Six Ways to Make a DIY Pom Pom | Crafting Basics

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I just LOVE pom poms. They are such an amazingly versatile component that can be used in so many crafting projects, both as an embellishment or as the main attraction. And while it can be easiest to buy them already pre-made, sometimes you need a very particular size or color for your project to be just perfect. In those situations, a DIY pom pom is just what you need.

In this article, I’ve compiled six different methods you can use to make your own DIY pom poms. Most of them only require materials that you probably have on hand already, and all of them are super easy. I’ve saved my favorite method for last, but the rest are listed in no particular order.

Since this article is a compilation of all the different DIY pom pom methods I’ve covered before, I’m only going to give very brief instructions on each one. However, under each method I will link to the original article that covers each one in further detail and with additional pictures.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please see my Disclosure.

Before we begin, I want to talk about scissors for a minute, because besides yarn that is something that is needed for every one of these methods. For any of these DIY pom pom methods, you can use any type of standard scissors you have on hand, but I would HIGHLY recommend these ones when making any kind of pom poms. The straight pointed tips are great for snipping the loops of the pom pom. And the added springs are so helpful when it comes time to trim everything up.

If you are finding yourself having any trouble with your current pair of scissors, I’d definitely suggest checking these out. After using them for awhile now, I wouldn’t make pom poms without them.

DIY Pom Pom Methods

Method 1: Using a Fork

This method is useful if you need very small pom poms about 1 inch wide, though this may vary depending on the width of your fork and how much you trim your pom pom down. As long as you’re counting the number of times you wrap your yarn, you end up with nice, uniform pom poms that can be made in just a few short minutes.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

A Fork

Scissors

How to Make This Pom Pom:

Start by cutting a small piece of yarn and put it between the tines of your fork. Then wrap another length of yarn around your fork about 50 times. Bring the small yarn piece forward and tie it loosely around your bundle. Slide everything off the fork and tighten the small piece of yarn as much as you can. Then cut the loops around the edge. Lastly, trim and shape the pom pom until it’s how you like it.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to make a Fork Pom Pom | Crafting Basics

Method 2: Using Your Fingers

This method is great because it requires the least amount of supplies and you can also get three different size poms depending on how many fingers you use to wrap the yarn around. Two fingers will give you a pom pom about 1.25” wide. Three fingers gives a pom 1.5” wide. And four fingers will get you about a 2” pom. This may vary a bit depending on the size of your fingers and how much you trim your pom pom down.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

Scissors

How to Make This Pom Pom:

Cut a short length of yarn and place it in between your fingers (index and middle for a two or three finger pom and between your middle and ring for a four finger pom). Then wrap your main yarn around your fingers, making sure not to wrap it too tight. Wrap about 50 times for two fingers, 100 times for three fingers, and 150 times for four fingers. Bring the small piece of yarn forward and loosely tie around your bundle before carefully sliding it off your fingers. Then tie the piece as tightly as you can. After that, cut all the loops around the edge and trim the pom pom to your liking.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to Make Finger Pom Poms | Crafting Basics

Method 3: Using a DIY Template (Circle)

This method can be very useful if you need a specific size of pom pom, since you can easily resize the template to be as large or as small as you want. It’s also an easy one to do while zoning out watching a movie because unlike most of the other methods, you don’t need to count your yarn loops. The biggest downside, though, is that it takes the longest to complete.

The template can be found here in my Resource Library.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

Scrap Cardboard

Scissors

How to Make this Pom Pom:

Using cardboard, trace and cut two circle template pieces. Place the templates together so the openings line up and begin winding your yarn all the way around, leaving a little bit of space at each end so the yarn doesn’t slide off. Continue winding until the template is just about full. Now cut all the loops around the outside edge of your circle. Snip another piece of yarn and slide it between your two templates. Pull it tight and tie it together as tight as you can. Now that your pom is secure, you can slide your templates off and trim the pom pom until it’s how you like.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to Make a Circle Template Pom Pom | Crafting Basics

Method 4: Using a DIY Template (Rectangle)

This is another good method that can be used if you need a specific size pom pom, since the template can be easily resized. Like with most other methods, you need to count your loops. But it’s also much quicker to complete than the circle template.

