Fall Decor: Recycling Sweaters for Pumpkin Craft (Video)

Image via: Someday Crafts

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Watch the video to learn how to make sweater pumpkins:

You can find the link to the video here.

Image via: Etsy – The Tiny Crafter – Sweater Pumpkin

Supplies

Sweaters

Embroidery floss

Filling

Twigs

Needle (with a big eye)

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Embellishments (leaves, twine, ribbon, dried twigs with berries etc.)

Image via: Joyworks

Instructions

1. Cut the sweaters so you will get parts that are straight on both ends. Sleeves are the easiest for this project, since you won’t need to sew them together to get a ‘tube’ as the other parts.
2. Thread the floss (choose the same color floss as the sweaters) through the needle eye and make a simple knot at one end.
3. Turn the sleeve inside out. Make a running stich around the one end of the sleeve. When you’re done, pull the thread to close the opening. Make a knot to secure it. This part will be the bottom of your pumpkin.
4. Turn the sleeve right side out. Fill the sleeve with enough filling, until it gets a round, plumb pumpkin-like shape.
5. Now it’s time to close the upper end of the sleeve, the same way you closed the bottom one. Just use the needle and floss and make a running stich around the end of the sleeve. Pull it enough so it will leave a small hole and make a knot to secure everything.
6. Use another piece of floss and the needle to make lines to the filled sleeve so it looks more like a pumpkin. To do that, just make a stich on the top of your filled sleeve (near the small opening), pull the floss to the bottom of the sleeve and secure it there, making sure that the ‘pumpkin’ clinches a little. Repeat this a few times so you’ll get the finished look. This part is optional, but it adds to the appeal of your final product.
7. When done, glue a small piece of twig with hot glue into the opening on top of the pumpkin. You can wrap the twig (stem) with twine and use hot glue to secure it, to get another look.
8. Now to the finishing touches. Add leaves, berries or ribbon to the stem of the pumpkin to give it the look you want.

Image via: Etsy – Willow Creek Sparrow 

So, there you have it. It’s a really easy project to make Fall Decor, but if you want to make it even easier, here are a few suggestions. You can use faux pumpkins to avoid the need of stuffing the sleeve with filling. Just take the faux pumpkin, cut off the stem (optional) and ‘dress’ the pumpkin with the sweater sleeve. Continue as described above. Another option is to use rubber bands or hot glue to secure the ends of the sleeve, so you could avoid the sewing part altogether. Just try what you like more and go for it. Make a number of sweater pumpkins to adore a corner of your home or even your porch.

For more fall decoration ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

We all love creative and thrifty ways to save a little money during this time of the year when our shopping budget suddenly sky rockets. Christmas wrapping of gifts can often be a challenge to make them look different than years of the past. This is also a great time to test your imagination and come up with innovative ideas to re-purpose and save on small details like Christmas gift wrapping.

Here are three creative ideas to put your old knitted sweaters to use as gift wraps and accessories

Christmas Gift Ideas: Gift Wrapping with Repurposed Sweaters 

1. Christmas treat bags

Chunky cable knit sweaters represent Christmas-y winter days like nothing else. Why not use your old sweater to create treat bags for the kids. Cut two pieces approximately 6 inches x 10 inches in size. Fold over the top and hem with a needle and thread to prevent the wool from unraveling. Next place the two pieces on top of each other with their right side facing each other. Hot glue the three sides together leaving the opening on the top. Turn over the bag and fill with small treats. Close the mouth with a ribbon and decorate with embellishments.

Image via: Shopgirl Maria

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2. Sweater wine bags

You can re-purpose patterned knit sweaters for interesting wine bags. Look for bright and cheerful patterns that convey the spirit of Christmas. To make these wine bags, measure your bottle leaving about one inch from the top. Cut the sleeve of your sweater according to the measurement. Make sure that the cuff of your sweater is included in the cut piece. This will be the top of the bag. Flip the piece inside out and hot glue the bottom together. Place your wine bottle inside and tie a ribbon, twine or wool around the neck to fasten it. Decorate with pompoms, bows etc.

 Image via: Kelebeginruyasi

 3. Sweater gift tags

Once you have finished making your sweater wine bags and treat bags, use the left over pieces of the sweater to make cute gift tags. Use cookie cutters to trace your desired shape onto a piece of stiff paper. Make sure the patterns are not too complicated. Cut two pieces of the sweater according to the pattern. Place the pieces with the right sides facing outside. Stitch together with a needle and strong thread using short running stitches. Leave a little gap and stuff with cotton batting or use shreds of the sweater. Close the gap and hot glue a jute twine to hang on your gift bags and boxes.

Image via: Your home based Mom

 By re-purposing and re-using old sweaters you will be able to save a lot of money on gift wrapping which in itself can get quite expensive. These creative and easy ideas will be appreciated by your friends and family alike.

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.