Easy Jack O Lantern Softie Tutorial – Great for Kids!

I’m really excited to share this brand new Halloween craft for kids because this easy Jack O Lantern softie tutorial was created by a kid: my daughter, Sofia!

Sofia had been sewing project after project from the Sewing School box set* (these books are AMAZING!) when she realized that the top of the microphone toy looked an awful lot like a pumpkin. So she used the same pattern piece and technique to make the pumpkin, and a bit extra creativity for the stem and face!

I just love it when kids’ creative wheels get going, because they tend to be very imaginative! After I saw Sofia’s first stuffed Jack o’ lanterns, I asked if she would like to show me how to make them, but in front of the camera. She was very happy to comply!

So, while all the pictures in this tutorial were taken by me, those are her hands you see in them!

Materials:

• Orange felt* (enough for an 18 cm [7″] diameter circle)
• Scraps of green and black felt*
• Chalk*
• Fabric shears*
• Hand needle*
• Orange and green thread*
• Stuffing*
• Clear glue*

Print out these instructions!
Scroll down to the end of this post and click “Print”.

Easy Jack O Lantern softie tutorial: the pumpkin

1. Cut a circle with an 18 cm (7″) diameter from the orange felt. Sofia used the top part of the “Superstar Microphone” from the Sewing School box set* but you can trace the top of a mixing bowl or use a compass.

2. Sew a running stitch around the edge of the circle, using orange thread. Make sure to leave long threads.

3. Pull the two long thread ends (at points A and B) gently to gather the fabric.

4. Stuff the pumpkin, then continue pulling the threads to close the top more. Don’t close it up all the way, because you still need to insert the stem!

Easy Jack O Lantern softie tutorial: the stem and face

5. Cut a 3 x 16 cm (3/4 x 6″) rectangle of green felt and start rolling it from one short end (1 above).

6. Leave some of the felt unrolled and, using green thread, sew together the outer layers of the roll to keep it from unrolling (2 and 3 above).

7. Cut a leaf shape from the extra bit of unrolled felt (4 above).

8. Stick the stem inside the top of the pumpkin and pull the top closed as tightly as possible (without snapping the thread!) around the stem.

9. Tie a knot to keep the top cinched closed, then sew back and forth through the center of the stem to attach it to the top of the pumpkin.

10. If you want, you can leave it as a regular pumpkin. But for the full Halloween craft, cut a jack o’ lantern face from black felt and glue the pieces in place.

And you’re done! Cute, right? But easy, too!

Here’s another look at the tops of these crafty Jack o’lanterns. You can see how the stems fit inside the center opening and are sewed in place.

The sizes given are just a suggestion. You can make these Jack O’ Lantern softies bigger or smaller just by cutting a bigger or smaller orange circle.

These little faces just make me smile! These are such fun little guys! Wouldn’t they look so cute lining the top of a mantel?

And they are really very fast to make. Sofia made quite a few of these last year and gave them to friends.

But what I love is that this is perfect for children to make! They don’t really even have to know how to sew, just how to run a needle through a bit of fabric. This Halloween, give it a try with your kids, grandkids or neighoborhood kids!

If you loved this easy Jack O Lantern softie tutorial and want another easy Halloween sewing project, check out my tutorial on how to sew a witch cape with a rectangle of fabric! This project is very simple and perfect for beginners!

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