How to Sew with Pumpkin Prints: Fall Quilts, Runners, and Cozy Home Decor
Some fabrics announce a season the moment you unroll them. The Awe of Autumn Pumpkins Brown fabric, designed by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs, is one of those prints. Scattered pumpkins mingle with sprigs of flowers and leaves across a rich brown background, giving you autumn in a single cut of cloth — no piecing together three different fall prints required. It is a 100% cotton quilting fabric, 43"/44" wide, sold by the yard, and made for quilting, apparel, and home decor.
What This Fabric Is Best For
A scattered, all-over print like this one is a workhorse. Because the pumpkins and sprigs are spread across the surface rather than arranged in a strict stripe or border, almost every cut shows the design to advantage. That makes it forgiving for beginners and versatile for experienced quilters. Use it as the feature print in a fall throw quilt, as a generous backing that continues the theme on the reverse side, or as the star of smaller seasonal projects that get swapped in each October and November.
The brown ground is part of its appeal. It reads warm and cozy rather than bright, so finished pieces sit comfortably alongside wood furniture and natural fall decorations like gourds and dried leaves.
Cutting and Piecing Tips
Start by looking at how the motifs fall before you cut. A scattered print usually does not need fussy cutting, but a quick check lets you center a whole pumpkin in a large block if you want a focal point. For most patchwork, simply cut as usual and let the mix of pumpkins, flowers, and leaves create the variety.
Here are a few ways to make the most of it:
- Cut it big: Large squares, wide sashing, or broad borders show off more of the pumpkin motifs than tiny pieces do.
- Pair it with solids and small prints: Let this be the busy print in the project. Cream, tan, and warm solid cottons give the eye a place to rest, while a small-scale leaf or dot print in a coordinating color can play a supporting role.
- Use it whole: A single length makes a quick table runner backing, placemat set, or pillow front with no piecing at all — just quilt, bind, and enjoy.
- Press seams thoughtfully: As with any quilting cotton, press seams flat as you go, to one side or open, so blocks lie smooth and quilting stitches sit evenly.
Color Pairing Ideas
Build your palette out from the brown background. Warm neutrals — cream, oatmeal, tan, and soft gold tones — lighten the look, while deeper browns and rusty, earthy shades deepen the autumn mood. If you use other prints from The Awe of Autumn collection, make this pumpkin print the anchor: use coordinates in your blocks and save this one for borders, backing, or the largest pieces.
Project Ideas to Try
- Fall throw quilt: Alternate large blocks of the pumpkin print with simple solid blocks for a fast, generous lap quilt.
- Table runner and placemats: A runner down the center of a dining table sets the whole Thanksgiving table — and it stores flat for next year.
- Pillow covers: One fat quarter–friendly front per pillow refreshes a sofa for the season in an afternoon.
- Seasonal apparel and aprons: The collection is suited to apparel as well as quilts, so consider a hostess apron for holiday baking and gatherings.
- Quilt backing: End a fall quilt the way it began, with pumpkins on the back as a happy surprise every time it is folded.
Care
Care is simple: machine wash cold and tumble dry low, following the instructions given for this fabric. If you pre-wash, do the same for the other fabrics in the project so everything behaves the same way.
Pick a project size, pair it with a few calm neutrals, and let the fabric do the seasonal storytelling.
Shop the The Awe of Autumn Pumpkins Brown 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
