If you don’t absolutely love pom poms or haven’t ever considered making them yourself, perhaps we can sway you after this week’s DIY. We adore pom poms and were beyond excited to discover the Clover Pom Pom Maker, which allows you to crank out pom poms of all sizes and 10 times faster than the conventional method. You will need a few skeins of yarn, a Clover Pom Pom Maker and a pair of scissors.
The Clover Pom Pom Maker separates the process into two halves; you’ll start the first half of the pom pom by cutting about 7 yards of yarn. A time saving trick is to double it up twice, so you are working with 4 strands at one time. Because time is money, right? Wrap the yarn from one edge of the arch to the other, making sure you have the entire area covered. Close the arch and repeat the same steps on the other side. Once both arches are covered, insert your scissors into the middle ridge and cut along the entire circle. Tie off your pom pom by slipping a piece of yarn along the middle, pull it into a tight knot, open your arch and pull your pom pom maker apart. Trim up your pom pom if necessary but leave the long piece of yarn you used to tie it together, as you’ll need that to attach your pom poms to….well, just about anything. (Click images to enlarge).
We must warn you that this process is quite addicting and you really can’t stop at just one. The possibilities are endless as you can make this, this, this, this, this, this, this or this. But in the end, Lauren and I chose to make this:
(all images by Honestly…WTF)
That’s so badass!!!
Love the PomPoms. Can’t wait to make some myself.
Your photos are so inspiring it makes me want to get out there and go crazy with yarn !
LOVE these things! The pom pom maker makes all the difference I tried it with the donut style and it never quite worked out. I guess its time to spring for the clover one!
LOVE!
amazing! i need to make these for my wedding or my bridal shower or something!
i have made pom poms by hand before but never with a pom pom maker! wow!!
so cool! totally added this to my tumblr!
xo
sami
http://www.aglimpseofglamour.com
I remember the commercials for those growing up. They were especially popular during Bewitched reruns.
I have never seen these before that I can recall. I’m on my way to buy a dozen. My kids will be forced to earn their keep from now on by churning out pom poms night and day.
Thanks. Love your blog.
i love pompoms and this is such a great way of making them.
this is too too much! so cute!
I LOVE pom poms. but i don’t have an awesome pom pom maker like yours. and sometimes the yarn fall out of the pom pom!
Had SO much fun making pom poms with Lauren! Cant wait to make myself something adorable!
Love this project. So cute! And just inherited a pile of yarn… perfect!
you always have the BEST DIY!! I have been working on my friendship necklace (you posted a few weeks ago inspired by a flare editorial) for weeks now- I am trying to make tons and tons of strands but it is so time consuming! I’ll send a pic when its done
http://lachicmenagerie.blogspot.com
Stunning! I’ve got to get my hands on one of those clever tools!
First of all, I love Cindy’s idea to employ the kids in making these.
Also, there’s an amazing etsy seller called Yokoo who makes fabulous knitted accessories. I bought a GIANT pom pom necklace/scarf from her a while ago & have been tapping my toe waiting for fall to arrive so I can wear it. I don’t see any in her shop right now, but you guys might like it anyway http://www.etsy.com/shop/Yokoo
Bought my supplies yesterday and was so excited to get started but I forgot to get heavy duty scissors! Going to spend the weekend making pom-pom’s!!
These are fabulous! I had pompoms at my wedding and I would love to do some garlands. What size pom pom maker did you use for the garlands?
Miss Natalie,
I love that you had pom-poms at your wedding. I am using those garlands for a friends baby shower in a few weeks..they are so universal. Everyone loves them!!
Clover sells a set of 2 large pom pom makers, blue and green. We used the blue one which is 3 3/8″
http://www.clover-usa.com/product/268067/3126/_/Pom_Pom_Maker_-_Large
or a little cheaper here…
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=xprd1144564
Warning they are super addicting!
besos,
Lauren
ooooh I once did this as a kid!! its so so much fun!!!!!! thanks for bringing back the memories
)
xx
http://francamaisha.blogspot.com/
That garland is gorgeous! I recently made a pom-pom necklace (tutorial here: http://transientexpression.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/tutorial-tuesday-pom-pom-necklace/ ), and that pom-pom maker would’ve been handy to have. But you can only make one size, correct?
