Cuddly Plush Pumpkin Tutorial

Let's make cuddly plush pumpkins for your fall decor!

I originally made these pumpkins several years ago with stretch velvet,  but I am on a mission to use what I have this year.  I have some scraps of Cuddle and Minky fabric and thought it would be fun to make new pumpkins with my scraps.

The first step is to cut your fabric into a strip that is  twice as long as it is wide. My strip is 6" x 12".  (bonus tip: Use a lint roller when working with Cuddle or Minky fabric to keep the fuzzy bits cleaned up.) 

Place the short sides together with the right sides together and stitch 1/2" from the edge of the short side, sewing the two sides together.

It will make a little tube.  

The next step will be to  create the gathered bottom.  Use a 40 weight or thicker thread.  You will be pulling on this thread pretty hard and a thicker thread is less likely to break.

Sew a large basting or running stitch 1/2" from the long edge of the tube. Leave a long tail of thread at the beginning of your stitching. 

When you get back to where you started, pull the needle off, and then pull the two ends to gather the fabric and pull it together. Wrap the thread around the gather a couple of times and then tie into a knot.

Next, turn the fabric right side out and it creates a little bowl. 

Next, use some fiber-fill stuffing to stuff the bowl, leaving enough space to gather the fabric 1/2" at the top.

Once the pumpkin is stuffed, it's time to stitch the top.  Using a 12 weight thread, baste along the top edge.  Once you've stitched all the way around, gather the fabric, pulling the opening closed and pushing the fabric into the center of the pumpkin.  Tie a knot and pull the thread through the pumpkin to the bottom.

Smush the filling until you have a nice round shape.  The next step is to create the little segments. Choose either a coordinating or contrasting thread for your segments.  I used a 12 weight thread for this part.  It also is easier with a long needle. 

Start by pushing your needle through the top of the pumpkin to the bottom. Wrap the thread around the pumpkin by pulling it back through the top.  Continue wrapping the thread in a cross and then x to create eight segments.

For the final step, get a little stick and hot glue it into the center of the top. 

Tada! Enjoy your cute little pumpkin made from your Cuddle or Minky scraps! 

Prefer a video? You can watch this tutorial on how to make your pumpkin: