Halloween pumpkins table topper tutorial

I’m delighted to share this Halloween pumpkins table topper tutorial with you. It is a pattern add-on for the pumpkin pattern bundle which is also available in Etsy.

Before you begin . . .

Read through all table topper instructions before you start. For best results, cut and piece accurately. (For more information on this see my post on Testing your seam allowance.)

To make the table topper, you will need three 12″ quilt blocks (excluding seam allowances). I used the Harvest pumpkins quilt block, crow quilt block and Halloween pumpkin quilt block. (You can SAVE when you buy all three together in the pumpkin pattern bundle.)

When making the harvest pumpkin block, instead of cutting 2 background strips for the top and bottom of the block as in the pattern, cut 1 background strip for the top of the block and 1 strip in dark fabric for the bottom of the block, as shown.

Border Fabric Requirements

You will need 1 fat quarter, or a remnant, of one dark, one medium and one light print and a small amount of a second light print (min. amount 3.5″ x 7″) for the table topper border. To complete the table topper quilt, you will also need:

• Backing: approx. 46″ x 22″ piece
• Batting/Wadding: approx. 46″ x 22″ piece
• Binding (using a standard double fold binding): 1 long quarter, cut into 3 @ 2.5″ x width of fabric strips. (Assuming a standard patchwork fabric width of around 42″.)

Cutting Instructions

The table below shows the dimensions of the pieces you will need to cut for the table topper border. The 3 3/8″ squares will be used to make the Half Square Triangle (HST) units. I would recommend you label your pieces as you cut them.

Making the HST Units

• Make HST units with the following fabric pairs:
  • one dark purple and one medium swirl square.
  • two light script and lilac spot squares (NOTE: one HST unit will not be used).
  • one light script and one medium swirl square.
• Take a 3 3/8″ fabric square and lay it, right sides together, on the fabric square it is to be paired with.
• Using an air-erasable fabric pen, rule a line diagonally, corner to corner, on the reverse of the palest square.
• Sew a seam 1/4″ from the ruled line. Repeat to sew a second seam 1/4″ away on the other side of the ruled line.
• Cut square in two ALONG the ruled line.
• Press the seams open and you will have two 3″ HST triangles.

Assembling the Border

1. Join B (light script, 3″ x 7.5″) to two script/swirl HSTs as shown in layout above. Press.
2. Join B onto right side of table topper centre. Press.
3. Join E (dark purple, 3″ x 12.5″) to free side of table topper. Press.
4. Join A (light script, 3″ x 20.5″) to three script/lilac spot HSTs as shown above. Press.
5. Join F (dark purple, 3″ x 14″) to free side of script/lilac spot HSTs to complete top border.
6. Attach top border to table runner. Press.
7. Join C (swirl, 3″ x 19.5″) to D (dark purple, 3″ x 17.5″). Press.
8. Add two purple/swirl HSTs to free side of D as shown above to complete bottom border. Press.
9. Attach bottom border to table topper. Press.

(TIP: when pinning, alternate the direction the pins face with each seam you pin. This helps to prevent stretching or distortion.)

Finishing the Halloween pumpkins table topper

Press quilt top carefully and layer, quilt and bind using your normal method.

If you are new to quilting and need more help on how to finish a quilt top, I would recommend Molly Green’s super guide how to make a quilt. If you’ve already pieced your table topper successfully, then I’d suggest reading from section ‘Quilt Backing Fabric and Quilt Batting‘ onwards as it deals specifically with completing a quilt top.

Alternative Design Options

This table topper would also look wonderful with the blocks of any of the other three piece pattern bundles; spring, nautical, garden or Christmas.

I hope you enjoy making this Halloween pumpkins table topper, I can’t wait to see your versions!

I will be posting more tutorials over the coming weeks, what projects would you like to see covered? Bags? Pillows? Wall hangings? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Happy stitching!

Sandra xx

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