Free Pretty Pumpkin Tablecloth For Fall Decorating

Hey, Primmies, here is another project for you. Since the weekend The tablecloth was made with black wool felt pumpkins, but of course, you can use any color or even small  prints for your pumpkins. I have seen a lot of bloggers making black and also white pumpkins so I thought you'd like black and white version.I also found a stenciled Pumpkin Rug to make. Use a plain jute rug, the straw-colored rectangular type, and use pumpkin stencils and Krylon spray paint in really cool colors beyond the regular orange and green Halloween colors. I'll do that post separately since these are so long to read.Download the template Tablecloth Templates

• 2/3-yard of 36-inch-wide black wool felt 
• 1 yard of 24-inch-wide, iron-on fusible web (such as Lite Steam-A-Seam)
• Freezer paper
• Pencil and scissors
• Iron
• 1-1/2 yards of 42-inch-wide ivory cotton print
• 3 yards (2 packages) of black jumb rickrack
• Sewing machine and thread
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery floss: ivory
• 1 yard of 20-inch-wide, lightweight, tear-away fabric stabilizer (such as Sulky Tear-Easy Stablizer)
• Teflon applique pressing sheet
• Fabric marker       
• How To Make The Tablecloth                                                                                                                                                                   1. Download and print the free pattern2. Following the manufacturer's instructions, apply fusible web to the back of the black wool felt. Do not remove the paper backing.3. Trace the shaded areas of the pattern (corner details and pumpkins) onto freezer paper and cut out. (The freezer paper shapes will serve as a template 4. Using an iron, press each freezer paper shape, shiny side down, onto the felt. Cut out the shapes along the pattern edges. Peel off the freezer paper.5. To make the tablecloth cut two 34-1/2-inch squares from the ivory cotton print. Cut four 26-inch lengths of rickrack.6. Place one print square, right side up, on a flat work surface. Pin a length of rickrack along one edge of the print square, making sure to slope the rickrack off the fabric at each end so the rickrack won't overlap at the corners. Note: The corners of the tablecloth will not lie flat if the rickrack overlaps.7. Repeat for the remaining sides. Baste the rickrack in place.8. Using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, sew the print squares together with the right sides facing, leaving a 7-inch opening on one side for turning. Turn right side out and press. Whipstitch the opening closed.9. Position a piece of stabilizer over the pumpkin pattern and trace the pumpkin pattern, including the stitch-line guides. Repeat to make a total of four stem-and-vine stitching templates.10. Applique the tablecloth. Place a pumpkin-stitching template onto the right side of a pumpkin felt cutout, aligning all edges. Using the templates as a guide, outline the pumpkins and stems with running stitches. Note: Use three strands of floss for all stitching. Carefully remove the stabilizer by placing your thumb on the stitches and pulling the stabilizer away from your thumb. Repeat for each pumpkin.11. Outline the ornate corners with running stitches 1/4 inch from all edges.12. Arrange the cutouts on the tablecloth, removing the paper backing as you work; hand-press the cutouts into place. To avoid scorching, place a Teflon applique pressing sheet over each cutout. Fuse all cutouts into place with an iron.13. Arrange the stem-and-vine stitching template over a pumpkin stem. Use a fabric marker to trace the vines onto the fabric. Note: When tracing, apply mild pressure with the fabric marker so that the ink will slightly seep through the stabilizer onto the fabric. Repeat for all vines.14. Lay the tablecloth on a flat surface and position a piece of stabilizer under a vine area to be stitched. Use a small zigzag stitch or satin stitch to machine-sew the vine outline. Repeat for all vines and then remove the stabilizer.
• copyright BHG 2011 Meredith Corp All Rights Reserved

More Caramel and Apples

While I've still got Caramel Apples on my mind (re: my post on Faux Caramel Apples was to prevent me from eating sweets!) I had to have this Caramel Apple Cheesecake. I know, my resolve to watch my sugar intake just totally disappeared. I only had one slice and that's it, I promise. Mr. Glen Oaks wouldn't bake this unless I promised. But all of you don't have to suffer, here's the recipe in all it's glory. I,m going for a walk (ugh).

