Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Pumpkins in August!!

I found a beautiful orange men's sweater at Goodwill...for $3, thinking I would eventually make some felted wool something or other with it.   I was cruising blog land and found a pumpkin tutorial here.
Well, I bookmarked the site and thought I would make some fabric pumpkins at some point. 
One day I was going through my felted wool/sweater stash (yes, I have such a stash) and found the orange sweater.  It didn't felt real snugly, but it was such a great fall color...just perfect for the pumpkin project.  I cut the pieces (there is a downloadable pattern on the site) out and tucked them away in a plastic ziploc. 
Well, since I am doing "lap crafts" now because I can't bear weight on my left leg now, I dug out the ziploc and without following the directions, sewing all eight panels together. I had forgotten that I had cut two pumpkins out!!!
So anyway, here is what I did and it turned out fine, just a lot bigger than the original pattern.
The original oval type shape...
I sewed them all together with the seams on the outside for more rustic effect (should pumpkins be rustic?). 
I left one side open for stuffing...and then I began to stuff it like it was a Thanksgiving stuffing.  I used Morning Glory brand Cluster Stuff which is the best stuff I have ever used!  It is not lumpy at all, sort of reminds me of foam stuffing without all the mess. 
After stuffing almost a full bag into this poor little guy, I sewed the hole shut.
Then I took a felted green sweater and cut leaves out of it (I did a google search to get an idea of what pumpkin leaves are supposed to look like).  This particular sweater had a drawstring hood so I used the drawstring to create the curlicues on top.  I hot glue the leaves right onto the top, after I created a vein down the middle of each leaf.  I also made one leaf smaller than the other one, figuring that leaves in nature are not perfectly the same.
I even hid a sweater seam I couldn't avoid underneath a leaf on the top. 
And there it is~~an August pumpkin!!
There was a question about how I got the wool ties to make curlicues...I wet them with a heavy spray starch and then wrapped them around a size 8 knitting needle with clothespins on each end to hold them onto the knitting needle.  I let them dry overnight and then they were ready! 

33 comments:

Nancy said...

Cute! It's a nice look forward to fall.

Lisa said...

Ohhh I love it! Fall is my favorite season and I have started to see the stores all decked out! I am so excited and I can't wait to make these!

I am your new follower!
Lisa
http://homemadehodgepodge.blogspot.com

the cape on the corner said...

that is so flippin' cute, i can't stand it! i want it! great job!

Emma said...

It is beautiful! Thanks for the idea of reusing clothing for a sewing project.

Nike said...

Beautiful! I'm going to raid our local thrift stores for orange sweaters!

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

So very cute and clever. You pulled everything together into a good looking project. I love it!

Anonymous said...

this is great! I love pumpkins! Can't wait to try this, thanks!

Found you on Tidy Mom, happy weekend!

Unknown said...

This is sooooo cute!!!! I love the orange color too...great find!

Thanks for linking up!

Maggie R said...

I LOVE the pumpkin.... about the best one I've seen done with fabric..
WTG
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie

Ashley said...

I'm going to be a busy woman trying out all of your tutorials!
I have been trying to get a comment to you that I passed on an award to you but my computer is having issues! But I'm glad it was a nice surprise!
Ashley

Kate said...

okay i might sound like a dope, but how did you get the string to stay in a curlicue?

Lynn said...

This is beautiful! I'm starting a little weekly theme "Sharing A Little Bloggy Love" and would love to add this tomorrow night! If you don't want me to just shoot me an e-mail. Thanks for sharing such a pretty project!

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

That is really cute!

Renée said...

This is really a precious little pumpkin. I love your Goodwill endings and what your share!

Alison @ Oopsey Daisy said...

It is never too early for pumpkins in my book!! I can't believe you made this out of a sweater! It's so cute! Thanks for sharing!

~Alison
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/

Jill said...

Great pumpkin! I love that it's made from an old sweater too!

Thanks for linking up to A Round Tuit!

Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://jembellish.blogspot.com/

Olga Poltava said...

This is soooo cute. It's time to begin preparing for the fall holidays and this pumpkin is a wonderful idea!

Megan // Honey We're Home said...

oh my gosh- that is awesome! You did a great job:)

ArtfullyJune said...

Very cute. I don't think I have seen a orange wool sweater. I might have to watch out for one.

Saw you on Lucky Link Tuesday.

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Hi Ellen! I just love this idea. The pumpkins are super cute! I just need to add orange sweaters to my list now! I am featuring this today; stop by and grab a featured button if you like. Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party. I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a fabulous week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

Unknown said...

This is so darling! And, yes, pumpkins *should* be rustic!

Rebekah Lindenmayer said...

I love pumpkins and any thing orange...very cute! found you at Under the able and dreaming.

Dorian said...

Thanks for the tute! I need to make a new one!
Would love for you to check me out! thanks!

KasiaJ said...

Oooo, it's wonderful. I'm looking forward to fall, too.

Anonymous said...

Very cute and Fall~ish! Thanks for sharing at It's Party Time Thursday at PonyTails&FishScales!

Kat @ Black Kats Design said...

Very cute. The seams on the outside really add to the pumpkin-ness!

Thanks for linking up to the “Cheap Thrills Thursday” party at Black Kats Design. I hope you had fun and will join in again next Thursday!

Kat

www.BlackKatsDesign.blogspot.com

Sew Can Do said...

I love the cute tendrils. I seriously need to learn to felt already!! Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday:)

Unknown said...

CUTE! i AM GLAD i am not the only one showing fall {halloween} crafts in Aug. Really we are helping those to be inspired early ;) Darling pumpkin. Jen

Terrell said...

I'm so ready for Fall...and I've got to make some of these sweet finds! Thank you again for coming to my party!! See you soon sweets!
~Terrell @ FFD~

Anonymous said...

I love this so much, it's just fantastic, Autumn is my favourite season :)

AmericKim said...

I love the Pumpkins! Thank you for the tutorial. I will have to try it. I saw your link on Thrifty Decor Chick.

Thanks again for sharing,
AmericKim

Meghan said...

WoW!

DP Wedding & Event Planner said...

so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love tha pumpkins, thank u for this tutorial!!!!!!!