Free DIY Pumpkin Pincushion

Make your own perfectly autumnal pumpkin pincushion!

The traditional tomato pin cushion comes from the belief that displaying a tomato in your home would bring prosperity and ward off evil spirits. When tomatoes were out of season, people would make their own from fabric and these became pincushions.

Now you can make your own autumnal pumpkin pin cushion, perfect for spooky season!

You will need;

Cotton quilting weight fabric

Thread

Stuffing

Embroidery thread, string or wool

Felt

Scissors

Needle

1. Cut a 22x12cm rectangle on the bias.

Woven fabric is made from a warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) thread, this is known as the grain of the fabric. Cutting diagonally to the grain allows the fabric to stretch and will help give this pumpkin a rounded shape.

2. Fold the rectangle in half with the right sides together.

Sew along the short edge with a 1cm seam allowance.

3. Turn the fabric the right way out.

Create a running stitch with some strong thread 1cm from the bottom raw edge.

4. Pull the ends of the thread to gather the bottom of the pumpkin.

Tuck the raw edges inside the pumpkin and secure with a few stitches.

5. Stuff the pumpkin with your stuffing.

Create another line of running stitch 1cm from the top edge.

6. Pull the ends of the thread to gather the fabric.

Tuck the raw edges inside the pumpkin and secure with a few stitches

7. Tie a length of wool (or string/embroidery thread) around the centre of the pumpkin and knot on top.

8. Bring the ends of the wool to the bottom of the pumpkin and cross them under wool.

Bring the ends back to the top and knot them again. This process is a bit like wrapping a present and you can pull the wool as tight as you need to get the pumpkin shape.

9. Repeat this until you have divided your pumpkin into 6 sections. Trim the ends of the wool.

10. Cut an irregular shape from felt and stitch or glue it to the top of the pumpkin to hide the knots.

Enjoy your lovely new pumpkin pin cushion!