Fine cotton or fishing line is wrapped around each stuffed pumpkin to create the characteristic grooves. A twine-covered fabric stem and felt or artificial leaves complete the rustic fall decoration.
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What you need
Old knitted jumper, cardigan or pullover
Toy filling, polyester stuffing or wadding
Rustic string or natural twine
Strong cotton thread, fine cord or fishing line
Felt or artificial fall leaves
Fabric chalk or removable marker
Dinner plate, serving platter or another circular template
Sharp fabric scissors
Ruler or measuring tape
Baking paper or another protected work surface
Instructions
Old knitted jumpers are perfect for transforming into soft, cosy pumpkin decorations. The textured fabric gives each pumpkin a warm handmade appearance, while the no-sew construction makes this an easy project for an afternoon of fall crafting.
You can find inexpensive knitted garments at thrift shops, or use a jumper that has become stained, stretched or damaged. Depending on its size, approximately half a jumper should provide enough fabric for one medium or large pumpkin.
Chunky knits create bold, textured pumpkins, while fine knits produce a smoother finish. Before cutting, check that the fabric is not so loosely knitted that the stuffing will show through.
Make a coordinated group using several shades of the same colour, or combine grey, cream, rust, sage and mustard knits for a warmer autumn display.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the sweater
Wash and dry the knitted garment before beginning.
Lay it flat on your work surface and inspect it for holes, thin areas and loose sections. Choose a section large enough for your pumpkin that does not contain pockets, buttons, zips or thick seams.
The front, back and sleeves can all be used, depending on the size of pumpkin you want to make.
Step 2: Choose the pumpkin size
Place a dinner plate or serving platter over the sweater fabric and trace around it with fabric chalk.
A circle approximately 30 cm across will make a small pumpkin. A circle measuring 40–50 cm across will create a fuller medium or large pumpkin, depending on the amount of stuffing used.
The circle does not need to be perfect. Slight irregularities will disappear once the fabric is gathered and shaped.
Step 3: Prepare the filling
Have the toy filling or wadding ready before cutting the knit fabric.
Once a knitted garment is cut, the edges may begin to unravel. Preparing everything first allows you to fill and secure the pumpkin without leaving the cut fabric exposed for too long.
You can also use clean scraps from the unused sweater sleeves as part of the filling.
Step 4: Cut out the circle
Use sharp fabric scissors to cut along the chalk line.
Lift and handle the circle carefully so the cut edge does not stretch or unravel unnecessarily.
Place it flat on the work surface with the outside or right side of the knit facing down.
Step 5: Add the filling
Place a generous mound of toy filling in the centre of the fabric circle.
Begin with less filling than you think you will need. Pull the edges of the fabric upward around the stuffing and check the shape.
Add more filling gradually until the pumpkin feels full but remains soft enough to shape. Overfilling will make it difficult to gather the fabric at the top and create deep grooves.
Step 6: Gather the fabric
Bring the outer edges of the knitted circle together over the filling.
Work around the circle, gently gathering and folding the fabric toward the centre. Make sure all the raw edges are enclosed inside the gathered top.
Ask someone to hold the gathered fabric if necessary while you prepare the string.
Step 7: Secure the top
Wrap rustic string tightly around the gathered fabric several times.
Tie a secure double knot to hold the pumpkin closed. Leave the gathered fabric extending upward because it will become the base of the stem.
Add a small amount of craft glue beneath the string if the knit feels likely to slip.
Allow the glue to begin drying before shaping the pumpkin.
Step 8: Create the pumpkin grooves
Cut a long piece of strong cotton thread, fine cord or fishing line.
Tie one end securely around the base of the gathered stem. Bring the line down the outside of the pumpkin, underneath the base and back up the opposite side.
Pull the line firmly enough to create an indentation without cutting deeply into the knitted fabric.
Wrap the line around the stem, rotate the pumpkin and repeat. Continue dividing the pumpkin into approximately six or eight sections.
Adjust the tension as you work so the grooves are reasonably even.
Tie the line securely around the stem once all the sections have been created.
Step 9: Shape the pumpkin
Press the pumpkin gently with both hands to flatten the base and create a rounded shape.
Redistribute the stuffing between the grooves if one section looks larger than the others.
You can make the pumpkin tall and narrow or short and wide by adjusting the filling and pressing the finished shape.
Step 10: Make the stem
Trim the gathered fabric at the top if it is too long.
Wrap rustic string or twine around the gathered knit, beginning at the base and working upward. Apply small amounts of craft glue as you wrap to keep the twine in position.
Continue wrapping until the knitted fabric is completely covered and the stem feels firm.
Secure the end of the twine with glue.
Step 11: Add the leaves
Cut one or two simple pumpkin-leaf shapes from felt, or use artificial fall leaves.
Glue the leaves around the base of the stem. Add a short curl of twine, raffia or narrow green fabric if you would like to create a pumpkin vine.
Allow all the glue to dry completely.
Step 12: Display the pumpkins
Arrange the finished sweater pumpkins on a mantel, table, shelf or covered entryway.
Combine several sizes for a fuller display. These soft pumpkins also look lovely mixed with small natural gourds, dried leaves and wooden fall decorations.
Keep the pumpkins indoors or in a dry covered area. Spot-clean them gently and avoid soaking the knitted fabric or stuffing.
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