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

[Carine_07]

You can make a tiny pom-pom with a fork too.
BTW, the pattern of the windmill is available http://lastejeymaneje.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/free-pinwheels-crochet-pattern.html

[Anne]

Saw Selina demonstrating at the NEC a couple of weeks ago. She made pom poms and also big tissue paper balls that you could hang up. Anne x

[jeannette]

http://purejuice.livejournal.com/pics/catalog/3200/105774

this tutti frutti pompom version of a popcorn chenille bedspread is the cutest thing i've ever seen done with pompoms. enjoy.

[Rachael Iddon]

These paper balls (link below) are really easy to make and you can have a lot of fun with the colours you choose. You could in theory make them as large as you like but you might have to get clever with a pair of compasses! I seem to remember you saying you didn't have a printer so this might not work. I'd be happy to send you the templates on a bit of paper. It would be the least I could do for all the pleasure your blog has given me. Alternatively, we used a paper punch in the shape of a five petalled flower. Hope this helps your paper ball wanties.
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/how-to-make-3d-paper-ball-ornaments.html

[Nina]

Oh a pom pom wreath. I'd love to see the results at knitting group.
I just purchased a pom pom maker yesterday, to make a pom pom for a santa hat for my little one, but now a wreath is calling too, or some strings of pom poms to hang off the mantle piece.

[Jen]

I just found a tip on the internet that one can use a dinner fork for making pom poms. The yarn is wrapped around the tines, the tie is looped up behind the yarn between the tines and tightly knotted, and the sides are cut parallel to the tines. And who doesn't have a fork? Very clever.

[Julie]

Hi Lucy, have you seen the pom pom scarf in Accessorize? http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_5,acc_5.9/2871079900
Been reading your lovely blog for a while but this is the first time I've commented. x

[Tamsin]

I love reading your blog - it's a teeny bit of warm-and-fuzzy relaxation in my day. John Lewis has massive red pom poms as part of their store Christmas decorations this year. They look great.

[Sonia Petitpoint]

Thank you for all these beautiful photos and useful tips !

[susan]

Hi there lucy i do know that you can buy those paper balls at wilkinsons...they are a lot cheaper at £1 a ball or £1.75 for the larger ones..I know there the cheap and chearful version but they would be ok for the little time they are hung up im sure..Hope this helps
Love your blog always have a once a week catch up..:).

[Roobeedoo]

Oh dear oh dear so much inspiration I feel quite giddy! Thank you for the link to Silly Old Suitcase. So much loveliness! I may have to treat myself :)

[Sarah]

Hi Lucy, you can get those paper balls from Wilkinsons, lots of different colours, £1.75 for huge ones and £1 for small ones, bargain!

[Corinne LECLERCQ]

Ohhhh magnifique, je voulais aussi faire une couronne avec des pompons pour noël...

[Alison]

OOh, thanks for the tip on the Pom Pom makers - I've had in the back of my mind to search these out for ages, and you've done it for me! My little crocheted santas and snowmen will look so much cuter when they arrive!

[Shirley Flavell]

Wonderful post Lucy,love your necklace.Here in N.Z.we are getting reports on our T.V. news of terrible weather and flooding in the UK. Hope all is well in your part of the country.Hugs Shirley

[Verity]

I've just bought some giant red paper balls from Wilkinsons £1.75! Check out my handmade ribbon wreath here http://knitstitchsew.wordpress.com . I'm off to buy that Pom Pom maker!

[Kristi]

I got several of the Clover pom-pom makers for Christmas last year and I love using them. It make the job so much easier.

Love those cheery wreaths. They'd be great for Spring.

[Claire]

Hi
This is a simple pom pom wreath from The Australian Women's Weekley http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151175012828621&set=a.462447608620.250433.349591763620&type=1&theater
A bit hard to see in this photo but they just attached 3 different coloured pom poms to a fake green pine wreath. Very simple but effective!
Thanks for your sunny enthusiastic blog- brightens my day!
Claire

[Taylor]

What a wonderful way to spend a holiday making pom poms with the kids! That wreath is fun!

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Hi Lucy! That last picture is just beautiful! Your cushions and blankets always make me happy! Well, everything you post here usually makes me happy ;)

Love from Anna

[Kate]

I still recall learning to make pom poms and using up ALL my Mother's spare wool and being really rather annoyed she didn't have any more wool to make more lovely pom poms- even though most of the wool was school jumper grey, serious sock green and navy blue. They are such a pleasure to make and to play with afterwards.Cats adore them.

[Courtney]

Yes, yes, yes make a pom pom wreath!! I am anxiously waiting to see it! :) It's going to be so lovely. I might have to try and make one myself.

[carol partridge]

I'm waiting delivery of a pom-pom maker ! It must be catching. Mine is a hinged one. I ordered it with thoughts of silver pom-poms for Christmas decs. Thanks for the info on "Silly Suitcase". What a lovely lady. I was inspired to make a necklace from tiny beads and lovely buttons....threaded on fishing line. I love your necklace too.

[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! :-)

-- re-commenting - edited to correct a link. -

[Steph]

Wow so much loveliness in one post! A total feast for the eyes and I love your new necklace.in the honeycomb decorations...Wilkinsons sell some bells, teardrops, snowflakes and globes for £1 a pop! They're fabulous, hope there's a store near to you!