My son and I saw this: http://bit.ly/cI7STU pom-pom chain scarf at JC Penney, and even he thought it was awesome!
I was inspired by your pom pom making! I made a wreath:
http://luckybydesign.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekend-craftiness-pom-pom-wreath.html
Oooo… love these! I’m inspired to host a pompom party now to create these garlands for my wedding. About how much yarn should I purchase to make the 5 strands of garland shown in your picture?
Thanks
I just stumbled on this garland and I AM IN LOVE.
I’m thinking about making something similar for Halloween or Christmas (in different colors, of course). My head is spinning.
So cute!
Camberley
Must…buy…pom pom…maker…
dear joan, i really, really love your pompom’s. i just made an item about them on my blog as a consolation for my blog friends here who are getting depressed from the rain and grey skies. i hope you don’t mind?
So fabulously charming! Argh, I am now a pom pom making addict – my bed is littered with little scraps of yarn… I’m making a garland like yours to decorate my vintage caravan with (yay) and making one in tiered rings (with the help of my friend, wire) as a mobile for a baby gift for our neighbour!
Yay for pom poms!!
<3
Love this! What a fun, whimsical idea for a bright and colorful wedding or event!
Ahahaha omg I had never seen the pompom machine ! I usually do it with old dear cardboard! I make two circles out of it and then go around with the thread! But this is very nice! Who know where could I buy nearby! Here in Italy we aren’t so smart about those things that make life easier ahahaha! We are traditional ! ;D
Awesome anyway!
Im in love with this!! It is on the top of my diy list. Im gonna go get the machine tomorrow! How did you connect them?
I LOVE THAT!! I’ve been using two pieces of cardboard to make pom poms. I NEED THIS TOOL!
Those are so cool! Adding one to my shopping list NOW!
I am doing this!
I love yarn again thanks to you!!!!!!!!
Love the garland and was just wondering how you attached the poms together?
just wondering exactly which pom pom maker was used to create the garland? small, medium, large? i dont want to go to big – i think this is the perfect size!
@Jackie, we used the blue “medium Clover pom pom maker” for our garlands!
^^ thanks for responding erica! i actually purchased my clover pom pom maker yesterday, so i plan on getting started this morning
just ONE MORE question – how should i attached the pom poms to each other?
@Jackie, we used 2 pieces of yarn at opposing ends to tie off the pom pom. We then used those long pieces to tie the pom poms together. Just be sure not to trim these pieces when trimming your pom poms! Good luck!
^^ great! thanks for all the help erica! i will post pictures when i finish mine!
i know you posted this a bit ago but i think it’s just right for spring, don’t you?!
had to post it on my blog for diy day, thanks for sharing your awesome ideas!
http://finelittlehome.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-day_27.html
Years ago we used two cardboard pieces cut into hoops to make these! who ever invented this device is a bloody genius! I am going to buy it right now!
I work at Michael’s and I had to do a demo once with the heart shaped pom pom maker. It was so cute. Clover makes some great products, even if they’re a little bit expensive and the instructions are kind of intense at first. I have a bias tape maker of theirs and a template for making those fabric flower pom pom things that you see all over clothes and shoes and headbands these days. How fun! I want to go buy one now!!!
You don’t even need a pom pom-maker, you could just cut out two equal sized circles in hard paper, then cut hole in the middle of both and put them on top of each other. Works just the same as the maker, and is way cheaper!
Seriously, I didn’t even know pom poms could be this amazing. I’m going to rock these bad boys for every holiday or celebration I can think of. Halloween? Yes. Thanksgiving? You know it. Arbor Day? Why not.
Loved it so much I linked to it on my blog. Here you go:
http://bit.ly/kO1ZEN
Cheers,
Allison
Very awesome.
