Monday, September 15, 2014

Falling for Pumpkins!

Fall's the best! I think Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.
Since I've started designing the window displays for the MSQC's shop windows this is the first fall season.
It's pretty exciting! Plus, I love sewing with my momma!
We spent the night cutting and sewing till our fingers hurt! It was so worth it!
We made pumpkins, and fabric lashed through sticks and with a burlap moon, and gourds hanging from fabric cords. I love it!
And lucky you today we get to learn how to make the pumpkins for your home!

They're really pretty simple. My favorite kind of project!
 For a large pumpkin cut 4 strips of fabric 6"x19"
and 4 strips of burlap or other contrast fabric the same size.

Put a burlap and fabric strip right sides together and sew approx. 4" down then start gathering the fabric.
My mom and I gather fabric the slightly less precise, but faster way. You basically just slide and shove fabric up to and under the presser foot. Gather the edge till approx. 4" from the bottom edge then sew the last of it straight.
With these pumpkins the tighter you gather the better. It makes each of the pumpkin sections stand out really nicely.
That's my special trick for putting these together! Pretty easy huh!
Continue to chain sew the strips together till they are all gathered in the center. Add the double sections together, and continuing like this till all the sections are sewn together in a large tube.
With the tube inside out use a thick string and make a loose running stitch about a 1/2" from the edge.

Pull it tight and sew directly through the large bundle of fabric several times, from a couple of directions.

 Tie it off and turn the pumpkin right side out.
Add some stuffing making sure to stuff extra into the different sections.
Repeat the loose running stitch 1/2" from the top edge.
Pull it tight tucking the edge to the inside. Sew across the tightened end of the pumpkin.
Ta da!

Now all you have to do is find a short section of a stick or branch and hot glue it into place!
They're so cute!
To make smaller pumpkins - start with 4"x8" fabric pieces and sew the straight ends only 1"-1 1/2" long gathering the centers tightly, just like the large pumpkins!

Enjoy an easy Fall project and make some pumpkins for your table!
Happy Fall!