Simplest fabric pumpkin (no-sew!)

Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing a favorite fall craft project. How about a craft that is 1. easy, 2. inexpensive and 3. made by upcycling common household items?

Make decorating this fall easy with a cute little fabric pumpkin that is so simple to make you can finish it in literally 30 minutes or less with common items you probably already have.

I’m decorating the house for fall, and seeing little soft pumpkins everywhere, online and in the stores. They give a cozy feeling as we shift seasons and adjust to the cooler weather and changing leaves. I’m always on the lookout for a fun craft project as a counterbalance to my working life, so I decided this year I would find a way to make my own pumpkin decorations. As an additional benefit – this craft was so easy that I’m going to have our 4-H club make them as a group project in one of our meetings this fall.

Now, I love upcycle projects – taking things I have but am not using, and making something new and useful. I love the creative outlet, and that satisfaction that comes from making something for basically nothing. But that is just one of many reasons that upcycle projects are especially awesome.

9 Benefits of upcycle projects

Upcycling craft projects offer a number of benefits that extend beyond way beyond just the creativity buzz. Here are some key advantages:

1. Environmental Impact

Upcycling reduces waste and gives new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfills. By repurposing materials, we also decrease the demand for new resources, which hopefully has a domino effect.

2. Cost-Effective

Creating something new from existing materials can save money, and don’t we all enjoy that? Instead of purchasing new supplies, you can use what you already have, making upcycling a budget-friendly alternative to traditional crafting. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy any of the supplies needed for a project, or that you should feel guilty if you even need to buy most of the supplies – but it sure does help when it reduces of the cost of a project you really wanted to try out.

3. Creativity and Innovation

Upcycling encourages creative thinking. This may be my favorite actually. It challenges us to see potential in items that others might overlook. It expands our brains to see beyond the standard everyday use of our stuff, with really unique and beautiful results.

4. Skill Development

I love to learn. I get a great dopamine hit every time I add another skill to my tool belt. Engaging in upcycle projects can help us develop a variety of skills, from sewing and woodworking to painting and design. Hands-on experience can boost confidence and expand your crafting abilities. What you learn in one project can be applied to the next.

5. Personalization

The result of every upcycle project is completely unique and distinctive. Upcycled items can be tailored to fit your personal style, your home design and colors, your personal taste and your specific needs. Whether it’s a custom piece of furniture sized exactly right for that one spot in your house or unique home décor, the finished product is often one-of-a-kind, making it special and meaningful.

6. Mindfulness and Stress Relief

The process of crafting can be therapeutic. Focusing on a project helps to alleviate stress and promotes mindfulness, allowing you to unwind and immerse yourself in a creative flow. This is another key benefit for me personally. My work, while I love the challenge of solving complex data-driven problems, exercises that side of my brain pretty hard some weeks. Upcycle projects allow me to solve a different kind of problem, a creative problem, and that is fun and relaxing for me.

7. Educational Opportunities

Upcycling can serve as an educational tool, teaching concepts of sustainability, resourcefulness, and responsibility. It can inspire discussions about waste and consumption, especially among children and young adults. I’m modeling for my children what it means to take responsibility for the material goods I brought into our home. Finding better ways to use them when we no longer need them for their original purpose is not only satisfying, it is a valuable example to set.

8. Unique Gifts

Upcycled crafts make thoughtful and unique gifts. Handmade items carry a personal touch that store-bought gifts lack, making them memorable and cherished. And these gifts don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple as the “It’s a girl” banner I made from leftover cardstock, fabric and twine for my sister when my niece arrived a few years ago. My mom has made me numerous quilted gifts with scrap fabric that I treasure – they are both unique and extra-special because it was my mom who made them just for me.

9. Promoting Sustainable Living

By incorporating upcycling into your lifestyle, you promote sustainable practices. Sharing our projects (like I’m doing here!) may inspire others to rethink their consumption habits and consider the impact of their choices. If this post inspires you to try an upcycle project for yourself, whether this pumpkin or something entirely different – I would love to hear about it – post a comment or send me an email to let me know.

Overall, upcycling crafts offer a creative outlet that benefits both the individual and the collective world around us, making them a rewarding way to spend time for anyone looking to make a positive impact.

Supplies needed to make cute little pumpkins

To make this miniature pumpkin, you will need just a handful of common supplies you probably already have.

• Pool noodle
• Burlap or felt
• Rope
• Twine
• Fabric

You will also need scissor or pinking shears, a knife and sewing pins.

We had a pool noodle my kids haven’t used ours in forever, burlap fabric scraps leftover from a project years ago, rope my husband bought for our cat tree, twine I keep around for many projects, and a two pretty fall blouses my mom no longer wanted.

Step 1 – Cut the pool noodle to size desired for fabric pumpkin

A basic kitchen knife is all you need to slice right through a pool noodle. If you are making multiple pumpkins, consider making them in different sizes. I decided to make two out of the fabric from my mom’s shirt, and I made one about 3 inches tall and one between 5 and 6 inches tall. I wanted the base of my pumpkins to be flat, but the top to be at a slight angle for one of them.

Step 2 – Cut the fabric to fit the pool noodles

I laid my pool noodle slices on the sleeve of the blouse, and cut such that there was about three inches of fabric on either end of the noodle. Since I used a sleeve, I didn’t have to measure around the circumference of the noodle, but if you are using a flat piece of fabric, just ensure the fabric will wrap around and have 2-4 inches to spare, as you want the fit on the noodle to be pretty loose. I used pinking shears to but my fabric, but regular scissors would also work.

Step 3 – Wrap the noodle in the fabric

If using a sleeve, insert the pool noodle into the sleeve and tuck the ends into the noodle hole, pinning to secure on both ends. If using a piece of fabric, use sewing pins to secure the seam and then tuck the ends into the noodle hole and secure with pins as well.

Step 4 – Prepare the pumpkin stem for the fabric pumpkin

To create the stem of the pumpkin, cut three short pieces of rope. I found 2.5-3 inches to be a good length. Tie a piece of twine around the three pieces of rope to hold them together. Then wrap the twine around the rope repeatedly. Tie off the end of the twine and cut from the twine spool if necessary.

Tuck one end of the rope into the top of your pumpkin, inside the noodle hole. Secure with sewing pins.

Step 5 – Cut two leaves

Using burlap or felt, cut two leaves using scissors or pinking shear. Attach them to the pumpkin top next to the stem, securing with sewing pins.

And that is it – you have a super simple fabric pumpkin ready for your fall decor.

If you enjoyed this upcycle craft project, you may enjoy making spice jars or a fall banner too – check out these posts:

• Thankful banner for fall decorating
• Repurposed Starbucks bottles as spice jars