Make a Pom Pom Without Cardboard
This is a very quick and easy way to make a pompom using the fewest possible materials.
Steps
- Take one end of your yarn and tuck it between your second (index) and third (middle) fingers.
- Loosely wrap your yarn around those two fingers two or three times.
- When you can do so without your yarn falling off, spread your second and third finger as wide as you can. Keep them spread for the duration of the project.
- Wrap your yarn around those two fingers, close to the base of them, as many times as necessary. For smaller pompoms, fifty times may be adequate; for larger ones, up to one hundred may be necessary. The more times you wrap, the better your pompom will turn out.
- When you're finished wrapping, carefully slide your wrapped yarn as far up your fingers as you can without any falling off of your fingertips.
- Leave yourself approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of yarn trail, then cut it off from the ball.
- Holding it in place with your thumb if necessary, wrap your yarn trail around the middle of the bundle you've gathered, between your two fingers. Pull it as tightly as possible.
- A second time, make a very loose loop around the middle of your bundle, this time slipping your trail through the loop to knot it before pulling it tight. Repeat if necessary.
- Once your bundle is tied in half securely, remove it from your fingers.
- Being careful not to cut your trail, use scissors to cut all the little loops of yarn.
- Trim your pompom into a round shape using the scissors. Examine it from every angle to make sure it's smooth, fluff it repeatedly, and take your time.
- When satisfied, use your trail to fasten your pompom to a hat, a headband, a purse or anything else you want.
Tips
- Don't wrap your yarn too tightly. Be careful not to cut off your circulation.
Warnings
- Handmade pompoms do not make acceptable pet toys. A cat, dog or ferret may like to play with pompoms, but they can tear then apart and swallow the bits of yarn, which are a choking hazard.
Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Sharp scissors
