How to Use the Boye Pom Pom Maker
Pom-poms are trending right now and for good reason…they are ADORABLE! I mean, how can anyone resist their puffy goodness. There are a bunch of different ways to use them to add a cheerful décor to your everyday life.
Check out some of the ways fun I've used them to brighten up my spaces and life:
And they really aren't tough to make!
Especially with a tool such as the Boye® Pom-Pom Tassel Maker.
I have to admit I am a little obsessed with pom-poms.
(I may have used them instead of flowers in my wedding bouquet 😉)
So, I was super excited to find this tool set at JoAnn's while browsing for wedding decorations a couple of years ago. It really was a lifesaver when it came to all the pom-poms I had to make (and all the extra ones)!
Not only could I make a lot of pom-poms pretty fast, it wasn't that hard to figure out how to use it!
To make it even easier, I've broken it down into just 9 simple steps.
Christina, I'm a visual learner and I'd like to see how it's done. Do you have something for me?
Of course! Teaching taught me a little something too, there are so many different ways to learn. This is why I think it's so important, along with written instructions, to include plenty of pictures to reference!
I also created a video of how to use the Boye® Pom-Pom Tassel Maker as well. You can find it on my YouTube channel here and at the end of this post. Videos are DEFINITELY not my strong suit, but it gets the point across pretty well. 😊
Let's get started!
Gather your materials!
This is always my first step. The worst is starting a project, getting elbow deep into it…and having to stop because you don't have all the supplies to finish.
I don't have a lot of spare time (or energy some days) to craft, so, I like to be prepared when I do.
Here's what you'll need:
- Boye® Pom Pom & Tassel Making Set
- Fabric Scissors (you'll need really sharp scissors to cut the yarn. Trust me. It'll make this so much easier!)
- Yarn (I prefer to use a Bulky(5) yarn for a fuller pom-pom. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Fisherman is what you see me using in this tutorial)
Now, before we move onto step two, we need to talk about the pom-pom maker itself a little.
As you can see, there are multiple sizes of the tool. The bigger tools create larger pom-poms and the smaller ones create smaller pom-poms…Duh, Christina. For the purpose of this tutorial, I am using a medium-sized one, but this is a feature I absolutely love about this set!
It made making my Pom-Pom Wreath so easy and a lot more visually interesting with the varying sizes!
Anyway…moving on!
Attach the yarn to the pom-pom maker!
This is the part I had the most difficulty figuring out. It's a bit different from the pom-pom maker I've used previously. But, once I looked at the instructions (cause they're there for a reason 😆), it became pretty clear what to do.
All you have to do is hook the yarn in each of the slits on either side of the tool like pictured below. This creates a foundation strand that will eventually hold the pom-pom together!
Wrap the yarn around!
Take your yarn and wrap it around the tool from the back to the front.
Make sure that your wrapping around the foundation strand as well. This is critical! If you don't, your pom-pom will have nothing to hold it together.
Reference the picture below to see how it should look.
Continue wrapping the yarn evenly!
Now, surprisingly, I'm not very neat when it comes to wrapping the yarn (perfectionism is a fickle friend). Some wrap the yarn to cover the entire tool evenly on the first pass.
And there is nothing wrong with that! Your pom-poms will turn out beautifully. However, if you're lazy (like me) or in a rush, I just want you to know that it won't make a difference if they are perfectly neat and covered on your first pass or a haphazard mess like mine.
Just make sure they are spread out evenly on the tool. In the picture below, you can see the even spacing between the strands.
Go back and fill in the spaces with more yarn like depicted below.
Continue wrapping the yarn back and forth until you can't fit anymore.
Seriously! Get as much yarn on there as you can because the more yarn you add, the fluffier your pom-pom will be. And, come on, who doesn't want a super fluffy pom-pom?!
Here's an idea of what it'll look like when you're done. If you can fit more yarn on than this without it spilling over the edge, you're a legend and you must share your magical ways with us in the comments below!
Cut the working yarn!
Snip that yarn and get ready to secure your pom-pom!
Try and keep the yarn as close to the length of the tool as possible, but if it ends up being a little longer that's okay. We'll trim it up later.
Cut the foundation strand!
Remember that initial strand of yarn I told you to wrap around? The one we called the foundation stand? In order for it to do its job and hold the pom-pom together, we have to detach it from the rest of the pom-pom.
Turn your tool on its side and cut the strand of yarn in the slit as depicted.
Just a warning, there is no need to worry, but it will be slightly difficult. You'll really need to wiggle those scissors in there to cut it!
Tying it off!
Now that the foundation strand is loose from the rest of the pom-pom, we need to tie it together to really secure the pom-pom.
Lay your pom-pom maker flat with the foundation strand on the top side. From the strand we just cut in Step Six, pull the one that is closest to you (picture 1-for me it's on the right side).
It might give a little resistance, but you should be able to pull it out farther.
If you can't, make sure the longer piece on the opposite side isn't getting stuck on something.
Pull the short strand until the strands are even with one another (picture 2).
Then tie them together as tight as you can (picture 3)!
Cut the strands!
Here's where your pom-pom really comes to life! Turn your tool to the side again and start cutting those strands.
REALLY sharp fabric scissors are your best friend here. If your scissors aren't sharp, cutting the yarn will be an uphill battle.
(Just a quick tip: I have a pair of scissors dedicated to just about every kind of use. There is a pair for yarn, a pair for fabric, a pair for paper, etc. This keeps your scissors sharper longer and ready for whatever you need them for.)
Pull out the tool and trim as needed!
Take out the pom-pom maker and fluff up your pom-pom a little to make the two sides merge. Decide whether or not you need to trim some pieces (you most likely will)…
And you're done!
Now that you can make pom-poms like a master, the possibilities are endless!
GO, friends! Add cheerful, fluffiness that is a pom-pom to all of your décor!
Want to see what I used all these pom-poms for? Need some other inspiration? Here's a few simple projects:
Tags : how-to, pom-pom
How to Use the Boye Pom Pom Maker
Source: https://becauseicrochet.com/mastering-pom-poms/