Pom Poms and Pretty Things

A few weeks ago during the school holidays the Little People and I started making pom poms. It was entirely their idea, and I was entirely happy to oblige. I mean, how could I not? Little People asking to get crafty and some great old fashioned nostalgic yarn play, it's all good! I was was about to go to the recycling bag and dig out some cardboard to fashion some pom pom making kit, when I remembered a friend telling me how to do it The Easy Way. This particular friend is a primary school teacher and knows a lot about easy crafting with young children, so we gave her method a whirl. In a nutshell, instead of using any form of cardboard you simply use your fingers, like this. The simplicity of it meant that even Little B (who is not quite three years old) could have a go, with some help at the tying and cutting stage.

The Little People churned out a surprising number of pom poms using up odds and ends of aran weight yarn from my stash. Some of the pom poms turned out a little raggedy, but the fun that was had on that cold, damp Monday morning more than made up for the unkempt results.

I have to admit that although I loved the scruffy pom poms made by Little Hands, I began to hanker after some perfectly round super-neat ones. Proper Pom Poms. Fluffy and cute as opposed to raggedy and unkempt. I managed to dig up some long forgotten information from the tangle inside my Creative Memory, and went in search of magical Clover pom pom makers. I found them in various sizes, from Teeny Tiny up to Rather Large, so I opted for Small.

They come in packs of two, the small ones measuring 35mm and 45mm, you can find them here.

They are a complete doddle to use. You simply open out the semi-circular plastic bits and get winding.

Wind one side evenly with yarn until it looks all woolly and chubby, then fold it back in. Do the same on the other side so that you have two yarny semi circles sitting opposite each other.

The next bit is ace...you just snip around the circle with sharp scissors, snip-snip-snip. Just like that. Nothing falls apart. Nothing goes wrong. There is no cussing. WoW!

Time to tie now, get a short piece of yarn to slip between the two halves and make a tight knot. Easy! Oh-so-easy! Then all you do is unfold the semi-circular plastic bits and pull the two halves apart to release the pom pom.......

....ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Pom-Pom maker is absolute genius, if a bit addictive. The small pom poms are very quick and easy to make as it doesn't take an awful lot of winding to produce really wonderful, fluffy little balls.

It'd be good if they had a use though eh? I've had them sat very sweetly in a plastic tub for the past few weeks, but they are destined for Festive Decorative Work eventually. I had originally thought about making some sort of pom pom and crochet garland, but that idea was completely abandoned when I came across this..................

............................it's a page from Prima Magazine (December issue).

Want to take a closer look?

Oh! Isn't that image just so perfectly beautiful? It made me gasp out loud with pleasure when I first saw it over on the Selena Lake blog. Selena often does the styling for Prima magazine, and I am such a huge fan of her work. It seems to me as if she has somehow had a sneaky peak into my heart and soul and created these images just for me.

Let me show you the pages that follow, you'll love them I'm sure.............

The feature is about creating hand made decorations and displays, and the style is very "Selina"....if you've seen her incredible book Homespun Style (which I love love love) then you will know what I mean.

There are bright and cheerful displays and gorgeous homemade wrapping ideas.

Beautiful iced biscuits and handmade stockings. And there are giant paper balls. Oh gosh. I would really, really, really love some of those in the Attic.....a tad expensive at a fiver a pop, but I guess they would last for years if I treated them nicely and only strung them up at Christmas? I have been looking at them online almost every day, wondering if I can possibly, in any way-shape-or-form justify the expense of them. I am still undecided.

But anyhow, lets not obsess about paper balls, cos I need to take you back to see that beautiful wreath.....

.............wow. So, so beautiful, isn't it? I was so charmed by this wreath, and very grateful to Selina for giving details of it's creator on her blog. It's the work of someone new to me, a very lovely Dutch lady called Maartje who makes all sorts of scrumptious things under the name of Silly Old Suitcase. Her work is so unique :: a wonderful, quirky mix of vintage treasures, crochet, patchwork, stitching and beading. I fell in love with her style, it made my heart flutter to see so much colour, creativity and unique personality.

This is another of Maartje's amazing wreaths, slightly different to the one in the magazine.
And I love this one even more than the first one, it's such a glorious, colourful festive mix! Pom poms, crochet, baubles, ribbons, lace, berries and flowers. YES! It has Pom poms!!!!!!!!!!

So you can see where this is going can't you? You can now picture me leaping about, getting all giddy at the idea of creating my very own Festive Wreath full of woolly goodness. A truly good justification for my pom pom making addiction if ever there was one. I shall show you very soon where I'm at with it, but first I need to tell you a little bit more about Silly Old Suitcase.

As well as wreaths and bunting and other cutesome decorations, Maartje makes the most wonderful jewellery. I spied the above necklace in her Etsy shop and thought my heart was going to burst at the sight of all those beautiful, joyful colours. But sadly for me, this necklace is quite long and I have trouble with long necklaces. I just can't wear them without feeling irritated by them. They dingle and dangle and get snagged on things, and they are an absolute magnet for Little B who loves to fiddle and meddle with any lengthy dingly dangly things about my person. Long necklaces, scarves and apron strings are just so tempting for his Little Fingers and imagination.

So  this is what I did. I wrote a little note to Maarjte, telling her of my my love for this necklace and explaining my difficulty with it's length. I enquired, in my most politest and persuasive voice, as to whether she might be able to make me something similar but shorter. And being the sweetheart that she is, she agreed to my request and within a week, a happy little packet arrived in the Attic....

....oh happy day!

The necklace tumbled out of the wrapping into my hand and I wanted to cry with happiness.

The beads are so vibrant, they remind me of childhood sweets and sunny days. They shout Happy Things to me when I look at them!

