Pumpkins are an Autumn staple. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, why not make an easy and quick craft.
You will need: orange and green yarn, a ruler, a pair of scissors, some embroidery floss or other thin string. I also used cardboard and a pencil to make a pom-pom maker.
If you have a way that you make pom-poms, that’s great! You can skip this step. If not, we are going to make ourselves a pom-pom maker. First draw a 2 inch by 3 inch rectangle on your carboard.
Cut out this rectangle. Now draw a 1/4 inch by 2 inch rectangle centered along one of the short ends of the bigger rectangle.
Cut out this smaller rectangle. You should have a C or sideways U shape.
Now to start making our pom-pom! Place one end of the orange string at the top of the cardboard maker. Wrap the yarn around until you are back up at the top.
Starting from the top, going down the front, around and up the back, ending at the top counts as wrapping the yarn once. Keep wrapping the yarn around the cardboard maker. Keep wrapping, and wrapping, and wrapping.
In total I wrapped my yarn 70 times. The more times you wrap it, the denser your pom-pom will be. I would not go much below 70 wraps.
Cut of the tail of the yarn, connecting to the rest of the ball. I found it difficult to get a tight knot by just tying with yarn. So, I first tied around the middle with a piece of embroidery string (~8 inches long).
Cover up that extra thread by tying a knot with a piece of green yarn.
This is one look for your pumpkin, if you want to stop here.
Or, if you want the traditional pom-pom, cut the loops on either side of the center knot.
Your pom-pom will need a hair cut after the initial two cuts to open it. Carefully trim the ends of a few strands at a time. Remember, you can always cut more off, you can not add it back. So, make small cuts until you get your desired shape.
Before After
I strung my finished pom-pom pumpkins on another piece of yarn to make a garland. I attached mine by tying a knot at the ends of the green yarn. Putting this loop behind the hanging string. Put the pom-pom through the loop above the hanging string. Pull to tighten.
