DIY Fabric Pumpkins.

Supplies needed:
Assorted Fall fabrics
Needle and thread
cotton stuffing
Yarn- assorted colors
Scissors
Ruler or tape measure

Cut strips of fabric for different sizes of pumpkins. 3X6, 4×8, 6×12. Three inch width and six inch length and so on. Sew up one side using a back stitch or on sewing machine inside out. Turn right side out after stitching and then sew bottom using a running stitch. Pull stitch tight then tie of once you have sewn around whole bottom. Stuff with cotton stuffing then repeat step by sewing top with running stitch, pull tight then tie off top.

Cut several strings of yarn and tie around stuffed pumpkin to create lines to shape your pumpkin.

You can add wooden stems for toppers, clay tops, or just weave or braid the yarn and create stems that way. Later when I have more time I want to needle felt some stems for my pumpkins. The fun part is just being creative and doing whatever you want. Happy crafting everyone.

ASD tips- depending on level, you may have to make this more of a project that two people work on. Sewing can be a difficult fine motor skill to master. Hand over hand is always a good way to help teach someone how to accomplish a new skill. If they don’t feel comfortable with sewing then sew up the pumpkins yourself and have your child help with other things. Getting out the cotton stuffing and pulling it apart to fluff up is a fun sensory activity.

Your child can also help you measure the fabric, cut it, and even help tie the strings around the finished pumpkins once stuffed. If you make clay tops that are shaped like stems that is another way to include children or adults on the Autism spectrum. Buy some self drying clay and have them create different sizes of stems, then glue them onto your pumpkins.

They have the cutest tape measures now. There are some really pretty sewing tools to help encourage children to learn how to sew. My Nana got me interested in sewing. She would get out her little red tomato full of needles and then get colorful threads and tell me stories of how her mom used to be so good at embroidering. Then she would teach me the basics of hand sewing.

Or you can have fun going for a walk together to look for a variety of twigs to break and use as stems to glue onto tops. Just remember to include them always and design projects around what they can do as well as sensory activities they enjoy.

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