How to Make Finger-Pompoms and Cardboard Rectangle Pompoms – Tutorial

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These two mini teddy bears were made from pompoms, but the method to make the pompoms differ quite a lot from the pompoms made with circular cardboard templates.

The blue and white bear measures about 10cm (4 in) high. The pink teddy bear is 6cm (2.4 in) high.

I used single ply wool for the blue and white teddy bear and a chunky knit to make the pink teddy bear. (Click on the image to enlarge and see the difference between the two bears).

The big pompoms for the bodies were made by wrapping yarn around my fingers. The small pompoms were made by wrapping yarn around a small rectangular piece of cardboard.

Here is how to make pompoms with a rectangular piece of cardboard:

These images are for making small pompoms, (approximately 2,5cm (1 in) in diameter. The cardboard rectangle that I used measured 5,5cm x 3,5cm. (I cut the rectangle from an empty toilet roll, but you can use any other thick cardboard like an empty cereal box).  Fold the rectangle in half after cutting it to measurement. Wind a small ball of wool, then start wrapping it evenly around the piece of cardboard until you are satisfied with the thickness. (I wrapped the wool 50 times).

Using another piece of wool, thread a darning needle and insert it in one open end of the rectangle. Pull through to the other side, then begin a knot and pull tightly,  then start cutting through the loops. Finish off the knot and you will have a small pompom as shown in the image.

Holding the pompom by the tying strings, you now have to trim it with a pair of scissors by cutting down your pompom until it is round. (Be prepared to cut off a lot of wool to get it all fluffy and shaped). Fluff it up with your fingers during the trimming session and also trim on the bottom end where the tying string is. Be careful not to cut off the tying string. If you are satisfied with the way your pompom looks, you can start on the next one.

Tip: I like to fluff up the pompom with the help of a hairbrush to get a really fluffy look and making it easier to trim away the uneven ends.

How to make pompoms by wrapping wool around your fingers:

Wrap wool around two fingers, but be careful not to pull too tightly or you will end up with blue fingers and you will not be able to insert a tying string between your fingers. Keep wrapping until you think you have the right thickness for your pompom. (For the pink teddy bear’s body and head, I wrapped the wool 50 times as it was a chunky yarn and quite thick).

Using a blunt darning needle, thread a separate piece of wool and insert it through your fingers between the pompom and your palm, then bring the other end up through your fingers at the tips.  Begin a knot, pulling as tightly as you can. Gently slip the wool from your fingers, then finish off the knot.

Using scissors, cut through all the loops to end up with your untrimmed pompom. Follow the steps as described for the small pompoms to finish your two- finger pompom.

(I found the instructions for this method from this tutorial)

If you would like to make bigger pompoms, you can use more fingers and wrap the yarn more times around your fingers.

The six pompoms I used for the pink teddy bear – the big pompoms were made using the 2-fingers method, wrapping the yarn 50 times.

I made the blue and white teddy bear’s head pompom with  two different coloured, 4 ply wool,  wrapping the wool 100 times around my fingers, and a 4 -finger pompom for the body, wrapping the yarn 150 times around my fingers.

To make the mini teddy bears, make the pompoms as described above and then join the pompoms as described for the bigger pompom teddy bear.

There’s one more thing I want to show you before I leave you to make pompoms and teddy bears of all sizes, and it is the difference between the amounts of wool you will have to cut off  in the different methods of making pompoms.

I used the 4-finger method for the blue and orange pompom and had to cut away like crazy to have a firm, round pompom. The orange pompom was made with the circular cardboard template method and you can really see how little I had to cut away to have a nice, round pompom.

Tip: If you quickly need a small pompom, I would say…  go for the cardboard or finger method. It is quicker to make,  but if you don’t want to waste a lot of wool, use the slower, but more economic circular cardboard template method.

That is it for the time being on how to make tutorials and using them to make teddy bears. With a little imagination, you can come up with all kinds of fluffy animals and other creatures to use as party favours.

Don’t forget to have fun when you make pompoms and to share your ideas and creations with the other readers of  this site.

• How to Make a Pompom Caterpillar to Use as a Party Favour
• How to Make a Teddy Bear from Pompoms
• How to Make Pompoms with Circular Cardboard Templates – Step-by-Step Tutorial