Who doesn’t love a cute pumpkin craft for fall? My husband and I took a trip to Amish Country in Ohio last week. Since it’s just over an hour from home, we try to visit once a year. I enjoy the home decor inspiration and he loves the food! It’s a win-win.
While visiting, I stumbled across the most adorable felted pumpkins. I don’t know how I’ve never seen these before. However, after glancing at the sticker price, I was shocked to see they were more than ten dollars each. To fill a vase or jar, it would cost me over a $100. After looking into the process of making them, I understood why. You need to continuously poke the felt with a little needle until it is fully adhered to the foam. Can you say labor intensive?
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When I arrived home, I started researching a better way to make something similar, but inexpensive. I kept seeing yarn pumpkins, but they just weren’t full enough and seemed a little off. So I started experimenting and came up with a better way. Here is the process I used to make these cute little yarn pumpkins.
SUPPLIES TO MAKE YARN AND STYROFOAM PUMPKINS FOR FALL
- CHUNKY YARN, OATMEAL, MUSTARD, FRANCISCO TWEED
- STYROFOAM BALLS (VARIOUS SIZES)
- PLASTIC YARN NEEDLES
- FABRIC SCISSORS
- DRILL
- SPADE DRILL BIT (1/2″)
- SERRATED KNIFE
- PRUNING SHEARS
- THIN BRANCH FROM YOUR BACKYARD
- WOOD DOUGH BOWL
PREPARE YOUR STYROFOAM BALLS
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 about 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 to 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. If you have a better method, please share it with us in the comments down below.
Here is the bottom of one of the foam balls, ready for yarn.
ADDING THE 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.
Here 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″.
CUT AND PREPARE YOU STEM FOR THE CENTER OF YOUR PUMPKIN
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 below.
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.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Do you love fall decor? Join the community and receive free access to my exclusive library of over 60 printables, cut files and templates. Like this sweet “Hand Picked Pumpkins” printable.
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FOLLOW ALONG ON PINTEREST
Do you like learning budget friendly ways to spruce up your home? Follow me on PINTEREST. Did you know that you can hover over the images below, click on the red Pinterest circle and save it to your Fall Home Decor or Crafts Board on Pinterest? It’s so helpful to Pin It now and save it for later, when your ready to start your project.
This was such a fun and relaxing project. Hopefully this gave you some inspiration for your own cute pumpkin craft. Have a wonderful fall season!
These are SO adorable! Think I could use an apple corer to make the center hole? Don’t have a drill…
Hi Ginny. This is a great question. I checked on Amazon and an apple corer at its smallest size is 7/8″. I think that would work, but I haven’t tried it. Please let me know if you try it, I would love to share with others if it works.
Maybe a grapefruit knife?
Hi Carol. I’ve never seen one of these before, but it looks like it could work. The serrated edge on both sides will definitely help.
I was just thinking an apple corer would work great!
Hi Ginny. An apple corer is a great idea.
These are beautiful, can’t wait to try them! May I ask where you got that amazing wood bowl?
Hi Penny. The wood dough bowl is from Hobby Lobby. Here is the link. Don’t forget to use the 40% off coupon.
I would love to make these too! But is there an alternative to styrofoam balls? Thanks!
Hi Alex. You could try cutting up a pool noodle. I have never tried it, but it could work. However, it might not be as round.
I was thinking that maybe a pool noodle may work? You would get a lot of pumpkins from one noodle.
Hi. A pool noodle is a good idea. I’ve seen this method. The only thing I didn’t like was that it is a little boxy looking, not smooth and round.
You could shape the edges with a knife to round them. This would work great for kids hands to ‘help’!
These look beautiful. I am setting everything up for a crafting party with my grandsons this weekend (9 & 7). I can’t wait to post the pictures.
Hi Roberta. That sounds like so much fun! That is my heart with crafting…bringing people together to do something they love. Special times!
These are so pretty! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Lisa. Thank you for the encouragement. I’m so glad you like them.
Hi Laura,
What brand yarn is the orange yarn? Also, how many pumpkins can one make from the skeins of yarn? These are so cute, hope to make some for myself and my 2 daughters!
Hi Sandy. The Brand I used is Big Twist and the color is Mustard. I don’t know exactly, but I estimate about 10 pumpkins per skein. I hope this helps.
Hi Laura,
We made these pumpkins today. They look awesome but I have two questions….
1st my string doesn’t have that wavy look to it do you think I pulled the yarn too tight? Also the yarn looks very furry after strining it through the styrofoam did you put anything on the outside to make it look or sleek?
Hi Wendy. I’m so glad you like them. Some of the yarn I used was twisted, I think it’s called Big Twist. Those pumpkins came out wavy. I’m not sure about your pumpkins that look “furry”. None of mine turned out that way. The only guess I have is that maybe your center hole was too small and the yarn pulled away as you fed it through. Did you possibly use a different type of yarn?
