Want to make a crazy quilted pumpkin with fabric, embroidery and beads? This free pumpkin pattern shows you how to make an embellished fabric pumpkin from six decorated fabric wedges. You can use wool, cotton or other sturdy fabrics, then personalize each section with embroidery, beads, buttons, trims or other embellishments.
How do you make a crazy quilt pumpkin?
Start by cutting six pumpkin wedges from the free pattern, stabilize the fabric with muslin, decorate each wedge, then sew the wedges together and stuff the pumpkin.
What fabric is best for a crazy quilted pumpkin?
Wool is wonderful for hand embroidery and gives the pumpkin a cozy fall look, but cotton works beautifully, too.
Can you make a crazy quilted pumpkin without much embroidery experience?
Yes! Each wedge is a small canvas, so you can use simple embroidery stitches and add more embellishment as your confidence grows.
Can you make the pumpkin smaller?
Yes. The original pattern can be reduced to make smaller pumpkins, and the finished article includes ideas for changing the scale and embellishments.
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This project began as a fiber art challenge for a local arts alliance exhibit. Chardel Blaine challenged herself to use materials already in her studio, then built the pumpkin one embellished section at a time. The result combines crazy quilting, hand embroidery, couching and beadwork into a little piece of fall fiber art.
The best part? There is no need for every section to look the same. Think of each pumpkin wedge as its own little work of art.
What you’ll learn
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to:
- Download and use the free crazy quilted pumpkin pattern
- Cut and stabilize the six pumpkin wedges
- Prepare wool or cotton for embroidery
- Embellish each wedge with embroidery, beads and trims
- Use couching to add decorative yarn or fibers
- Sew the decorated wedges together
- Stuff and shape the finished pumpkin
- Finish the top, bottom and stem
- Make a smaller version of the pumpkin
- Customize the design with your own colors and embellishments
Quick start
Want to get started without reading the entire tutorial first?
Here is the basic process:
- Download the free pattern.
- Trace the six pumpkin wedges onto muslin.
- Baste each muslin wedge to your wool or cotton.
- Cut the wedges with a seam allowance.
- Embellish each wedge. Try embroidery, beads, couching, appliqué, buttons or trims.
- Sew the six wedges together, leaving an opening for turning.
- Turn the pumpkin right side out.
- Appliqué circles over the top and bottom openings.
- Stuff the pumpkin firmly with polyfill.
- Make and attach the stem.
- Add any final beads or embellishments.
- Enjoy your crazy quilted pumpkin!
The original project uses six individually embellished wedges, giving each section its own design while keeping the whole pumpkin coordinated.
Download the free pattern from Create Whimsy
The free pattern includes the six pumpkin wedges and the stem pieces, along with basic construction directions.
The pattern is designed so you can decorate each wedge before assembling the pumpkin. That makes this a particularly nice project for hand embroidery because you can work on the individual sections one at a time.
Tip: Save the pattern to your computer before printing and check your printer settings if you want to change the finished size.
How to make a crazy quilted pumpkin
You don't need a huge supply list for this project. In fact, it is a wonderful way to use some of those beautiful little pieces you've been saving.
You don't need to use the same thread throughout the pumpkin. Mixing thread weights and textures is part of what makes crazy quilting interesting.
The original pumpkin combines silk sari yarn, silk yo-yos, hand-dyed embroidery threads and beads.
Materials
- FABRIC
- Wool pieces or quilting cotton
- Muslin for stabilizing the fabric
- A small amount of fabric for the top and bottom circles
- Fabric for the stem
- Wool was used for the original pumpkin because it is cozy for fall and lovely to stitch. Cotton is another good choice, especially if you have scraps in your stash that you want to showcase.
- EMBROIDERY THREADS : Gather a selection of threads that work with your fabric.
- Embroidery floss
- Perle cotton
- Hand-dyed threads
- Rayon embroidery thread
- Silk thread
- Specialty fibers
- EMBELLISHMENTS: This is where you can really have fun.
- Beads
- Buttons
- Silk ribbon
- Sari yarn
- Silk yo-yos
- Decorative trims
- Small appliqué pieces
- Sequins
- Vintage trims
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Embroidery needles
- Beading needle
- Milliner's or doll needle
- Embroidery scissors
- Sewing thread
- Strong beading thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Polyfill stuffing
- Removable fabric marker
- Pins or basting thread
Instructions
The trick to this project is to decorate the pumpkin wedges before sewing them together. That gives you easy access to the entire surface of each section.
