seam of the Pumpkin
Fold your fabric in half, right sides together, and hand stitch, machine sew, or even hot glue the side seam using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.
Step 3: Close the Bottom of the Fabric Pumpkin
Next, hand stitch a wide basting stitch along the bottom of the tube. I tried to use my machine for this basting stitch, but it works better hand sewn since you can get a much wider stitch.
Pull the gathering thread until the bottom is tightly closed, then add a few stitches to secure it.
Step 4: Stuff Your Fabric Pumpkin and Close the Top
Flip the fabric right side out and stuff your pumpkin.
Pro Tip:
Don’t be shy with the stuffing. In my experience, the more stuffing you can work into these pumpkins, the better they look. A generously stuffed pumpkin gets a fuller, rounder shape and prettier sections once the twine is wrapped around it. Just leave enough fabric at the top to pull the opening closed.
To conserve my stuffing, I make a hole in the middle of the fiberfill and tuck plastic bags or fabric scraps into the center, then cover them with stuffing.
Sew a basting stitch along the top and close it the same way as the bottom.
Pull the top closed and add a few stitches to secure it.
Mini Pumpkin Tip:
The Mini can be a little fiddly to close because it’s tiny and stuffed so firmly. You may need a second set of hands to help hold everything in place while you pull the thread tight. I actually had to wait for my husband to come home so he could lend me a finger while I cinched mine closed.
Step 5: Add the Twine and Finishing Touches
Wrap the piece of twine around the pumpkin 2 to 4 times, or however many times looks best to you. Wrap it tightly and tie it off on the bottom.
The tension gives the pumpkin its puffiness.
If the knots at the bottom bother you, you could cut a circle of fabric or felt and hot glue it over the knots to cover them up.
Add a dollop of hot glue to the top of the pumpkin and attach your stem.
Add your leaves and twine with a little more hot glue and voilà! An adorable DIY fabric pumpkin. Cute, isn’t it?
Tips for Making the Best Fabric Pumpkins
- Stuff them really full. The more stuffing you can get into the pumpkin, the fuller and prettier the finished shape will be.
- The Mini may need an extra hand. Because it is so small and tightly stuffed, getting the top completely closed can be tricky. Having someone hold the center down with a finger while you pull the thread tight makes it much easier.
- Use strong thread for gathering. You’ll be pulling fairly hard when you close the top and bottom.
- Change the proportions for different shapes. Wider rectangles make squat pumpkins, while narrower rectangles make taller pumpkins.
- Mix fabrics and sizes. They look especially cute grouped together in different colors, textures, and shapes.
- Save your scraps. Fabric scraps or clean plastic bags can be tucked into the center to reduce the amount of fiberfill you need.
Fabric Pumpkin FAQs
Do I need a fabric pumpkin pattern?
No. These pumpkins are made from rectangles, so you don’t need complicated curved pattern pieces. You can use my free fabric pumpkin pattern in 4 sizes for easy cutting, or measure your own rectangle.
Can I make fabric pumpkins without a sewing machine?
Yes! The only machine-sewn part is the side seam, and you can very easily stitch that seam by hand instead. You could also use hot glue or fabric glue for the side seam. I still recommend hand sewing the basting stitches at the top and bottom because that makes it much easier to gather the fabric into the rounded pumpkin shape.
Can I make Mini fabric pumpkins?
Absolutely. The Mini size uses an 8.5″ × 3.5″ piece of fabric and is made exactly the same way as the larger pumpkins. They’re especially cute for bowl fillers, tiered trays, wreaths, garlands, and place settings.
What can I use for a fabric pumpkin stem?
My favorite option is a small branch or large stick from outside. You can cut it into a pumpkin-sized stem and it looks just like the real thing. You can also use a cinnamon stick, wine cork, twisted brown paper, modeling clay, rolled felt or fabric, or wrap another small object with twine or raffia.
I think my next set will be velvet pumpkins. How about you, what fall sewing projects do you have lined up?
Did You Make These DIY Fabric Pumpkins?
