To make pom-poms, you’ll need some soft, plush yarn (not too fat and not too thin, and preferably multiple colour options), a good pair of fabric scissors and either a fork, a pom-pom maker or simply your non-dominant hand. If you’ve invested in (or inherited) a pom-pom maker, use this tutorial by local crafty lady Penelope & Pip. Otherwise using a fork or just your hand as the main device can work just as well.

Wrap the wool around the outer prongs of a fork or around three or four fingers, until the ball gets quite large – the more yarn you use, the more shapely your pom-pom will be. When ready, cut the end of the wool, before cutting a new piece of wool – about 20–30 centimetres – to secure the ball. Insert this new piece of wool in the gap between the fork prongs (or your fingers) and tie around all of the wool, double looping the knot to secure. Gently slip the secured wool off the fork and pull the knotted ends tight before flipping over the bundle and tying again for luck. Next, insert the scissors along one side of the loops (where an outer prong of the fork would have been), slowly cutting your way through all the loops.

Now give your shaggy pom-pom a haircut – the closer you get to the centre where the tie is, the neater your pom-pom will be. Repeat with more wool and then string your multiple pom-poms into a garland, adorn the edges of a cushion (like Cubbylove over here), wrap around gifts or attach to some sticks for pom-pom flowers. This video tutorial by Creature Comforts is also a helpful visual aid.

Image via tea pea.