"The bright summer had passed away, and gorgeous autumn was flinging its rainbow-tints of beauty on hill and dale." ~ Cornelia L. Tuthill
Today our windows are open to welcome the slight chill that reminds us that fall is here. Little by little, autumn is easing into our region of the country.
These clever pumpkins are one of my favorite autumnal accents. Emma has already asked if she could display them in her room. Honestly, though, they are so easy to sew, she could probably make a few for herself -- in her choice of pattern and hue.
Plush Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial
1. Although velvet is a classic choice for this project, a cotton duck print gives these gourds vibrant appeal. Spread
fabric, right side down, and trace a circle with a fabric pen. (A 10.5-inch
dinner plate will yield six circles per half-yard of fabric.) Create varied pumpkin
sizes by experimenting with larger and smaller round templates, such as
chargers and salad plates.
2. For each
pumpkin, cut a circle of fabric. With needle and thread chosen to complement
the thickness of the fabric, sew a running stitch around the perimeter of the
circle. Pull the threads to softly gather the fabric, and pour dried beans into
the opening. I used 1 to 1½ cups of black-eyed peas per pumpkin, which
rendered them pleasingly plump. When you are satisfied with the fullness, pull
the threads taut and stitch the opening closed. Do not cut the thread.
3. A button
stitched to the bottom of the pumpkin gives a softly tufted, natural form. Push
the needle through from the gathered top to the bottom. Attach a button,
pushing the needle back and forth through the pumpkin with each stitch. Knot
and clip the thread at the gathered top.
4. A woody
stem from a fresh pumpkin provides the perfect finishing touch, but you can
substitute a stem from another gourd or squash, if needed. Coat the base of the
stem with hot glue, and firmly press the stem into the gathers on the top to
complete the plush pumpkin.
"Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin ... . We anxiously anticipate it every year." ~Trader Joe’s
