Pom-Pom Tutorial

This is a tutorial for making pom-poms
using your fingers. This one is a small, two-finger pom-pom (about 1" in diameter) but you can make bigger ones by using more fingers. As far as yarn choice, thinner and softer yarn will make a more pleasing pom-pom.

Okay, let's get started! With your index and middle fingers together and holding the end of your yarn down with your thumb, begin wrapping the yarn around your fingers. Be careful not to wrap too tightly - no purple fingers!

Cut your yarn when you've finished wrapping; for this pom-pom I've wrapped the yarn 75 times. *Tip: For any size pom-pom, you'll probably wrap the yarn twice as much as you think you will need.

Cut another piece of yarn, about 12", and squeeze one end through your fingers between the pom-pom and your palm. Bring the other end of the yarn string through your fingers at the tips.

This is a picture of the backside, make sure your yarn string wraps all the way around your pom-pom bundle.

Begin a knot, pulling as tight as you can, then slip the pom-pom off of your fingers.

Still pulling tightly, finish off the knot.

Holding the pom-pom yarn strings,
use your scissors and cut through all the loops of the pom-pom.

This is what it looks like after you've cut all the loops, a woolly bully mess!

Now comes my favorite part :) Still holding the yarn strings, start cutting down your pom-pom. *Tip: you'll probably end up cutting twice as much off as you thought you would.

Trim with the scissor blades flat along the pom-pom to help get a smooth finish. Check it from different angles and fluff it up with your fingers, then trim some more. Be sure to trim around the bottom end where you are holding it. The pom-pom should feel firm when you're done.

Voila! A pretty little pom-pom!
I keep the yarn strings on until I'm ready to use it, then I trim them off the same length as the rest of the pom-pom.

Comments

[alice]

Thank you so much for this easy way to pom pom.
About the waste..I use A LOT of yarn and have lots of scraps. I save it all and use them for stuffing in pillows. I hate waste of any kind. :-)

[um omer]

i love doing pom pom

[meli]

Very cute and easy, but what a waste!

[Kitty]

thanks this helps very,very,very...much
thanks

[Sera]

This is so easy and soo much fun! I have started pompoming every hat in the house. thanks a lot for the tutorial!

[Gillian Archibald]

To make larger pom poms, use a potato masher - wrap the thread round and round near the base (masher end). When it is really thick, tie a knot around the middle and cut the edges, so you will end up with a bundle just as you do with the above tutorial - but a large pom pom which can be trimmed down to any size.

[Jo Anne Neal]

I've struggled with pompoms and thought I'd have to go the way of the carboard cutouts. Your method is great and your hint of cutting them back really works. Thanks!

[Mamaclare]

My pom pom is not firm... I am pretty sure I used enough yarn (wrapped like 90 times), maybe I haven't trimmed it enough? But I am scared to, scared it will all fall apart... What says you?

[kristin]

Easy!!! I was getting tired and had aproject to finish before I could go to bed(@ 1:30 a.m). I tried 2 cardboard ways unsuccessfully and was looking for an easier way when I found this. Thank you. Now I can go to bed.

[thaloura maclane]

Thalia made her first pompon with this tutorial at friday 2am .... it was such fun you cant imagine!! Congratulations mwraki!!

ps: yannis helped a bit

[Pragati]

This was soooo easy. So much better than cutting cardboard circles...although i cut 2 sets up before I found this wonderful way. I used it to make a pompom for my baby's hat. It just took me 10 minutes. What fun!

[Melissa]

Best pom-pom making directions on the 'net! Thanks!

Now will you just show me step by step how to knit a sweater easily. ;-)

[Lise]

What an easy way to make the perfect pom-pom. I used this method to make one for a baby hat I just finished and it worked like a charm, thanks so much for the tip!

[Claire Lindsey]

At the school that my 7 year old granddaughter goes they were having a pep rally for the homecoming and all of the students had to wear the school colors. I made these pom poms with two different colors. I made 2 big ones for her ponytails and 2 smaller ones for on her shoes. When she saw them she was very delighted. Thanks for the
directions on how to make these, as I had not made them for years and just forgot how to make them. They are so easy to make and alot of fun also.

[Jo]

Absolutely brill! Took me about 5 minutes to make one - needed 4 for the ends of the scarf I had just finished and it looks perfect!!

[laura]

Can I use these to make shoe poms? YOu know, like cheerleaders wear? How about if I wanted to different colors of yarn for my poms? Thanks!

[someone...]

i have trouble making it perfectly round since it is very small. but good idea. i suggest using the teeth on combs for small ones too (varying in sizes)

[my name ryhmes with narnia]

hey!!! thanks alot 4 dat tip i really apreiciate it
!!!!!!!!!

[kirsty]

hello I'm 8 and i think thats amazing and there is another way to make them you get a peace of carburd and cut it into a circkle and then cut a rond circkle in the middle and rap string around the middle intell the middle you can't see throu and then you cut around and get another bit of string and put it around and tie it and then take the carbourd out and give it a trim and its done

[kirsty]

hello I'm 8 and i think thats amazing and there is another way to make them you get a peace of carburd and cut it into a circkle and then cut a rond circkle in the middle and rap string around the middle intell the middle you can't see throu and then you cut around and get another bit of string and put it around and tie it and then take the carbourd out and give it a trim and its done

[wendi phillips]

I just made a pom pom for some bears that my friend and i are making...I would like to send ya some pics if possible...send my an e-mail so i can send ya pics...thanks

[Fiona MacDonald]

Do you know how to make a looped pom pom for a bys hat i have searched endless sites and came across yours with the hope that you could help.
Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and best regards
Fiona

[clemmie baker]

this is the neatest pom pom ever, i put a small one on a skull cap and i like it so much. thank you.

[Janice Barrett]

This is the easiest pom pom I ever made. Thanks so much for the tutorial.

[dannie]

I love your idea about the fork!! I am off to make some. toodle loo.