Project

Fabric Pumpkins

A novice sewer can easily stitch up this pumpkin patch, rendered in matte and lustrous linen, silk, and velvet. Set the sewn pumpkins among real ones (some natural-hued, others spray-painted) in a cool autumnal scene of spare branches and scattered leaves spray-painted silver.

Source: Martha Stewart

materials

Assorted fabrics, like washed-silk or rayon velvet, 45 inches wide, bandjfabrics.com or silk dupioni fabric, nyelegant.com

Sewing machine

Batting

Long sewing needle

Embroidery floss

Needle and thread

steps

Cut out a fabric rectangle on the bias that's twice as long as it is wide. (We used 5-by-10-inch, 8-by-16-inch, and 11-by-22-inch pieces for our three pumpkin sizes.)
Fold rectangle, right side up, so short sides meet; stitch along that edge with 1/4-inch seam allowance. With doubled thread and running stitches, sew along 1 end; pull thread to cinch fabric closed, and stitch to secure.
Turn pouch right side out; stuff with batting. With doubled thread and running stitches, sew around open end; pull thread to cinch fabric, and stitch to secure.
Thread long needle with floss. Wrap floss around pumpkin, pulling through the core several times, to add ridges.
For stem, cut out 2 stem-size pieces of fabric. Stitch pieces, right sides facing, leaving base open. Turn right side out; stuff with batting. Secure open end to pumpkin with slip stitches.