Ya’ll, it’s really starting to feel like fall in Beaumont. I mean the last time I checked the temperature it was 90 degrees……(sigh) a girl can dream. Even though the temperature isn’t reflecting the fall season yet, we’ve officially hit September!
In my mind, once football season started so did Fall, so game on!
I was thrilled to start bringing out my fall decor for the house. I don’t know about you, but I have been mean mugging these velvet pumpkins for quite some time, especially the ones with feathers. You know the ones that cost a whooping $300-400 for a large pumpkin…those feathered pumpkins.
Now for the past year or two, a lot of Etsy shops have popped up with these beauties and even some staple home decor places have them now. I was having a difficult time finding the sizes and colors I wanted in the pumpkins, especially the feathered ones at a decent price tag. I didn’t want like two or three feathered pumpkins, I wanted like 8. It might be a bit much but a girl wants what a girl wants. So I decided why the hell not just try it, and see what happens.
I will be very upfront, I am NOT a sewing expert but I promise you…. this is silly easy and so pretty! The only sewing experience I have was observing my late grandmother sew American Girl doll dupes that consisted of home items, clothes, and accessories. We would have so much fun reusing my old clothes into items for Holly Ann, my adorable red headed AG doll.
I have to admit I completed most of the pumpkins while catching up on the last season of Yellowstone and with a glass of vino, of course.
Materials
Check out my Shopmy collection for everything you need for to create your DIY Velvet Pumpkins here or look for only the items you need below. (Affiliate links)
- Stretch velvet material (this site offers a wide selection of colors) All fabric stores should carry stretch velvet but colors may be limited. I ordered a yard of each color. One yard will give you multiple pumpkins in a variety of sizes.
- Poly-Fil for inside of pumpkins (I made over 20 different sized pumpkins and only used two bags-just to give you an idea)
- uncooked rice or beans (this gives the pumpkins some weight at the bottom) I had rice on hand so I used that.
- measuring cup to pour rice in pumpkin (I used 1/4 cup)
- Pumpkin stems-I used real dried ones. If I would’ve planned accordingly I would’ve dried mine out last year. You can also use molding clay and bake it to make faux stems.
- Trim with feathers (I got two different colors) Most craft stores carry these but mine had limited colors
- Extra strong upholstery thread One spool-I used white on all my pumpkins
- Needle I purchased this pack of assorted needles because I was constantly borrowing my mom’s.
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- marker for tracing
- Round objects around your house for tracing patterns
- Rice
Step 1: Make circle pattern
Choose an item around the house to use as a pattern. I used plates for small-medium pumpkins, a large mixing bowl for medium-large pumpkins, and the top of my round ottoman for extra large pumpkins. If you don’t have something really big to trace my diameter was 34″ to have some reference. Pay attention to what marker color you pick, I used lighter colors with the lighter colored velvet. You don’t want any bleed through. Trace your circle with a marker on the back of the velvet (not the pretty side). Cut out the pattern with your scissors.
Step 2: Thread needle and hand sew
You will be doing a lot of gentle pulling on this pumpkin so a heavy duty thread is definitely needed. I typically do an arms length plus a little extra for the length of my thread. I increased the length as the pumpkins got larger. Next, thread your needle and cut off excess thread from the spool. Knot the other end of your thread.
You will start weaving in and out of the velvet pattern along the edges until you reach your starting point.
Step 3: Stuff that pumpkin babe
Next, you need to scoop rice or beans into the pumpkin pouch. I put a plate under mine in case I had any spills. I used a hefty scoop for the following: 1/4 cup for small, 1/2 cup for medium, and 3/4 cup for large pumpkins. Use your best judgment. You can’t mess this up.
Now start adding the Poly-fil on the inside of the pumpkin pocket. Make sure you fill it up all the way around so it will be full. Your gathers will start to loosen but try your best to pull them tight as you add filler. When you feel like the pumpkin is full enough, it is time to sew it closed.
Step 4: Sew the pumpkin close
This video will show you exactly how I sew the pumpkin to close it up, securely knot it multiple times, and tie off the thread.
Step 5: Feathers (optional) and Stem
I made pumpkins with and without feathers. I believe using feathers with trim is much easier than using loose feathers. I think it would’ve been a hot mess.
I started by cutting a two feather section off of the trim and then trim the excess material without damaging the feathers. Then I’d find a little gather near the center I could stick and hide the trim underneath. I usually only got 3-4 feather sections in this way depending on the size of your pumpkin. Then I started gluing little sections on top of the gathers in a circle. I would recommend having some stems handy at this stage. I would keep popping my stem on top to make sure the bottom of the stem would conceal all the trim.
Last but not least, add the hot glue or super glue of choice to the bottom of the stem. Stick and hold in place for a 20-30 seconds. If you added feathers, you can add a few more sections underneath the top layer. You’ll be able to tell what won’t show to make it fuller if needed.
Step 6: Style and Enjoy!
I think this DIY would be such a fun girls night with a charcuterie board and wine to kick off the Fall season. Split up some stretch velvet fabric because you most likely ordered way too much like I did.
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