It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I love crafting with pom poms. From rugs to wreaths to garlands and everything in between. If I CAN make it out of pom poms, I WILL make it out of pom poms!
Even though this blog doesn’t have any pom pom related crafts yet, it definitely will in the near future. So I thought it would be a good idea to write up a few posts on how to make a pom pom.
I have a handful of different methods that I will be posting about over the next week or so, but I’d like to start with my absolute favorite method, which is by using a commercially made pom pom maker, specifically the Clover brand one.
There are other ways to make pom poms that also yield great results, which I will have articles for very soon. But I still keep coming back to these tools because they give me the most fluffy and dense pom poms compared to any other method.
So without further ado, let’s get to making some fuzzy little poms!
What You Will Need for this Project
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.
Yarn
As mentioned above, the brand of pom pom maker that I use is made by Clover. They have four different packages with different sizes: Extra Small, Small, Large, and Extra Large (Jumbo). In total, between all 4 packages there are 7 different sizes that will make poms that range from 3/4” wide to 4.5” wide. I think that would cover just about any pom pom project you could dream of.
I own both the small and large sets, which gives me a good standard range of sizes. However I plan on buying the extra small and extra large at some point in the future. That way I can have them all.
If for some reason you are unable to find this particular brand of pom pom maker, I’ve seen others online that look extremely similar. I can only imagine that they’d work just as well. I couldn’t say for sure since I’ve only tried the one brand. But if it has a similar construction to the picture below you should be good to go.
A quick note about the scissors I use, too. When I first started using my pom pom makers, I was using a standard pair of scissors and I had a lot of trouble when it came time to snip the yarn loops. Trimming the pom pom afterward was also very hard on my hands.
So I tried out these scissors and they are absolutely PERFECT for making these types of pom poms. The pointed tip fits easily between the pom pom maker and the spring keeps your hand from getting too tired. They are now my dedicated pom pom scissors and I would definitely recommend these to anyone who makes a lot of pom poms like I do.
Instructions
Step 1: Wrap One Side of Pom Pom Maker
For this example, I’m going to be using one of the pom pom makers from the Small set, which makes a finished pom pom about 1 5/8” wide.
With the Pom Pom Maker already assembled together, open up the “arms” on one side and line them up.
Then begin wrapping your yarn evenly around the curved part. It doesn’t really seem to matter whether you wind it section by section or evenly go back and forth until it is full as long as it’s as even as possible.
Continue winding your yarn until it is full. When the side of my pom pom maker is full, it looks like the picture below.
From my experience, just how full the pom pom maker needs to be is going to depend on which size pom pom maker you are using. I have only used 4 different sizes, but from the ones I’ve tried I find that I need to overfill the smaller ones while the larger ones don’t need to be quite so full.
The best way to check is from time to time, push the yarn-wrapped arch back into place. If you still have space between the yarn and sides of the pom pom maker, try to wrap it a little more. If you are having trouble comfortably fitting the arch back into place you may need to unwrap your yarn a bit.
As you can see in the picture above, it’s very full, but will still fold back into the pom pom maker. When working with the larger size pom pom makers, you will still have a small curve in the middle when the arch is open.
When the pom pom maker is full you can snip the end of your yarn. Leave the section you just wrapped closed so everything stays secure and get to work on the other side.
Step 2: Wrap Other Side of Pom Pom Maker
Now open up the other side of the pom pom maker and wrap this one until it is full as well.
For this tutorial I’m only using one color, but you could use a different color (or even a few different colors) to make a multicolored pom pom. That’s another advantage I’ve found with these types of pom pom makers is you have a bit more control if you want to do an interesting pattern instead of one solid color.
Like in the last step, when you are done winding your yarn, snip the end and close the arch back into the pom pom maker.
Step 3: Cut Loops and Tie Together
Now you can begin cutting all the yarn loops. Fit your scissors into the small groove between the halves of the pom pom maker and start snipping the loops of yarn. This is where a pair of scissors with pointed tips really comes in handy.
Keep snipping the yarn until you have gone all the way around the pom pom maker. Don’t worry about anything coming apart, as the pom pom maker will hold everything tightly in place.
Next, cut another small piece of yarn to tie around your pom pom. For this one I cut a piece about 10 inches long. You might need it a little longer if you are using one of the bigger ones.
Then slip it between the two halves of the pom pom maker. It’s going to be a bit of a tight fit. But make sure it’s as far in as you can get it.
Then tie a tight knot or two to secure everything together.
Step 4: Remove Pom Pom from Maker and Trim
Now that everything is secure, you can remove your almost finished pom pom. Start by opening the arches on both sides.
Then you can pull the pom pom maker apart and remove your pom pom. Even at this point they usually come out looking pretty decent. But you’ll need to give it a bit of a trim before it looks really good.
Snip away the yarn on the pom pom until it is even all the way around. It should also look a lot more dense.
Compared to all the other DIY pom pom methods, you won’t need to cut very much away. But you will still have a small pile of yarn fuzzies left over when you are done. I usually keep a lint roller handy for cleanup.
And there you have it! A beautiful and perfectly fuzzy pom pom, ready to be added to a craft project.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried a handful of different methods of pom pom making over the years, but I keep coming back to this one as my very favorite. Although you need a dedicated tool that only comes in a limited amount of sizes, the pom poms that these pom pom makers create are so easy and no-fuss. You also lose the least amount of yarn when doing the final trim. That leaves more yarn in the end to make more pom poms.
But like any other crafting method, it won’t be for everyone. If you only need a few pom poms for a singular project, you’d probably be better off using some of the other DIY methods. However if you are about to step into a project that you need a ton of them for, or if you just love making pom poms, having the tool on hand is very useful.
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!
