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.
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.
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 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 Natural Pumpkin Stems. 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 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.
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.
Lightly pull on the thread on each end to loosely gather up the fabric.
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.
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).
Once filled, tighten up your opening and tie a knot in the thread.
Use your glue to stick the pumpkin stem to the top.
And you're done in less than ten minutes!
View the web story version of this article HERE.
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Vicki@MorePowerfulBeyondMeasure
OoooOooo I have a green velveteen dress I never wear...time for the pumpkin chopping block for it maybe! Love these Pam and I love the price. Good going! We have all got to start doing the Nike commercials and Just Do It!! Check your pumpkins off your list...too cute!
Olive Cooper
Super cute Pam. I was looking at some on etsy last night and they were too pricey for me. Now you will have me looking for velvet dresses in thrift stores:}
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
I love them and yours are so fabulous. Great colors. Hugs, Marty
Kim K.
Brilliant! These little beauties can last way after Halloween right into Thanksgiving. Love them!!
Jane
These are adorable and I am dying to find the time to attempt this project! So many ideas....so little time. I know you can relate!!!
Robin
So pretty! I've been wanting to make some also but it's wayyyyy down on the list. Maybe next year. LOL.
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
Perfect panne pumpkins! If you wouldn't have told us, I would have thought they were made of velvet. But as I look closer, I like these better. What a cute display. Your birdbath pumpkin looks familiar, I displayed my real pumpkin in the birdbath for years. It makes the perfect pumpkin perch, and at my house really shows up from the street. Thanks for telling us about using panne for pumpkins.
Cozy Little House
Looks like velvet to me. Regardless, they are beautiful! I must attempt this next year.
Brenda
Keeping it Cozy
You may have just convinced me to make some velvet pumpkins! I love them.
Sea Witch
Gorgeous. They are selling for about $28.00 each in the Atlanta area.
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
Just went through the fall posts on your sidebar. Love your blog!
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
I love your pumpkins. I want to make some too but I wanted to wait until I had some real stems. I will save mine this year.
Nici - Posed Perfection
These turned out adorable! I have had a hard time finding a suitable fabric to use. I'll have to check JoAnn's. Thanks for the tip.
Blessings,
Nici
Ann from On Sutton Place
Oh my gosh these are awesome! You could make serious money if you sold these. I had checked the price of velvet myself...I got an idea to make some pillow covers but quickly decided not to when I saw the price. If I ever see any for a reasonable amount I'll let you know. Love the crushed velvet you used.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
Beautiful, Pam! They don't look any different than the "velvet" ones seen around. Love the colors, too.
Shabby chic Sandy
Those turned out great! Crushed Panne was the perfect choice--kinda like it better than velvet.