Making the pom poms
Step 1
To make a speckled pom pom, wind two or more colours of yarn around the pom pom maker at the same time. Follow the maker’s instructions to complete the pom pom, then trim.
Step 2
To make a patterned pom pom, use lots of different yarn colours, but wind each colour on individually. Complete the pom pom and trim.
Step 3
To make a spotty pom pom, you’ll need three different yarn colours. Wind the first yarn around the middle of one half of the maker twenty times. Make sure you build it up so the yarn is thicker in the middle than at the edges.
Step 4
Wind the second yarn around the maker, winding either side of the first yarn 10 times, then winding it over 20 times to cover it.
Step 5
Wind the third colour over the previous yarn. Wind 30 times either side, then 40 times over the top. Then wind the same colour yarn round the other half of the maker until it’s as full as the first half. Complete the pompom and trim.
Step 6
To make a striped pom pom, you’ll need to use three different colours of yarn. Wind the first yarn colour around the pom pom maker 20 times, making sure to cover the full width of the maker.
Step 7
Wind the second colour around the maker 40 times, covering all of the first colour, then wind the third colour around the maker 20 times, covering the second yarn. Repeat on the other half of the maker, then complete the pom pom and trim.
Step 8
To make a fork pom pom, cut a length of yarn approximately 15cm (6") long and place it between the middle two tines on a fork. Wind yarn from the ball around the fork 50 times, making sure the cut piece of yarn doesn’t get caught up in the winding process.
Step 9
Use the yarn strand to gather the yarn together tightly and tie a knot. If you find it hard to pull the yarn tight, slip the bundle from the fork tines, wrap the yarn strand around and tie another knot.
Step 10
Cut each side of the bundle so the yarn is released, then trim the pom pom in the normal way.
Step 11
To make a looped fork pom pom, cut a length of yarn approximately 15cm (6") long and place it between the middle two tines on a fork. Weave yarn from the ball over and under each tine, back and forth across the fork until it’s full.
Step 12
Use the cut piece of yarn to gather the yarn together tightly and tie a knot. Tighten the knot gradually by sliding the woven yarn from the fork. Tie in a double knot, then manipulate the loops to form a sphere, as pictured.
Making the tassels
Step 1
Cut a length of yarn approximately 15cm (6") long and lay it beside your piece of card. Wrap yarn from the ball around the piece of card 40 times, wrapping over the cut length as you go. Tie the cut piece of yarn in a double knot tightly around the bundle of yarn, then slide from the card.
Step 2
Tie another piece of yarn around the bundle, roughly quarter of the way down. Cut the lower part of the bundle to release the strands of yarn, then trim the strands to neaten. Use the two tails of yarn to fix the tassel in place on your chosen project or trim to tidy.
Step 3
For an ombre effect, dip the tassel into a small cup of bleach. Wear gloves when doing so, and follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines. Keep an eye on it, as some colours change quicker than others, then rinse and leave to dry.
Assembling the pom pom wreath
Step 1
Make roughly 50 different pom poms using Steps 1-12. To decide the arrangement of your pom poms first, pin them to the wreath, making sure you’re happy with the overall look. Take a photo for reference, then remove the pom poms.
Step 2
Beginning at the top, fix the pompoms to the wreath using a glue gun. Glue the larger pom poms in place first, then fill the space around them with smaller pom poms or decorations. Work your way around the whole wreath.
Step 3
Once complete, add small ribbon bows, then fold a length of ribbon in half and glue to the back of the wreath for hanging. Glue some tassels to the bottom of the wreath to finish.
Assembling the tassel garlands
Step 1
Take three strands of yarn in different colours and lengths and begin plaiting them together. When you reach the end of one strand, knot another colour in and continue. Carry on till you have roughly 2m (78⅝") of plaited yarn.
Step 2
Using Steps 1-12, make 10-15 pompoms in different patterns, colours and sizes, leaving on the two long lengths of yarn used to tie the pom pom together. Using Steps 13-15, make four tassels, each in a different colour.
Step 3
Tie two tassels to one end of the plaited strand, then working along the length, tie on a pom pom, then a bell or similar. Continue adding different sized pom poms and decorations, tying various lengths of ribbon on between each pom pom. To finish, tie the two remaining tassels to the other end.
