Over the summer, we saw some beautiful quilted pears and apples at Liberty of London. We thought it would be fun to make a quilted pumpkin for Fall. When we went shopping for fabric we found a faux pumpkin made of foam (called a Funkin) and saw an easy shortcut! We used strips of calico fabric and ModPodge on the Funkin and created our own faux quilted pumpkin! So easy and so pretty!
How To Make A Faux Quilted Pumpkin
Materials
11.5” Funkin
Assorted orange cotton quilting fabric fat quarters
Gold gimp trim (approximately 24 feet)
Beacon’s Stiffen Stuff
ModPodge Matte
Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Metallic Acrylic Craft Paint, Gold #32103
Brown craft paper
Twisted paper ribbon, natural
Straight pins
Craft paintbrush
Scissors
Tissue paper
Pen
Steps
1. The first thing we did was gather a selection of orange calico prints. This was pretty easy since we shopped the fat quarters at the fabric store. Fat quarters are pieces of quilting fabric that are pre-cut and folded into squares. They are called fat quarters because instead of being a quarter of a yard 9″ wide by 44″ long, fat quarters are 18″ by 22″. You get a square of fabric instead of a long rectangle. Plus they are often sold in color coordinated sets.
2. Now you are ready to cover the pumpkin with fabric. Use the tissue paper to make a pattern for the first section of the pumpkin. Once you have a template, cut out a piece of calico. Paint ModPodge on the underside of the fabric only and apply to the pumpkin. (Don’t get ModPodge on top of the fabric. It will look shiny and not soft and fabric-like.) Continue making patterns and cutting and gluing fabric sections alternating patterns until the whole faux pumpkin is covered.
3. Paint the faux pumpkin stem gold. Cut two 15” lengths of paper ribbon. Paint the paper ribbon gold and let dry. Spiral the ribbon around a fat pen and secure with tape. Spray the spiraled ribbons with Stiffen Stuff and let dry.
Click to see actual size template. Download to print.
Paint three squares of brown craft paper with gold paint, top and bottom. Use this template to cut out leaves from these gold squares.
4. Cut the gimp trim and pin it to the faux pumpkin in between the fabric covered segments. (Use ModPodge on ends of the gimp trim if they fray.) Pin a piece of gimp trim around the bottom of the stem. Tuck the leaves and paper ribbon tendrils under the trim and secure with pins.
Happy Fall!
Jennifer & Kitty
We love getting pinned!
This is so adorable. IIs there a pattern for the fabric pieces for the pumpkin? Thank you for sharing.
Thanks! We traced the pumpkin sections on tracing paper/tissue and cut out our own patterns. Hope that helps!
J&K
What a great idea. Where did you find the pumpkin?
Thanks Nancy! We got the faux pumpkin at Hobby Lobby. Michael’s has some too. Or you can find them online. Hope that helps!
J&K
Love the quilted pumkin. I am a quilter and this idea is wonderful!
Thanks Sandy!
How do I transfer a photo on to tile coaster and make it waterproof?
Hi Jan,
We have two different projects like that. These tile coasters use a special paper. You print on it and then follow the directions to transfer the image:
http://runningwithsisters.com/kid-art-coasters/
We also have an image transfer project using ModPodge:
http://runningwithsisters.com/mod-podge-image-transfer-backyard-bird-coasters/
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
How do get the template for the pumpkin
Hi Joyce, We used tissue paper and traced each section of the pumpkin. The tissue paper is easy to see through so you can trace the shape of the section, then cut it out to use as a template for the fabric. Make a new template for each section of the pumpkin. Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty