POM POMS.

Among my favorite things in life– other things on the list include chocolate, tufted leather, chaise lounges circa 1890, tutus, and Mimi.

I am going to teach you a little lesson that my grandmother taught me when I was a young one. I thought she was the only woman in the world who knew how to make pom poms… I refused to share this knowledge with anyone… especially Jordan…

One day I was looking online for a pom pom tutorial.. you know– just to make sure I was still the only one, aside from my Nonni, who knew how to do this… good old google provided me with about 1,000 links and I realized that everyone knew how to make pom poms. I was nearly in tears.

Nonni’s pom poms will still be forever special and I swear she invented the pom pom creation method. Don’t think you’re all special, the only reason I’m sharing this tutorial with you is because I know its already out there.. love you though.

Giving someone a pom pom is like… idunno.. it’s like what “poking” on facebook used to be like back in the day. It’s one of those simple gestures that says, “you’re cute and I like you”… or, “have a sweet day”. Actually, I think it would be fun to throw a pom pom in your significant other’s lunch bag so it pops out when they are sitting at the conference table at work… or in your kids’ lunch.. between some bread, of course. I don’t know.

Things pom poms can be use for:

• hat toppers
• gift embellishments
• key chains
• bra stuffing
• baby clothes, but make sure the pom pom is bigger than the baby’s mouth and or throat
• pillow corners. yum.
• every single DIY gift should be embellished with a pom pom. somehow.
• ear plugs

This is where I say to myself… Maddie, shut up and tell them how to make these little balls of love, already!

STEP 1:

• start with 50-80 rounds on your hand.
• If you plan on making tons of pom poms the same size, be sure to choose a set number of times to go around.
• Do not judge the appearance of my hand, I realize it looks weird.

STEP 2:

• Cut a separate piece of yarn and tie it around the middle of the yarn you just wrapped around your fingers.
• Tie a few knots as tight as possible.
• The center needs to be tied tight in order to create a secure center for the pom pom.

STEP 3:

• This is the magical moment where you cut the loops on both sides. (you will giggle when you do this… that’s just the way it goes).
• Try your best to do this evenly — you will have less “trimming” to do… you’ll see.
• Admire how long my pony tail is. thank you.

STEP 4:

• Give that cute little fella a hair cut. (pom pom.. NOT dog)
• Trim the pieces that poke up here and there- BUT don’t go crazy.
• The more yarn you work with, the fuller your pom poms will be.

Let’s take it one step further… pom-pom flower, Stick a twig or something twig-like to your pom pom by either hot glue gunning it or sticking it through the pom pom. Now you have apom pom flower.

UMMMM..  Or you can just buy a pom pom maker <cough>LAZY<cough>. what?

BY THE WAY… this is the way my Nonni makes her pom poms. Or shall I say.. the way she invented pom pom making. The reason I showed you guys the handmaking method, was because I knew you’d get all scared and run away as soon as you saw the cardboard cut outs. This way does work much better, but it takes a little more time. Definitely worth it.