Have you seen beautiful velvet pumpkins for sale in stores this Fall? Did you know you can make them yourself? Today, I want to share an easy way to make DIY velvet pumpkins with real stems!
Every store I’ve gone into this Fall seems to have gorgeous velvet pumpkins for sale!
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
I was so tempted to buy some, but then I remembered a green velvet-looking shirt that Rich has but never wears!
So today, I will upcycle that old shirt into the prettiest pumpkins you’ve ever seen!
Here’s the shirt.
My friend, Julie, at My Wee Abode, made velvet pumpkins several years ago, and I will follow her instructions instead of reinventing the wheel!
Ready to see how they turned out?
Here are my new gorgeous pumpkins!
You’re not going to believe how easy they are to make!
Steps to Make DIY Velvet Pumpkins
Gather
Gather or purchase the following items to make velvet pumpkins:
- Velvet material- we’re using an upcycled shirt made from velvet-like material, but you can buy it
- Circle patterns- I used a cutting board, placemat, and a dinner plate
- Pen/marker- I used a white chalk marker
- Scissors
- Heavy duty thread
- Doll needle
- Funnel- optional
- Rice
- Poly-fil
- Pumpkin stems- real or faux- I used the stems I took off last year’s pumpkins
- Hot glue gun & glue sticks
- Silicone finger protectors
Prep
The first step is to cut circles out of the material.
I used a cutting board, placemat, and a dinner plate and traced around the outside edge with a white chalk marker.
My circles measured 10″, 15″, and 18″ in diameter.
SEW DIY Velvet Pumpkins
You must use a heavy-duty thread that won’t break when you pull it tight!
I also suggest using a doll needle because they are longer than regular sewing needles.
Cut your thread at 40″ and tie a big knot.
This will prevent it from pulling through the velvet fabric.
Start on the wrong side of the fabric so your knot will be hidden inside the pumpkin.
Use a gathering stitch and sew it 1/2″ -1″ away from the edge.
Your stitches don’t need to be perfect and can range from 1/2″-1″ long.
Sew around the circle.
Make a pouch
Pull the thread tight to make a pouch.
Leave an opening large enough to add the rice and stuffing.
Keep the needle on the thread because you are not finished with it yet!
Add rice
If you have a funnel, insert it in the hole and fill the pouch half-full with rice.
Stuff with poly-fil
Fill the top with poly-fil.
Pull handfuls of stuffing and add it to the top of the pouch.
Make the pieces different sizes to get a lumpy look on top of the pumpkin.
Close the pumpkin
Pull your thread as tight as you can and sew the hole closed.
Do not cut the thread.
Sew through the Pumpkin
We will make an indentation in the middle of the pumpkin to make it look more realistic.
Push the needle into the center of the pumpkin and pull it out through the bottom.
Now insert the needle back into the bottom of the pumpkin (right next to where you came out) and push back through to the top.
The bottom should look like this.
Repeat that step three more times.
Be sure to end on the top of the pumpkin, then tie the thread and cut it.
It will look like this!
Don’t worry about the thread showing because the stem will cover it up.
Attach Stem
You can use real or faux stems for this step.
I’m using actual stems I took off our pumpkins last year.
You can purchase live and faux stems or google how to make them yourself.
Apply hot glue to the end of your stem and push it down into the center of the pumpkin.
Hold the stem until the glue dries.
Be very careful using hot glue, as it can burn you! I suggest using silicone finger protectors!
Style your DIY velvet pumpkins
I’m so thrilled with how pretty these pumpkins turned out.
Let’s look at each one.
We’ll begin with the smallest to the largest!
And here they are styled together on my dining room table.
I made the decoupage pumpkins last year.
I hope this post has inspired you to save your pumpkin stems and make DIY velvet pumpkins!
If you enjoy the blog, please sign up for our email list so you won’t miss a post!
Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!
Blessings, Donna and Rich
Pin It For Later
No time to make these right now? That’s OK, you can pin this to remember it!
More Fall DIY Pumpkin Inspiration
I’m a bit obsessed with pumpkins and love to make them!
If you like pumpkins like I do, check out these posts!
- How to Decoupage Pumpkins
- Two Easy Ways to Make DIY Pumpkin Pillows
- Fall Pottery Barn Pumpkin Wreath Dupe
- How to Make a Pumpkin Topiary
- Make Adorable Yarn Pumpkins
Get The Look
Click on th picture of these great choices to get the same look or help you make your own velvet pumpkins.
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
How pretty, Donna!! These pumpkins turned out SO great! Such a great idea to use an old shirt and re-purpose it into something else!!
Thanks Rachel! I’m thrilled with how they turned out!! It’s hard to believe they were free because I already had everything I needed to make them! I love to upcycle!!
What a fun way to upcycle an old shirt, Donna! Julie has done some amazing projects with velvet and I love the way these came together for you. They’re so pretty. The velvet and the real stem are a fabulous play on texture too. Hugs and happy crafting, CoCo
Hi CoCo! I still can’t get over the fact they were made from a shirt! I love how they turned out too! Happy Fall to you!
Hi Donna! I love how your velvet pumpkins pop against the decoupage ones you did last year! Such a pretty sight!
Hi Nicolle! I’m loving my new pumpkins and so excited that they pair so well with the decoupaged ones! Thanks and have a great day!
Your pumpkins turned out so beautifully, Donna! I love the color, and adding the real stem is such a fun touch. Perfect for the fall season!
Hi Jen! Thanks so much! I adore how they turned out and I agree, the real stem is a fun touch! Happy Fall to you!
These velvet pumpkins turned out perfectly Donna. I had no idea you could purchase faux pumpkin stems, but the real stems you used add that special touch. Love that you upcycled as well!
Hey Maria! I have admired velvet pumpkins for years, but didn’t want to pay the price for them! It was so fun to turn a shirt (that was about to go into our donate box)into something so pretty! I’m so happy with these sweet pumpkins! Blessings, Donna
I love the color of green. I am planning on painting my home and this is the color of one of the accent walls I want to do. Love this! I can’t sew a button, but maybe I can do this.
You should try them Melba, they are so easy to make, not like real sewing at all, lol! That color green would be lovely on an accent wall!
Hi Donna! This is such a clever way to upcycle Rich’s shirt! Your pumpkin turned out great! Thank you for sharing this post with the Home Imagined Link Party.
Hi Anna! I’m not a very good seamstress, but they were so much easier to make than I thought they would be! Thanks and have a great day!
I’m featuring you when the next party starts this week, thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party!
That’s so exciting! Thank you, I consider it an honor to be featured! I’ll see ya there!!
Beautiful – love the idea of using clothing instead of always going to buy new fabric. I have saved a few stems from the past – for that “one of these days” projects.
This was a fun and easy upcycle! You should grab those pumpkin stems and try it! I love how they turned out!
Oooh love them! You explain the process so well too! And as others have mentioned, they look great with your gorgeous gold ones from last year! I think you’ve just inspired my holiday palette! 😊 Thanks!
You are so kind Barbara! The green and gold do look beautiful together! Can’t wait to see what you do for the holidays! Thanks!
Donna, these pumpkins are gorgeous! What an amazing upcycle project! I am so happy to feature your post at this week’s Tuesday Turn About Link Party. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello Lynne! That’s such great news! I feel so fortunate to be featured at your fabulous party! Thanks so much!
LOVE that you upcycled a velvet jacket to make these pumpkins, Donna!
We will be featuring you starting Wednesday at the Creative Crafts Linky Party! Pinned and shared!
Creatively, Beth
Hi Beth! What wonderful news! I’m so excited to be featured at your party! I’ll see you there! Thanks again, Donna