Yesterday my sister Whitney showed up at my house and surprised me.
I couldn’t believe it.
I was sitting at the computer—working on the blog and wondering where the week went and how I could add more minutes to the week and if I needed to get a pedicure because it was October and my toes were about to go into hibernation—and all of a sudden I looked up and there she was.
Out of the blue.
Completely unplanned.
Completely unexpected.
Smiling and laughing and telling me about her knee and Jamaica and wearing hats and why she stopped drinking diet coke.
But the best part?
She brought me this DIY sweater pumpkin.
True fact.
During the day, Whitney has a very important job helping people to save their hearts at the American Heart Association. She runs heart walks and puts together campaigns and educates people to help make the hearts of America live longer and beat stronger.
But when she’s not saving the world?
She’s crafting.
Except?
Except she takes it to another crafting level.
Seriously.
Like the time she made art out of books and the time she made a book into the state of Kentucky and the Christmas she made this felted book cover.
And those are just drops in her crafting bucket.
So of course she showed up with pumpkins.
Of course she told me they were easy to make.
Of course she told me I needed to find sweaters and give this pumpkin some brothers and sisters.
This black and white pumpkin is a long-lost cousin to the pumpkin she made me last year.
They really are pretty simple to make.
Here are the directions according to heart-saver, champion crafter Whitney:
1. Start with a black and white houndstooth wool sweater. You may have one in your closet. You may have one around the corner from you at a thrift store. Just pick your shade of pumpkin orange sweater and head to the washing machine.
2. Felt the wool sweater. This is so much easier than it sounds. Basically, it involves a washing machine, hot water, soap, and patience.
I found this step-by-step tutorial on how to felt a sweater here.
3. Cut out circles out of your wool felted orange sweater.
You’ll need approximately 50-75 for a small pumpkin like this.
4. Find a pumpkin form.
The inside of this pumpkin is a paper mache pumpkin form Whitney got at Hobby Lobby.
5. Start at the bottom of the pumpkin.
Glue the circles in rows.
Each row should overlap the other in a circle as shown.
6. Cut out a star from the brown felt sweater.
Glue to the top of the pumpkin.
Roll a small tube to create a stem and glue to the center of the pumpkin.
Sisters are wonderful.
Especially when they arrive unexpectedly for sweet tea with laughter and stories.
Especially when they see a thrift store sweater and visualize something like this.
But especially when they show up to make your day a little brighter.
And brings a pumpkin along for the ride.
Adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loooooove this little pumpkin!🎃🎃🎃
Talent runs deep in your family. What an incredible blessing. Thanks for sharing your sister (and brother) with us!!!
Okay, crafting in which the most labor-intensive part is done by the washing machine in my kind of crafting! :) I love this!! When I look at fake pumpkins, my favorites are always the ones made out of unexpected materials - My favorite is one that looks like it's made out of leaves. So, so pretty. But this? I love it!!! Hmmm . . . . wonder what sweaters hubby still has lurking in the back of his closet?
Cute!! Remember you are in Texas now so your toes don't have to go into hibernation until maybe December. I love sister visits they are so special!!!
"how I could add more minutes to the week and if I needed to get a pedicure because it was October and my toes were about to go into hibernation" - THIS is why we are cyber-friends. Made my day! Oh, and the pumpkin thing is on my to-do list.
What a fabulous idea! I have never heard of such a thing as felting a sweater. I have always wanted to make sweater pumpkins! I will give this a go for sure!
Super cute, and made with love!
Sisters are indeed awesome! My sis Brenda just spent two weeks with me after oral surgery.She reminded me not to sniff, not to blow my nose, not to use a straw, when to take my meds!! She listened to my whining. She’s a great Sister!
Cute, cute, cute!!! Love that you got to spend some time with your sis and that we get to make an awesome sweater 🎃. Please thank your sister for us 💕
Looking forward to giving this a try! Could you ask sweet Whitney what size to cut the circles? Thanks, friend!
I asked myself the same pedicure question yesterday! Glad you had an unexpected visit from sissy!! Is she far away? xoxoxo
And to think I gave credit to your artist sister for the book art! Well, I guess we know that all of you are true artists!
Love those two cute "sweater" pumpkins! They are so unique and the nice thing is that nobody else will have one like that! Thanks for sharing this "DIY" with us, KariAnne. You and Whitney are so blessed to have each other. Sisters are so precious! Enjoy your weekend! Blessings!
Adorable!!! I am to watch the tutorial in how to felt a pumpkin right now!! This is a wonderful idea for my vacation rentals 😍 Easy crafty and you know, not real pumpkins to rot :( Thank you!! Mwah 💋
Sisters are great--I grew up with 5 of them and they are all artists in their own right!!!
I am headed to Goodwill! I have never heard of felting a sweater, but it makes so much sense!! I cant wait to get started!!
Any chance she shared the size of the circles she used? These are really cute and I have the perfect sweater I picked up at Goodwill to use! Any particular glue suggestion? Thanks!