Pom Pom Mobile Tutorial

Hello there!  Welcome to a cross-over blog entry...one of the Quilt Girls, Shannon, got her hands on some yarn, and we thought we'd share the details of just what happened.

Shannon has a thing for circles, and usually it's contained to the sewing realm, but one day, she was working with her step-daughter, making some pom poms, and creativity struck.  They decided to make a mobile from all the colourful, fuzzy pom poms. Here's how...

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We started with a bunch of scrap yarn, to which I added a few irresistible Dye Hard Merino Minis.  These mini skeins are so rich and colourful - and the perfect size for making pom poms!

You can use cardboard templates, or you can pick up a couple modern wonders: Clover Pom Pom Makers. Don't forget to grab a good, sharp pair of scissors.

Pom Pom tools...templates or gadgets - you choose!

I grew up using the cardboard templates.  You can download one from Mia's Craft Ideas (it's got several sizes to choose from) and cut them out from cereal boxes.  They work just fine, but there's a bunch of cutting to do before you get to the fun part.

Last year, I discovered the joy that is the Clover Pom Pom Maker.  They come in lots of different sizes (and we've had them here at The Yarn Store) from teeny to jumbo.  For this project, I used the two small ones, and one large one (the smaller of the pair).  They are super easy to use, and the results are fantastic.

TO MAKE POM POMS:

If you're using the cardboard templates, the instructions are basically the same as using the 'Maker, but you'll want to work with shorter cuts of yarn, since you have to pull the whole thing through the hole.  I'll be showing you how to use the Clover 'Makers.

1. Trap one end of the yarn between a pair of arms.

2. Gently begin wrapping the yarn around the pair of arms. Continue wrapping until the arms are evenly full, but not too bulky.

3. When one side is full, fold those arms into the centre, and pull out the other pair, continuing to wrap with the yarn. When evenly full, fold the arms in.

4. With the tool all folded in, use sharp scissors to cut the yarn.  There's a handy space between the arms just for this.  Be sure to keep the arms closed.

5. Here's how it looks with one half snipped.  Now trim the other side - but keep the tool closed!

6. Take a length of yarn (check to make sure it's strong enough not to break when you pull on it) and wedge it into the space between the arms, and tie a good knot.  I usually flip the tool over and tie a second knot on the opposite side, just to be sure.

7. Gently lift each arm up and out from the tied, trimmed yarn.  Make sure you snipped every piece of yarn, otherwise you'll have trouble opening it.  Getting excited yet?

8. Pull the sides of the tool apart (by holding on to the white parts, one in each hand), and then pull your pom pom off the pin. Yay!  Hold the long strings, and shake it out!

9. Trim any straggly, hairy bits from your pom pom.  If your pom pom looks somewhat oval, you've used too much yarn for the 'Maker.  Shape the pom pom as desired, and know that you can use less yarn next time.

It's easy to get carried away!

Here lies the pile of pom poms we popped out!  Now, onto the Mobile part of this project.

TO MAKE THE MOBILE:

You could choose to get all creative and scientific and test your balance-building skills and make a truly twisty mobile with arms, but we went for simple.  Sticking with the circular theme, I found an inexpensive masonite floral ring at a craft supply store.  I decided to wrap the ring with fabric, but you could do it with yarn, too.  Keep your sharp scissors on hand, and add a glue stick or glue gun.

This 14" circle used about .25 m of cotton print fabric (from Riley Blake, Sugar & Spice), cut into 3/4" bias strips (but not a perfect 45 degree bias).  I'm a raw-edge kinda girl, so I didn't fold or finish the edges.  Bias edges will get slightly fuzzy, but the strips won't disintegrate, and the extra stretch will make it easier to keep the fabric smooth over the curves.

Swipe a little glue on the end of a bias strip, and stick it to the ring.  If you're using a styrofoam ring, you will probably need to pull out the big glue gun to make it stay.  When you reach the end of the strip, just glue it down.  Then, begin by gluing the next strip on top of it.  I didn't bother gluing anything in the middle of the strips, but you can if you're feeling a little controlling.

Once the ring is wrapped, use ribbon or yarn or other string to make the hangers.  I cut four even lengths of 1/2" organza ribbon.  The ring came with pre-drilled holes (bonus!) so I poked a big-eyed needle through four opposite holes, and threaded the ribbon through.  Note: watch out for the selvedge ends of the strips! You can't pull ribbon through selvedges. :(  Trimming them off when you're making the strips is highly recommended. 

