DIY Yarn Pumpkins Make Adorable Hand-made Fall Decorations

Pumpkins are everywhere in the fall. We always end up buying some, but I have definitely been caught off guard by how quickly some go bad! The bottom will rot, and you don't even expect it until you lift them up! Luckily Yarn Pumpkins don't rot, so they are sure to last through the entire fall season. Plus you can make as many or as few as you like and the kids can too!

Supplies Needed for Yarn Pumpkins

• various sized balloons
• orange yarn (We used very basic yarn like this, but a variety pack would be cute.)
• glue (We used a combination of Elmer's, water, and some flour to thicken it.)
• green pipe cleaners (Again we were basic with green and brown, but you could give the kids options.)

Instructions to Create Yarn Pumpkins

Cut the yarn into long pieces. For younger kids you may have to use slightly shorter pieces, but I would use pieces as long as can be handled. Dip the yarn in the glue and then remove excess.

Then wrap the yarn around the balloon securing the ends under pieces of yarn. I wrapped mine similar to the grooves in real pumpkins. You don't want them to be too perfect or they won't have any flat area to sit on!

I had to do a few to create a base for the girls because they couldn't seem to get any yarn to stick. Once they had a start they could create any pattern they wanted.


Then we hung our pumpkins outside to dry as it is still quite warm here. Hanging outside cut down on the mess too. If you hang inside, be sure to put something disposable under them to catch drips.

I was surprised when I went out a couple hours to find all our balloons had shrunk away from our yarn!  If they hadn't done this we would have gently pushed the balloons away from the yarn to loosen it prior to popping.

Once dry, remove the balloon and any excess glue (if you did this with a young child you may have quite a bit). 

Finally you can add pipe cleaner stems and vines. I used a brown pipe cleaner looped around and secured inside the pumpkin. Then we twisted it to get the stem. We added a green pipe cleaner for the vine; just use your finger to get it to curl.

And you have a pumpkin. They may not be perfect pumpkins, but you rarely find perfect pumpkins in nature either.  Besides yarn pumpkins are just such a fun craft for kids to make that you can enjoy for fall!