The fastest way: cardboard circles and a fork
Cut two circles from cardboard — a toilet paper tube works, or cut from a cereal box. The circles should be the size you want your finished pom pom to be. Poke a hole in the center of each circle large enough to thread yarn through.
Hold the two circles together. Wrap yarn around them, threading it through the center hole each time, until the hole is nearly full and the yarn is thick on both sides. The more wraps, the fuller your pom pom. Use a fork to help push yarn through the center if your fingers get tired.
Slide scissors between the two cardboard circles and cut the yarn all the way around the edge. The yarn will fall away in a circle. Tie a length of yarn tightly around the middle where all the strands meet — this becomes your attachment string. Pull the cardboard circles away. Fluff and trim the pom pom into a ball shape with scissors.
Key Takeaways
- Cardboard circles with center holes are the simplest tool; a toilet paper tube cut in half works perfectly.
- Wrap yarn around both circles together until the center hole is nearly full, then cut around the outside edge.
- Tie the yarn bundle tightly in the middle before removing the cardboard, or the pom pom will fall apart.
- Trim the finished pom pom with scissors to even out the shape and remove any long strands.
- Sew the pom pom to your hat using the long tie you left attached, or use a yarn needle to thread it through the hat crown.
Using a pom pom maker tool
Pom pom makers are plastic clam-shell devices sold in yarn shops and online. They come in different sizes — small ones make pom poms about an inch across, large ones make three-inch pom poms. Follow the package instructions, which are usually the same: wrap yarn around the two halves until they are full, cut around the edge, tie in the middle, and open the shell.
Pom pom makers are faster than cardboard if you are making many pom poms, because you do not have to cut and assemble cardboard each time. They also hold the circles at exactly the right distance apart, so your pom poms are more uniform. The downside is the upfront cost — a set of four makers costs between five and ten dollars.
What yarn weight works best
Thicker yarn makes a pom pom faster because you need fewer wraps to fill the center hole. Worsted weight or bulky yarn will give you a full pom pom in thirty to fifty wraps. Fingering weight or lace weight yarn requires many more wraps — sometimes over a hundred — and takes longer, though the finished pom pom will be denser and hold its shape better.
Use leftover yarn from your hat project if the weight matches. If you are using a different yarn for the pom pom, choose something that will not shed or pill easily, since the pom pom gets handled and rubbed against your face. Acrylic yarn is durable and inexpensive; merino wool is soft but can pill with wear.
Attaching the pom pom to your hat
The tie you created in the middle of the pom pom is your attachment string. Thread a yarn needle with this tie and push the needle through the crown of your hat from the inside, coming out at the top center. Pull the pom pom up snug against the hat and tie the yarn ends together on the inside of the crown with a square knot.
If the tie is not long enough, cut a separate length of yarn and sew it to the pom pom using a yarn needle, then attach that to the hat. Make sure the knot is tight — a pom pom that falls off in the middle of winter is frustrating to replace. Some knitters sew the pom pom on with a whip stitch around the base instead of tying it, which distributes the weight more evenly.
Fixing a pom pom that sheds or loses shape
A pom pom that sheds excessively usually means the yarn is too delicate or the wraps were too loose. You can trim away the loose outer strands with scissors and re-tie the bundle tighter in the middle, but this will make the pom pom smaller. If it continues to shed, consider replacing it with one made from sturdier yarn.
A pom pom that goes flat from wear can sometimes be revived by fluffing it with your hands and trimming the flat side with scissors. If the pom pom is permanently matted or the yarn is pilling badly, it is easier to make a new one and re-attach it than to repair the old one. Keep leftover yarn from your hat project so you can make a replacement pom pom later if needed.
Making pom poms without tools
If you do not have cardboard circles or a pom pom maker, you can wrap yarn around your fingers instead. Wrap yarn around four fingers of one hand about fifty times, then slide the bundle off your hand. Tie it tightly in the middle with a separate length of yarn, cut the loops on both ends, and fluff. This method works but is harder on your hands and produces less uniform pom poms than using circles.
Another no-tool method is wrapping yarn around a pencil or dowel lengthwise, sliding it off, and tying it in the middle. This creates a longer, more oval pom pom, which some knitters prefer for a different look on their hats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wraps do I need to make a full pom pom?
It depends on yarn weight and the size you want. Worsted weight yarn usually needs thirty to fifty wraps around cardboard circles that are two to three inches across. Thinner yarn needs more wraps — sometimes eighty to one hundred. Stop when the center hole is nearly full and you cannot fit more yarn through easily.
Can I use the same yarn as my hat for the pom pom?
Yes, if you have leftover yarn. Using the same yarn makes the pom pom blend seamlessly with the hat. If you do not have enough, a slightly different shade or weight of the same fiber usually looks fine. Avoid pairing delicate yarn with sturdy yarn, because they wear at different rates.
What size pom pom should I make?
Most hat pom poms are one to three inches across. Smaller pom poms suit fitted hats and children's hats. Larger pom poms work on slouchy or oversized hats. Make your cardboard circles the finished size you want — the pom pom will be roughly that diameter after you trim it.
How do I keep the pom pom from falling off?
Tie the middle bundle very tightly before you remove the cardboard. When attaching to the hat, use a square knot on the inside of the crown and pull it snug. Some knitters sew the pom pom on with multiple passes of yarn through the hat crown instead of tying it once, which distributes the weight and makes it harder to pull loose.
Can I wash a hat with a pom pom attached?
Hand wash in cool water with gentle soap, and squeeze gently — do not wring or agitate the pom pom. Air dry flat or hanging. Machine washing can loosen the attachment and cause the pom pom to shed or pill. If the pom pom gets damaged, you can cut it off and sew on a new one without unraveling the hat.