Please leave a star rating and/or a review in the comments section below. If you share an image on Instagram, be sure to tag me and use #scatteredmompatterns. You can also share an image in my private Facebook sewing group.
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How to Make Fabric Pumpkins
Make some adorable Fabric Pumpkins using any type of fabric! These cute and colorful fabric pumpkins make a great centerpiece or fall display.
Materials
- Fabric
- Pillow stuffing
- needle and thread
- hot glue gun
- scissors/ruler
- Something for the stem and leaves (I used sticks I found outside leaves from an old discarded fake plant, but you could use felt or fabric for the leaves (if you even want a leaf) and for the stump, you could stuff a small piece of felt or fabric or use a stick from the yard or maybe even a twisted brown paper sack.)
- Twine, string, raffia or yarn to wrap around the pumpkin.
Instructions
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric.
- Cut your fabric into a rectangle, different dimensions will give different shapes. A standard pumpkin shape would be width = 2 X’s the height. So for a tall skinny pumpkin, reduce the width. For a shorter/fatter pumpkin increase the width.
- I wanted various shapes that would complement each other, so for reference, my cut pieces were:
Small pumpkin (orange fabric): 15.5 wide by 7.5 tall
Short pumpkin (purple fabric): 32 wide by 13 tall
Tall/ large pumpkin (stripe fabric): 21 wide by 16 tall
Step 2: Sew The Side Seams Of The Pumpkin.
- Fold your fabric in half, right sides together, and hand stitch, machine sew, or even hot glue the side seam, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Step 3: Close The Bottom Of The Fabric Pumpkin.
- Next, hand stitch a wide basting stitch along the bottom of the tube. (I tried to use my machine for this basting stitch, but it works better hand sewn since you can get a much wider stitch.)
- Gather the bottom up so it is tightly closed and sew a few stitches to secure the bottom.
Step 4: Stuff Your Fabric Pumpkin And Close The Top.
- Flip the fabric right side out and stuff your pumpkin. (To conserve my stuffing, I made a hole in the middle of the stuffing and used plastic bags and fabric scraps, then put stuffing on top.)
- Sew a basting stitch along the top and close it the same way as the bottom.
- Pull the top closed and add a few stitches to secure it.
- Wrap the piece of twine around the pumpkin 2 to 4 times (whatever looks best to you.) Wrap it tightly and tie it off on the bottom.
- The tension gives the pumpkin the puffiness.
- If the knots at the bottom bother you, you could cut a circle of fabric/felt and hot glue it over the knots to cover them up.
- Add a dollop of hot glue to the top of the pumpkin and attach your stem.
- Add your leaves and twine with a little more hot glue and…
Voilà! An adorable fabric pumpkin! Cute isn’t it?
Saving your stuffing by using scraps or bags in the center is genius!
Will be using this idea in other projects.
Fabric pumpkins are so cute and easy to make! I love how they look on the porch and in the garden.
After much research for the best instructions to make fabric pumpkins, this by far is the best. Thank you for making it so simple.
Thanks!
I love it sooo nice of you to share want to make with the girls in my Sunday school class at my house they will love it! Thanks for sharing Cindy in VA
Love the easy way these are made. I will be making these small (3″ to 6″) so I can use them on wreaths & fall crafts instead of using the plastic ones from the store. Thanks for sharing.
Cute, cute, cute! And so easy I could even whip out a few while watching tv with the hubs in the evening! Thanks! Appreciate the talents of those who can figure out how to make things and are willing to pass along the how-to’s to the rest of us.
Love these pumpkins, and wanted to let you know that I'm featuring them as part of Link It or Lump It today. Thanks for participating in our link party!
I absolutely love this! Pinned. It is so fun to party with you. Thank you. I hope to see you at our party on Monday at 7 pm. Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Your pumpkins are so fun! Thanks for sharing them at The Project Stash last week….we featured them!
Please please please share this fab tutorial at my Show Me Saturdays (party starts at 7:00 am EST). My readers would love this!
~ Ashley