How to Make Yarn Pom Poms By Hand, Without a Pom Pom Maker
Learn how to easily make three different-sized DIY pom poms by hand, without using a pom pom maker in this fun photo tutorial!
Materials
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Your Hand
Instructions
- Cut an 8" section of yarn, and slip it between the fingers you'll use to wrap yarn onto.Cut an approximately 8-10" section of yarn.This will be the string you use to secure your pom pom together later.Slip the string between the fingers you'll use to wrap the yarn onto (see more details below); you'll leave it here while you do the next step.
- For a SMALL pom pom, you use TWO fingers to wrap the yarn around. Slip the 8" yarn piece between your top 2 fingers, as shown below with the yellow yarn.For a MEDIUM pom pom, you use THREE fingers. Slip the 8" yarn piece between 2 of your top 3 fingers (this is not centered, but you can adjust later.)For a LARGE pom pom, you use FOUR fingers. Slip the 8" yarn piece between the top 2 and bottom 2 fingers of your hand.
- Keep the 8" piece of yarn tucked into your fingers, and wrap yarn around the tips of your fingers.
- Once wrapping is complete, take the 8" section of yarn and tie it tightly around the middle of the wrapped yarn bundle.Once you're finished with the wrapping, carefully bring the 8" section of yarn toward the wrapped bundle of yarn at your finger tips.Tie it around the wrapped bundle of yarn.Slowly and carefully, remove the wrapped bundle of yarn from your fingers, making sure the 8" tied string stays in the middle of the yarn bundle and doesn't come untied. (If it does, your whole pompom will unravel.)Pull the 8" string TIGHT and knot to secure it once it's off your fingers. This is what keeps the pom together.
- Use scissors to cut all loops free around the pom pom bundle.Using a sharp scissors (or you'll get annoyed fast), carefully cut all of the loops free around the outside of the pom pom bundle.
- Trim the shaggy pom poms into round balls.Carefully trim the shaggy pom poms into balls.Keep turning the pom pom and trimming off long or uneven sections until you have a tidy, smooth, round pom pom.
Notes
- For a SMALL Pom Pom: Wrap around two fingers, with 50 yarn wraps.
- For a MEDIUM Pom Pom: Use three fingers, with 100 yarn wraps.
- For a LARGE Pom Pom: Use four fingers, with 200 yarn wraps.
- Use medium-weight yarn. This is usually the cheapest option, comes in a ton of colors, and makes the best pom poms.
- Sharp scissors are a must for cutting the loops of the pom poms apart. It's very annoying and frustrating to do this part with dull scissors.