Enjoy the feel of the yarn as you wind the pom-poms, then link them together and pop your scarf on! You can use up any spare scraps for this project, though thicker yarn makes pom-poms faster.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
It takes 20 minutes to make each of the 10 pom-poms: 3 hours and 20 minutes total, plus around 50 minutes total.
ABOUT THIS YARN
You can use almost any yarn to make pom-poms. The scarf in the photo at right was made using smooth 4-ply, DK, and Aran-weight (worsted-weight) yarns in a variety of colors.
SIZE
Pom-pom: 3 in. (8 cm) in diameter; length: 46 in. (117 cm).
YOU WILL NEED
• assorted yarns in varying weights
• pom-pom template (see below) and cardboard
• sharp scissors
• large tapestry needle
• large, sharp darning needle
NOTE
• You can buy plastic pom-pom rings or make two of your own cardboard rings from the template given below.
Pom-pom template
Trace template. Transfer to stiff cardboard, and cut 2 rings with holes in the center.
Place the 2 rings together. Using yarn of your choice threaded double in the tapestry needle, wrap yarn around pom-pom template until the hole is thickly packed. Have a 30-in. (76-cm) length of spare yarn ready. Insert scissors between rings, and cut through yarn around entire edge. Slide the center of the length of spare yarn between the rings, wrap tightly around the center of the pom-pom, and knot it firmly, leaving 2 long ends of spare yarn. Remove pom-pom rings. Trim pom-pom, but do not cut off the long ends. Make 9 more pom-poms.
TO FINISH
Thread the darning needle with the 2 ends of the first pom-pom. Insert needle in second pom-pom opposite the long ends, and pull through until around 1½ in. (4 cm) of yarn is left between pom-poms. Take needle back through second pom-pom and knot yarn; then take needle back through first pom-pom to beginning and through again to knot yarn. Trim ends. Join each pom-pom in this way until all 10 pom-poms have been joined. Trim ends of last pom-pom.
TIPS
• Two lids from family-size tubs of yogurt make good pom-pom templates. Cut a hole in the center of one lid, then trace the hole onto another lid so that the holes will match.
• If you want a wider scarf, make more pom-poms and join them in pairs as well as in a length.
• If you want multi-colored pom-poms, just change color when winding the yarn around the template.
Use scraps of thick yarn to create this fun scarf.