If you have ever met me around the shop, you know that I have a not-so-secret addiction: pom poms. I can’t get enough of them! In my opinion, a hat is not finished until a perky ball of fluff is perched on top. And honestly, I find them pretty useful! Just when you think that your cabled hat is too stiff to drape just right, a fun pom pom will do the trick every time! Best of all, they are super “in” right now! Almost every store I’ve been into this fall has a wide selection of hats topped with cheerful pom poms. And it’s not just about hats. There are so many adorable projects out there that can brighten up any crafter’s day!
The Tools
When it comes to gorgeous pom poms, I find that there are two kinds of people: The first is a very rare breed, capable of making dreamy pom poms with no tools other than their hands, yarn, and scissors. With their extremely capable crafting eye, they can judge exactly how much yarn is needed to make pom pom perfection. The second kind of person is not so lucky. Like me, they need to cheat on their path to fluffy brilliance and instead rely on tools to make our pom poms look just as perfect.
For a pom pom sure to make all your friend’s jealous, you need a pair of sharp scissors (the sharper the better!), plenty of yarn to make one, and…drumroll please…a pom pom maker! My favorite are Clover’s Pom Pom Makers, which comes in three sizes: small, large, and jumbo. With this handy tool, you are sure to make a perfect pom pom every time! Sure, you can make your own with cardboard but I never can get the hang of it. With Clover’s helpful little guys, I know I’ll get a full pom pom every time (which really is easier said than done). And if you need some help with your pom poms, come to our Pom Pom Party on Friday, November 21 at 6pm for a free tutorial!
Pattern Inspiration
If you’ve been to the shop at all this fall, I’m sure you’ve seen some of our pom pom inspirations. The fair isle patterns in Rachel Coopey’s Northallerton hat are amazing but it’s matching pom pom helps give it drape and is just plain adorable! Plus, Titus really makes a pretty magical pom pom.
Another personal favorite of mine in the shop pom pom category is Bobbi Intveld’s Bulky Baby Hat. Knit in Blue Sky Alpcas Bulky, this pixie style hat is topped with a seriously whimsical pom pom that, in my opinion, looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
It’s not all about what’s in the shop, though, and I have my eye on several gorgeous patterns that are just desperate to be made! A hat for every season by maanel is an adorable (and free!) ravelry pattern that looks just perfect with a pom pom on top. Try it in Fiberstory CORE DK.
I can never make it through the winter without crocheting a hat. The stitches work perfectly for hats that are sure to cheer up the gloomiest of days and topping one with a pom pom just makes it even better! I’m itching to try a DunDun Hat by Linda Skuja and I think the bright colors in Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sport or even Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino would be amazing!
Who said a hat needs just one pom pom? Viktoria Gogolak not only tops her Nevron Hat with a scrumptious, two color pom pom but also adds two smaller ones on the ties! I’m thinking the bright colors in Manos del Uruguay Maxima would be perfect for this hat!
Hats are the obvious choice for a pom pom but there are plenty of other great ways to use them. Many stores sell a variety of pom pom wreaths but why not make your own with this handy diy wreath tutorial!
Have some fun finishing off any project with a little pom pom action! They make great decorative edgings for shawls like Sheila Zachariae’s Midnight Granny Shawl which uses them for a fun twist on a picot border!
Or use them as fringe to add some color to a scarf, like in Casapinka’s Pom Pom Pony Scarf!
Whatever you choose to add your pom pom to, have some fun and remember that with pom poms, the options are endless!