Do you save old garments, linens, and draperies for crafting potential? I save everything, including an old armchair slipcover. Today I'm sharing how to make the cutest farmhouse-style red ticking fabric pumpkins. But what makes them unique is the repurposed kitchen cabinet knob stems.

Farmhouse-Style Fabric Pumpkins With Cabinet Knob Stems

I'll show you how easy it is to make these inexpensive fabric pumpkins that I made with recycled items found in my home.

Optional Fabric Suggestions For Making These Pumpkins

1. While my red ticking stripe pumpkins have farmhouse charm, you could make regal pumpkins the same way with crushed velvet and pretty glass or beaded knob stems.
2. Another idea is to make Sweater Pumpkins much the same way and if you don't have furniture knobs for the stems, use tree branches foraged from your yard instead.
3. If you prefer a non-traditional fall decorating style, use bright bold patterns in fall colors like these Retro Fabric Pumpkins. Instead of cabinet knobs, I used chair spindles for the stems.

What You'll Need To Make Them

These are the supplies you'll need to make the farmhouse fabric pumpkins. This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply list

Red Ticking Stripe Fabric or fabric of your choice
Matching All-Purpose Thread
Fiber Fill
Twine
White Ceramic Cabinet Knobs
Artificial Fern Picks
8-inch Upholstery Needle
Mod Podge or White Glue
Hot Glue Gun
Awl

How To Make Ticking Fabric Pumpkins

If you can sew a straight line, you can definitely make these pumpkins AND you don't have to use a sewing machine.

Step 1 - Fabric Pumpkin Measurements

The trick to measuring your fabric is to divide the width in half to get the height. I recommend making the pumpkins in multiple sizes as follows:
Large Fabric Pumpkin: 20-inches wide x 10-inches tall
Medium Fabric Pumpkin: 16-inches wide x 8-inches tall
Small Fabric Pumpkin: 12-inches wide by 6-inches tall

Step 2 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Side Seams

If you don't have a sewing machine, you could hand-stitch the side seam or use fabric glue for a no-sew option.

1. Fold fabric with the short sides together.
2. Sew the side seams together.
3. To prevent the fabric from fraying, I used the elastic stitch setting on my sewing machine which mimics a serged finish.

Step 3 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Bottom Seams

1. Baste stitch the bottom seam (largest stitch setting on the sewing machine) or a handstitched running stitch and leave long threads on either end.
2. Gently pull on the top thread to gather the fabric (pictured below).
3. Repeat by pulling the top thread on the opposite side (pictured below).
4. Tie the ends to secure the gathers.

No-Sew Option For Pumpkin Bottom Seam

For a no-sew option, gather the fabric in your hand and tie it off with an elastic band.

Next, turn the pumpkins right side out and we'll move on to stuffing the pumpkins with batting.

Step 4 - Fill Fabric Pumpkins

Fill the pumpkins with fiberfill batting up to approximately 1-1½ inches from the top.

Step 5 - Sew Fabric Pumpkin Top Seams

1. With a needle and all-purpose thread, hand stitch the top closed and gather the fabric the same way as outlined in Step 3.
2. Draw the points together into the center and stitch in place.

Step 6 - How To Make Fabric Pumpkin Ribs And Tendrils

Cut twine the following lengths per size of pumpkin:
Large: 90-inches
Medium: 80-inches
Small: 70-inches

Safety Tips

1. Be cautious when pushing the large upholstery needle through the pumpkins so it doesn't poke your hand.
2. With an 8-inch upholstery needle, thread a strand of twine through the top of the pumpkin and out the center of the bottom. You may want to use a thimble to help push the needle through the bulk of the pumpkin.
3. Leave a long strand at the top for the first tendril.
4. Holding the tendril in place with your thumb, pull the thread over the pumpkin and insert the needle into the top center and back through the base.
5. Wrap it over the opposite side of the pumpkin and pull taut to form the first two ribs and tie in a knot to hold in place.
6. Repeat the last two steps until you have eight ribs and tie in a knot to secure.
7. There should be two strands of twine at the top of the pumpkin for tendrils like pictured below.

Step 7 - How To Add Cabinet Knob Stems To Fabric Pumpkins

1. With an Awl, poke a hole through the top and down to the bottom of the pumpkin and move the Awl in a back and forth motion to create a large enough hole (pictured above). Be careful during this step because the tip of that Awl is very sharp when it pops through the bottom.
2. Squish the pumpkin as tight as you can and from the bottom of the pumpkin, pull the cabinet knob screw through the hole created by the Awl and out the top of the pumpkin (pictured below). I'm not going to lie, lining up the screw can be a bit frustrating so patience is key.
3. Twist the knob onto the screw and hand tighten to secure. You may need to use a screwdriver to tighten the knob completely.

Step 8 - How To Make Fabric Pumpkin Leaves

I save everything and had quite the collection of faux greens in a large plastic tote. I found several plastic ferns that I've had in my stash for over twenty years.

I cut the stems off the picks with wire cutters and simply glued the fern leaves under the cabinet knob stems with a hot glue gun.

Step 9 - Curling Fabric Pumpkin Tendrils

You'll want to use tin foil to protect the fabric during this step and you'll need white school or craft glue.

1. Pour white school glue or Mod Podge into a plastic container.
2. Dip your fingers into the glue and rub a generous amount on the twine tendrils.
3. Wrap the twine around a pencil, pen, or whatever you have on hand and let them dry for about an hour.
4. Carefully slide the markers off the tendrils and let them completely dry while still curled.
5. Once dry, loosen the curls to your liking.

That's it, we're done. There may seem to be a lot of steps to making the fabric pumpkins but they go quickly. Once you've mastered making one set, you'll be looking for other fabric choices to make more.

Create a Fall vignette with your lovely farmhouse ticking fabric pumpkins. I mixed mine with some white painted dollar store pumpkins on a coffee table tray.

For more pumpkin inspiration you may like these 12 DIY pumpkin ideas that are easy on the wallet. Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by these farmhouse-ticking fabric pumpkins.

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