How to Paint  Pumpkin Pillow Covers

These painted pumpkin cushion covers are large and bright.  Did you ever notice on the design shows their cushions are always large?  Painting your own cushion covers  allows you to upsize your cushion covers for the more luxurious look.  These DIY pumpkin cushions are surprisingly easy and fun to paint  If you have a teen you want to get involved in crafting, these painted cushions are a great way to spend a couple hours together.

These are easy to make when you break them down into individual steps.    I always say I am crafty, I am NOT artsy.  If I can paint these pumpkin pillows I am certain you can paint them.

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DIY Pumpkin Pillow Cover Tutorial

Supplies

I made my own cushion covers, as I had the cotton and I find it easier to make them, then to shop for the large ones.  I have found an affiliate link to premade cushion covers but I personally haven’t purchased them.  Another alternative is to check out IKEA, just make sure your cushion is 20″ square.

You will need a few materials.

Material for your cushion, (I used heavy muslin)  one piece 20 by 20 inches and two pieces 16 by 20 inches.  Prewash all your material and seal the edges with a Serger or zig zag stitch.

Art paper ( I used children’s art paper from the dollar store), a pencil and a black marker.

Acrylic paint, I used Deco Art Neutral Grey, Burnt Umber, and Snow White.  Of course, you can paint with traditional Fall colours, oranges, browns, and greens.

Tintable Martha Stewart fabric medium, so you can use acrylic paint on fabric.

A plate for mixing the paint and fabric medium, a jar of water, small brushes and a paper towel.

To create a template cut out a piece of paper 20″ by 20″ to match your cushion cover.  Creating a template prior to painting allows you to erase as needed and gives a perspective as to the size of your pumpkin on the blank canvas of the cushion.

Once the pumpkin is drawn and shaped as you like, outline it in black marker to darken the lines.

Once this is done, cut a piece of fabric 20 by 20″ piece of fabric for the front of your cushion cover.  Place the fabric good side up over your template and start painting. 4

(If your using a purchased cushion cover, insert a piece of cardboard, and then the template inside the cushion cover.  The cardboard will prevent the paint from leaking the underside.

Paint the outline neutral grey.  Once done, mix the neutral grey with white to get a slightly lighter grey.

Remember that pumpkins are curved, think about the general shape of a pumpkin and curve your strokes accordingly.

Fill your pumpkin in by section, using long C shaped strokes.

As you complete each section, use a small brush and burnt umber to paint along the inside of the pumpkin section outlines.  The colours will blend.

If you put on too much dark paint even it out by adding the grey/white. If your shading is too light add some more burnt umber.

Clean your brush between dark and light colour changes.

To paint the stem.  Fill in with grey, outline with burnt umber, and add a few extra strokes for texture.

Pumpkins in nature come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and imperfections.  Have fun painting these,  they don’t need to be perfect to give the allusion of a pumpkin.

Let dry thoroughly before you start sewing.   Heat set the paint with a dry iron (described on Martha Stewart’s fabric medium).    Now you’re ready to sew.

Sewing  Simple Pumpkin Cushion Covers

To make a cushion cover you already have the front piece cut.  Now cut two more pieces of material 20″ by 16″.

Make a rolled hem on one edge of each piece.  Fold your fabric over 1/2 inch and iron.  Then fold it over 1 inch and iron.  Sew along the edge creating a hem.  Repeat for the other piece.

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Pin the two pieces to the front of your pumpkin cushion covers as shown above.  Sew with a 5/8 inch seam around all seams.

Then finish all the seams by sewing a zig zag stitch.  You need a 20 by 20″ pillow insert, if you don’t already have one, I like the pillow inserts from IKEA.  They are stuffed nicely and inexpensive.