Yo-Yo Pumpkin Picture Tutorial

Here's a super simple 20 minute fall craft that you don't even need a sewing machine to make.

These pumpkins are basically a big stuffed yo-yo that I've wrapped some jute around to make a pumpkin shape and stem.

What you'll need:

Cut a circle twice as big as you'd like your pumpkin to be, plus 1/2" out of the fabric. 

For example, I was aiming for a 4.5" pumpkin, I cut a 9.5" circle. 

Note: These will be approximate measurements, the end result will vary depending on how much stuffing you use and how tightly you wrap the jute.

Thread the needle and double the thread (pull the end you put through the eye of the needle down to the end you're going to cut). Give yourself a length of about 20" of thread, more for bigger circles. 

Flip the circle so the wrong side of the fabric is facing you. Turn the edge over 1/4" and start sewing it in place. You'll want to use a wide stitch, maybe every 1/4".

Continue all the way around the circle.

Gently pull on both sides of the string until it closes up and looks like a pouch.

Leave the needle on the thread, and hold on to both ends of the thread with one hand. You'll leave the needle on just in case the ends get away from you and a couple stitches come out, you can fix it.

Stuff the pumpkin, you want to make it as full as you can while still being able to tighten the threads.

They need to be pulled closed after the pumpkin is stuffed.

Here the tread has been knotted, I like to run the needle down through the stuffing and then through the side of the pumpkin, then cut the thread. This hides the loose ends.

A note about thread: I used a quilters thread which is a little thicker and stronger than regular thread. I've also used regular thread, most of the time no problem, but if you pull too hard it can break.

At this point you can try to "shape" your pumpkin, smoosh it around until it's round, etc.

Loosely wrap the jute around the pumpkin, you want 3-4" extra on each side.

Cut three stands of jute this length.

Cut one strand that's twice as long.

Holding the three shorter strands, knot them together in the middle. 

Edited to say: It's better to tie all 4 strands together, matching one end and having 3 short strands and one long one on the other end. Tie the knot in the middle of the shorter strands.

Place the pumpkin on top of the knot.

Bring two strings up either side of the pumpkin and pull to tighten. This makes the ridges in the pumpkin.

Tie in a knot in the "open" top of the pumpkin.

Bring two more strands around the sides of the pumpkin at 90 degrees, or making a cross.

Tie a knot in the top. 

Bring the third set of short strands up the opposite sides between the the other two sets, tie a knot.

Make the last set of ridges with the remaining short and long strand, tie it off at the top.

To make the stem, hold the seven shorter ends together and loosely wrap the long strand around them, bring the end of the string through the "hole" in the loop and tighten. This creates a slip knot.

Neatly repeat this going up the stem until you make it as long as you'd like.

There you have it, one cute little pumpkin! 

A great rainy day project. My pumpkin ended up just a touch under 4". Instead of jute you could use a couple strands of yarn twisted together, ribbon or raffia. You could add fabric leaves if you'd like or make them all different sizes for your own pumpkin patch!

Updated to add: I have since added a cute Stacked Yo-Yo Pumpkin to my patch HERE.

Have fun:@)