How to Punch Needle a Pumpkin Cushion

* Rowan Biscotti Big Wool 100g

* Women’s Institute Brown Premium Acrylic Yarn 100g

* Cocoa Polyester Felt Sheet A4

* Hemline Doll Needles 3 Pack

* Milward Adjustable Punch Needle 5mm

* Black Staple Gun

* Staples 8mm 2000 Pack

* Cream Cotton Binca 9 Count Needlecraft Fabric 70cm x 80cm

* Wooden Canvas Stretcher Bar 51cm

* Hemline Wipe Off Fabric Marker

* Gutermann Cream Sew All Thread 250m (414)

* A Sewing Machine

* A Darning Needle

* Free Templates - Downloaded + Printed

Download the PDF template here

Slot the four sides of the stretcher frame together to create a rectangle. Stretch the foundation fabric over the frame (see this blog post for step by step instructions on how to do this).

Download and print out the template. Attach the template to the back of the fabric using masking tape. Place the frame in front of a light source, such as a window or a light box, and trace the design using the fabric marker. You will need six separate segment pieces; trace two templates on one frame and repeat.

Start punching each piece in a corner, keeping the yarn tail on this side and punch the outline.

Continue punching, following the line of stitches, until you finish in the middle.

Repeat so you have six pumpkin segments.

Place a zipper foot on your sewing machine.

Match two sections, right sides together, pin and sew down one long side. Try to sew on top of the punched sections to ensure no foundation cloth shows when you turn it right side out. Repeat this with the other four pieces so you have three pairs of segments.

Take two of these joined sections and place them right sides together. Sew along one edge so you now have a section with four joined pieces.

Thread a darning needle with a length of Women’s Institute brown yarn and sew gather stitch around the smaller opening.

Pull the yarn to gather the pieces and do a few stitches to secure the shape.

Stuff the pumpkin and sew gather stitch to close the remaining opening.

Optional: If you wish to give your pumpkin more definition, thread the 174mm doll needle with a double strand of Women’s Institute brown yarn and tie a knot in the end. Push the needle up from the base to the middle of the top. Take the thread back down to the base so it follows one of the joins.

Repeat this process for all six sections.

Cut two stem pieces from the felt.

Sew them together, turn out the right way and stuff it.

Hand sew the stem to the top of the pumpkin.