DIY In-the-Hoop Stuffed Pumpkins on the Ricoma EM-1010

Video reference: “DIY Stuffed Pumpkins with Ricoma EM-1010” by Kayla's Corner

Adorable, plush, and surprisingly fast—these in-the-hoop stuffed pumpkins take you from flat stitch-out to cozy decor in one smooth sequence. You’ll hoop cutaway, float minky, applique the stem, and finish with a professional invisible seam. Whether you prefer classic orange or a luxe purple twist, this is fall crafting at its most satisfying.

What you’ll learn

• How to hoop cutaway stabilizer and float minky for clean results

• When and where to use a water-soluble topper on plush

• A tidy applique method for the stem (with safe trimming)

• Turning, stuffing, and closing with an invisible ladder stitch

• Quality checks at each milestone—from first outline to final fluff

Introduction to In-the-Hoop Pumpkin Embroidery In-the-hoop (ITH) means the embroidery machine completes nearly all construction for you—front, details, stem applique, and the final seam outline that holds your backing. You’ll then cut, turn, stuff, and hand-sew the small opening. On the Ricoma EM-1010, this process is smooth and repeatable, perfect for creating a whole “pumpkin family” in different sizes as the pattern allows.

What is an In-the-Hoop Project?

• The machine stitches key construction seams right in the hoop.

• You “float” your top fabric (minky) over hooped cutaway stabilizer, then add a matching backing later.

• The file guides each phase: face details, stem applique, final outline for front+back, and a turning gap.

Why Choose Stuffed Pumpkins for Fall Decor?

• They’re festive for Halloween and Thanksgiving, cozy to the touch, and endlessly customizable by fabric color.

• The workflow is beginner-friendly but produces a polished, giftable finish.

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

• Machine: Ricoma EM-1010 multi-needle

• Hoop: 12×8

• Stabilizer: cutaway (12-inch roll sizing fits the hoop)

• Fabrics: minky options for body and stem (e.g., orange minky dot with olive green stem; purple lux minky with gray stem)

• Threads: black (fill), gold (outline), body-matching thread for the outline/pass as shown, hand-sewing thread to match fabric

• Toppers: water-soluble stabilizer for plush details (eyes, nose, mouth)

• Notions: small sharp scissors, sewing needle, poly-fill

Pro tip A water-soluble topper over minky keeps fill stitches on top of the pile for crisp face details.

Preparing Your Workspace and Machine Hooping Stabilizer for Success - Hoop cutaway stabilizer taut in the 12×8 frame. The surface should feel firm, with no ripples. This prevents puckering and keeps outlines true.

Choosing Your Fabrics: Minky Magic

• The project shines with plush minky. Classic orange reads as cheerful Halloween; purple lux minky looks modern—and yes, extra fluffy.

• Comments consistently celebrate the purple option for its coziness and texture.

Understanding Machine Settings for Plushies

• Float the minky rather than hooping it. The machine will tack it precisely where needed.

• Place a water-soluble topper before stitching dense facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) so the stitches don’t sink.

Quick check After hooping: tap the stabilizer surface. If it drums like a tight skin, you’re ready. If it sags, re-hoop before you stitch. machine embroidery hoops

Step-by-Step Embroidery Process Stitching the Pumpkin Face: Eyes, Nose, and Mouth 1) Float your minky top over the hooped cutaway. 2) Run the first outline pass to define the pumpkin shape on the front.

3) Lay a water-soluble topper over the minky. This is essential for facial features. 4) Stitch the eyes, nose, and mouth in black. Expect dense, rich coverage.

5) Add the gold outline around these features to pop the contrast and clean up edges.

Watch out Do not skip the topper on minky—without it, dense fills will bury into the pile, blurring edges and flattening details.

The Art of Applique: Adding the Stem 1) Place stem fabric (olive green minky for the orange pumpkin; gray minky for the purple pumpkin) over the marked area. 2) Run the tack-down. Ensure full coverage of the outline area.

3) Trim away excess fabric closely and carefully with small scissors right after tack-down.

4) Run the final satin/outline to seal the applique edge.

Quick check After trimming, no background should peek beyond the tack-down; edges should be smooth arcs with no nicks.

Dealing with Minky: Tips for Clean Stitches

• Use a topper whenever you stitch dense facial fills on pile.

• Smooth the minky flat before each run so nothing bunches.

• If you see shifting, pause and flatten the fabric before continuing.

Pro tip Trim applique with the curve of your scissors facing the stitching; it gives you a better sightline and reduces accidental snips.

Assembling Your Stuffed Pumpkin Cutting and Turning Your Embroidered Piece

• With the front complete and stem secure, place a second piece of the same minky (right side down) as your backing.

- Run the final outline that stitches front and back together, leaving a small opening. Remove the hoop.

• Cut out the shape, leaving a consistent seam allowance. Keep the opening generous enough to turn and stuff.

• Turn right-side-out through the opening. Use your fingers to push out curves for a smooth silhouette.

Watch out Don’t cut into the final outline seam. If you nick it, reinforce that spot by hand before stuffing.

Stuffing for the Perfect Plumpness

• Feed small tufts of poly-fill through the opening, working them into all corners.

- Aim for even density—firm, but still squeezable.

