Hooked Rug Pumpkin Make Do Instructions

It’s no big secret around here that I love to hook rugs but I also like to make smaller, folk art type pieces from time to time. One of the patterns I sell in my Etsy shop is for a “pumpkin make do” {basically a mini hooked rug pumpkin that has been stuffed and given a candlestick base}. 

Someone who is new to rug hooking recently asked if I would make her up a hooked rug pumpkin kit. Not only did I say yes, but since I’ve had this request before, I decided to go ahead and make one myself, and take a ton of photos of the process so I could share them with anyone else who might want to try making one of these pumpkin heads as well. 

I am a visual learner, and I love it when tutorials go into detail with lots of photos. I find that it helps me to understand the process better than reading instructions and hoping that I am getting it right. 

So here are some super helpful instructions on how to make a hooked rug pumpkin in case anyone wants to make one. I have both the pattern, and now the kits available in my Etsy shop: Mavis Butterfield. 

Happy Hooking, 

~Mavis

Outline the eyes and mouth with black wool strips. 

Hook the center of the eyes with the seeded wool strips. 

Hook the nose.

And then the stem.

Outline the pumpkin with the orange wool strips.

Fill in the pumpkin with the remaining orange wool strips.

This is what my pumpkin looked like after it was hooked. Some people hook higher or tighter than I do, so there were a few extra wool strips. 

Some people like the “bumpy” texture of hooked pumpkin. I like a more “flat” look to my pumpkins so I gently steam them before I put them together.

To steam my pieces, I simply wet a washcloth and then ring it out in the sink.

I then place the pumpkin on an ironing board and lay the wet washcloth over the pumpkin. I steam the pumpkin head for about 5-7 seconds, making sure to steam the entire hooked piece.

Nice and flat. Just the way I like it. 

This is what the backside of the piece looks like.

Next, giving myself a 1” border, I trim away the extra linen.

I then place it on a piece of hand dyed wool.

And trim that as well. 

Cut little notches at the stem.

Tuck, fold, pin around the edges. 

I like to use DMC floss to stitch up the sides. DMC floss has 6 strands. I divide mine into {3} 2 strand sections.

This pumpkin sits centered on the nose, so I start my stitching just inside the nose and work my way around to the other side of the nose.

Be sure and leave an opening at the bottom. I usually make mine about 2-3 inches. 

Use your extra bits of linen and wool to stuff your pumpkin. Depending on how plump you want your pumpkin, you may need some extra “bits”. Since I always have excess wool on hand, that’s what I use.

I’ve known other people to have used leftover quilting scraps or the polyfill stuffing found in craft stores.

Stuff the stem first. 

Then the sides. Make sure to leave a little room in the middle to insert your candlestick. 

Once your pumpkin is stuffed and candlestick is in place, stitch the base of your pumpkin in place.

And you’re done! Now that was pretty easy, don’t you think? 🙂 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this hooked rug pumpkin tutorial. 

~Mavis

P.S. If you are interested in making a pumpkin head, I’ve provided the links below.

• Pumpkin Make Do Pattern
• Pumpkin Make Do Kit