Caramel Apple Cheesecake             

Ingredients

1-½ cups graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ cup butter, melted

2 - 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon apple-pie spice

1 16-ounce can or jar (1-2/3 cups) applesauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 eggs

½ cup whipping cream

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Directions

1. For crust, combine crumbs and 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir in butter, toss gently. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake in 375 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, and apple-pie spice. Beat until fluffy. Beat in applesauce and lemon juice. Beat in eggs until combined.

3. Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Bake on a shallow baking pan in a 375 degree F oven 40 to 45 minutes or until center is nearly set. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Loosen sides of pan. Cool 30 minutes more; remove sides. Cool completely.

Chill at least 4 or up to 24 hours.

4. For sauce, in a small heavy saucepan melt 1/2 cup sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking pan often. (Do not stir.) Reduce heat; cook about 5 miutes more or until sugar is melted and golden. Stir as necessary after sugar begins to melt (only when mixture bubbles). Remove from heat. Carefully pour in 1/2 cup whipping cream. Add 1 tablespoon butter. Return to heat; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more or until smooth. Stir in 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans. Cool. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. To serve, cut cheesecake into wedges; top with sauce. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

nutrition facts

Calories443 Total Fat (g)27 Saturated Fat (g)15, Cholesterol (mg)157, Sodium (mg)251, Carbohydrate (g)46, Fiber (g)1, Protein (g)7, Vitamin A (DV%)29, Calcium (DV%)5, Iron (DV%)10, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet Carbohydrate (g)46, Fiber (g)1, Protein (g)7, Vitamin A (DV%)29,Calcium (DV%)5, Iron (DV%)10, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet 
BetterHomesandGardens copyright 2011MeredithCorp.,All Rights Reserved

Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial By Lynne for The Primitive Pantry

THE PRIMITIVE PANTRY

FABRIC PUMPKIN SEWING TUTORIAL 
Stuffing
Strong Quilting Thread or Upholstery Thread
Darning or Upholstery Needle
Garden Twine or String or Embroidery Thread
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Strong Cotton or quilting cotton
Cinnamon Stick Or Other Sticks/stalk


Start with A4 size of fabric*
Cut in half lengthwise

Fold in half across the length and sew short ends together
Sew a running stitch around one end of fabric and
Pull together and knot tightly
Turn right side out

Repeat for open end
Fill with stuffing, the tighter you stuff the tighter the
Pumpkin will finish
Pull the thread to gather and tie off, leaving a small hole.

Use the palm of your hand to roll the pumpkin around
To flatten and get to the shape you like
Take darning needle and string, begin at the bottom of
Pumpkin and stitch up into the hole in the pumpkin
Go down through the middle and out the bottom,
Repeat for all sections

Tie off and cut excess string
If you have some creases down the sides of the
Pumpkin gently push some extra filling in through
The top hole and work into each of the segments to
Make them fuller
Take cinnamon stick, cut half, cut 2 small fabric circle
(You can make the stars green or rust if you like contrast like I do)

And star shape cut slits in 1 circle and star shape
Push cinnamon stick through star shape and circle
Glue to top of pumpkin pushing stick into hole and
Pushing down circle and star
Glue circle to bottom end of pumpkin to cover stitches

*You can vary the size of pumpkins,
just make sure the fabric length is double the width
I hope you can use this tutorial to make lots of pumpkin pods and some nice, big
fat ones to scatter about your house. Use lots of different colors, white, black, green and rust.
Different fabrics can give you all kinds of looks. You can also make larger ones from 
muslin and follow the same instructions, just paint them orange (dilute craft paint with
water)or any other color you wish and then grubby them with 3tbs. coffee crystals in 1 c hot water, paint  it on your pumpkins and then rub with ice tea crystals. They absorb into the fabric for a good grubby look, cinnamon tends to stay on top and rubs away and is a little grittier. If you don't want to paint just get different colors of fabrics (wash to remove the sizing). Experiment on scraps of fabric/painted fabric and find the look you like. The grubby mix will get into the nooks and dimples of the pumpkins. You can spray a very light coat of spray adhesive to help your cinnamon/ice tea crystals stay on.   Have fun today!
Susan


Copyright The Primitive Pantry