Quick check Set the pumpkin down: it should sit upright without slumping. Rotate it and feel for hollows—add a pinch of fill where needed. hooping station for embroidery

The Invisible Finish: Hand-Sewing with a Ladder Stitch

• Thread a needle with fabric-matching thread (orange for the orange pumpkin; light purple for the purple pumpkin).

• Knot securely at the end (double or multiple knots to prevent pull-through).

- Work a ladder stitch: take a small bite from one folded edge, then the opposite edge, alternating. After a few stitches, pull gently to close the seam; the thread vanishes between the folds.

• Tie off with a final looped knot, then bury the thread inside the pumpkin and snip.

Pro tip On furry minky, lightly tease the fibers over the seam after closing so the join virtually disappears.

Checklist: Operation

• Topper used for face stitches on minky

• Stem applique trimmed cleanly

• Final outline complete with opening left

• Consistent seam allowance cut

• Even stuffing with no hard lumps

• Ladder stitch closed, knot hidden

Creative Variations: Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Classic Orange Minky for a Jack-o'-Lantern Look The orange minky dot plus olive green stem is a cheerful classic. Black facial fills read bold, and gold outlines add that festive shimmer. The look is instantly seasonal and pairs well with other fall decor.

Unique Purple Lux Minky for a Modern Twist Purple lux minky (with gray stem) delivers a plush, contemporary take. Commenters especially love the fluff factor—it’s cozy and eye-catching. The dense black facial fills stay crisp under a topper, and the gold outline shines beautifully on purple.

Expanding Your Pumpkin Patch: Different Sizes and Colors The pattern offers multiple sizes, so you can scale up a centerpiece or create a cluster. Swap in other colors for the body and stem to match entryways, mantels, or kids’ rooms.

Quick check When you line up multiple pumpkins, the outlines and stuffing density should look consistent—same firmness, similar silhouette.

Final Thoughts and Your Custom Creations Showcasing Your Adorable Stuffed Pumpkins Once you close the opening, fluff the pile gently around the seam to hide any hint of stitching—especially on furry fabrics like lux minky. The result is a seamless plush that looks store-bought.

Sharing Your Favorite Designs and Colors Try pairs or trios in complementary palettes: a classic orange beside a non-traditional purple adds playful contrast. Comments praised both, with a special soft spot for purple’s fluffy texture.

More In-the-Hoop Projects to Explore This exact flow—front details, applique accent, final outline, turn, stuff, and ladder stitch—translates to many seasonal plushies.

From the comments

• Many readers adored the non-traditional purple option and highlighted how fluffy it looks once finished.

• Fans of ITH projects chimed in to say this style is a favorite for its neat, repeatable results.

• Question seen: whether a different machine model (e.g., PE800) could run the project. This guide covers the Ricoma EM-1010 workflow and pattern. If you’re on another machine, ensure your hoop fits the file’s size and that you can float fabric and add a topper as shown. magnetic embroidery hoop

Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom: Facial features look sunken into the minky

• Likely cause: No water-soluble topper used over plush

• Fix: Stop, add topper, and resume. If already stitched, consider restitching on a fresh piece with topper.

Symptom: Misaligned features or wobbly outlines

• Likely cause: Fabric shifted while floating

• Fix: Pause, smooth minky flat, ensure stabilizer is taut, and continue. Keep hands clear but ready to smooth as needed. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines

Symptom: Ragged stem edge after trimming

• Likely cause: Trimming too far from, or too close to, tack-down

• Fix: Trim closely and evenly right after tack-down; re-run a satin edge if the design allows.

Symptom: Lumpy or misshapen pumpkin after stuffing

• Likely cause: Over-large fill clumps or uneven distribution

• Fix: Remove some stuffing; re-insert smaller tufts, massaging them into hollow spots. Set upright and test stability. embroidery magnetic hoops

Symptom: Ladder stitch shows

• Likely cause: Bites too large or thread contrast

• Fix: Take smaller, alternating bites and use a matching thread; pull gently to seat the stitches inside the fold. On furry minky, fluff the pile over the seam for coverage.

Quality Checks (at-a-glance)

• Hooped cutaway is firm, no ripples

• Topper used on plush facial fills

• Applique trimmed smooth to the tack-down

• Final outline fully closed except for turning gap

• Stuffing evenly distributed; pumpkin self-supports

• Ladder stitch invisible; knot buried inside

Results & Handoff Expected output

• A plump stuffed pumpkin with bold face details (black fill + gold outline) and a clean minky stem.

• Invisible hand-sewn seam and smooth silhouette.

Finishing touch

• On furry fabrics, gently tease the pile around the closed seam with the tips of your scissors to blend fibers and hide the join.

File and storage considerations

• Keep pattern files organized by size. Store finished pumpkins in a cool, dry place so the minky stays fluffy and the shape remains true. hoop master embroidery hooping station

Mini FAQ Q: Do I hoop the minky? A: Float the minky on hooped cutaway; the machine will tack it where needed.

Q: When should I add the topper? A: Right before stitching dense facial features on plush.

Q: What stitch closes the opening? A: A ladder stitch with matching thread; then hide the knot inside.

Notes on equipment and accessories This tutorial shows the process on a Ricoma EM-1010 with a 12×8 hoop using cutaway stabilizer, minky fabrics, a water-soluble topper, and poly-fill. If you explore accessory options beyond this setup, consider only those that replicate the same support, stability, and floating workflow shown here. dime snap hoop ricoma mighty hoops