Back when I was writing my book, “Crafting with Flannel”, I thrifted several shirts that were pretty enough to photograph as-is for the book. One of them sported an assemblage of colors that made me think of Fall in a funky and alternative way. So, I set it aside for a year, mulling over several ideas, including a pumpkin throw pillow.
It hung in my crafting closet all that time, waiting for Fall to arrive. But then recently, I was at a favorite Habitat ReStore and spotted a blue microfiber pillow. There was only one and I wondered if it was the same blue as what was in my funky flannel shirt.
I took a chance and brought it home. And you know what? It was pretty darn close! So I set forth to create a pumpkin throw pillow with the pair of them.
I’m publishing this particular project today because it’s Thrift Store Decor Team Day! And my lovely blogging friends wanted to celebrate my book by creating flannel projects inspired by the tutorials in “Crafting with Flannel”. My heart is so full it could burst, let me tell you.
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Making a Pumpkin Throw Pillow
Before I get started, I had to make this project in a hotel room! Our air conditioning was broken for 11 days during a heat wave, so we temporarily moved into a hotel. Thankfully, this project didn’t require spray painting or power tools, eh?
Anyway. Back to the tutorial…
First things first, I needed to create a pumpkin template. Using a piece of blank newsprint, I traced the blue pillow on it. From there, I sketched out a pumpkin within the tracing and cut it out.
In retrospect, it might have been a bit more apple-shaped than pumpkin-shaped. But I’m blaming the chaos of hotel living for that.
Next, I opened up the flannel shirt and pinned my paper pumpkin to the back.
After cutting out the flannel pumpkin, I placed it on the pillow to double check that it fit- and it did!
Now, because I was using a ready-made pillow, I couldn’t stitch it to the pillow very easily. But I wanted it to look like it was stitched on.
So, I hauled my sewing machine and supplies to the hotel room! I threaded my machine with some yellow thread and simply stitched all around the pumpkin and stem.
Changing Things Up with Blue Fall Decor
Once I had stitched all the way around, I needed to iron it before attaching the pumpkin to the pillow. Hurray for my hotel room’s iron and ironing board!
Now I could finally put my pumpkin throw pillow together! First, I centered the flannel pumpkin on the pillow and brushed on a touch of fabric glue to hold it in place.
Normally, I’d squirt some glue on a paper plate for easy access with a foam brush. But hotel living meant I turned a Dixie cup upside down and used that as a surface to dip my brush into!
Then, I lightly brushed glue under the edges of the flannel pumpkin before smoothing them down. Once I verified that the pumpkin perimeter was secured, I grabbed some accents to add to my pumpkin throw pillow.
Specifically, these felt leaves and some orange twine.
Lastly, I tied a bow with the twine (with an additional loop of twine around the center of the bow for more tails). Then, I glued on the leaves and twine bow with my fabric glue and foam brush.
Blue Fall Decor with a Pumpkin Throw Pillow
And that was it! I had successfully crafted a pumpkin pillow in my hotel room! See, there it is on the bed shortly after housekeeping had arrived.
I’ve been waiting and waiting to upcycle that flannel shirt, ever since I thrifted it. And while it may be a bit funky for some, I love the colors of my pumpkin throw pillow! Besides, blue fall decor is a great way to shake things up for a change…
Plus, I have lots of flannel shirt leftover for future projects- maybe something else from my book? Or maybe something entirely new and unexpected…
*****
AND, here are all the flannel projects that the Thrift Store Decor Team has been working on! I’m so tickled that they wanted to help me celebrate my book in the Fall (since its release was delayed last year).
1. Easy DIY Fall Flannel Pumpkins – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
2. Rag Wreath DIY – House of Hawthornes
3. Flannel Covered Books – Organized Clutter
4. Plaid Pumpkin and Acorn – Domestically Speaking
5. No Sew DIY Flannel Pumpkins – Our Southern Home
6. Cheap Wreath for Fall – Reinvented Delaware
7. DIY Easy Projects with Flannel Scraps – My Repurposed Life
8. Flannel Wrapped Wreath – Petticoat Junktion
9. Flannel Embellished Hand Towels – Shop at Blu
10. Blue Fall Decor with a Pumpkin Throw Pillow – Sadie Seasongoods
*****
I hope you enjoyed a fresh new flannel craft from me! It was, in fact, inspired by this project in my book. Because you KNOW how much I love Fall and Flannel, after all…
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
So adorable
Thank you, Catherine!
I absolutely love this! If you decide you want to sell it, let me know.. I would buy it! Speaking of that, do you still have your Etsy shop?
Woman, it’s already in the giveaway pile- I’d love to send it to you if you cover shipping. Email/message me so I can get it to you!
This is a perfect color match and I love the vibrant colors of that flannel, what a great find! It was so fun going through your book and creating one of your tutorials, you are so talented!
Thank you so much, Kristin! I’m so touched that we all did Flannel projects this month- my love tank is full!
Sarah, it’s amazing that you found the perfect color pillow at your local Habitat!! They have the best stuff! Love this pumpkin pillow so much, I’m inspired to create one myself with grainsack. I am enjoying your book so much – the images and your detailed instructions are so helpful! People are going to love this crafting book! I’m excited to do more of your projects 🙂 Pinned this post!
Thank you so very much, Cindy- sincerely! And a grain sack version would be just the cutest!!
I love your bright colorful pumpkin pillow! I really enjoyed making my flannel covered books, and I’m very happy how they turned out. You have so many great ideas!
Thank you so much, Carlene!!
So cute!!! So glad we got to have fun with flannel this month!!
Thank you, Maryann!! I’m just bursting at the seams over all the flannel love this month!
I love your flannel pumpkin pillow! What a clever idea!!!
Thank you so much, Janice!
That bright blue is gorgeous!!! I love a fresh take on fall decor!
Thank you!! I kept thinking about how fall leaves look against a blue sky, so I went for it!!
I love the blue pillow. Great job!
Thank you so much, Rebecca!!
Sarah,
You are SO crafty! I love that you stitched around the pumpkin! It’s those little things you always think about.
That shirt is the oddest combination of colors, but perfect for that pillow. Especially for us gals that don’ really love fall colors so much.
Pinned!
gail
Thank you so much! Worth dragging my sewing machine to a hotel room for, LOL!! And yes, the color combo is a nice change of pace, right? Like fall leaves against a bright blue sky!!
Sarah, This is just my second time on the team and I had the most fun! Your pillow is the happiest pillow! And I bet housekeeping was like…what??? I’ll be working my way through your book. So much inspiration!!
Thank you so much, Sue!! I just love, love, love the book love this month- I’m over the moon about it!
Your book is absolutely fabulous! I have so many projects marked to make. This pillow is so cute. You have quite the collection of flannel. I can’t believe you found that thrift store pillow to match that one shirt.
Crafting fate to find that pillow, I tell you! And thank you so very much- when I was writing the book in 2019, our home looked like a lumberjack frat house, LOL. SO MANY DIFFERENT SHIRTS strewn about!
Love the colors, nicely done.
Thank you so much!
I love the colors!!!
Aren’t they fresh and fun?? Like autumn leaves against a bright blue sky.
Such a cute idea always love your ideas🙌🏻
:* thank you, my friend!