The template can be found here in my Resource Library.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

Scrap Cardboard

Scissors

How to Make this Pom Pom:

After cutting the template out of cardboard, snip a small piece of yarn and put it through the large opening. You can use the small notch at the other end of the template to hold the ends of the yarn piece until you need it later. With your main yarn, begin winding it around your template, not going past the middle opening on either side. If using the template at full size, wind your yarn about 150 times. Pull the small piece of yarn around your big bundle and loosely tie. Slide everything off the template and tie the small yarn as tight as possible. Then cut all the loops around the outside edge and trim to your liking.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to Make a Rectangle Template Pom Pom | Crafting Basics

Method 5: Using Toilet Paper Tubes

This method would come in handy if you needed a larger size pom pom. The only other thing you need to make this besides the usual yarn and scissors is two toilet paper tube rolls. If you don’t save your TP tubes for craft projects like I do, or you just don’t want to craft with something that’s spent so much time next to your toilet, you can also buy them online. Depending on how far you trim it down, it should yield a pom pom that’s about 3” wide.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

Toilet Paper Tubes

Scissors

How to Make This Pom Pom:

With your two TP tubes held next to each other, wrap your yarn around them without wrapping too tightly. Wrap your yarn around about 300 times. Then cut the end of your yarn and cut a new piece of yarn about 24” long. Loop this piece between the TP tubes and around your yarn bundle and tie loosely. Slide the TP tubes out of the bundle and now tie the string as tight as possible. Cut all the loops around the edge of the pom pom. Then trim and shape the pom until you’re happy with it.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to Make a Toilet Paper Tube Pom Pom | Crafting Basics

Method 6: Using a Pom Pom Maker

This is my absolute favorite method for making pom poms. Although out of all the methods in this article it’s technically the most expensive, but overall the pom pom makers are still fairly inexpensive. And if you are a crafter who loves using pom poms in your projects like I do, it is very well worth it. Out of all the DIY pom pom methods I’ve tried, these yield the best looking poms overall. I should also specify that I’m using the Clover brand pom pom makers. There are other brands out there that I’ve never used, so I can’t say how well any of those work. But I would highly recommend the Clover ones.

What You Need For This Method:

Yarn

Pom Pom Maker

Scissors

How to Make This Pom Pom:

Open up one side of the pom pom maker. Then wrap your yarn around it until it is almost completely full. Then cut the end of your yarn and close that side of the pom pom maker. Repeat on the other side. Next, slide your scissors into the groove on the edge of the pom pom maker and snip your yarn all the way around. Cut another small length of yarn and pull it through the middle of the pom pom maker and tie a tight knot. Now pull the two halves of the pom pom maker apart to release the pom pom. Trim and shape your pom until you like how it looks.

If you’d like to read my original article that goes into more detail on how to use this method, click on the link below:

How to Use a Pom Pom Maker | Crafting Basics

Final Thoughts

With six different ways to make a DIY pom pom, whichever method will be best for you will most likely come down to personal preference. I think all of them work very well and have the potential to make very nice, uniform pom poms. However, I still prefer using my Clover pom pom makers not just because they make the best looking and most dense poms out of all these methods, but also because I don’t need to count my loops like in most of the other methods.

The DIY circle template pom also has this advantage over the other methods as well. But it takes SO much longer to make that’s it’s not nearly as worth it. Although it’s not a big deal to be counting your loops in many cases, I tend to do projects that require a lot of pom poms at once. So while I’m making all those poms I usually like to watch TV or a movie, which makes it more of a pain to be counting those loops.

Just so you can get a visual for pom pom sizes, here are all the pom poms I made with all six methods side by side for comparison:

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I’d love to hear from you! Thank you for stopping by and happy crafting!