In my last newsletter* I included instructions on making pom pom bunnies, and I rather skipped over making the pom poms themselves. I have had a request for a reminder about how to make them, so here goes…
pom pom making tutorial
Cut two circles of card slightly larger than you want your finished pom, and draw a smaller circle in the centre of each.The whole ball of yarn is probably too big to fit through the central hole, so cut a shorter piece (I am a messy so and so and need several short pieces so they don’t get all knotted).Cut out the circles and the central holes.Put the two cardboard circles together and start to wrap the yarn around the double ring.Keep on wrapping the yarn around the cardboard rings…and on…and on…Carry on until you have a thick layer of yarn.Use a small pair of scissors and push them between the two card circles and carefully cut through the edge of the yarn wrap. Hold the whole pom pom together as you cut – you don’t want to let go of the cut strands or you have to start again (does that sound like the voice of experience speaking…?)You will end up with a bunch of loose strands through the central holes. Take a piece of yarn 20cm to 30cm long and carefully tie tightly between the two cardboard rings. Take the piece of yarn back on itself and tie it again…twice (I’m risk averse).Pull away the cardboard rings (which you can re-use).Ruffle up the strands so it forms a ball and trim any strands that are longer than the others. N.B. if you are making bunnies or chicks, don’t trim the long piece of yarn used to tie the pom pom – you need it to tie the head and body together.
Making this tutorial I have realised how much quicker it is to use a pom pom maker. They work in just the same way as the cardboard rings but each half of both rings open up so you can use a full ball of yarn, and the two rings clip together so the strands are less likely to fall out as you cut between the rings.
I find the pom pom makers much more convenient, but I agree that two circles of cardboard takes me right back to my childhood, along with covering balloons with papier mache (and being too impatient to let it dry properly).
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Deerey Me! 
Goodness, you’ve taken me right back to my childhood! I have a pompom maker but I far prefer the cardboard circles method 🙂
I find the pom pom makers much more convenient, but I agree that two circles of cardboard takes me right back to my childhood, along with covering balloons with papier mache (and being too impatient to let it dry properly).