How to make decorative pumpkins out of old socks

This is such an easy project and a great way to upcycle your old woolly socks!  The bigger the socks, the bigger the pumpkins.  Make a few in different colours and place them on a fireplace, in a bowl or on a plate and they make lovely Autumnal decorations for your home.

You will need:

• A pair of old socks (washed of course – no one wants smelly pumpkins!)
• Needle and thread
• A bit of stuffing – you could use an old polyester pillow or chopped up fabric off-cuts or tights
• Scissors
• Some sticks cut to approximately 1-2 inch lengths (glue to glue them in)

Step 1 – cutting out

Each sock can be made into two pumpkins. For this you’ll need two tubes. So firstly cut the sock in half and then cut the toe off.

Step 2 – stuffing the sock

Next, take a handful of the stuffing and push into the sock opening and position it half way down the sock tube.

Step 3 – shape your pumpkin

Next you’ll need to fold the ends of the tube in on themselves and form like a ring doughnut shape around the stuffing.

Step 4 – the sewing bit

Thread a needle and make the thread double strength by pulling it all the way through, so your needle is half way through the thread. Add a knot in the end. Now you’re going to thread the needle through the bottom of the pumpkin to the top. Imagine now dividing the pumpkin into eight pieces of pie. You’re going to make eight loops around the pumpkin – each time pulling the needle through the bottom to the top.

Step 5 – add the stalk

Finally, add the twig and glue into place.

And there you have it – pumpkins to decorate you home made from your old socks! Repeat with the rest of the sock pieces and you should be able to get four pumpkins from each pair of socks.

More snuggly things…

For more snuggly things for the season, keep yourself warm and cosy with my handmade hot water bottle covers. They come in regular 2 litre size or mini 500ml size and include the bottle. All made using recycled fabrics from the sofa industry.