Polka Dots and Pumpkins
I’ve got a lot of sewing projects that are stacked up on my dining room table. Scott’s birthday present still isn’t finished (but oh so close) plus Halloween costumes are looming large in front of me, and I’ve got a few Christmas presents that are already in the works. And by works I mean in various stages of completion. In the stacks. So, last night with an early bedtime what did I do? Something completely different.
I had the orange polka dots (by Amy Butler) out for another project, which is cut out and in a nice little stack. But I got an idea and I couldn’t make myself stop. And since the other polka dot project doesn’t need to be done until tomorrow night I felt totally justified in throwing all cares to the wind to make a polka dot pumpkin.
I love how he turned out! The leaves are made from a super soft merino wool sweater I felted last year. I’ve been waiting for the perfect project to use it on. There are actually three different leaves, but it kind of just looks like one big one, which I am OK with. I amazingly had matching embroidery floss to stitch some veins in the leaves, and to give the pumpkin a little more definition. The stem is a linen scrap from the new living room pillows I made a few weeks ago.
I used one bag of poly pellets in the bottom of the pumpkin (to give it a little weight and help it stand upright a little better) and then stuffed it with polyfill. Easy peasy. Creamie was dying all morning yesterday while I did the last bit of handstitching on it. She kept saying “Hold pumpkin! Hold pumpkin!” and when it was all done (and all pins removed) she took it in her arms and sang it a lullaby. And then she said “pumpkin pill-yo-yo-yo (pillow). Nigh’night.”
Also, in fabulous news… her sweater was purchased on my fabulous thrifting weekend. It came with matching tights, is from Gymboree and was $6 (almost more than I was willing to pay, but the cuteness and the stripes got me.) And her little brown skinny cords from BabyGap? Well, I didn’t buy them from BabyGap, but I did pay a good $3 for them.
I think there are more polka dot pumpkins in my future. How cute would three of them be together, in all different sizes? And, it’s a fabulous excuse to buy up all the cute orange prints I can find. I think I’ll make one into a jack’o’lantern with a little scraps of black felt for eyes. Gaaa, it’s going to be cute! And besides cute, it really is the perfect decoration for me. Totally unbreakable. (It also worked fabulously as a giant pincushion. Or a pillow.) Now, back to the dining room, my sewing machine and the stacks.
UPDATE: I’m adding this to the Amy Butler version of Sew+Tell at Amylouwho’s. I tell you, that Amy Butler makes a fantastic polka dot, no?
pinksuedeshoe 
I thought this was going to be your AB finish – but you have something else too? I still don’t know what I’m going to make today. Sheesh. I better figure that out. First i have to go grocery shopping. yuck.
LOVE THIS.
ADORABLE! Who are you!? Seriously. 🙂
LOVE the pillow! Love it!!! And I love Creamie too. 🙂
…”And since the other polka dot project doesn’t need to be done until tomorrow night I felt totally justified in throwing all cares to the wind to make a polka dot pumpkin.”
We have to do this sometimes. If sewing is to be therapy/healthy coping mechanism for the complete lack of autonomy we mamas of little ones enjoy, then we have to do this.
Oh, and I love the leaves. and the stem. And the polka dot pumpkin. Gorgeous.
LOVE! I want to make one. Do you have a tutorial or basic pattern so I don’t have to start from scratch?
PS. We need to do a girls night again!
Orange polkadots. How perfect is this!
I love that you throw all caution to the wind in order to make a polkadotted pumpkin 😉
Squashy Creamie face on a squash pillow. Bliss.
Great job on that! The three leaves into one and the stem look fantastic!!!
E, this is super adorable. Are you going to do a tutorial on how to make it?
very cute. great job on those thrift store finds too!!
That orange dot fabric is one of my fav Amy Butler prints, it makes a great pumpkin!
Love that pumpkin!! I have a pattern that is a little different, and have made several. Must find some AB orange polkadot to add to my collection.
I love this!!! it is sooooooo cute.
this pumpkin is adorable…and your little girl just puts these pictures over the edge of cuteness.
This is too cute and the picture of your daughter is priceless!
there is way too much cuteness going on in this post! the pumpkin is perfectly posh! I love late night ideas that actually work out the way we want them to!
and Creamy, needs to come live with me, she’s that scrumptious!
Loving you poka dot pumpkin!!! Yes three would be fabulous! And the jack idea is perfect. You sew girl!
Pink,
That is the cutest little pumpkin I’ve ever seen! And the stuffed one she’s using for a pillow is pretty great too. If you’re making them in all different sizes, I have the craziest, bright orange Moda Essentials Swirls that would make and adorable little pumpkin. If you’re interested, I’ll scan it so you can ‘audition’ it. I only have 1/2 yard, so it would have to be a little pumpkin, but I’m totally willing to donate some to the cause.
Those orange dots are fabulous! Too bad you got the last of the bolt.
xo -El
Great pumpkin! Way to listen to that fabric. I love it when it tells you what it wants to be!!
Blessings,
KT
LOVE the pumpkin!!
So adorable! The tangerine full moon dots is one of my MOST favorite prints. It’s a great shade of orange without being obnoxious orange, you know what I mean? I just love it on your pumpkin!
Oh my gosh, I love it! Definitely the most creative project in the Sew and Tell so far! I do definitely think that Amy Butler does the most beautiful dots, and I am so in love with your pumpkin! Great job!
love the idea of a whole little garden of these around your house, how fun!
I love this polka dot pumpkin! So, so cute </:) (that's my Halloweeny witch)!
I am in love with your pumpkins – they are the cutest ever! Can you tell me where you got the pattern?
Thanks so much.
I was sad to hear your bunco story. I have to admit the pumpkin was my favorite. In fact I looked all over for the tangerine and white polkadot. The Jacksonville, FL Quiltfest was this past weekend and there was none to be found there 😦 Finally looked online, and it will be here soon! Thanks