DIY Sweater Pumpkins

If you just did a closet cleanout, tried on old sweaters and found they were no longer your style or shrunk in the dryer, turn it include some sweater pumpkins! This DIY fall decor project might be easier than you think as you just need to know how to do a running stitch in order to make this pumpkin style. Follow these steps and learn how to create DIY Sweater Pumpkins for your fall decor!

DIY Thrifted Sweater Pumpkins filled with Poly-Fil Polyester Fiber Fill | spotofteadesigns.com

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Making sweater pumpkins is a great activity to do while watching your favorite autumn shows (Gilmore Girls, perhaps) or as a group activity, like a girl’s night in! Have everyone bring their no longer wanted knitted sweaters and you supply the other components to create these cute accessories.

DIY Sweater Pumpkins Supplies:

Knit Sweater
Poly-Fil Polyester Fiber Fill
Matching Embroidered thread and needle
Fabric Scissors
Wine Cork
Twine
Hot Glue

First, lay your sweater flat and cut off the sleeves, then cut each in half. This will make 4 small pumpkins! Cut the other body area into 4 equal pieces to create the larger pumpkins.

Thread your needle and complete a running stitch to close the bottom of the pumpkin. Pull to close the hole. Push the needle through the center area, pull it through to the other opening and leave it loose until a later step.

Start filling up your sweater pumpkin with lots of Poly-Fil Polyester Fiber Fill. You can add as much or as little of this fluffy filling as you want. More Poly-Fil will make for a harder, more stable pumpkin and softer makes for a more squishy pumpkin form.

Use a running stitch to close the top opening. Again, push the needle through the center of the pumpkin to come out the bottom. This will help make the tighter pumpkin shape.

Next we will make the sections that help create that signature pumpkin shape. The key to this project is matching thread to your sweater so do your best to match those up!

Wrap the thread around the outside of the pumpkin and push the needle through the center again. Repeat to create additional sections on your sweater pumpkin. Once you created the amount you want, knot the thread and snip any remaining thread.

To finish your sweater pumpkin, wrap twine around a cork, using hot glue to secure. Glue this cork into the center of the pumpkin as your stem.

Repeat these steps to create additional pumpkins of all different sizes and different amounts of sections. I was able to turn my thrifted XL sweater into 8 adorable sweater pumpkins!

This project is easy to complete in no time and would be great for a girls craft session. Pair it with some wine or candy snacks and you’ll all go home with a cute custom sweater pumpkin to stick on the mantle.