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Pom-poms come in various types. Some are used to decorate knitted or crocheted items, others are for cheerleading performances, and there are also those made from tissue paper, which are perfect for home decoration. You can create one or all three types of pom-poms if you have the right materials.
Steps
Making a Wool Pom-Pom
Cut two circular shapes from cardboard. Cut two circles from cardboard, then make a wedge-shaped slit and a small hole in the center of each circle, creating a disk-like shape with a hole in the middle. Remember, the larger the circle, the bigger your pom-pom will be (and vice versa).
- You can cut the circle freehand if you're skilled, or use a cup or bowl to trace the shape, then cut it out.
Place a piece of yarn between the two cardboard pieces. Place a piece of yarn through the hole of one cardboard circle, then lay the second circle on top of the yarn. Align the two circles so the holes match perfectly.
- This yarn will be used to secure the pom-pom later. Be sure the yarn is long enough so both ends can protrude from the holes.
Wrap the yarn around the circle. Thread the yarn through the wedge-shaped slit and into the center of the circle, then begin wrapping it several times around the circle. Wrap about 100 times or until the yarn thickness is as desired.
- The thicker the yarn wraps, the thicker your pom-pom will be.
Cut the yarn loops. Insert the scissors between the two circular cardboard pieces and cut the yarn loops around the outer edge of the circle. Cut slowly and evenly on both sides.
- As you cut the yarn, hold the piece you placed in the center of the circles earlier. This yarn will help tie the pom-pom tightly.
Tie the pom-pom. Tie and knot both ends of the yarn in the center of the two cardboard pieces. The yarn that you placed earlier is now perfectly positioned to secure the pom-pom.
Remove the cardboard pieces. Once you've tied the pom-pom securely, remove the two cardboard pieces. Remember, you can reuse these cardboard pieces to make more pom-poms, so don't throw them away.
Trim the pom-pom. Trim around the pom-pom to make it even. Continue trimming until you're satisfied with the shape. After trimming, your pom-pom will become fluffy, thick, and round.
- Be careful not to cut the ends of the yarn you used to tie the pom-pom, unless you no longer need it.
Use your finished pom-pom. Now, you can attach the pom-pom you just made to knitted or crocheted items for decoration. Tie the yarn ends of the pom-pom to a hat, scarf, sweater, or anything else you like.
Making a Cheerleading Pom-Pom
Stack 10 trash bags on top of each other. Trash bags are typically white or black, but you can also find them in other colors. If you’re using bags of different colors, arrange the layers in an alternating pattern for balance.
Cut the top and bottom of the trash bags. Cut about 2.5 cm from the top of each trash bag, just below the drawstring, and discard the cut-off parts.
Fold the stack of bags in half. Fold the stack of trash bags so that the bottom edge aligns perfectly with the top edge. Try to keep the bags as straight and evenly stacked as possible.
Cut the trash bags along the fold line. Carefully cut the stack of trash bags along the fold so you will end up with a square stack of 20 bags. Make sure to cut neatly without leaving jagged edges.
Cut the trash bags into strips. Starting from the edge of the bag, cut towards the center, beginning with the side you just cut. Slice the bags into strips spaced 1.5 to 2.5 cm apart, depending on your preference. Do the same with the opposite side. Make sure to leave about 5 cm uncut in the middle so the strips are even in length.
Bind the stack of cut bags. Hold the stack of trash bags as you would a bundle of dry noodles, pinching the middle section (the uncut part) and letting the two ends hang free. Secure the middle part with tape (electrical tape works best).
Fluff the pom-pom. Grab each strip of plastic and pull it apart to fluff up the pom-pom. After separating the strips, crumple them to make the pom-pom even fuller.
- Your pom-pom is now ready! Make another one to create a matching set.
Making a Pom-Pom with Tissue Paper
Stack 8 sheets of tissue paper. Lay the tissue paper sheets flat, ensuring all the edges align perfectly.
- If you want to make a smaller pom-pom, you can use fewer sheets. For a larger, thicker pom-pom, use more sheets.
Fan-fold the stack of paper. Start folding the tissue paper from one end in a fan pattern. Fold one side over, then flip and fold the other side. Continue alternating folds until you reach the end of the stack.
- If you want to make a smaller pom-pom, cut the folded strips in half. This will give you two shorter stacks for making two pom-poms.
Cut both ends of the folded paper. You can cut the ends at an angle for pointed tips or cut them round. The shape of your pom-pom will depend on how you choose to cut the ends.
Tie the center of the folded paper. Use a piece of fishing line, wire, or strong thread to tie the center of the folded paper stack. Make sure the string is long enough so you can use it to hang the pom-pom once it's completed.
Open each layer of paper carefully. Gently peel back each layer of tissue paper one at a time to avoid tearing. However, small tears won't be too noticeable, so don't worry if you accidentally tear one or two layers.
Hang the pom-pom. After spreading out the pom-pom, you can hang it to decorate your space. Hang it on a hook on the wall or ceiling.
Materials Needed
Yarn Pom-Pom
- Cardboard cut into two circles of your preferred size
- Yarn or thread (for more delicate items, you may want to use small pom-poms made from cotton thread or silk thread)
- Scissors
Cheer Pom-Pom
- 10 trash bags
- Scissors
- Electrical tape
- A holder, such as a spoon, wooden stick, or any firm object that fits comfortably in your hand (optional)
Crepe Paper Pom-Pom
- Crepe paper
- Scissors
- Wire, fishing line, or thick thread
