How to Make Yarn Pom Poms the Easy Way

How to make yarn pom poms is easier than you might think. With just some yarn, scissors, and a bit of patience, you can create fluffy, colorful pom poms in minutes.  

These little accents are perfect for decorating gifts, sprucing up home décor, or adding personality to hats, scarves, and accessories. They’re fun, affordable, and a great way to use up leftover yarn.  

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to make your own, share creative ways to use them, and show quick alternatives with Caydo’s ready-made pom poms.  

Bring your pom poms to life with vibrant shades. Browse our Colored Yarn Collection and find the perfect colors for every project. 

How to Make Yarn Pom Poms

You only need a few simple tools and some extra yarn. The method is straightforward: wrap yarn around a base, tie it tightly in the middle, and trim the edges until it looks round and neat.

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

The main thing you’ll need is yarn. Acrylic yarn is a favorite because it’s soft, easy to cut, and affordable. Wool works too, though it’s usually pricier. Very thin thread doesn’t hold its shape, so it’s not ideal.

Sharp scissors are important. Dull scissors struggle to cut through thick yarn bundles and leave rough edges.

For wrapping, you have options: cardboard, a fork, or even your fingers. These simple tools work surprisingly well and give you plenty of flexibility without needing special equipment.

It’s also handy to have an extra piece of yarn, about 12–18 inches long, for tying the center of the bundle before cutting.

Wrapping and Tying the Yarn

Pick the base you want to use. With cardboard, a fork, or your fingers, wrap the yarn around the surface until you’ve built up a thick bundle.

The more you wrap, the fluffier the pom pom. For a medium size, 60–100 wraps usually works, but that depends on your yarn’s thickness.

After wrapping, slide a strong piece of yarn through the center. Pull it as tight as you can and double knot it. This part really matters—a loose knot means the pom pom might fall apart.

If you’re planning to attach the pom pom to something, leave the tie yarn ends long.

Trimming and Shaping Your Pom Pom

Now, cut through the loops on both sides. Try to cut close to the fold so every strand separates. At first, the pom pom will look messy and uneven.

Hold it by the center tie and gently shake it to fluff it up. Trim long strands with your scissors, turning the ball as you go to keep it round. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just even enough for your liking.

If you want a dense, tidy pom pom, keep trimming until it feels compact and uniform. For a softer look, leave the edges a bit uneven.

When you’re done, your yarn pom pom should feel secure and fluffy, ready for your next craft or clothing project.

Fun Ways to Use Yarn Pom Poms

Yarn pom poms can brighten up everyday objects, decorate your home, or become part of your outfits. They’re lightweight, soft, and easy to make in any size, so they fit into all sorts of craft and fashion projects.

DIY Crafts and Home Décor Ideas

Pom poms easily stand in for tassels or beads in many crafts. Attach them to pillows, blankets, or rugs to add texture and color. A row of pom poms along a throw or curtain edge can look surprisingly cheerful.

Wall hangings are another easy idea. Tie pom poms to a wooden dowel or an embroidery hoop for a soft, colorful wall display. Mixing up the sizes helps the piece feel balanced.

Try using pom poms on storage or tabletop décor, too. Glue small ones around the edge of a picture frame, mirror, or storage basket. It’s a playful touch that doesn’t require fancy tools.

Fashion and Accessory Projects

People often sew pom poms onto hats, but they work just as well on other accessories. Try a big pom pom on top of a beanie or smaller ones at the ends of a scarf.

Bags and purses can get a boost with pom pom accents. Clip a pom pom to a zipper pull or sew a row along the edge of a tote.

Jewelry is another fun use. Mini pom poms make cute earrings, or string a few onto a necklace. Lightweight yarn keeps accessories comfortable to wear.

Party and Holiday Decorations

Pom poms can stand in for balloons or paper decorations. String them into garlands for birthdays, baby showers, or weddings. Mixing bright and pastel colors works well for laid-back gatherings.

For holidays, pom poms fit right into seasonal décor. Red, green, and white make easy Christmas ornaments or tree garlands. Orange and black are perfect for Halloween centerpieces.

They also make unique gift toppers. Instead of a bow, tie a pom pom to your ribbon. It adds texture, and the recipient can reuse it as a keychain or charm.

Make trimming your pom poms quick and precise. Shop our Thread Cutter Tool Collection to keep your craft projects neat and polished.  

Quick Alternatives for Busy Crafters

Sometimes you just need pom poms fast. You can save time by buying ready-made options and choosing colors and sizes that suit your project.

Buying Pre-Made Pom Poms

If you’re short on time, pre-made pom pom packs are a real help. These sets often come in bulk, sometimes with 100 or more pom poms in different sizes. They’re handy for bigger projects like garlands, wreaths, or classroom crafts where you need lots at once.

Most pre-made pom poms use soft acrylic yarn that’s lightweight and holds its shape. They’re usually consistent in size, so you won’t spend time evening them out. That’s a relief if you’ve ever tried trimming a lopsided pom pom by hand.

Many sets include several colors in one package. That’s great if you want variety and don’t want to buy multiple skeins of yarn. They’re affordable, too, which helps if you only need pom poms once in a while and don’t want to stock up on supplies.

Choosing the Right Colors and Sizes for Projects

Whether you’re making or buying pom poms, size and color make all the difference. Small pom poms—about 1 cm–2 cm—work for jewelry, keychains, or adding detail to clothing. Larger ones, around 4 cm–6 cm, suit home décor or statement crafts.

Colors really set the mood. Bright shades are great for kids’ crafts, while neutrals blend into minimalist or seasonal decorations. If you want everything to match, stick with shades from the same color family. For a playful look, mix contrasting colors for extra pop.

Planning ahead helps—matching pom pom sizes and colors to your project keeps things cohesive. Here’s a quick chart to help you decide:

Want to create hats, scarves, and more to pair with your pom poms? Explore our Circular Knitting Machine Collection and craft cozy projects faster.  

Conclusion: How to Make Yarn Pom Poms

Yarn pom poms are one of the simplest crafts you can make, yet they add so much charm to any project. With just a few steps, you can turn leftover yarn into colorful accents for décor, gifts, and fashion.  

If you’re short on time, Caydo’s ready-made pom poms are an easy way to get the same playful look without the extra work.  

Want another fun DIY idea? Try your hand at making pipe cleaner flowers for a craft that’s just as simple and creative.  

Frequently Asked Questions

With just yarn, scissors, and a simple tool, you can make pom poms in any size or style. How you tie and trim them affects how fluffy and sturdy they end up.

How do you make pom poms with yarn?

Wrap yarn around a tool—like a pom pom maker, cardboard, or even a fork—until it looks full. Tie the center tightly with another piece of yarn, cut the loops open, then trim the edges into a neat ball.

How to make a yarn pom pom that doesn't fall apart?

Tie the center with a strong double knot and pull it tight. For extra security, thread the tie back through the pom pom and knot again. Use sharp scissors to trim, but don’t snip the center ties. That keeps everything in place.

What kind of yarn is best for pom poms?

Soft, medium-weight yarn gives you full, fluffy pom poms. Acrylic and wool blends usually hold their shape well. It’s best to avoid novelty yarns like eyelash or fur yarn—they tend to shed and don’t make even shapes.

How to make pom poms easy for kids?

Let kids use a fork or a piece of cardboard to wrap yarn—they're easy to handle, even for small hands. Cut some yarn ahead of time for tying, so all they need to do is knot it. Hand them child-safe scissors and let them trim the pom pom into shape. It's simple, and honestly, watching the process is half the fun.