Cooler weather. Sweatshirts. Campfires. Leaves falling. And pumpkins! It’s the time of year when we may have a pumpkin or two on our front porches or maybe a pumpkin pie in the oven. And if you’re really lucky, you may have a pumpkin under your needle!
Are you looking for a quick and fun fall project? Then this pumpkin applique may be just what you’re looking for! This free (YES, FREE!) printable pumpkin applique pattern PDF includes the templates and step-by-step instructions, and it will have you stitching pumpkins in no time. The pattern shows it on a tea towel, but you could definitely add this applique to a quilt block, a table runner, a pillow, a tote bag, or a jacket.
What You Need for This Pumpkin Applique
One of the things I love about this little pumpkin is that it doesn’t take much. Here’s what the pattern calls for:
- A tea towel (purchased or made from 1 yard of prewashed toweling fabric), or any project you want to decorate
- Applique fabric for the pumpkin and the stem (scraps work great!)
- Lightweight fusible interfacing
- Monofilament thread, or a coordinating rayon or cotton thread
- Helpful notions: rotary cutter, mat and ruler, spray starch, pinking shears, an erasable fabric marking pen, a press cloth and an open toe foot
How to Make the Pumpkin Applique
The full instructions and templates are in the free PDF, but here’s a quick look at how it comes together:
- Starch your towel well and let it dry so it stays nice and stable while you stitch.
- Print the pumpkin templates and trace the pumpkin pieces onto the non-fusible side of your interfacing, leaving about 1/2″ to 3/4″ extra around each shape.
- Pin the interfacing to the right side of your applique fabric and stitch right on the traced line with a short stitch length (about 1.5 to 2.0).
- Trim to a scant 1/4″ with pinking shears, cut a small slit in the interfacing only, and turn each piece right side out. Now you have a smooth, finished edge with no raw edges to fray!
- Arrange the side pieces, center piece and stem on your towel, fuse them in place, and stitch around the edges with monofilament or a pretty coordinating thread.
This turned-edge (or “faced”) applique method is a wonderful one to learn if you are new to applique. The edges come out clean and rounded, and it’s very forgiving.
Fall Layer Cakes for Your Pumpkins
Need some fun fabric to make your pumpkin with? A layer cake (a stack of 10″ squares) is perfect for applique, because each square is big enough for a whole pumpkin. Here are a few fall layer cakes I’m loving at Missouri Star right now:
from $45.50
from $49.95
from $47.95
from $50.25
Fall Fat Quarter Bundles
If you want to mix your pumpkins with a little more variety, or make a whole patch of them, fat quarter bundles give you more fabric per print. Leftovers? Turn them into a table runner or a few matching potholders!
from $95.95
from $42.95
from $84.95
Tips for Choosing Pumpkin Fabric
- Play with value. Use a slightly darker print for the two side pieces and a lighter one for the center, just like the example. It gives your pumpkin that round, dimensional look.
- Small prints and plaids read best. Tiny checks, tone-on-tones and plaids look great at this size. Big florals can get lost.
- Don’t forget the stem. A little bit of brown, green or even purple makes it pop.
- Think beyond orange! Cream, sage, and dusty blue pumpkins are so pretty for a farmhouse look.
More Ways to Use This Free Pattern
- Stitch a set of tea towels for Thanksgiving hostess gifts
- Add a pumpkin to the center of a quilt block for a fall table runner
- Applique a pillow cover for your porch swing or couch
- Decorate a canvas tote for trips to the pumpkin patch or farmers market
More Fall and Halloween Projects from Nancy’s Notions
- Halloween Sewing Projects You Will Love
- Spooky Embroidery Designs You Will Love
- Free Pattern: Make an Adorable Cape for Halloween
- Make Your Own Halloween Treat Bags
- Fall in Love with Fall Fabric
- Make a Cozy Project with Fall Flannel
- Fall in Love with Kits
- More free project ideas
Go have some fall fun in the sewing room with this free pattern! Are you going to put your pumpkin on a towel, a quilt or something else entirely? Let me know in the comments. Happy sewing!
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