Step 1: Download and print the pattern
Download the free Crazy Quilted Pumpkin pattern and print it at the desired size.
The full-size pumpkin uses six wedges. You can also experiment with printing the pattern smaller for miniature pumpkins. The original project includes examples made with the pattern at half size.
Step 2: Trace the pumpkin wedges onto muslin
Trace the six pumpkin wedge shapes onto muslin.
Cut each wedge about ¼ inch outside the marked stitching line.
The muslin becomes a foundation for the wool and helps stabilize the fabric while you embroider and bead. The pattern instructions specifically use muslin as the stabilizer for the wool.
Step 3: Add the muslin to your fabric
Place each muslin wedge on the wrong side of your wool or cotton.
Baste the muslin to the fabric.
Then cut around each wedge, leaving approximately a ½-inch seam allowance.
The marked stitching line on the muslin will become your guide when it is time to sew the pumpkin together.
Step 4: Plan the embellishment
Before you start stitching, gather the threads, beads and trims you want to use.
You can plan each wedge carefully, or work more spontaneously.
For a coordinated pumpkin, repeat a few colors or materials throughout all six wedges. You can then make each section different without making the finished pumpkin feel disconnected.
One easy approach is:
- Add a larger decorative element.
- Add couching or trim.
- Fill in with embroidery.
- Add smaller details.
- Finish with beads.
That is the basic order used in the original project, although there is plenty of room to change it.
Step 5: Embellish each pumpkin wedge
Now comes the fun part.
Embroider and bead each wedge before assembling the pumpkin.
Try simple stitches if you are new to embroidery. Running stitch, chain stitch, seed stitch, feather stitch and French knots can all add texture and detail.
You can also add:
- Couched yarn
- Silk ribbon
- Yo-yos
- Buttons
- Beads
- Decorative stitching
- Small appliqué shapes
Don't worry about making all six wedges match.
The original pumpkin intentionally treats each wedge as its own little composition while using coordinating fabrics and embellishments to tie everything together.
Important: Keep the seam allowance free of heavy embellishment. Beads, buttons and bulky trims can make the wedges difficult to sew together.
Step 6: Repeat for all six wedges
Finish all six wedges before assembling the pumpkin.
This is a good project to work on slowly. Finish one wedge, put it aside and start another.
You don't have to repeat the same design.
In fact, changing the stitching and embellishments from wedge to wedge is one of the things that gives a crazy quilted pumpkin its personality.
Step 7: Arrange the wedges
Lay all six finished wedges next to each other.
Move them around until you like the combination.
This is your chance to balance colors, textures and embellishments before the pumpkin becomes three-dimensional.
Take a photo with your phone before you start sewing. That gives you a reference if the pieces get mixed up.
Step 8: Sew the pumpkin wedges together
Place two wedges right sides together.
Sew along the marked curved stitching line.
Continue joining the wedges until the pumpkin shape is formed.
Leave a 2- to 3-inch opening in the final seam so you can turn the pumpkin right side out. The downloadable pattern gives the same basic construction sequence.
Step 9: Turn the pumpkin right side out
Carefully turn the pumpkin through the opening.
Use a blunt turning tool to gently push out the curves if needed.
Take your time here. Heavy embroidery and beads can make the fabric less flexible, so avoid forcing the seams.
Step 10: Finish the bottom
Turn under the edge of one fabric circle.
Appliqué the circle to the bottom of the pumpkin.
The circle covers the opening and gives the pumpkin a neat finished base.
Step 11: Stuff the pumpkin
Fill the pumpkin with polyfill.
For a firm, nicely rounded pumpkin, pack the stuffing fairly tightly.
Add a little at a time and work it into the curves of the six wedges.
Don't be afraid to add more stuffing than you think you need. A firmly stuffed pumpkin will have a much better shape.
Step 12: Finish the top
Turn under the edge of the second fabric circle.
Appliqué it to the top opening.
This covers the raw edge and creates a finished surface for the stem.Step 13: Add pumpkin shaping
Want your pumpkin to have deeper grooves?
Use a long milliner's needle or doll needle and strong thread.
Stitch from the center top of the pumpkin through to the center bottom. Repeat several times around the pumpkin, pulling the thread firmly enough to create indentations.
