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    Home » DIY And Crafts

    How To Make Velvet Pumpkins

    Published by Pam Kessler | 611 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article. - 34 Comments

    I've been dying to make some of these velvet pumpkins for the last two years, but just never had the time to try them.

    How to make velvet pumpkins

    Stupid, stupid, stupid. They only take about 10 minutes each to make and are about as easy a craft as you've ever seen.

    I could have been swimming in velvet pumpkins by now.

    velvet pumpkins with real stems

    At first I was going to use thrift store velvet dresses and repurpose the fabric into pumpkins, but the only color I could find was black and I wasn't in to black pumpkins right now (maybe for Halloween though).

    So I popped over to JoAnn Fabrics and picked up some crushed panne velvet, which is a lightweight version of velvet with more stretch to it. The traditional velvet tends to be a little stiffer and not as easy to get a needle through.

    The day I went, the crushed panne was on sale for only $2.49 a yard. I bought ½ yards each of three different colors, so I skipped out of JoAnn's with $3.75 in fabric.

    DIY fabric pumpkins

    DIY Velvet Pumpkins

    I have seen these pumpkins in stores for upwards of $35.00 each and I made mine for way, way under $5.00 a piece (so small that I, the Accountant, didn't bother to break out the actual cost per pumpkin).

    They really are so easy it's silly.

    Where To Buy Dried Pumpkin Stems

    If you didn't save your stems from last year's pumpkins, you can buy dried pumpkin stems on Etsy. One of my favorite Etsy shops for stems is Perky Pumpkins. You can also use a chunky twig as a stem if you don't want to use real pumpkin stems.

    (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)

    how to make velvet pumpkins

    How to Make Velvet Pumpkins With Real Stems

    Supplies needed:

    • fabric of your choosing - velvet, crushed panne velvet, burlap or whatever the heck you like
    • scissors
    • needle and thread
    • navy beans
    • polyester fiber fill
    • glue - I used E6000
    • an old pumpkin stem (you could use a twig instead) or I found this vendor on etsy with pumpkin stems for sale

    Instructions:

    Use a dinner plate to draw a circle on the back of your fabric. Cut the circle out.

    cutting velvet for pumkpins

    Thread your needle and make long stitches around the perimeter of the circle.

    Contrary to what your mother told you, neatness does NOT count here. You are just stitching so that you can gather the fabric later, so you have my permission to be sloppy.

    sewing velvet pumpkins

    Lightly pull on the thread on each end to loosely gather up the fabric.

    sewing fabric pumpkins

    Put some navy beans in the bottom of the pumpkin. This gives the pumpkins a little weight and also helps to keep them from rolling around when the dog walks by.

    stuffing fabric pumpkins

    Add some fiber fill to puff it up a bit. If you don't have fiber fill, I'm sure you could use cotton balls or pantyhose (if you have any lying around from 1984).

    stuffing velvet pumpkins

    Once filled, tighten up your opening and tie a knot in the thread.

    gluing real stems on velvet pumpkins

    Use your glue to stick the pumpkin stem to the top.

    Tutorial for how to make velvet or fabric pumpkins for your fall home decor. They are a cute, quick and easy DIY craft project for autumn.

    And you're done in less than ten minutes!

    How To Make Velvet Pumpkins With Real Stems

    Edited to add:  I've had lots of people asking if I sell these and no I don't, but I did find something similar on etsy if you would prefer to just buy them.

    They are so SUPER SIMPLE to make though! You got this!

    View the web story version of this article HERE.

     

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    23.1K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melinda

      October 09, 2012 at 9:15 pm

      So pretty! Great job.

      M 🙂

      Reply
    2. Tricia

      October 10, 2012 at 8:55 am

      Wow, these turned out great, Pam! This probably sounds kind of odd, but I really like the stems...for me that's an important thing in pumpkin selection 🙂

      Reply
    3. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      October 10, 2012 at 11:57 pm

      OH, I love the fabric you used, Pam! Makes me want to try making some!

      Reply
    4. Roslyn

      October 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm

      Wonderful post & I am going to make these just as soon as I can leave this bed & walk around Joann's! But that also means I have to buy real pumpkins or they will not look nearly as fine as yours do. Well after halloween pumpkins will be very cheap!
      Thanks for an adorable idea!

      Reply
    5. [email protected]

      September 20, 2014 at 9:19 pm

      I'm lovin' your blog and lovin' this project! Thanks for sharing on the link party. Just book marked you and will be checking back often. Your pic's are beautiful and love your sense of humor!

      Reply
    6. Marie Blackburn

      September 21, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Pam these are downright adorable! Thanks for the awesome tutorial...I must have some of these on my mantle this Fall 🙂
      [email protected] Interior Frugalista

      Reply
    7. Anonymous

      October 24, 2014 at 11:27 am

      I used potpourri in a pumpkin scent for part of the stuffing. Now they are beautiful and smell great too.

      Reply
    8. **** April ****

      November 06, 2014 at 7:20 pm

      Love love love these! Pinned on pinterest and included on my blog of fall crafts I want to do!

      Reply
    9. Lorraine Castellon-Rowe

      September 01, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      You are a genius!!! Seriously, I've seen these darn pumpkins everywhere and you're right for $35 to $50 bucks!! Now I can make my own!!! You ROCK!! Thans so much!!

      Reply
      • Pam

        September 03, 2015 at 8:46 am

        You're welcome Lorraine!

        Reply
    10. Lisalisa

      September 29, 2018 at 10:47 pm

      I have also used mini door knobs for the stem. Makes them look Victorian!

      Reply
    11. Wilhelmina

      September 16, 2019 at 10:24 am

      Love your pumpkins, so easy to make only if I can buy the materials here in Canada.

      Reply
      • Janet D

        September 25, 2021 at 3:29 pm

        Rolling when the dogs walk by and pantyhose from 1984! You crack me up! Pumpkins are cute. I just bought fabric that will look great as a pumpkin. Thanks!

        Reply
    12. Ali

      October 15, 2021 at 1:49 pm

      I headed to a charity shop an bought lots of diff clothes in Will , velvet cotton etc. For full £5 English £ I bought lots an lots of useful material, jumpers etc . Can’t wait to begin making these lovely items 😁

      Reply
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