When I started this blog, I wanted to always tell the truth about everything I posted. Even when the truth isn’t what readers wanted to hear.
If a destination is underwhelming or not worth the money, I want to tell you that. If a project us too expensive or time-consuming, I want you to know what to really expect.
So, in the spirit of honesty, this fall craft that I’m going to tell you about was a MAJOR pain in the a$$.
Not only did it make a big mess, but it took a LOT longer than expected. However, it did turn out pretty cute and was pretty cheap. So, with that in mind….here’s how to make these Pinterest-inspired yarn-wrapped pumpkins.
Get Your Supplies
This project was fairly cheap, costing me less than $25. Plus, I was able to find all of the supplies at my local Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree, which saved me from waiting on mail from Amazon or having to go out of town to the nearest craft store.
For these yarn-wrapped pumpkins, you will need:
- Styrofoam pumpkins (various sizes, but not bigger than 4″)
- bulky yarn (at least 3 different colors)
- sticks (I just used some out of my yard)
- drill & wood boring drill bit OR potato peeler/knife
- yarn needle
- scissors
TGOOD Fall Decor Fall Decorations for Home 15 Pcs Artificial Pumpkins Assorted Sizes Rustic Harvest Pumpkins Foam Pumpkin for Autumn Halloween Thanksgiving Party Home Decor
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick Yarn (3-Pack) Oatmeal 640-123Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn, 3.5 Oz, Gauge 6 Super Bulky, PumpkinLion Brand Heartland Yarn Sequoia8Pcs Aluminum Yarn Needle,Large Eyes Blunt Yarn Needles Jumbo Bent Tapestry Needle Darning Needles Bent in Box for Knitting Crochet
Step 1: Remove Stems & Make Hole Through Pumpkin
The first step to making these yarn-wrapped pumpkins is THE biggest pain in the a$$.
After removing all of the tags and stems from the pumpkins, we used a drill and a wood boring drill bit (11/16″) to make a hole through each one.
I read several tutorials about making these pumpkins and NONE of them mentioned that this part will make a HUGE mess. Styrofoam went everywhere. Thankfully, we were out in the garage, so it was easy to sweep up, but don’t do this step inside your house….you WILL regret it!
This first step was also a mistake, not only because it made a mess, but because the hole we made through each pumpkin was too small. If you are using a chunky yarn, go ahead and make your hole bigger…more like 7/8″ or even 1″ wide.
Step 2: Wrap, Wrap, and Wrap Again
Next, is the step where you better find a comfy spot and settle in for the long haul. Grab a drinks, some snacks, and turn on one of your favorite shows because you’re going to be there a while.
I unwrapped a SUPER LONG piece of yarn and threaded my needle. Then I doubled the yarn, so that when I did one pass through the pumpkin two pieces of thread were wrapped at the same time.
Some of the other tutorials suggest using hot glue to start wrapping, but I just tucked the ends under instead of gluing them down.
Those other tutorials failed to mention that this part is also extremely messy. All kinds of loose styrofoam fell out of the pumpkins despite me blowing them out before bringing them inside from the garage.
I wrapped several pumpkins, only to get almost done and find out that the hole was too small. So, I had to unwrap everything I had already done, widen the hole, and start again. (To widen the hole I just used my scissors to scrape away some of the styrofoam from the sides of the hole to make it bigger.) Re-wrapping the whole pumpkin was easier with the bigger opening, but it was extremely frustrating to have to re-do so many of them.
When your pumpkin is completely covered and you’re finished wrapping, just tuck the end of the yarn into the hole on the bottom of the pumpkin. If it’s anything like mine, the hole will be packed so tight that the yard end will never come out.
Step 3: Insert the Stem
The last step to completing these pain in the a$$ yarn-wrapped pumpkins is to add the stems.
I used a dead branch from a tree in my backyard that was between 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick. Using garden shears I just cut 2″ long pieces and stuffed them down inside the hole on top of the pumpkin.
Other tutorials mentioned that they secured their stems with hot glue, but that wasn’t necessary for my pumpkins. All that yard held that sucker in place!
And that’s it!
It really IS an easy project….albeit a little time-consuming and messy. There are several tutorials out there and I debated on even writing this one up, but I hope you get the full scope of what you are getting into if you decide to take on this little fall craft.
When it was all said and done, I am happy with how my Dollar Tree pumpkins turned out. They are the perfect thing to fill the dough bowl that I brought back from the Round Top Antique Fair and the whole project cost me around $35. (Which if you’ve ever looked into the decorative balls that are normally used to fill these large dough bowls, then you know that’s a deal!)
