How to use a pom pom maker made with cardboard

How to use a pom pom maker made from cardboard. And the inspiration to keep going even when your pom pom is flat and looks like a deflated balloon.

Pom poms are making a resurgence.  They are on top of knit caps, dangling from key chains, and I waiting to see pom pom earrings. 

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I’ve made several bad pom poms, but I finally found a way to make a perfect pom pom.  My pom pom maker is a piece of cardboard.  There are several pom pom makers on Amazon. 

This project is how to use a pom pom maker using a piece of cardboard.

The supplies

A piece of cardboard.  Mine is 4 inches by 10 inches. 
Scissors
Yarn, I’m using a thick yarn.  It’s some I had leftover from this shaggy ottoman. 
Something to help draw a circle about 3 1/2 inches across. 
A small screwdriver or something to make a hole in the cardboard. 

Instructions

Wrap yarn around the 4-inch side.  I counted 34 times around.

Next, cut a piece of yarn about 12 inches long.  Thread one end under the yarn on one side of the cardboard.

Then flip the cardboard over the thread the other end under the yarn on that side.  Then slide the yarn off the cardboard.  

And tie the 12-inch yarn in a knot in the middle of the yarn loops. 

Make a double knot and tie t~i~g~h~t!

Now, grab the scissors and start cutting the loops.  You will have a flat pom pom.  But not to worry…

Cut two 3 1/2 inch cardboard circles and make a mark in the center.   

Next, push the small screwdriver into the center hole.  The hole needs to be large enough for the yarn to thread through.  Since my yarn is thick, I used the screwdriver and made circles around the edge to enlarge. 

This part is important and I cut one of mine.

Now thread one end of that 12-inch piece through one circle and the other thread through the second circle. 

Gather the two threads and hold in place to avoid cutting them while holding the two circles…well, like an ice cream sandwich.

The cardboard is the cookies and yarn is the ice cream.,,  

And you notice the ice cream is dripping out from between the cookies.  So, cut away the ice cream, or yarn, up to the cardboard, spinning and cutting all the way around. 

Remove the cardboard…and you notice the pom pom isn’t perfect yet.  Give the pom pom a shake and rethread the ends.  

This is the “rinse and repeat” steps.  

Continue cutting the extra threads, removing the cardboard, giving it a shake, rethreading etc. 

Until your pom pom maker makes a perfect round pom.