10-Minute Sock Pumpkins Tutorial + Video!

Learn how to make my easy 10-Minute DIY sock pumpkins! All you need to make this cute fall craft is a sock, a needle & thread, doll needle, stuffing, and yarn. These sweet pumpkins are a quick craft that is great for making at parties or decorating your home on a budget!

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If you love inexpensive DIY home décor ideas, I think you’ll love these pumpkins. Buy a 3-pack of socks for a few dollars and you can make a whole basketful of cute sock pumpkins.

Even better, grab some of your favorite socks that have developed holes (we’ll be cutting away the heel and toe so those holes don’t matter!) and re-use them to create these little pumpkins.

Why You’ll Love This Craft

• It’s quick! Each pumpkin can be made in about 10 minutes or less.
• Great for parties: It’s a simple and fast craft that works great for facilitating at a party or Bible study. Sign up for my email list and grab the free printable below for a handy cheat-sheet!
• Waste not, want not: Recycle old socks easily with this cute tutorial. Socks with holes in them are perfect because the heel and toe are removed before crafting!

Supplies You Need for Making Sock Pumpkins

Sock pumpkins are a great way to repurpose old socks that have developed holes, but you can also buy brand-new socks if you like. I chose a pack with multiple coordinating colors in a pretty textured knit. This large pack of fall socks on Amazon is similar and comes in beautiful colors!

Besides socks, you’ll need a few other basic sewing supplies.

Here’s the complete supply list:

• socks – (I suggest women’s crew socks, like these textured socks and these ribbed socks)
• a needle and thread
• polyester filling
• a lightweight to medium-thick yarn (I like using a fingering, sport, or worsted weight)
• a larger doll needle (about 3″ long) or a plastic yarn needle in a pinch (a little harder to work with, but can be done)
• dry twigs to use for the stem (alternatively, use cinnamon sticks or a small roll of felt!)
• glue gun

What Kind of Socks to Use?

You can really use any kind of sock, but I use women’s crew socks to make my sock pumpkins and here’s why: once you cut away the heel section and the toe (cutting the toe is optional) you’ll have two pieces of sock that are nearly the same size and already a great ratio for turning into pumpkins.

You can use ankle or no-show socks too, but if you are buying new socks, I would skip these as you’ll only net one pumpkin per sock.

As for longer socks (like knee-high socks), these are great because you can get three (or more) pumpkins per sock. You’ll just have to figure out how many cuts you want to make in the leg of the sock.

Something else to keep your eye out for are socks where the pattern goes all the way around the sock (even on the foot part). These aren’t as common since typically the foot of the sock is knit flat, but they look so great for pumpkins.

There are so many cute socks out there. Trying browsing through women’s fall crew socks on Amazon and see what you find. I found several packs I would love to try this craft with!

Ready to get started? Find my tutorial video and complete instructions ahead!

How to Make DIY Sock Pumpkins Step-by-Step

Follow the instructions, and/or watch the video! You can also print the instructions for later at the end of the tutorial, or fill in the subscribe box in this post and get the printable PDF emailed to you.

Cut a Crew Sock in Two Pieces

If you are using a crew sock (roughly the same amount of fabric in the leg section and the foot section), cut out the heel area and the toe. You could technically leave the toe in if you want, but the shape of the pumpkin would be a little different and I don’t like having the big seam for the toe showing.

Note: If you are using a shorter sock, you will cut away the heel, cuff, and toe and have one piece of sock for a pumpkin. Longer socks will yield more than two pumpkins as you can cut the leg into multiple pieces.

Sew the Sock Closed

Select one of the pieces you are left with and using a needle threaded with a doubled and knotted thread, sew a gathering stitch all the way around the tube of the sock. Leave about 3/4″ seam allowance as you stitch the gathering stitch (I’ll show you why in a minute).

Note: to prevent my thread from slipping out of the sock I pull the thread through almost all the way and then I bring my needle between the two strands of thread and pull tight, forming another knot on the inside of the sock. This extra step before I start sewing prevents the knot from slipping through the knit fabric of the sock.

After you sew a gathering stitch all the way around the tube, begin to push the fabric and pull the thread to gather the sock together. When you’ve almost closed the gap, push the edges into the tube to hide, finish tightening the thread and take a couple stitches to secure the gathers.

Knot your thread and bury the knot as you pull your needle and thread out of the sock.

Stuff the Sock Pumpkin

Stuff the sock with several handfuls of polyester filling, leaving a 3/4″ gap or so at the top to finish closing the pumpkin.

Sew the Pumpkin Closed

Repeat the gathering process, this time around the top of the sock.

Stitch around at about the 3/4″ mark and then pull the stitching closed while tucking in the seam allowance.

Take a few stitches to secure, knot and bury your thread.

Sew In Grooves

Now, thread a doll needle with a single length of yarn about 3-4′ long and tie a thick knot at one end.

Why a doll needle? The longer needle makes it a lot easier to sew through the pumpkin. If you don’t have one, just trying wrapping the pumpkin with the yarn and then tying it off.

Bring the yarn up through the center of the pumpkin, hiding the knot as you do so.

Wrap the yarn around and down the side of the pumpkin and bring it back up through the center. Pull as tight as you want to form the grooves of the pumpkin.

Repeat to make more grooves.

When finished, take a few hidden stitches in the center to secure, then knot off your thread and bury it as you stitch the needle and thread out of the pumpkin.

Add a Stem

Heat a small glue gun and prepare a small twig for the stem. I usually break off an inch or two. Add a little glue to the bottom edge of the twig and insert into the top of your pumpkin. Let dry.

All done! Repeat to create more DIY sock pumpkins and embellish them as desired.