(Day 3) of the dreaded Hallothanksmas Pumpkin Garland

Well, kids, here we are on the actual "back up date" of Dec 4th for the original Hallothanksmas date of Nov 30th .... and in true MBIAJ (Moonbeams in a Jar) style, we're coming in just under the wire with our project! .... AND it has come to my attention that today is the first day of Chanuka/Hannukkah --- so we need to alter our holiday a bit -- so it's now called Hallothanksmasukah -- rolls right off your tongue, doesn't it? (OK -- never mind....)

Anyway -- to pick up where I left off yesterday.....

Making the "tower" of 3 stacking pumpkins: using green sewing thread to match the green pumpkin stems, sew the medium pumpkin stem to the bottom of the small pumpkin; then sew the big pumpkin stem to the bottom of the medium pumpkin. I tried to hide my stitches by stitching through the top layer of the pumpkins and the bottom layer of the stems.

Making the single rick rack dangles: cut 2 pieces of black rick rack (mine are 20" and 17" , but you can make them whatever length you like). Sew a white button on the bottom of each piece of rick rack using the black pearl cotton and a x-stitch. Next, sew a black "bow" onto the top of each piece of rick rack (take the bow piece and fold it in half with wrong sides together. Stitch the tip of the fold to the top of the piece of rick rack.)

Making the 2 large dangling pumpkins: Cut 2 more pieces of black rick rack (mine are 7" and 8"). Stitch one end of each piece of rick rack to the back of one of the large pumpkin stems. Next, sew a black "bow" to the top of each piece of black rick rack (take the bow piece and fold it in half with wrong sides together; stitch the tip of the fold to the top of the piece of rick rack.)

Stitch a black "bow" to the top of the small stem of the "tower" of 3 stacking pumpkins (fold bow piece in half, etc -- as above.)

Making the rope/jute swag/base (or whatever it's called): Take the 3 pieces of jute and tie the ends together. Braid the 3 pieces together and tie the other end. (this is easiest to do if you have someone else hold the end of the rope while you braid it.)

Sew the remaining 2 large pumpkins to either end of the jute/rope braided swag, so the bottom of the pumpkins are just above the knot. I uses the green sewing thread to sew through the bottom layer of the pumpkin stem and through into the braided jute/rope to secure it.

Next, tie the "tower" of 3 stacking pumpkins onto the center of the braided rope. Tie a large dangling pumpkin onto the braided rope on either side of the "tower" of 3 stacking pumpkins.

Tie the 6 remaining black "bows" on either end of the braided rope, 3 on one side, and 3 on the other side -- just above the pumpkins sewn just above the knotted ends of the rope. Leave about an inch of space between each bow.

..........AND.......TA DAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! It's finished !!!!!!! Stand back and admire!!!!!

Hope you were able to understand my instructions !!! If you have any questions and you find yourself thinking "what the HECK is she talking about?!", feel free to post them in the comments or email me.

OK..... now that I've gotten Hallothanksmasukah out of my system, I'm really gonna have to get with the program --- the Christmas program that is !!!

Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)