Repurpose Socks To Make Adorable Pumpkin Decor

Old and dingy socks, worn-down socks, or random single socks that have somehow lost their companion in the last laundry load don't need to be tossed out. But aside from saving them to make a sock puppet, you might not be sure what to do with them. With a little creativity, you can repurpose old socks around the house in a number of ways, including using them for craft projects. For example, Instagram user @shellychicboutique found a way to upcycle socks as adorable fabric pumpkins in this clever DIY fall decor project.

To create this adorable fall living room decor idea, you'll need a few socks in whatever color you prefer. And no, you don't need to use old socks. You can buy new ones, or dye them at home with a fabric dye like Rit if you don't have any socks that are already the color you want. But if you're upcycling, you can also brighten stained socks with hydrogen peroxide. In addition, this project requires scissors, yarn (or you can use embroidery or dental floss), cotton or Poly-fil stuffing (you can also use uncooked rice to give it some weight), twine (or felt, a natural pumpkin stem, or a twig), and a hot glue gun. You may also sew or glue on felt leaves or use floral wire for little stem curls. 

One of the best things about this craft is that you don't have to have old orange socks laying around. Purple, white, cream, and black socks are great alternatives that allow you to create the perfect fall aesthetic for your home. First, if you are using an ankle sock (or longer), cut it near the heel to remove any excess fabric, but leave enough so that you don't end up with a sock that's too short. You can see how the sock was cut in the Instagram reel above. Then, fill your sock with stuffing (or rice) until it feels like the right size for you.

If you'd like, you can even drop a few drops of essential oil (cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and clove are good options for the season) to give your pumpkins a crisp, fall scent. You have the option to glue the top, but you can also simply tie it all together with your yarn, and then attach a stem. A small twig or natural stem both work. To finish customizing your sock pumpkin, glue on leaves or curls in any material that works for you. Now you can place them around your home or stack them for a festive autumn table display.