You can make pompoms without any special tools and supplies, or use a pom pom maker. Read on for helpful tips and tricks, and step by step photo and video tutorials for each of these simple methods!
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Helpful Tips:
How to make a pom pom look perfect?
If your pom pom looks messy, you need to spend more time on the pompom’s “haircut”. Whichever method you choose to make your pom pom, trimming it down evenly is what will make your pom pom look its best. Your pom pom might also look messy if you didn’t wrap the yarn enough times. Thinner yarn needs to be wrapped more times and may end up creating a shaggy looking pom pom. The only way to fix it is to trim the pom pom down to be smaller until it looks more full.
How do I make my pom pom look fuzzy?
If you want to make a fluffy/fuzzy pom pom, use a pet brush or fine toothed comb to brush out the strands of yarn. It’ll give your pompom a whole different look!
What’s the best way to make a pom pom?
It’s hard to say if there’s one best way to make a pom pom. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, so you may choose 1 way to make a pom pom for one project, while choosing another method for a different craft. Here are our thoughts on each of the methods we used to make pom poms:
How to make a pom pom with your hand:
This is our go-to way to make pom poms. It’s really simple and you don’t need any extra tools or preparation. The only downside is you’re limited to the size of your hand. You can wrap the yarn around fewer fingers for a smaller pom pom, but you can’t make them any bigger.
How to make a pom pom with a cardboard rectangle:
This is a great way to make pom poms of all different sizes. You can make pom poms as big and as wide as your piece of cardboard allows. (Though larger pompoms take a lot of yarn). Using cardboard is an easy and inexpensive way to make poms poms and it keeps your hand free, allowing you to walk away from the pom pom if need be. Plus you can keep the cardboard base for future pom poms or simply recycle it!
How to make a pom pom with a pom pom maker:
Pom pom makers usually come in a pack of at least 4 pre-determined sizes. It limits you to these specific sizes, but unless you need a really large pom pom, this method works well. We also found that this way of making a pom pom wasted the least amount of yarn. You don’t need to give these pom poms as big of a “haircut”, compared to the other methods.
How can I use my DIY pom pom?
Pom poms are so cute, and they can be used in so many different arts and crafts! Here are some fun examples:
Make unique and personalized Christmas ornaments Tie it to a stick to make an enticing cat toy Add as a hat topper for a crochet hat or loom knit hat Attach tiny pom poms to earrings Many small pom poms can attach as a scarf fringe Turn pompoms into DIY flowers attached to wrapped wire or a pipe cleaner Add a pom pom to a paper craft, creating a cute animal (like a pom pom hedgehog) Attach one to the top of a bookmark Various sizes of pom poms combined make an adorable pom pom wreath Make fun creations for pretend play, like pom pom ice cream cones or pom pom monsters Sew onto the border or corners of an afghan or pillow Create a homemade garland strung with pom poms Attach a small pompom onto a keychain
What type of yarn is best for making DIY pom poms?
We recommend using medium weight (worsted weight, 4) acrylic yarn to make pom poms. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and it’s easy to wrap. You can also use a chunky/bulky (5) or super bulky (6) yarn to make pom poms. This yarn is harder to wrap around a pom pom maker, but it’s easier to use with your hand, since you can wrap it a lot fewer times to make a full pompom.
What scissors are best for making pom poms?
We highly recommend using fabric scissors (also called dressmaker scissors) or another pair of really sharp scissors to cut the pom poms. Fabric scissors slice easily through the many layers of yarn.
Why buy pom poms when it’s so fast and easy to make your own?! Choose your favourite method and learn how to make a pom pom in the right colour and size for your project. These fluffy accessories are so colourful and cute!
Here’s even more pom pom craft ideas:
Pom Pom Bunny
Pom Pom Fish
How to Make Pom Pom Penguins
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
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