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This is the year of the pom pom. What? You didn’t know that? Okay, maybe it’s just me…and Pinterest.
I decided to use them in my holiday decorating so I needed a ton of sizes and colors. It was a fun activity for me because it brought back all sorts of memories of my grandmother. She taught me and my sister how to make them way back when we were nine and ten. (Yes my sister and I are that close in age. 13 months. Crazy, right?) I could hear her heavy french accent in my head while I was making them. I thought I’d share the steps with you too.
1. Find some cardboard. I like to use cereal boxes because they aren’t too think and fairly easy to cut out. Trace a larger circle and then a smaller circle inside. Cut out the rings. Tip: The thicker your rings (i.e. choose a smaller circle that is significantly smaller) the easier it will be for you in step 4. The rings in my example really aren’t thick enough but since I am an expert pom pom maker I was able to handle the adversity. Ha!
2. Measure out 8 -10 lengths of your desired yarn. I just eyeballed it.
3. Wrap the yarn tightly around your two rings. (Your rings should be back to back.) The more you wrap around your rings the fluffier your pom pom will be.
4. Slide your scissors between the two cardboard rings and carefully cut all the yarn strands around the circle. It feels like all the little strands of yarn will fall out, but if your rings are thick enough they won’t.
5. Slide a length of yarn between the two cardboard rings and tie a tight knot. Slip off the rings.
6. Shake your pompom briskly to fluff it up. Now give it a haircut. (That is what my grandmother always said. Still cracks me up.)
7. Et voila! (See how I slipped that french in?)
How did I use them in my Christmas decorating? I added seven of them to my holiday wreath…
I also used them instead of bows on all our gifts just for fun. I guess they looked so cute that guests at our big holiday party thought I had fake presents under my tree. Who does fake presents? That would be the worst joke ever to play on my kids!
These fun little puff balls don’t have to be exclusively used for Christmas. Think of the possibilities! Curtain tie backs or pillow corners, hat toppers or make a spring colored garland. The options are endless!