Prim and Proper Pear and Apple Stuffies DIY

The kids are back in school and I've finally had a moment to breathe and tie up some loose ends, take my first nap in five years, etc.  It also means I had time for a quickie DIY!

Fall is coming.  I can smell it in the air.  While part of me is mourning the loss of a too short summer (the rest of the country had incredible heat - we had incredibly disappointing gray and cold) part of me is itching to start drinking chai and knitwear.

In walking through the neighborhood, I've seen lots of apple and pear trees ripening.  The trees look so rustic.  It inspired me to make these "prim" (short for primitive) little apple and pear pillows.  A quick and easy sewing project using very little material, leaves you with a satisfying way to spruce up for the changing season.

Prim & Proper Pear and Apple Stuffies

You need:

Template drawn on 8.5x11 paper
Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
Fabric of choice for front and back of apple/pear
Felt scrap
Matching embroidery thread & needle
Sewing machine and matching thread
Stuffing of choice - use cotton batting, synthetic stuffing, etc.

Draw out the template for apple and pear and cut out.  Don't worry about being too neat or perfect here - the beauty of "prims" is they're supposed to look a bit rustic, so go easy on yourself!  Be gestural with your shape rather than super realistic.  Lay fabric out right sides together and pin template on top.  Cut around template with rotary cutter on rotary mat or with scissors.  Cut out a felt scrap approximately 1 inch x 2 inches (or whatever size looks good to you) for the stem.

Remove template and pin fabric pieces right side together again.  Sew around outside edge leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance, and 2 inch opening at top (where the stem will go.)  Turn and press.  Stuff with stuffing until it reaches desired fullness.

Place felt scrap inside opening and pin closed.  Use embroidery thread to sew opening closed with a cross X stitch (don't worry about making it too neat - remember it's "primitive"!)  You're done!

Variations...

Enlarge template on a copy machine to make a larger pillow

Stuff with corn kernels or beans and use as a door stopper

Embellish with cross stitch embroidery all around the finished seams

Use apple template to make a pumpkin.  Add embroidery detail by using running stitches up the front.

Have fun with this and happy almost Fall!