Pom Poms are great for so many things. They are great for decoration, gifting and are super cute. They’re really fun to make and more enjoyable to make with a pom pom maker. You can buy a pom maker on amazon. In this tutorial I will show you step by step how to make a pom pom that is full and round. I’ll also give you some awesome ideas as to what to do with your finished product. So grab some yarn and let’s get started!
Supplies:
You only need a few things to get started and the supplies aren’t expensive.
- Yarn
Using soft yarn will result in more dense looks while with regular yarn you will be able to see the individual strands.
- Scissors
I use material scissors, but any scissors will work.
These make the process faster and easier. They are also inexpensive.
Optional:
- A trash can or garbage bag
As you are trimming the yarn it’s best to have something to catch all the scraps and clippings.
- A pet grooming brush
You can use this to split the fibers of the yarn once you are done to have a more fluffy look.
- Felt & Hot Glue
Felt is my favorite go to for adding details and accessories.
Why Use A Pom Pom Maker:
While you can make a pom pom maker at home from cardboard I recommend buying one. I used a cardboard one for a long time and you can get good poms but it’s difficult to use and the finished product isn’t always what you may have been hoping for. In fact I never really got into making poms until I got a pom maker.
The difference between a store bought pom pom maker and a home made one is density, sizes, and ease. With a pom pom maker it’s super easy to make beautiful poms that are nicely rounded and very full. The maker also allows you to make bigger or smaller pom poms than you normally would have been able to (and they look better too!).
You can buy high quality pompom makers on amazon for a great price. These pom pom makers are some of my favorite crafting tools ever.
You can also get a giant pom pom maker!
Yarn:
You can use any type of yarn you want, but there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your yarn.
I usually use a size 4 medium weight yarn. Yarn that is thick and fluffy is my favorite as it produces fuller poms. I also prefer softer yarn, but if you are just making it as a decoration the level of softness doesn’t matter. If you want to be able to see the individual strands of yarn very well I would suggest a regular sized yarn and thinner for a very frizzy or fine look. The smaller the yarn size the more times you will have to wrap the yarn around the maker, which means it will take longer the thinner your yarn is. So if you are just trying it out, or want to create faster, go with a bigger yarn size.
You can also pick multiple colors to use!
Wrapping:
Once you have picked out your yarn and gathered all your supplies, take one side of the pom pom maker and pull it open. Be sure that the two pieces of that side are lined up. Start wrapping the yarn around that side. Go in a back and forth pattern until you have completely filled that side. I find it easiest to fill the edges first, then wrap the middle, unless you are using a pattern.
Push that side back into the center and pull out the other side repeating the process. Try to keep the second side consistent with the first side.
Cutting and Tying:
Tying off your pom pom can be tedious but the maker will help hold the yarn and keep it from becoming too frustrating.
Hold the pom pom maker in one hand and use scissors to cut down the middle of the pom pom following the groove in between the two pieces of each side.
(note: be careful not to cut your hands while using the scissors)
Cut an 18 inch long piece of yarn and pull it around the center of your pom pom. Pull the yarn strand tight and tie the string in a firm double knot.
You can use a longer piece of yarn instead and after tying wrap it again and tie it to get the pom pom as tight and secure as possible.
Pull the sides of the pom pom maker away from the pom pom and tug the center of the maker apart. Yay! You have freed your pom pom!
Trimming, and shaping:
You might have noticed that your pom pom is not perfectly sphere, don’t worry we’re not done yet!
Take your pom pom and start trimming any yarn strands that are longer than the others. Remember not to cut them too short, you can always go back and trim a little more but you can’t untrim it. This part takes a bit of patience, but so worth it. I spend a lot of time going back around my pom pom over and over again snipping little bit by little bit.
If you are attaching this to something you can leave the long pieces of yarn you used to tie it with and use those. If you’re not attaching it to something cut the long string to the length of the rest of the yarn.
Brushing and extras:
Now that you’ve completed your basic pom pom you can have some fun with it!
Try using a pet grooming brush to comb out the yarn and split the fibers. This will result in an extremely fluffy pom. Be careful not to brush too hard as it may pull some of the yarn out. After you have brushed it out it may need a small amount of trimming again.
Another way to enhance your pom is to add felt accessories. Cut out the shape of felt you want and hot glue it into or onto your pom. Use plastic eyes to make cute faces for your animals.
Use wool felting to shape it too!
What to do with your pom:
Pom poms are great for so many things, like:
- The top of winter hats
- Cute animals
- Making decorative pillows
- Decorative rugs
- Wall decor
- Key chains
- Mini poms for statement jewelry
- Put them on your backpack
- Cute funny fake plants
- Halloween costumes
- Book marks
- Holiday decor
These are just a few ideas, there is so much more you can do with pom poms!
Thank you for reading how to make a pom pom! I hope this helps you enjoy making your pom pom!
For more great tutorials from me click here.
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