Autumn flower centerpieces are beautiful to behold and often adorn a harvest themed table. A charming idea to consider in lieu of flowers may be to sew a simple fabric table centerpiece easy for any skill level.

A few quick to sew harvest centerpiece projects:

Fabric Pumpkin Patch - Quick to make fabric pumpkins can be made in just about any size desired. Start with a rectangle of fabric 10” by 20” or any size desired as long as the length of the rectangle is twice the width.

Fold the cut rectangle in half, right sides together, so a squarish tube is formed. Machine or hand stitch the open side. Using sturdy thread or embroidery floss, use a running stitch to close one end, then pull tightly to form the bottom of the pumpkin. Turn right sides out, stuff with poly fiberfill, and stitch/gather the top to secure. Using embroidery floss or strong thread in a long needle, run the thread up through the center bottom of the pumpkin, through the stuffing and out the middle of the top, knot tightly then form the pumpkin segments by wrapping the thread around the outer sides. Knot tightly to secure. Glue a felt made leaf or two to the top as well as a short piece of thick branch or coarse rope for a stem. Make several fabric pumpkins for the table centerpiece, wind artificial greenery around all and add fairy lights if desired to complete the pumpkin patch.

Basket of Worried Turkey Gobblers – A worried looking turkey gobbler can be made of a few different sizes of yo-yo circles of various autumn themed calico prints. The finished yo-yo circles can be laid flat, slightly overlay one over the other then hand stitched to connect them so that they will represent feathers. The combined turkey body and head - think bowling pin shape, can be cut from brown felt. Cut two, machine sew or blanket stitch edges together leaving an opening for stuffing. Hand stitch opening closed. Glue on small googly eyes to head area. Cut out yellow triangle of felt for beak and red felt wattle shape and glue to turkey head. Hand stitch prepared yo-yo circles to back of the turkey. Make several in this manner and add to basket. The slight movement of the googly eyes can't help but make the fabric and felt turkey gobblers look very worried!

Penny Rug Centerpiece for Candle Mat - In Colonial times, crafty homemakers would use scraps of wool or felted wool from old clothing, threadbare blankets or felt from hats no longer in use that would be cut into circles of various sizes. Penny rugs, though the name implies, are not actually floor rugs at all. Traditional penny rugs were made of layered circles of graduated sizes, hand sewn on top of each other and stitched together most often using a blanket stitch. Many layered circles, known as coins, were then stitched onto a burlap or wool felt background. The top circle is considered to be the size of a penny, though in early Colonial times penny coins were much larger than today. Contemporary penny rugs are often made of appliquéd patterns of favorite animals, hearts and flowers and seasonal shapes. The penny rug is a folk art tradition today and very charming when used as a table centerpiece to hold a large pillar candle.

May your holidays yet to come be sew delightful!

Sew happy, sew inspired.