Pumpkin Softies!

Are these not the cutest pumpkins ever? Yes, I made them!!! Okay, so I am obsessed with all things pumpkin and cannot get enough of them! I saw this craft in the most recent issue of Family Fun magazine (got it in the mail yesterday) and had to make them ASAP. I didn't have orange fabric or any fuzzy kind, like they recommend in the magazine, so I raided a bag of items headed to the thrift store and found a white baby blanket. The texture was perfect and white seems to be the new hot color for pumpkin couture.

1. I took a salad plate and used it to trace a circle on my fabric. (You can make the circle larger or smaller depending on the amount of fabric you have and the size pumpkin you want.)
2. Though I first used white thread, I switched to the recommended dental floss after the thread broke in the final step. Make a knot several inches from the end of the floss and sew wide stitches all around the circle about a 1/2 inch from the edge. Knot the end and leave a few inches of floss to tie later.
3. Pull the floss to gather the edges and stuff the pouch (with plastic bags, fabric, or whatever you have - I thought potpourri would be nice too for a scented bonus.)
4. Place a twig into the top as a stem, then pull the thread and knot it so that the fabric is cinched around the twig.

Voila! A soft, adorable fabric pumpkin!!! My daughter picked up a bunch of twigs for me, so I will be adding to my collection. I am even thinking about making huge ones for the front steps made out of vinyl fabric in place of live pumpkins. The sky is the limit, people!