It's a happy necklace for sure, and I adore wearing it. Thank you Maartje, thank you so much for the happiness you sent my way.

And if you don't already know, there is a super-sweet blog waiting out there for you to go visit....do bob by and say hello to Maartje won't you?

Oh, I almost forgot, there is something else about Selina Lake I wanted to say.....yes, it's a calendar! Joy of joys, the 2013 Mollie Makes calendar has been designed by Selina, yippeeeee!!

There are twelve stunning pages to take us through 2013, it really is absolutely beautiful. You can get it free with the December issue of Mollie Makes magazine which is in the shops now.

Right then my lovelies, it's been a pleasure chatting and sharing with you as always. But really, I do need to get back to my pom poms now if you don't mind. My fingers are twitching.

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Comments

[Clare]

Lucy

I love your blog and the pom poms are perfect. Even little B's one. You mush include it within your decs. Something to treasure for ever x

[Claire]

I love the Pom Poms! Loving this post - such a visual treat. Thanks for the colour-fest on such a wet and dreary evening.
Claire

[Helen]

Pom poms were my very first introduction to crafting as a child. They just fill my heart with joy and make me smile. Thanks for cheering my day... now where did I put my pom pom maker????

[Alycia]

how funny you posted about the pom pom maker at just the right time! last week i was struggling to make some pom poms with a cardboard cutout and nearly chopped my fingers off lol! i'm going to buy these from the american amazon. thanks for sharing!

[Mumofsix]

That wreath is just too gorgeous. Off to buy a pom pom maker. Thank you lovely lady xxx

[sew]

Hello Lucy
I was recently introduced to these pompom makers (from a very reliable source!) and couldn't resist giving them a try after many moons of cutting up cardboard discs.
So now I have a basket full of a wide variety of pompoms in an assortment of colours including sparkly ones made from silver yarn which came attached to a knitting magazine.
Fortunately they are a source of fascination to my granddaughter who is happy to take one home with her when she visits but I was beginning what to do with the rest!
The necklace is so very you.
I hope the weather isn't being too unkind up there.
xx

[Tracey man ton]

Hi lucy primark has paper balls in red and white at £1.50 each love your post.xx

[maggie]

lovely pom poms and it's so great that everyone could join in. Beautiful x

[wendy]

Pom pom maker makes it sooo easy, amazing.
Love your necklace too.
Nice that even little b could have fun in the making of pom pom's, takes me back to when my 4 where little people ☺☺

[Bee]

Love the pompoms and the handy dandy maker ... also love Maartje ... she is wonderful ... your new necklace is gorgeous ... have a lovely week making more pompoms ... Bee xx

[Julia]

Hi Lucy.

I went to the Harrogate Knitting and stitching show on Saturday as was so excited to see you in the crowd. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

On the subject of Pom poms - take a look at this...http://www.multipom.com/

Julia

[Julia]

Forgot to say there are paper honeycomb Pom poms on eBay much cheaper.

[Helen]

These look like a fun project. I once naively agreed to teach a group of 8 and 9 year olds how to knit which became incredibly tricky, we all managed to make pompoms though which was much more satisfying.
I love Silly old suitcase blog, such lovely pictures and wonderful crafty ideas
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Karen]

Thanks for this post. My 7-yr-old begged me to let her buy this Pompom Monster Salon from their school bookfair last week. Glad I gave in,she's been having so much fun! It came with the maker, some yarn, googly eyes, felt teeth & the book is chock full of tips on how to "prettify" your monster! Here's the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Pom-Monster-Salon-Create-Monsters/dp/054534624X

Lovey necklace, by the way.

[Lesley]

That wreath is gorgeous! x

[tejeme mucho]

I love the pom poms you did!!! Lucy. I'll search for the pom pom maker everywhere.
I love your crocheting. I've been reading your blog for a long time, but never commented. Thanks for all you share. Malvina (from Argentina).

[MsZeb]

I bought one! I'm thinking pom pom edged cushion cover.....

[RenInAz]

Love your Color-Fest! So fun. Thank you for posting this topic.
Pom-poms can become addicting, that is for sure. One thing the kiddies love is pom-poms on crochet winter hats. Attach 1, or 3-5 on top or even dangle them from a crochet chain on the hat's top. They love the way they swish around when they turn their little heads.
I have the pom-pom maker from Clover also and when they are laundered in the washing machine they can fall apart so, be careful.

[Val]

Hi Lucy, Thank you once again for lots of lovely colour and new ideas.Something to cheer us up when its grey outside. I'll have a look at the new blogs too. Take care, Val x

[Marie C]

Oooooo, I can see this beautiful wreath with a French Bower Bird or two and a sprinkling of triple layer flowers for extra colour!!! Mmmmm.
Love your blog, it makes my day to see all the colourful projects and lovely pictures!

[Kate]

Drooool! Such a gorgeous post! I'm itching to try my hand at a wreath now. And I'm in love with that necklace!

[Silsbee]

What a happy-making post! And I am glad you got a necklace that was just perfect for you. Wonderful :)

[Linda @ alottastitches]

Lucy, you can make your own paper balls, in whatever size and color you'd like! You're only limited by what kinds of paper you can find.

http://www.themerrymagpievintage.com/2012/06/diy-honeycomb-balls.html

http://designoform.com/crafts/diy-honecomb-ball/

Have fun! :-)

[Anna]

nice colors, they cheered me up while I was feeling sleepy in the morning...
I see that your blankets' colors don't fade away with use...I really want to make a big granny or ripple blanket!
Have a nice time preparing for Christmas, Lucy:) I am also planning so many things to be crocheted!

[Eugenia]

We made pom poms in Pumpkin Cottage this weekend. Perfect for patient little hands. So so much fun.