Creating Lasting Pumpkins
Real pumpkins are great to use outdoors, but sometimes they don't last as long when they are displayed inside. The plump pumpkins described here can be used anywhere and for as long as you like. They are easy for children to make without a sewing machine and have a recycling feature since you use plastic grocery bags to stuff them. What could be easier? Supplies Needed 1 yd. orange fabric - 1/4 yd. green fabric with matching thread Scissors - Plastic bags - Small branch or stick of wood Step by Step 1. Purchase 1 yd. of orange fabric and 1/4 yd. green fabric. Subtle prints work well, such as an orange check or plaid and a green print to resemble the leaves of the pumpkin. 2. Cut a circle for the body of the pumpkin (a 30 in. diameter circle makes a medium sized pumpkin). Using your iron, turn down a 1 in. fold from the cut edge to form a casing. Precision is not necessary in making this casing because of the gathering string you will use to shape it. 3. Using a matching color thread sew a line of straight stitches 1/2 in. in from the folded edge leaving a small opening at the end to thread a string through. Back stitch at the beginning and ending to secure this opening. 4. Cut a string or ribbon about 36 in. long. Using a safety pin on the end of the string or ribbon, thread it through the opening in your fabric circle. Be careful to hold on to the opposite end at the same time. 5. Pull the circle up to start your pumpkin shape. Using plastic bags or tissue paper, begin to loosely stuff to form the round shape. Before you tie your gathering string, find a small branch from the yard approx. 1 1/2 in. in diameter and 8 in. long. It will be inserted into the fabric circle to act as the stem of the pumpkin. Continue to add plastic bags until you get the shape and fullness you want. Pull the gathering string around this stem and tie the gathers as tightly as possible. Don't worry if you can't tighten the gathers closely around the stem. 6. From the 1/4 yd. green fabric tear a piece that measures 9 in. by 15 in. Fold this piece of fabric so you have a 4 1/2 in. by 15 in. strip. Sew a loose gathering thread along the folded edge and then cut this strip into a fringe to within 1/2 in. of this gathering thread. Your cuts should be about 1/2 in. by 4 in. 7. Attach this green fringe around the branch or stem of your pumpkin and pull the gathering threads to cinch this as tightly as possible around the stem. 8. All of this sewing can be done by hand if necessary. By Sandy Bemis, sewing expert HouseNet, Inc. |
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