Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Punkin' Tutorial

We made these cute, easy punkins' at retreat this past weekend and I wanted to share with you. Our wonderful Retreat Mum, Kerrie, brought the instructions for these, but I don't know where she got it. You'll need fabric, at least 7 x 14, and twigs, twine and leaves. I used real leaves here, but silk would probably last longer. You can use raffia, twine or decorative cording - they all look great! You also need a glue gun or some kind of tough glue.

Cut your fabric 7 x 14. Any dimension that is rectangular will work, and different proportions will make different shaped punkins. This measurement makes a punkin' about the size of a grapefruit. Fold it over right sides together and sew up the short side:
Press the seam out - any old which way. Then you need to do a bit of handwork. With a doubled thread, fold over one edge just once about 1/4 inch and make a long running stitch all the way around.
Gather it up as tight as it will go, but DO NOT cut off the thread. You'll have a puckery little belly button:
Turn it inside out and stitch the puckers closed, as sloppy as you want! NOW you can knot it and clip it off.
Do the same gathering stitch to the other side, again DO NOT cut your thread. Stuff your punkin' as firm or soft as you like. BTW - if you've stuffed things before and not liked the "lumpy" look, tear off that stuffing in wispy little bits instead of grabbing a handful. When it's as firm as you like, pull up that thread into another pucker, knot it off and clip the thread.
I think it takes something less than a yard of cording, and here's where you wrap it around the punkin' in equal divisions. Put the first strand directly on the seam (for camouflage) and wrap it around, tying it in the center. Do the same for 2 or 3 more divisions, whatever look you like. When you've done all the wrapping and tying, you have this:
Finally the fun part!! Pick a good stem and glue it down into the opening. If you want, you can twist pipe cleaners or florists wire around something skinny like a paintbrush and glue those in next to the stem.
Overlap the leaves, gluing each one as you go. Suddenly, VIOLA!
You have a punkin! Check my previous post for a group shot - all the different fabrics looked great! And a big basket of these will decorate clear thru Thanksgiving - and make great gifts. Have fun!

33 comments:

Kim said...

Excellent tutorial, Su Bee! I hope you don't mind if I mention it on my blog. And I came across something for the leaf "issue" that I'll mention too, I think--I need to take another look at it with this project in mind! Now I'd really like to go make myself some pumpkins . . . .

Vickie E said...

this is a great tutorial..thank you..

tisme said...

Someone on the HGTV quilting message boards posted a link to your tutorial on pumpkins, so I popped in to take a look. LOVE your whole blog. You are a very creative, funny person! I really enjoyed it. I also love your little coffee maker.
Tammy

Paula, the quilter said...

Thank you, thank you! I'm going to make some of these for auntie in the assisted living place.

MARCIE said...

Thanks for this great project and tutorial! The little pumpkins are adorable!

em's scrapbag said...

Well how fun is that? Great tutorial. Going to have to make an indoor pumpking patch.

Purple Pam said...

Your little pumpkins are great! What a fun idea. These things are so great to do with a group. It is very addictive with such a great support group! Wonderful tutorial. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the idea and the tutorial of how to make the punkin's. I saw it mentioned on the HGTV quilting message board which was perfect timing since I needed a punkin pattern. http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5894011632/m/5411021583

Come join us there sometime.
Bess

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

thank you for the tutorial. I made a few of them and will post them on my blog this week sometime. So fun and easy to make, Thanks again for sharing.

julieQ said...

They are darling! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. Love these, and will pick out some fabrics and do these!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this great project and tutorial!
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elsie123 said...

Great tutorial, great blog. Hope you don't mind, I've linked you on my blog.

Teresa said...

Thanks for the tutorial...these do look like fun!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Love it, Su Bee! Thanks for the lesson, I'm, gonna make a patch full o' punkins!

Linda said...

Great tutorial and a great blog. Hope you don't mind, I've linked you on my blog.The little pumpkins are adorable!
Have a great Fall season. I'm going to make some of these cute pumpkins tonight....hugs, Linda

Stephanie said...

Thanks for this great tutorial. I printed it out and I can't wait to make one!!

Stephanie

Amy said...

thanks for the tutorial, I might make some for next year. Happy Stitching, Amy

Mary said...

They're darling! Great tutorial, might just give one a try myself today!

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