Do you save old garments, linens, and draperies for crafting potential? I save everything, including the armchair slipcover used for today's DIY fabric pumpkin tutorial. I am sharing how to make the cutest farmhouse-style ticking fabric pumpkins. But what makes them unique is the repurposed kitchen cabinet knob stems.

DIY Fabric Pumpkins With Cabinet Knob Stems

I'll show you how easy it is to make these inexpensive fabric pumpkins made with recycled materials found in my fabric and craft bins in the basement. Thrift stores are another great resource for sourcing materials to make these DIY fabric pumpkins.

Optional Fabric Suggestions For Making DIY Pumpkins

1. While my red ticking stripe pumpkins have farmhouse charm, you could make regal pumpkins the same way with crushed velvet and pretty glass or beaded furniture knobs for the stems.
2. Another idea is to make recycled sweater pumpkins much the same way and instead of furniture knobs, use tree branches foraged from your yard for the stems.
3. If you prefer a non-traditional fall decorating style, use bright bold patterns in fall colors like these retro fabric pumpkins. Instead of cabinet knobs, I used wooden chair spindles for the stems.

How To Make Fabric Pumpkins

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommended for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from any qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Supply List

Red Ticking Stripe Fabric or fabric of your choice
Matching All-Purpose Thread
Fiber Fill
Twine
White Ceramic Cabinet Knobs
Artificial Fern Picks
8-inch Upholstery Needle
Hot Glue Gun
Awl

You'll also need Mod Podge or white school glue to finish the pumpkins.

DIY Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

If you can sew a straight line, you can definitely make these pumpkins! No worries if you don't have a sewing machine as the fabric pumpkins can easily be handstitched.

Step 1 - Fabric Pumpkin Measurements

The trick to measuring the fabric is to divide the width in half to get the height. I recommend making fabric pumpkins in multiple sizes as follows:

Large Fabric Pumpkin: 20-inches wide x 10-inches tall
Medium Fabric Pumpkin: 16-inches wide x 8-inches tall
Small Fabric Pumpkin: 12-inches wide by 6-inches tall

Step 2 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Side Seams

Close the side seam with either a sewing machine, hand-stitched with a sewing needle, or fabric glue for a no-sew option.

1. Fold the fabric with the short sides together.
2. Sew the side seams together.
3. To prevent the fabric from fraying, I used the elastic stitch setting on my sewing machine which mimics a serged finish.

Step 3 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Bottom Seam

1. Baste stitch the bottom seam (the largest stitch setting on the sewing machine) or a handstitched running stitch and leave long threads on either end.
2. Gently pull on the top thread to gather the fabric (as pictured below).
3. Repeat by pulling the top thread on the opposite side (as pictured below).
4. Tie the ends to secure the gathers.

No-Sew Option For Fabric Pumpkin Seam

For a no-sew option, gather the fabric in your hand and tie it off with an elastic band.

Next, turn the pumpkins right side out and we'll move on to stuffing the pumpkins with batting.

Step 4 - Fill Fabric Pumpkins

Fill the pumpkins with fiberfill batting up to approximately 1-1½ inches from the top.

Step 5 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Top Seams

1. With a needle and all-purpose thread, hand stitch the top closed and gather the fabric the same way as outlined in Step 3.
2. Draw the points together into the center and stitch them in place.

Step 6 - How To Make Fabric Pumpkin Ribs And Tendrils

Cut twine in the following lengths per each size of pumpkin:
Large: 90-inches
Medium: 80-inches
Small: 70-inches

Safety Tips

1. Be cautious when pushing the large upholstery needle through the pumpkins so it doesn't poke your hand.
2. With an 8-inch upholstery needle, thread a strand of twine through the top of the pumpkin and out the center of the bottom. You may want to use a thimble to help push the needle through the bulk of the pumpkin.
3. Leave a long strand at the top for the first tendril.
4. Holding the tendril in place with your thumb, pull the thread over the pumpkin and insert the needle into the top center and back through the base.
5. Wrap it over the opposite side of the pumpkin and pull it taut to form the first two ribs and tie in a knot to hold them in place.
6. Repeat the last two steps until you have eight ribs and tie in a knot to secure.
7. There should be two strands of twine at the top of the pumpkin for tendrils as pictured below.

Step 7 - How To Add Cabinet Knob Stems To DIY Fabric Pumpkins

1. With an Awl, poke a hole through the top and down to the bottom of the pumpkin and move the Awl in a back-and-forth motion to create a large enough hole (pictured above). Be careful during this step because the tip of that Awl is very sharp when it pops through the bottom.
2. Squish the pumpkin as tight as you can and from the bottom of the pumpkin, pull the cabinet knob screw through the hole created by the Awl and out the top of the pumpkin (pictured below). I'm not going to lie, lining up the screw can be a bit frustrating so patience is key.
3. Twist the knob onto the screw and hand tighten it to secure. You may need to use a screwdriver to tighten the knob completely.

Step 8 - How To Make Fabric Pumpkin Leaves

I save everything and had quite the collection of faux greens in a large plastic tote. I found several plastic ferns that I've had in my stash for over twenty years and they were perfect to use as pumpkin leaves.

I cut the stems off the picks with wire cutters and tucked them under the cabinet knob stems and secured them with a dab of hot glue.

Step 9 - How To Curl Twine Pumpkin Tendrils

You'll want to use tin foil or plastic wrap to protect the fabric during this step. To curl the tendrils you'll need either white crafting glue or Mod Podge.

1. Pour white school glue or Mod Podge into a plastic container.
2. Dip your fingers into the glue and rub a generous amount on the twine tendrils.
3. Wrap the twine around a pencil, pen, or whatever you have on hand and let them dry for about an hour.
4. Carefully slide the markers off the tendrils and let them completely dry while still curled.
5. Once dry, loosen the curls to your liking.

That's it, we're done. There may seem to be a lot of steps to making the fabric pumpkins but each step goes rather quickly. Once you've mastered making one set of DIY fabric pumpkins, you'll be looking for other fabric remnants to make more!

Showcase the DIY pumpkins by creating a lovely Fall vignette on a coffee table tray with a mix of fabric pumpkins set on wooden candleholders and painted dollar store pumpkins as pictured below.

For more pumpkin craft inspiration see our 12 DIY pumpkin ideas that are easy on the wallet. Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this DIY fabric pumpkin tutorial.

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