This gives the pumpkin more definition.
You can also leave the pumpkin round if you prefer.
Step 14: Make the stem
Cut two stem pieces from your pattern.
You can embellish the stem before sewing it together, or add beads and embroidery after it has been constructed.
Sew the stem pieces together.
You can either:
- Put the wrong sides together and blanket stitch around the edge, or
- Put the right sides together, stitch, then turn the stem right side out.
Stuff the stem lightly with polyfill.
Turn under the raw edges and hand stitch the stem to the top of the pumpkin.
Step 15: Add the finishing touches
Now step back and look at your pumpkin.
Does one area need another bead?
Would a little embroidery balance the color?
Does the stem need a few more details?
The original pumpkin received additional beads on the stem after construction. Sometimes you don't know what a piece needs until you see it in its finished form.
And then you're done!
You have a crazy quilted pumpkin that is part quilt, part embroidery and part little sculpture.
Common mistakes
Adding embellishments to the seam allowance
This is probably the biggest construction issue to avoid.
Keep bulky beads, buttons and trims away from the seam allowance. Otherwise the pieces may not sit flat when you sew the wedges together.
Forgetting to stabilize the fabric
Muslin gives the wool a stable foundation for embroidery and beading.
Without enough stabilization, the fabric can stretch or distort while you stitch.
Making every wedge identical
You don’t have to.
The beauty of this project is that each wedge can have its own personality. Use a consistent color palette or repeat a few embellishments to make the pieces feel connected.
Overstuffing too quickly
Add stuffing gradually.
Work it into each section before adding more. This helps you create a smooth, even pumpkin instead of a lumpy one.
Using thread that is too weak for beads
Beading thread is designed to handle the repeated friction of passing through beads.
If you’re adding lots of beads, use a beading needle and appropriate beading thread rather than relying on ordinary sewing thread.
Waiting until the end to plan the color
It is much easier to move fabrics, threads and beads around while the wedges are flat.
Lay everything out before you stitch.
Ways to customize your crazy quilted pumpkin
This pattern is really a starting point.
Try cotton instead of wool
Cotton quilting fabric gives the pumpkin a completely different look.
Use fall prints, solids, batiks or scraps from previous projects.
Make every wedge different
Use six completely different embroidery designs.
This would make a wonderful sampler for trying stitches you’ve never used before.
Create a continuous design
Instead of treating each wedge as a separate composition, plan one design that continues from one wedge to the next.
You could create:
- A vine that travels around the pumpkin
- A continuous floral design
- Leaves and acorns
- A Halloween scene
- A spider web
- A harvest motif
The original article specifically suggests creating a continuous pattern across the wedges as another design approach.
Use your button collection
Buttons are perfect for this project.
Mix vintage and modern buttons, or choose one color family for a more coordinated look.
Try a Halloween pumpkin
Use black, orange, purple and metallic threads.
Add embroidered spiders, stars, moons or tiny ghosts.
Make a fall-themed pumpkin
For a quieter autumn look, try rust, mustard, olive, brown and cream.
Add embroidered leaves, acorns or simple botanical motifs.
Make a smaller crazy quilted pumpkin
Want a whole collection of little pumpkins?
Print the pattern at a reduced size.
The original project includes pumpkins made with the pattern at half size, so you can experiment with scale.
Smaller pumpkins are especially fun for:
- Bowl fillers
- Mantel decorations
- Table centerpieces
- Fall displays
- Handmade gifts
- Seasonal vignettes
Just remember that smaller pieces give you less room for large embellishments. Choose smaller beads and simpler embroidery designs.
How Chardel made her crazy quilted pumpkin:
My pumpkin has six segments. Each segment is stitched differently. (You could – and it would be awesome! – design a continuous pattern to cover the pumpkin, matching lines and motifs on the seam lines.) I wanted each segment to be its own little composition. But I wanted the segments to look like they belonged together, like friends who have something in common but retain their individuality. So I did that by choosing two coordinating background fabrics and coordinating embellishments to create unique pieces.
Wool is cozy for fall and is lovely to stitch on. That was my choice, but cottons would be just as much fun. Whichever fabric you choose, be sure to use your favorite stabilizer before you begin to embroider. (I used muslin to stabilize the hand-dyed wool.) Marking the stitching lines on the back helps to keep track of how far to stitch and a boundary for non-stitchable embellishments such as beads.
