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Sweater Pumpkins

Make your very own sweater pumpkins in minutes with this simple tutorial! It's one of the easiest and most affordable fall crafts, plus it's fun to do with other people for a fun fall girls night!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Servings: 3 sweaters
Author: Britni Vigil

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Cut the Sweater

  • If you are using a sleeve or cuff, lay the sweater sleeve horizontally across a flat surface. Then make one straight vertical cut from the seam of the sleeve to the top. This will detach the sleeve from the sweater completely.
    1 Large sweater
  • Now that the sleeve is detached, cut another vertical cut from the seam to the top. This cut needs to be a minimum of four inches away from the first cut. 

Sew the Pumpkin

  • Begin by threading your needle and tying the two ends of your thread together so you have double the thread. You will want enough thread to go around the circumference of your sleeve opening one and a half times.
    1 pack Embroidery thread
  • Next, turn your sleeve fabric inside out so the seam is on the outside.
  • Start your running stitch, roughly a quarter inch from the edge of your opening. Continue your running stitch all the way around the edge of the of the circle until you get back to where you began your stitch. Don’t sew through both sides of the sleeve at one time!
  • Once you get to where you began your stitch, take your two ends and pull them tightly until you close up the circle. 
  • Tie off the two ends, making them as tight as possible so that the circle is closed. 
  • Cut any loose strings off and flip your fabric inside out so that the rough edges are inside of the pumpkin. 
  • Thread the needle just like you did before and again do a running stitch around the outside of the final opening.
  • Once you make it back to where you began sewing gently let the needle and other end of the thread lay to the side while you add the stuffing.

Stuff the Pumpkin

  • Stuff the pumpkin with the fluff until it is completely full. You will want it to be as stuffed as you can without having troubles, closing it.
    16 oz Pillow stuffing
  • Once you have as much fluff as you want in your pumpkin, you will take the thread in your in one hand and gently push the fabric opening closed with the other hand until it is as tight as possible.
  • Then you will tie off the end of the fabric again, keeping it as tight as possible.
    Any loose fabric can be tucked in to the inside of the pumpkin by gently pushing with your fingers or using a pen as needed.

Create the Pumpkin Ridges

  • Start by adjusting the stuffing with your hands in your pumpkin as needed so that it is as round as possible.
  • Next, you will need to double thread your needle again and make an extra large knot at the end so it doesn't easily go through the pumpkin. You will need enough thread to wrap around your pumpkin three times. The amount will very depending on the size of your pumpkin.
  • Once your needle and thread are ready to go, start by placing the needle through the top of your pumpkin. Push the needle until you see it come out the center of the bottom of your pumpkin then pull the thread all the way through.
  • Now take the thread and needle, and go back to the top of the pumpkin and repeat this step, pushing the needle through the top of the pumpkin bottom of the pumpkin. You are basically creating a loop around your pumpkin then pulling it tight to create the pumpkin indent.
  • You will continue to do this six times, making sure to place the thread where you want the pumpkin ridges to go as you go along. 
  • Once you have all of the ridges completed, go back through and tighten them one by one to get the pumpkin look you want. Once the thread is tightened tie it off at the bottom.

Add the Cork Stem

  • Grab your cork, twine, and hot glue. Place a small dab of hot glue at the top edge of the cork, followed with the end of your twine.
    3 pieces Twine, 3 Corks
  • Once the end is secure, begin to wrap the twine tightly around cork until you reach the bottom where you will hot glue it again to secure the twine in place.
  • Finally add hot glue to the bottom of your cork and place it firmly onto the top of your pumpkin. 

Notes

While there is a video in the post, I highly recommend using it in conjunction with the written tutorial because there are WAY more details in the written post!
Tips for choosing sweaters
Unfortunately not all sweaters will work for these pumpkin crafts or at least some sweaters will work better for others.
Avoid sweaters that have: 
  • Large gaps, holes, or spacing in the design – you need to be able to sew the sweater together and large spaces make it tough to do that.
  • Cut sides, slits, or different length sides – you want to be able to cut the sweater into one even rectangle so if there are slits or different lengths, you’ll end up having to waste a lot of the sweater!
  • Lace or any sort of intricate designs – you’re going to be sewing through the pumpkin and pulling it tight. Avoid anything that might rip, tear, or be difficult to work with when you thread through it.
  • Zippers, buttons, or other chunky pieces – those are all going to be really hard to pull thread through!
  • Cardigans – you want something that’s closed, not open.
  • Fabrics that don’t stretch – stick with something that’s fluffy, chunky, and will stretch will when stuffed with the pillow stuffing!