How To Make a Pom Pom

Pom-poms are useful for many craft projects, especially in the areas of knitting, crochet, needlecraft and kids' crafts. The photo shows an example of a great use of a pom-pom - perfect hat topper! Pom-poms are simple to make from an early age, so they are also great for the classroom. Don't go mixing them up with pompons, however, which are used by cheerleaders!

Step 1  

Cut two cardboard rounds. Cut a small round hole in the middle of them (see illustration). Lay the rounds together.

Step 2  

Wind the rounds closely with yarn. If using delicate materials such as silk or cotton for an embroidery project, place the thread on a needle and work the thread round using the needle. If it is wool or another heavy yarn that you are using, simply wind using your hands, as it is likely the ring will be wide enough for you to get fingers through.

Step 3  

Continue until the round is entirely covered. Put the scissors in between the two circles of the cardboard and cut open the wound thread or yarn that lay round the outer edge.

Step 4  

Draw a piece of thread between the two circles and knot it firmly round the stitches that meet in the centre hole. Leave sufficiently long ends of thread hanging to form a loop by which the ball can afterwards be fastened to the heading of the fringe.

Step 5  

Cut and pull out the cardboard once the stitches have been knotted together.

Step 6  

Snip the thread with your scissors until it becomes quite fluffy and the ball is perfectly round, as shown here.

Tips

• If you are in the position of having to churn out pom-poms for a school project or charity event, invest in a metallic pom-pom ring. Ask at your local craft store.
• Try weaving differently coloured yarns for a rainbow effect.
• Consider using self striping yarn to make the pom pom look very colorful.
• Try making little toys with pom poms. Some ideas could be using a few white pom poms to make a snowman, a pom pom which is two thirds brown and one third red and a smaller brown pom pom for a robin or one or two yellow pom poms for a chick.

Warnings

• Supervise elementary/primary school students using scissors. Assist if they are too young to cut the yarn by themselves; not only because they might harm themselves but also because they might cut the wrong part of the pom-pom and tears will ensue!

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard cut into two rounds, to size of project requirements
• Yarn or thread (delicate embroidery projects might require small pom-poms of cotton or silk thread)
• Scissors