This is such a fantastic DIY! Easy, adorable, and so affordable! I was wondering, what size styrofoam ball are you showing in the step-by-step photos? With larger sized ones, did you make the center hole larger, or keep it 1/2″? Thank you so much for such a great idea!!
Hi Brittany. The Styrofoam balls I used came in a 6 pack of 1.9″, 2.4″, 2.8″ and 3.8″. All of these sizes work with a 1/2″ hole. If you go larger than a 3.8″ you’ll need a bigger hole as the yarn will fill the hole on a larger pumpkin. I hope this helps!
I used a fuzzy yarn to make a small pumpkin. I’m having difficulty at the end pulling the yarn through. Any suggestions for easing the finishing? I think I will try a bigger hole for this yarn.
I used the plastic yarn needles. They make it easier to feed the yarn through as the hole fills up.
Pliers work nicely to pull the yarn through. Thank you for sharing your idea!
Thanks for sharing Molly. I didn’t try that.
These are so perfect for fall. May I ask where you brought the chunky yarn from? Those colors would match my decor perfectly.
Thank you.
Hi Ashley. I purchased the Styrofoam balls from Walmart and I found the yarn at Jo-Ann Fabics. I found and linked to the yarn and Styrofoam balls under supplies at the top of the post. The yarn is linked to Amazon. The one exact color I couldn’t find was the muted orange. If you want that specific color, I purchased it from Jo-Ann’s. It’s called Big Twist and the color was called Natural Mustard. The photo is a bit brightened so the orange is slightly darker than pictured. Hopefully this helps!
How many pumpkins did you make to fit your bowl? Thanks Sharon.
Hi Sharon. It takes about 24 pumpkins to fill the dough bowl. This makes it a little mounded above the edges. You could have less, but I like the way it looks with more. I mixed in some of my other pumpkins to finish it off. Hope this helps!
Could you use just a regular 1/2” drill bit? I wasn’t sure what the difference is using the spade bit?
Hi Jill. If you have a regular 1/2″ drill bit, that would work. Most people don’t have regular drill bits that large. The goal is to just make a 1/2″ hole or larger. Hope this helps!
These are absolutely adorable! I am always looking for crafts that are no sew and easy for me to do, these check both boxes.
Thank you. I always appreciate feedback as it helps me plan for future crafts. I have a few no-sew crafts, if you’d like to see more. One of my favorites are these no-sew Christmas gift card holders. You can search for no-sew projects in the side bar search box if you’re looking for more ideas.
Hi from Kansas-
I love everything about your site! Four of us high school friends get together 2-3 times a year, and this weekend is one of them! Guess what? We are making the yarn covered pumpkins and I am so excited! They will admit they are not very crafty, so they put me in charge and your site was recommended. These are going to be fun and simple! (I hope so 😉 Lol) I found the perfect yarn and I am going to search for the wood bowl you have your pumpkins displayed in! I am excited and ready for a craft weekend with my tribe! If okay with you, I’ll post you a picture of us and our pumpkins!
Happy Fall!
Jill R. Wichita, KS
Hi Jill. I love comments like this! It is the reason why I blog. It has always been my desire to facilitate community, friends and family time through crafting. I hope you have a wonderful get-together and I’d love to see your pictures!
These are so pretty! I want to try making some of these little pumpkins this fall, too. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us!!
Aw. Thank you for the encouragement Dori. I enjoy sharing and help others!
Hi Laura,
We just moved into a new home, and I don’t have many decorations, so I decided it would be fun to make some. I came across this idea on Pinterest and from there discovered your blog. I am so excited to follow along and try more of your creations. These turned out beautifully! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity!
Hi Marie. Congratulations on your new home and I’m so glad you found my blog. Hopefully you’ll find many creative DIY projects & crafts here for your home. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, they really brightened my day!
Hi Laura, These are so cute! I’m getting together with my two daughters-in-law, my sons girlfriend & my boyfriends daughter got a girls craft day to make these! Family time is so important and these will be fun to make! Thank you for the great idea!
Hi Tonya. I’m so glad you like them. It sounds like you have a fun time planned with family. My sister and I always talk about how we like to do things when we visit. Family craft time is perfect. I hope you make some wonderful memories!
THANK YOU SO Much Laura 👍🏼♥️!! These ARE ADORABLE 🥰!!! I saw comment About The Wooden BOWL, I Got Lucky At a Thrift Store And Only Paid Like 1.99 $ For Mine 👍🏼If That, It’s BEEN A long Time SINCE I bought it ! I bought it to paint and DISTRESS it and put potpourri on My dining Room Table.Thanks For Sharing YARN BRAND! G-d♥️Bless😊
Hi Cheri. What a great find! It’s always fun to come across a bargain. Thanks for your kind words and I hope you enjoy the pumpkins.