As the summer heat fades to cooler temperatures, at least in northern climes, our sewing muse seems to call out for attention. Our fabric stash, sewing notions and stalwart sewing machines seemingly await in anticipation the inner sewer in us as we ponder any change of seasons sewing projects.

Autumn seems to be a perfect time to consider new seasonal sewing projects. With the impending arrival of the commonly scary, spooky, fun, tongue-cheek costume-y festival of Halloween the following easy to sew mostly familiar ideas come to mind:

Spooky Pillow - A purchased or easy to make throw pillow takes on a mysterious appeal with simple ghost-like facial features created with a black fabric marker or hand-stitched on black felt. Cut out two largish ovals for eyes and one smaller circle for a mouth out of black felt and hand stitch onto a white pillow form or draw on the shapes with black marker. Make a billowy translucent envelope pillowcase cover out of organza or translucent chiffon slightly larger than the pillow to cover over for a surprising haunting effect.

Fabric Pumpkin - Conjure up a wickedly fun and easy to sew fabric pumpkin as it wouldn't be Halloween without pumpkins! Make several in any size and any fabric. Start by cutting out a fabric rectangle twice the length of whatever width is chosen. Fold right-sides-together matching the short ends. Stitch in a narrow seam to form a tube. Next stitch across one end leaving long thread tails in order to pull the threads to gather. Tie off securely as this will become the pumpkin bottom. Then turn right-sides out to stuff firmly with fluffy polyfill. After stuffing, hand baste the top edge all around and pull tightly to gather and tie off to secure. The pumpkin will be just a fabric stuffed ball at this point. To make the pumpkin sections, use a long length of yarn or twine to pass through the bottom of the pumpkin through the stuffing and up to the top, pull out the yarn or twine then over the side to form a plump section, back through the bottom and up through to the top repeating to create the pumpkin segments. A wine cork or small branch can be forced into the top of the pumpkin to create a stem.

Halloween Garlands - Cut out several ghost or pumpkin shapes from felt or fabric. Place two similar shapes together and stitch around the edges leaving an opening for stuffing. Trim edges neatly. Stuff lightly and hand stitch closed. For ghosts, cut out and glue on ovals for eyes and mouth, for pumpkins hand stitch a few pumpkin segments using embroidery floss. Attach shapes to a long length of satin cording or twine and hang from a mantel or across a window.

Another easy to make Halloween theme garland it to cut several strips of seasonal Halloween print fabric into 1 and 1/2 by 6-inch strips to tie onto a long length of cording or twine. Kids can help tie the strips too. More strips make for a fuller garland. If the strips are cut with pinking shears or a pinking blade in a rotary cutter, the zig zag edges give the garland a finished look. Interspersing the fabric strips with burlap or tulle strips can fill out the garland as well.

Floating Cheesecloth Ghost - A perennial favorite. Fun and easy to make spooky or non. Cheesecloth fabric is available from the grocery store, fabric store or online. Liquid starch is traditionally used to soak the cheesecloth in or make your own starch using cornstarch and water or school glue and water (even Stiffy Mod Pod). Submerge the cheesecloth in the cornstarch/water or glue mixture and form over a blown-up balloon, kids' ball or Styrofoam ball shape. Cover ball-shape and work surface with plastic wrap. Ball-shape should be balanced or cradled on a tall-ish container so the wet cheesecloth can form over the ball shape and drape down to form the body of the ghost. Once dry glue on black felt ovals for eyes. The cheesecloth ghost can be hung with a monofilament wire to sway with the breeze from a porch or tree branch.

These few Halloween sewing projects can set a friendly haunting mood with a little nod to nostalgia and also a touch of whimsey.

Sew happy, sew inspired.