Bright and fluffy, homemade pompoms bring a playful touch to seasonal decorating, whether indoors or out in the garden. These simple woollen tufts are a delightful way to add texture and colour to everyday items, and they’re wonderfully easy to make by hand.
Using leftover yarn and a piece of recycled cardboard, pompoms can be crafted in a range of cheerful shades. Try combining different colours for a mottled, multi-tonal finish. Strung together, they make charming bunting for a summer garden party, while individual pompoms can be tied to gift wrap, hung from hooks, or used to embellish cushions and throws.
A traditional craft with colourful results
This satisfying craft requires no special tools, just some wool, an old cardboard box, and a sharp pair of scissors.
Materials you will need:
Wool or yarn in assorted colours
Sturdy cardboard
Scissors
A small jar or dish (to draw around)
How to make the pompoms
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Begin by drawing a circle onto the cardboard using a jar or small dish as a guide. Inside that circle, draw a smaller one to create a ring shape. Cut out the outer circle, then carefully remove the inner one. Snip a small wedge from the ring to allow the yarn to be wrapped easily. Repeat to make two identical templates.
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Hold the cardboard rings together and begin winding the wool around them, covering the ring evenly. Keep wrapping until the centre hole is nearly filled.
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Slip the scissors between the two layers of card and carefully snip the wool all the way around the edge.
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Take a long length of yarn and tie it tightly between the cardboard pieces, drawing it around the centre to secure the strands.
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Gently remove the cardboard templates and fluff out the pompom. Trim into a neat, round shape. Leave the long ends of yarn if you wish to tie the pompom to another item.
Inspired by the seasons
Homemade pompoms make for a charming summer craft to enjoy on a summer afternoon, particularly when working with a basket of colourful yarns outdoors. Hang them from trees, fence posts, or pergolas for a whimsical look, or use them to adorn garden chairs and table settings during seasonal gatherings.
This timeless activity invites creativity, making it an ideal project for both adults and children. Whether decorating for a celebration or simply enjoying a quiet craft by the fire, the gentle rhythm of winding yarn brings joy and calm.
Basket adorned with pompoms
A basket hanging from a door is the ideal place to keep summer shawls and cover-ups to hand. The addition of a trio of soft pompoms adds a decorative touch and can prevent clothes from catching on a rougher weave. One patterned and two plain, same-sized pompoms have their long yarn tie left on. Each of the long ends is threaded onto a bodkin needle and pushed through the basket from the front. The two ends are then tied together on the inside to hold each pompom securely in place.
Pompom bookmarks
Sitting in the garden on a warm day, reading a book, is one of summer’s simple pleasures. A small pompom with a long tail makes an ideal bookmark when trapped between the pages, giving the impression of a flower growing from within.
Hat brimming with colour
Three pompoms of differing sizes are tied together by their long ends and sewn to a summer hat using a bodkin needle. Choosing the colour of yarn to harmonise with the hat band creates a striking and practical accessory sure to be worn all summer long.
Pompom wall hanging
A group of nine pompoms in vibrant shades are joined together to make a textural piece of wall art or decoration for a door or garden gate. Cardboard is used as backing, with the pompoms glued in three rows to form a square. It is worth spending time arranging the pompoms before sticking them in place. A tie of two contrasting colours threaded through the cardboard completes the piece.
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Rachel Hawkins is a lifelong craft enthusiast and the respected editor of LandScape magazine. With more than 30 years in publishing, Rachel creates and curates inspiring DIY projects that blend traditional skills with modern creativity. She’s a trusted voice for readers seeking authentic, hands-on craft inspiration. Follow her on Instagram @rachel_hawkins_craft.