DIY Pom Pom Crafts and Decorations You'll Actually Want to Make

DIY pom pom crafts are one of the easiest, most satisfying ways to make charming decorations for your home, a party, or a gift. You only need yarn, scissors, and a few minutes per pom pom. This post walks you through how to make fluffy, full pom poms from scratch and then shows you exactly how to turn them into garlands, wreaths, wall hangings, and more. No fancy equipment required, just a little patience and a lot of color.

What You Need

Keep this list on hand before you start. Most of it you probably already own.

• Bulky or worsted weight yarn in your chosen colors (about one skein per project)
• Sharp scissors
• A pom pom maker (or two pieces of cardboard cut into doughnut shapes)
• A tapestry needle or long sewing needle
• Twine, jute cord, or thin rope for garlands
• A foam wreath form (12-inch works well for a full wreath)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• A ruler or measuring tape

That's genuinely it. You can make a full pom pom garland in a single evening with these basics.

How to Make a Perfect Pom Pom

Getting a round, dense pom pom is all about wrapping enough yarn. Thin pom poms look scraggly. Generous wrapping makes them look like the ones you see in shops.

• Open your pom pom maker and wrap yarn around one side about 80 to 100 times. More wraps equal a fluffier result.
• Close that side and repeat the wrapping on the other half.
• Snap both halves together so the wrapped yarn forms a full circle.
• Slide your scissors along the groove running around the outer edge and cut all the loops.
• Cut a 12-inch piece of yarn and tie it tightly around the center of the pom pom, right in the groove. Pull as hard as you can and double knot it. This is what holds the whole thing together.
• Open the pom pom maker and release your pom pom.
• Shake it out and give it a trim. Roll it between your palms to shape it into a tight sphere. Snip any straggly pieces until it looks round and even.

A 3.5-inch pom pom maker takes about three minutes per pom pom once you get into a rhythm.

The Projects: What to Make With Your Pom Poms

Pom Pom Garland

This is the most popular pom pom decoration for a reason. It looks beautiful draped across a mantel, strung along a bookshelf, or hung above a bed.

Make 20 to 30 pom poms in coordinating colors. Cut a length of twine or jute cord about six feet long. Thread your tapestry needle with the cord and push it straight through the center of each pom pom, spacing them about two inches apart. Tie a knot on either side of each pom pom to hold it in place. Hang and adjust as needed.

Pom Pom Wreath

Take a foam wreath form and hot glue pom poms directly onto it, working in rows and packing them tightly together. Use about 40 to 50 medium pom poms for a 12-inch form. Mix textures by using chunky yarn alongside thinner yarn. Add a simple ribbon loop to the back for hanging.

Pom Pom Wall Hanging

Cut a 24-inch piece of dowel rod or a sturdy branch. Cut lengths of twine and tie them across the dowel about one inch apart. Tie one pom pom to the bottom of each length of twine, varying the heights for a cascading effect. Add a hanging loop at each end of the dowel and you have a wall piece that looks completely handmade in the best way.

Pom Pom Gift Toppers

Make a single, large pom pom (use a 5-inch pom pom maker and bulky yarn) and tie it directly onto a wrapped gift instead of a bow. It takes two minutes and looks so much better than a stick-on bow from a bag.

Tips for Better Pom Poms

• Wrap more yarn than you think you need. Seriously, double it.
• Tie the center knot as tight as physically possible before you cut. A loose knot means a pom pom that falls apart.
• Use sharp scissors. Dull scissors drag and leave frayed, uneven cuts.
• Mix two strands of different yarn colors as you wrap for a natural, heathered look.
• Keep your trimmings. Tiny yarn scraps are great for stuffing sachets or making confetti for parties.

Variations to Try

Once you have the basic method down, there are so many directions to take it.

• Ombre garland: Use one color family and graduate from light to dark across the garland.
• Holiday wreath: Mix red, white, and green yarn for Christmas, or pastels for Easter.
• Oversized statement pom poms: Use arm-thick chunky yarn and wrap around your four fingers instead of a maker. These look incredible hanging from a ceiling in a cluster of three.
• Mini pom pom garland: Use a 1-inch pom pom maker for delicate, tiny pom poms that work beautifully as table runner accents or bottle decorations.
• Pom pom bookmarks: Tie a small pom pom to a ribbon and loop it around the cover of a hardback. It makes a genuinely sweet handmade gift.

Pom pom crafts are one of those projects where the making is just as enjoyable as the finished decoration. Put on a show, pour something warm, and wrap your way through a whole skein in one sitting. You'll end up with enough pom poms to decorate your whole house.