Fork Pom Poms

Yes.  Really.  Teeny tiny pom poms can be made by using a fork.  Any fork.  Go and grab one from the cutlery drawer!

You need these four things: fork, scissors, small amount of yarn and small piece of embroidery thread.  The embroidery thread, that green stuff right there in that photo, is the secret ingredient for perfect teeny pom poms.  I'll explain why later.

Start off by wrapping your yarn (I'm using dk here, my usual go to yarn of Stylecraft Special) around the fork, not too tightly, you'll need to slide it off easily later on. It's a bit of trial and error to work out how much yarn you are going to need for a nice chunky little pom pom.  I used all the yarn in the photo above for this one.

Next thread the embroidery thread through the centre slot of the fork, right between those middle prongs. 

Then slide the thread through the middle centre at the top of your fork and tie it around your yarn like a little belt.

Now here's the trick to perfect fork pom poms.  You need to tie this thread very, very tightly around the yarn.  You need skinny but very strong thread for this.  The tighter you pull that knot, then another knot right over it (double knotting the thread) the better your pom pom will be.  If you use the yarn to do this bit your pom pom will separate where you tied the yarn.  I know this from experience.  It's not a very happy looking pom pom.

Now the magic starts to happen!  Carefully slide the fork out of the yarn and you create a little yarn wheel!

Can you see it's pom pom potential now?  It's very nearly there!  Now start snipping those little loops of yarn with the scissors. 

Keep going, all the way around.  Then when you've snipped every loop, roll the pom pom around in your hands to give it a bit of shape.

Now, you've got yourself a pom pom, but it's a little bit scruffy...give it a quick trim...

That's better!  You now have a perfect little pom pom!  Adorable right?  You can either use it's little thread tail to attach it, or chop it off, it really won't matter that it's a different colour because it's hidden inside the pom pom's fluffy strands.  The more securely you tied the knot in the middle the more secure your pom pom will be, however if you want to be super certain that your pom pom will stay in one piece you could add a dab of glue at the centre. 

So there you have it.  A pom pom made with a fork.  Cute eh? Maybe you should make it a friend, or twenty...  Do be careful this pom pomming can be addictive...  Have fun!

PDF pattern for Stripy Snood / Cowl / Neckwarmer now in the PlanetYarnUK etsy shop!

Finally listed my very first, proper pattern in the shop.  Hopefully now I can be a little braver and start writing up my other patterns too.  It's quite nerve wracking writing up a pattern, I'm so very conscious that it needs to make complete and perfect sense.  I want my patterns to be very straightforward and easy to follow.  My lovely pattern testers helped me out a lot, thank you ladies! 

The Stripy Snood / Cowl / Neckwarmer is going to be my first kit too...just got to get together all the different bits and pieces, take some pretty pics and upload it.  Sadly it's not that sunny today, but hopefully it'll be bright enough to take some good quality photos.

Have a splendid weekend!

Come to the yarn side, we have pom poms.

We do, we do, we really do!  Just spent the afternoon happily taking photos in the sunshine of some fabulous new stock!  Here are the gorgeous Knitpro Waves crochet hooks with lovely ergonomic soft touch handles.  They are an absolute joy to work with and my favourite crochet hooks to use.

Also, new in are these beautiful Knitpro aluminium knitting needles, lovely to handle and they come in pretty colours too!

But what about the pom pom nonsense above?  Well...  I'm now the proud stockist of the very fabulous Clover pom pom makers, both the small and the large size.  The blue and green makers are from the Large Pom Pom Maker set and the pink and yellow makers are from the Small Pom Pom Maker set. 

As instant gratification goes these pom pom makers are tough to beat!  You may have guessed that I'm rather fond of pom poms and these clever little devices are my absolute favourite way to make them.  It's so simple and quick! 
First of all you open up one side of the maker's clips and start wrapping yarn around them (pic 1).  Straight from the ball of yarn!  No need to make teeny little balls to push through the middle because there is no middle!  Can you tell I'm impressed by these ingenious gadgets? Once the first side is filled close the clips and open the other side's clips.  Keep wrapping (you don't even need to break yarn) until your pom pom maker is full.  

pic 1, the pom pom begins...

Then, just like with the traditional rings of cardboard pom pom making, cut around the edges of your yarn disc and then tie a piece of yarn tightly in the centre of the clips.  However, unlike using pieces of cardboard, the clips very cleverly keep all those little strands of yarn tightly together so you've got no danger of pom pom disintegration before it's even begun it's fluffy little life.  Then you gently separate the two sides of the pom pom maker (pic 2) and there it is!  A perfect pom pom!  Ta dah!


 

pic 2, ta dah a pom pom is born!

I know, it's okay, you can say it...I clearly need to get out more right?  Heheh!  But seriously!  Pom poms!  Exciting right?  As you can see from Kira's face, as I was taking pom pom photos...not everyone shares my pom pom enthusiasm!

 

Right then, I'm off to do some crochet in the sun.  Got to make the most of this sunshine!