I have a new addiction… making pom poms!
When I went to a festival the other weekend there was a fabulous kids’ area, full of crafty goodness to which I was drawn like a moth to a flame.
Officially I was there to help lad to decorate his magic staff (a branch stripped of bark with a potato peeler) as he can be a bit craft-phobic and often needs a bit of creative encouragement.
However, I wasn’t that keen on creating a magic staff of my own.
So once he was suitably engaged with his, I found myself earwigging what others were up to – and consequently ended up re-learning the art of pom pom making.
And I found that I loved it!
There’s something almost hypnotic about making pom poms.
For those of you who don’t know, here’s how you do it.
1. Cut two circles the same size out of cardboard. The size of the circle will determine the size of the finished pom.
2. Cut a hole in the middle of both circles, so that each looks like a ring doughnut. Put these two discs together.
3. Cut a long-ish length of your chosen wool.
4. Wrap the wool around your discs evenly, passing the end of the wool through the hole in the centre of the cardboard each time. When you run out of wool, cut another bit and just carry on wrapping. Keep going until you’ve wrapped the wool around enough times to almost fill in the hole in the centre of your discs.
5. Using sharp scissors, snip the wool all around the outer circle edge by inserting the lower scissor blade in-between the two cardboard discs.
6. Cut a length of wool and, without disturbing your snipped bits of wool, tie it around the middle, pulling it tight between your two cardboard circles in a double knot.
7. Remove the cardboard discs, then fluff-up and trim your pom to ensure it’s nice and round.
8. Marvel at your creativity.
There’s a how-to with diagrams here if you’re in need of further guidance.
When I saw some cheap, bright-coloured wool on offer in a charity shop in town the other day I bought a bit, so I could have another go.
These are my first batch. I love ’em!
I am now on a quest to find the bestest, brightest, most fabulous jewel-coloured wools at the cheapest price so that I can make poms galore!
I’m not sure what exactly I will do with them, what with woolly hats not really being an option as it’s almost summer, but I’m sure I’ll think of something… 🙂
Bring back pom poms on slippers we say! We recognise we may be a minority on this one of course…………..
No, I agree! I love pom pom slippers! The local charity shop had an amazing pair of those traditional Greek ones the other day. I’d have bought them to wear, but they were only about 4 inches long – so cute!
There you go, now there are three of us on the pompom slipper revival revolution! And I must go and do some real work….aghh! 🙂
I love making Pom-poms! Have you discovered pom-pom makers? I know making them with cardboard is easy enough, but it’s loads quicker with a pom-pom maker, so you can make even more! x
I haven’t. I’m quite low-tech really. But will look out for them now I’m addicted!
Love pom poms as well, but find them time consuming to make until I came across a blog from craft schmaft and used a fork with my 3-year-old daughter. It was great!http://2craftand2create.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/armed-with-2-forks/
Poms from forks! Now there’s a new one on me! Although, if I’m being picky, they look a tiny bit scraggly… I do like my poms nice and fat and fluffy, I must say.
Did you also look at the ones craft schmaft makes. Mine were made by a 3-year-old. And of course they are not very big ones, but I would give it a try.
Oh happy childhood memories of cutting circles from cereal boxes to make pom poms… Such fun… Sarah x
Just to let you know I received my necklace today and have left feedback on etsy for you. Absolutely love it and will wear it this evening when I go out. Thanks so much. Enjoy making the pom poms, we too bought some pom pom makers recently, you can make one in about 5 minutes with one. x
So glad you are happy with it! Not sure if I jotted on the label – if the string is a bit wiggly after being rolled up in the bag you can iron it before wearing, just slide the pendant out of the way of the iron x
How about a jar of pom pom flowers?
http://iveyhandcrafted.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/tutorial-pom-pom-flowers.html
Oh, and I can whole heartedly recommend the Clover pom pom makers, they are wonderful and very easy to use. The advantage of them is that you can use whole big balls of wool as you don’t need the yarn to pass through any holes.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nice! I’m thinking poms on the corners of cushions, and as a fringe along a blanket or quilt edge. Oh, and I’ve always wanted a woolly hat with a totally outrageously huge giant pompom on top, so I might make one of those at some point.
Definitely thinking of checking out these pompom-making gadgets of which people speak so highly.
Have you seen my Pom Pom dolly heads..over on my blog. Thicker wool gave me a 70s perm vibe for my dolly bags. Love a Pom Pom me!
Have you seen my Pom Pom dolly heads on bags? The thick wool gave a 70s perm look to them!! Pom poms rock!
I hadn’t seen them – but I just remedied that. You, lady, have one twisted imagination! Just brilliant! And your vintage frock with Magic Roundabout embroidery is a fabulous thing indeed!
Twisted sister,,,,,that’s me!