Tie the bottom ends of the ribbon, keeping them as identical as possible.  Then, gather the top ends together and fasten them with a knot, or tie or stitch them over a ring for hanging.  Be sure the ring hangs level, with even weight on all ribbons.

Make a layout.  Rest assured it will probably change.

Next, find a space to lay out your pom poms.  Vary the sizes, the colours, and whatever other variables you've introduced (types of yarn, etc.) and the distance from the ring.  Take a picture or make notes to (try to) avoid obsessing about the layout.

I decided to use 1/8" wide ribbon to dangle the pom poms, to allow them to spin and sway in the breeze.  First, tie a loop at one end of the ribbon.  Using the tails of the string that tied the pom pom, tie the ribbon loop tight to the centre of each pom pom, being careful not to snag any of the pom pom fluff in the knots. Trim the tails so they don't show.

Tie the pom poms to the ring, varying the height/hang of each pom pom according to your layout, checking occasionally to make sure the mobile still balances evenly.

The Pom Pom Mobile, completed

This is such a fun (and flexible) project to do with kids, or by yourself.  The great thing about this mobile, is that the dangling bits actually have a shape when you're looking up at it from underneath.  The hardest part will be to stop making pom poms!

For your safety and enjoyment, be sure to hang the Pom Pom Mobile out of reach of curious kitties and grabby baby fingers.

Yarn Bombing FAQ

If you've never heard of a Yarn Bombing, your first question might be, "what's a yarn bombing?"  For those who've heard a little about this phenomenon/fad, here's some more information for your arsenal.

1. What's a Yarn Bombing?
A:  It's a form of graffiti that uses colourful yarn that is knit or crocheted into various shapes, and then anonymously affixed to objects in public spaces.  There are other names emerging for this spontaneous craft: yarn storming; guerrilla knitting.

Yarn bombing rarely has gorey after-effects

2. Who does this sort of thing?
A:  Artists, crazy yarn types, charity groups, anyone with some "string" and spare time.  Yarn bombings have been sighted all over the world, and only a few people have taken credit for their actions.  Even kids are being encouraged to get in on the action.

Yarn is easier to remove than spray paint...

3. When & where did this all start?
A:  The first recorded yarn bombing took place in the Netherlands in 2004.  Beginning in 2002, Oregon artist Shanon Schollian knit stump cozies for clear-cut forests. Texan wool shop owner Magda Sayeg was inspired to cover her shop door with a cozy in 2009. Several knitting collectives have since sprung up throughout the US and the UK, and a group in Lethbridge, Alberta founded the first International Yarn Bombing Day on June 6, 2011 (and it has indeed been celebrated worldwide since then).

Stump Cozy by Shanon Schollian

4.  Why??
A:  That depends on the motives of the 'bomber, really.  It's not exactly a political social activism movement, but it can be.  Generally, yarn bombing takes place for the betterment of the world, the beautification of the landscape, to make a point of public art, and just for the sake of having fun.

5.  Is it legal?
A:  Not really.  Because it is still technically defacing public property, yarn bombing is a form of graffiti.  However, it is ultimately removable and rarely damages the item/object it covers, so we have yet to hear of any major legal proceedings resulting from a yarn bombing anywhere in the world.  Sadly, there has been a recent theft:  a woolly mammoth sculpture has been robbed of its knitted onesie in Whitehorse. The group Yarn Bomb Yukon is asking that the blankets be donated to charity by the thieves, as per the organization's original intentions.

Yarn bombing done to coincide with museums conference in Yukon.

6.  Has it happened here?
A:  We have yet to hear of any yarn bombings in Newmarket.  (Do send us pics if you find something!) The Fall 2012 Creativ Festival downtown had yarn-bombed columns outside the entrance doors.

Creativ Festival Fall 2012 - yarn bombing site

7. How do I do one?
A:  There are lots of resources for the wannabe yarn delinquent, including books like Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti, websites like KnitTheCity, and you can even find some friends on Facebook.  If you're shy, start with Wikipedia. Check this out if you're looking for a yarn bombing community. Basically, if you've got yarn, needles or hooks, go find yourself a target and have a sense of humour!

Yarn Bombing warrants actual print publications!

The Yarn Store doesn't necessarily endorse the activity, but we'd love to see fibre making a local impression.  Send us pics if you find a yarn bombing site!