Repurpose Your Old Sweaters Into Fall Harvest Decorations!

by Jacque

2 Materials

2 Hours

Easy

I love "window" shopping online...my phone is full of screen shots like this in an album of "Ideas" for future projects. I get inspiration everywhere I go. I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall and adore harvest decor...better yet if I can make it myself! I enjoy giving gifts to our awesome teachers too!

This is my inspiration photo!

I had stored a box of sweaters (didn't fit/flawed) in our garage for our next yard sale. Then, I saw this photo of gorgeous velvet fabric pumpkins and was inspired. I just had to get my head around cutting into my clothes...I doubt I'd have got more than .50 cents for it anyway, right? Now I have something that's priceless!

2 sweaters repoursed into harvest decorations

First, Cut off the arms at the shoulder, along the seams...set aside.
Remove all labels and cut in half, cut down each side seam, for larger pumpkins cut one side (for 1 pc) for small pumpkins cut both sides (2 pcs).

Or plastic grocery bags as stuffing

Then start rolling butcher paper into a ball.You will need a lot of paper, depending on Sz of pumpkin you're making.
Place into center of fabric, pull sides up and fasten with a rubber band. (For sml use 1/2 sweater, Med use FULL sweater trim as needed)

Finished 2 Pumpkins (Med & Sml)

Cut 6-8 burlap strings about 8-12" long,Tie string to rubber band pulling it around opposite side and knot it. It's all hidden under the stem.
Repeat! Finish off stem with a bow of lace.

Adds depth to my dining table center piece

I had a lot of material left...each arm can be used to make 3+ mini "hats" for example a pumpkin head or a scarecrow! To make hat garland:

Sleeves = beanie hats!

Cut length of sleeves in 2-3 parts (3-5" tall).
Cut 6" burlap string pcs to tie off the tops after cutting straw & inserting it @ top as "hair".
Cut sml triangle pieces from each sweater to use as teeth.Get squiggly eyes and/or buttons for nose and hot glue all the pcs down.

Use whatever you have to embellish hats

Cut 6ft burlap rope & wrap it in wire (I had Halloween/bat wire garland).
Lay out each of the decorated hats on wired rope, space out about 5" each.
Cut pcs of 2" wire to attach "hats" onto garland, slip onto backside of string on top of hat, twist, then twist it tightly around rope.

How festive does this make the mantle look 👀

This looks really cute hung above our fireplace. It's not too heavy so no fear of it falling down. The wire provides extra support when hanging, Even ghosts or witches would be neat too! (I did this for xmas and made elf hats.)Honestly, it's super easy and FUN to do with your kiddos! Try it and post a pic here so I can see your ideas! Thanks for lookin!