Cute Pumpkin Craft For Your Fall Home Decor

I've seen yarn pumpkins online, but they just weren’t full enough or the yarn seemed to overlap in a strange way. So I started experimenting and came up with my own process. This is an enjoyable and easy craft that you can finish while watching TV.

One of the most important supplies for this craft, is thick yarn. Regular yarn won't give you the full coverage and texture you need. Look for chunky yarn like Wool-ease.

I found it best to cut and prepare all of the Styrofoam balls at once. While it’s easy to do, it still makes a bit of a mess. I prepared about 24 of these in 20-25 minutes. Then, I brushed them off and put them all in a container and set them in the living room. In the evenings, while watching TV, I added the yarn.

To start, use a serrated knife and cutting board to cut each side of the foam ball flat. I found it looked more like a pumpkin shape if I cut a larger piece off of the bottom and a smaller piece off of the top.

I know this step looks a little scary, but I promise it’s the easiest way to create a hole in to middle of your foam without using heat. Use a drill and a spade bit to create a 1/2″ hole in the foam balls. The foam cuts really easy and you’re done in a snap with the spade bit. Just be extra careful to keep your hands clear of the drill and put a scrap board under the foam to protect your surface.

Here is the bottom of one of the foam balls, ready for yarn.

Pull out about 2-3 arm-lengths of yarn and cut it with your scissors. Then string one end of your yarn through the needle, but don’t tie it. I found that working in smaller sections saved time because you don’t have to string such a long piece of yarn through the hole over and over.

Feed the needle through the center hole of the foam, leaving a 1 inch tail. Then wrap the yard back up over the tail to hold it in place. Continue to hold the yarn taut with your left hand while you string the next loop of yarn through the center hole again.

Repeat this process until you have a short piece of yarn left. Then feed the end under the previous row or two to secure the end down. Snip off any excess. Now start the process over with a new piece of yarn.

As I made quite a few of these pumpkins, I found it best to keep the yarn taut. When finished with each section of yarn (several rows), scrunch the top and bottom of the yarn on the foam tightly together with your fingers. This prevents the foam from showing through the yarn and keeps the yarn evenly dispersed.

Above is a picture of the bottom of one of the pumpkins. You can see how tightly the yarn is and how it filled up the center hole. The largest pumpkin I made was 4″. If you are going to make a larger pumpkin, you will want to make your center hole larger than 1/2″.

To make the stems for your pumpkin, you will need to get a small branch from your yard. I chose one that was about 1/2″ thick at it’s widest part. I used the thicker side for the larger pumpkins and the thinner parts for the smaller pumpkins.

To cut the stick into pieces, use a good pair of pruning shears. Cut the stems anywhere from 1-2″ long, depending on the size of the pumpkin.

Once the stem is cut, use the shears to remove the bark from one end of it. Like in the photograph above.

Then press the stem into the center of the pumpkin. The yarn in the center of the pumpkin held the stems in place well, so I didn’t need to use glue. If you are concerned at all, you could use hot glue to secure the stems. Here is a closeup of a finished pumpkin.

I am really pleased with the way these turned out. It’s such an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your home during the fall season. They would also make a beautiful party favor in a table setting. Do you love fall home decor projects? Here are a few of my favorite fall crafts and decor.

Laura