I love teal, and I had teal wool in my stash, so I could check the use-what-you-have box. Then I collected embellishments: Silk sari yarn, silk yo-yos, cotton and rayon hand-dyed embroidery threads and coordinating beads.
Now, for a plan of attack. This worked for me, but your pumpkin may need a different approach. Each segment started without a plan. I started by couching the sari yarn in place, according to my whim. Next, I appliqued yo-yos where they balanced with the couched yarn. Embroidery was next, with a combination of threads, lines and fill stitches. Then came the beads. I stitched with a beading needle to accommodate the small bead holes.
Set the finished segment aside and pick another. I repeated the steps, but did not copy the first segment. So beginning segment number 2 was like starting a brand new piece. Repeat until you have six little works of art. Move them around until they are in an order that pleases you. Stitch right sides together on the stitching lines, leaving room to turn. Then It’s ready for stuffing!
I finished the top and bottom openings by appliqueing circles over them. Then I made, stuffed and appliqued the stem. I thought the stem looked sad, even though it was a beautiful hand-dyed fabric. So I added beads after construction and everyone was happier. If you know you want to bead your stem, you can do it before you sew. Just be mindful of your seam allowance. Ta-da! Happy, crazy-stitched pumpkin!
Here are two more little pumpkins, made with the pattern half-size.
Clairen Peeters made this lovely crazy quilted pumpkin using the downloadable pattern. I love all of the different embellishments she used to decorate her pumpkin – trims, buttons, beads, embroidery and more!
Frequently asked questions
A crazy quilted pumpkin is a fabric pumpkin made from decorative fabric sections that are embellished with embroidery, beads, trims or other surface embellishments. This version uses six decorated wedges that are sewn together and stuffed.
Wool and quilting cotton are both good choices. Wool is especially nice for hand embroidery because it is stable and has a soft, cozy texture. You can also experiment with other fabrics, but stabilize anything that is loosely woven, stretchy or difficult to stitch.
No. You can use simple stitches such as running stitch, backstitch, chain stitch or seed stitch. You can also use decorative machine stitching, couching, buttons and trims instead of complicated embroidery.
If you’re new to embroidery, start with a few basic stitches rather than trying to learn everything at once.
Almost any decorative embroidery stitch can work.
Good choices include:
– Running stitch
– Backstitch
– Chain stitch
– Feather stitch
– Seed stitch
– French knots
– Lazy daisy stitch
– Couching
See our guide to 10 easy embroidery stitches for step-by-step tutorials for many of these stitches.
Use a beading needle and strong beading thread. Stitch the beads securely and avoid placing bulky beads directly in the seam allowance.
If you want to learn more about stitching beads directly onto fabric, see our beaded back stitch tutorial.
Not necessarily.
The muslin stabilizer helps support the wool, and the original project was designed so the individual wedges could be embroidered without relying on a hoop. If you prefer using a hoop for embroidery, test your fabric first to make sure the hoop doesn’t distort the embellished section.
Yes. Wool was used for the original project, but cotton is a great alternative.
Cotton quilting scraps would make a colorful scrappy pumpkin, while solids would let the embroidery and beads take center stage.,
The full-size pumpkin has six wedges.
Yes. Print the pattern at a smaller percentage to create a smaller pumpkin. The original project includes half-size examples.
Try decorative machine stitches, couching, appliqué, buttons, ribbons, trims or beads.
Couching is particularly useful if you have beautiful yarns or fibers that are too thick to stitch directly through the fabric.
Absolutely.
Crazy quilting is especially well suited to small pieces of fabric and leftover embellishments. This pumpkin is a great place to use those special scraps that are too small for a quilt but too pretty to put away.
Keep stitching
Once you start looking at the individual wedges as little canvases, this pumpkin becomes much more than a seasonal decoration.
Try a different stitch on each section. Pull out an old button collection. Add a little lace. Use a yarn you’ve been saving for the right project.
And don’t worry about making every section match.
That’s the beauty of crazy quilting. A little bit of structure gives you a place to start, and then you get to make the rest of it your own.
If you make a crazy quilted pumpkin using this pattern, we’d love to see it. Share a photo on Instagram and tag @createwhimsy.
Browse through more hand embroidery projects on Create Whimsy.
