Instructions

1. Remove stems from pumpkins and scrape all pumpkin meat off the underside of the stem.
2. Let the stem dry until it looks and feels dry.
3. Now you’re ready to create your pumpkin. Lay velvet down flat and trace a circle onto the backside of the fabric with a marker or pen (using a fine tip, so that it won’t bleed through). The circle I used was 16 in. wide.
   
   
   
   
4. Cut out circle with scissors.
5. Cut a long piece of thread and make sure to triple thread the needle. You’ll need the thread to be strong and thick so it doesn’t break.
6. Make a triple knot at the end of the thread.
7. Start to run the needle through the fabric about a ¼ inch from the top of the fabric, weaving in and out, back and forth (looks like pleats). Make smaller passes. (The smaller the pass, the tighter the pleat). I did a ¼ inch between each pass. And some I did larger up to a ½ inch, just to vary the size of the pleats.
   
   
    
8. Continue this all the way around the fabric making sure to keep the pleats tight together as you pull the needle through until the end.
   
   
   
   
9. Knot off the hole with another triple knot, then make sure your stem will cover the hole at the top.
10. Now you're ready to add the rice. Use your funnel (I made one out of paper) to add rice into opening.
    
    
    
    
11. Continue to add rice, manipulating the pumpkin to get the definition you want. Push more rice into certain areas to create depth.
12. Pack the rice in so the fabric becomes tighter. When you can barely push the rice around, you’ll know you’re done. (If you want to make you pumpkin softer, add less rice.)
    
    
    
    
13. Apply super glue to the bottom of the dried stem. (I used super glue gel, because its easier to apply.)
    
    
    
    
14. Place your stem on the hole at the top of the pumpkin, pushing down and manipulating the rice/fabric around it so it hugs the stem and looks like it has always been there.
15. Let dry for 15 minutes and you’re done! Always pick pumpkin up by cupping the bottom; never lift with the stem as it may break.