Love these pom poms.. so colorful …..
Very cute! But I don’t get what you’re supposed to do with the pom poms?
So awesome
these are so cute! i’ve never seen anything like them before!
Hey guys love these pom poms,make some for my daughters cheer squad and put a bell in the middle.Can anyone help me figure out a good item to use to attach these to shoe strings that will hold up.Thank you.Also if you lightly spray these pom poms with starch they stay so nice.Have a great day everyone
use 2 metal washers and wrap yarn around works really well and cheaper to get various sizes
love this! i just have one question about making the garland…instead of tying them together, could i just take a needle and thread them together? or are they not built like that? thanks!
Love it!!!!!
Overall, the Better Than Naked Jacket is fantastic for long distance running in unpredictable climates.
Here in panama we call that pompons motas and we do that craft in folk class since we have 6 or 7 years
love this – just bought one and made a garland for myself and for a friend
what did you use as the base for the wreath? it’s the perfect time for a christmas wreath!
These are awesome! My wedding colors are peach, pastel yellow and mint green! But just exactly do you make a garland and tie the little pom poms?? Thanks!
So colorful. Can’t wait to try these.
This is so so cute! I love them!
I love this idea for my bf baby shower. Quick question…what did you make the actually garland up of…rope, garland??? I’ve made the pom poms, just need some ideas of what’s next for the garland. Thanks do much!
could you please tell me what type of yarn you recommend for this project? your yarn looks loose and poofy but on ebay i keep coming across a much tighter yarn.
just bought the pom pom maker and plan on doing this project : )
thanks!
I had my daycare kids make these! very fun!! these pom pom makers aren’t necessary though… we just cut out rings of carboard and it worked great!
I don’t think everyone had the blue criclething that you are using. I’m doing the pompoms with carboard ( in german it means “pappe” ) ,cut a circle out and in it i cut out a smaller circle. Thats the same
size:
1.Circle: 6-7 cm 2. smaller circle in the1. circle : 1 – 1.5 cm
Then spooling the wool around the carboard . if the 2. smaller circle inside is concealed you can also use a needle.then 1 round more. Now u tahe the scissors and cut open the wool around the first big circle .after that: cut the carboard away and ready!
I hope I could helped you to explain it
)))) soryy if it was already clear and this comment was needless
Aloha! I’m trying to make pom poms with the “pom pom maker” but everytime I finish off and pull the pom pom out, the strings easily pull out. Any suggestions?
If you liked those, you might also like a POM POM BLANKET!! Check it out on The Squirrel King:
http://squirrelkingthemovie.blogspot.com/p/whats-this-all-about.html
Cheerio Rufus
Hi. I wish you’d included a few instructions on how to actually make the pom pom garland. How to make the pom poms is straight forward, how to make them INTO something amazing, like the photos above, is less straight forward. Are there instructions available for the garland?
@Caroline Leave that last piece of yarn long, when tying the pom pom together, and then tie another long piece of yarn in the same area but in the opposite direction. Now you’re left with two long pieces of yarn on opposite sides. Use these to connect the pom poms together. Hope that helps!!
I bought the Clover set (XS and S) and wasn’t able to figure out the instructions. I Googled “Clover pom pom maker AND how to” and found several excellent You Tube videos with clear directions. Easy. A key is to have very sharp scissors. Love the garland! Making one for a gift. Thanks for posting.
I must have a pom pom maker right now!!!!!
I’ve been using cardboard to make poms for 4 years!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must have this amazing device now!
What a fab little device! Such a time saver, I love making pom poms but never knew these existed. So much easier than cardboard!
“DIY Pom Poms – Honestly WTF” was in fact a excellent blog.
If it owned a lot more pictures it would certainly be
possibly even better. Thanks -Polly
Cool stuff! I could use those pom poms to decorate presents ^^
http://thiscache.blogspot.sg/
I lovher?ete these garlands,sooo sweet.Can you tell me how you attatched them all tog
I Love these garlands,sooo sweet.Can you tell me how you attatched them all together please?