How to Make Pompoms

How to make pompoms is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Once confined to crafting workshops at summer camps only, these colorful, soft and fluffy bits of whimsy have made a comeback. Or rather, pompoms have taken the centerstage in fashion and home décor.

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How to make pompoms - tools and materials

Preparation

Collect your tools and materials: small pieces of recycled cardboard, pencil or marker, scissors, and yarn.

Cut 2 circles from the cardboard, like so: Use a bottle cap or small round object, and draw a perfect circle around it. Then, use a whole punch to open up the center and then cut an inner circle of about 1/4th of the total diameter. Now you’ll have 2 cardboard rings.

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Wind Your Yarn

If you are a decoration-nut like me, than decorate your rings as you’ll be looking at them for a while…. ;-) However, step 2 is simply taking some yard and putting it through and around your two rings together like so.

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Convert Yarn-ring into Pompom

When the rings are full of yarn, like in the picture, cut in between them all the way around. Now, with double yarn, tie a secure knot in the center of the two. Remove the cardboard rings and fluff your pompom. Trim if/as needed.

And voilà, there’s my first pompom: a tiny one, made 12 years ago shown with the smallest photo ever. LOL.

Pompom Making Tips

Tip 1: Use several shorter threads rather than one super-duper long thread, as it’s faster and less physical exercise.
Tip 2: If you have an exact size of pompom in mind, realise that your final pompom will be 2x the width of the cardboard ring, not counting the inner center cut-out.
Tip 3: consider getting some extra tools if you plan to make large pompom projects, such as a rug.

Tools of the Trade – Pompom Makers

If you want to make very consistent-sized pompoms, and a lot of them, I recommend a pompom maker. This gadget let you make pretty pompoms fast. Choose a set of makers rather than a single size. This is what a pom pom maker looks like: Click image for more info and purchasing. (thank you for buying through our affiliate links. It is what allows us to keep this a free directory of DIY & craft tutorials and tools.)

Applications & Uses of Pompoms

The possibilities on how to use pompoms are limitless! Decorate cards, crochet, knitting or sewing projects. Use them as ties when hung on a string. String them into handmade jewelry. Hang a few from a boring skirt to jazz things up. Ditto for your kitchen cabinets… Hang a few in the baby nursery room or girl bedroom. A bunch of them will be great for parties, and equally good after the party to be washed, trimmed and sewn on a quilt.