FUNKINS
© 2016 by Jane McLean
Learn how to make decorative fabric pumpkins. You
need to be able to hand-sew a short seam. Funkins
are not toys and should be used for indoor fall
displays. Feel free to use what you have to create
your Funkin. The following list contains suggested
materials.
Materials:
● Fabric: approximately 10” x 20” cotton, cotton-polyester, corduroy,
faux suede, or wool in autumn colors
● Stuffing: fiberfill, crumpled paper, plastic bags, fabric scraps, or
bubble wrap
● Twine: string, raffia, ribbon, or yarn
● Weight: dried beans, stones, or wood scraps, wrapped in fabric or
fiberfill scrap
● Stem: cork, stick, or cinnamon stick, approximately 1+½” - 3” long
● Leaves: cotton, felt, wool, or faux silk, approximately 2” - 3” long in
green or autumn colors. I use Wonder Under fusible or glue to stick
two pieces of fabric together, then trace and cut out double-sided
leaves. Leaves should have a deep notch along the bottom edge to
fit snugly around stem
● Vine: twine, raffia, chenille pipe cleaners in green or autumn colors. I
tape thick twine to a pencil, wrap it around, tape the bottom end,
spray with spray starch, let dry, and remove from pencil. I curl
chenille pipe cleaners around a pencil
● Sewing Materials: needle, thread, pins, scissors
● Glue: Aleene’s Tacky Glue, Elmer’s, or glue gun
● Clothespin: with a spring
Creating Your Funkin:
1. Gather your materials and read through the directions.
2. Fold fabric right sides (printed) together so short (10”) ends meet. Pin
ends together. Using a doubled thread with a big knot, sew a seam
approximately ½” from the ends, using short stitches and anchoring
your thread at the end of the seam. You can also sew this seam by
machine.
3. Cut a 10” piece of twine. Gather the bottom edge (20”) with your
fingers, clip it temporarily with a clothespin, and tie it tight, like tying a
balloon. Remove clothespin. Turn fabric bag right-side-out.
4. Enclose weights in fabric or fiberfill and put in bottom of fabric bag.
5. Stuff fabric bag with stuffing to 1” from top. How you stuff your Funkin
will determine its shape (short and squishy, tall, etc.).
6. Using a doubled thread with a big knot, sew large stitches to gather
the top edge of your fabric bag. Skip over the seam. Pull the thread
tight, making a fabric ball. Leave a small hole for the stem. Stitch
thread in the fabric several times to secure it, and cut it off.
7. Cut 3 pieces of twine, each approximately 30”. Like tying a present,
tie each piece of twine around the fabric ball, dividing it into 6
sections. Tie all pieces of twine together at top and trim ends.
8. Put glue on end of stem and stick down into hole at top of fabric ball.
9. Glue leaves to top of fabric ball around stem, covering up hole, twine
ends, and stitches.
10. Tie vine around stem.
Your Funkin is finished!
Leaf pattern