Yarn Pom Pom Crafts for Kids

Pom poms are fun, and kids love making things from the small, fluffy balls. You can make pom poms out of yarn, and the craft is simple enough for kids to make on their own. Let the kids turn the pom poms into anything they can imagine. For example, you can turn them into the little soot sprites from the Studio Ghibli movie “Spirited Away,” or string them together to make a scarf. Each pom pom takes about ten minutes to make.

What You Need:

Yarn

Scissors

Cardboard

Googly eyes

Glue

How to Make the Pom Pom Pattern

1) Cut two circles out of the cardboard. The size of the circle is up to you. The larger it is the bigger the pom pom. A 5-inch circle is a good size for these projects. Use a compass or a cup, if necessary.

2) Cut a smaller circle out of the middle of the circles you just cut. You want the inner circle less than half the size of the whole circle. For example, if you have a 5-inch circle, cut out a 2-inch circle from the middle.

How to Make Pom Poms

2) Press the two circles together so they line up evenly.

3) Wrap the yarn around the edge of the circles, through the inner circle, and back around the outer edge. Continue to wrap the yarn all the way around the circle until you reach the beginning.

4) Keep wrapping the yarn. Keep going until you have at least four layers of yarn. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail.

5) Hold the yarn-wrapped cardboard in one hand. Slip the scissors inside the edge of the circle and between the two pieces of cardboard. Cut through the layers of yarn, working completely around the circle.

6) Wrap the tail between the two pieces of cardboard a few times and pull tight. Tie off the yarn and cut the remaining.

7) Pull the cardboard off the yarn and mess with the pom pom until it looks perfect.

How to Make a Soot Sprite

1) Make a pom pom out of black yarn. The soot sprites are always black to mimic soot.

2) Glue two googly eyes to one side of the pom pom. The eyes will not stay on easily. You must leave the pom pom with the eyes pointing up until the glue dries.

How to Make a Pom Pom Scarf

1) Make at least 12 pom poms of any color, or multiple colors. If you want the scarf longer, make more pom poms. Make smaller pom poms or larger ones, if you wish.

2) Tie yarn to the center of one pom pom. Use the same yarn to tie a second pom pom right next to the first. Keep tying pom poms, spacing them as close as possible without squishing them, until you used them all.

3) Cut the yarn as close to the pom pom as possible.

Other Pom Pom Possibilities

Besides soot sprites and scarves, you can make other pom pom crafts. Sew them to winter hats, placing one on each side of the top of the hat. It makes them look like ears. You can use them as keychains by tying them to a keychain loop. You can make yarn pom poms from any type of yarn. Use your imagination, or get your kids to use theirs, and fill your home with pom poms.