A pumpkin is more than a symbol of fall, it’s a reminder of gathering, sharing, and the simple abundance of the season.
With this appliqué pillow, you sew together soft pieces of fabric like leaves on a vine, creating a design that feels both rustic and refined.
Plus, each stitch resembles a gentle breeze moving through a pumpkin patch, grounding your home in the colors of harvest.
Materials Needed
- 1 dark fabric pillow cover (16 x 16 in / 40 x 40 cm, wool or felt base works beautifully)
- 1 pillow insert (16 x 16 in / 40 x 40 cm)
- 3-4 fabric scraps in pumpkin shades (orange, gold, rust, approx. 6 x 6 in each)
- 2 fabric scraps for leaves (green tones, approx. 6 x 6 in each)
- 1 fabric scrap for stem (brown or textured, approx. 4 x 4 in)
- Embroidery floss in green, orange, and brown
- Embroidery needle (size 5 or 6)
- Fusible web (1 sheet, 12 x 12 in)
- Small sharp fabric scissors
- Iron and ironing board
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Begin by sketching or tracing a pumpkin shape onto paper, dividing it into sections for the body, leaves, and stem. You cut each shape out and use them as templates.
Step 2: Place fusible web on the back of your fabric scraps and press with an iron to adhere. Once cooled, trace the templates onto the fused side and cut out each pumpkin section, leaf, and stem piece.
Step 3: Arrange the pumpkin pieces onto the pillow cover, overlapping them slightly to give dimension.
Now position the stem at the top and leaves peeking from behind, just like a pumpkin in the garden.
Step 4: Lightly iron the pieces to fuse them to the pillow cover. This keeps them in place while you stitch.
Step 5: Using embroidery floss, hand stitch around each appliqué piece.
A blanket stitch works well for edges, adding both strength and charm. For the pumpkin segments, you can try a simple running stitch down the center of each piece to suggest natural ridges.
Step 6: Add embroidered vines curling out from the pumpkin. A stem stitch in green floss gives the effect of delicate tendrils winding across the fabric.
You can even scatter a few French knots along the vines to look like tiny buds or berries.
Step 7: Once stitching is complete, insert the pillow form and give the pillow a gentle fluff.
Now, step back and admire your new autumn accent, it should feel like you’ve brought a little harvest magic indoors.
Tips:
I’ve found that mixing fabrics like pairing velvet with cotton or linen creates a depth that makes the pumpkin feel almost three-dimensional.
Specially, you might even add a second smaller pumpkin off to the side, or embroider initials onto one of the leaves if you’re making it as a gift.