Easter Chickies

[PepperSprout]

I'm making a bunch of these for all the kiddos for Easter (if I don't get bored with them).  I've become a bit obsessed with making the perfect pom-pon.....

Whatcha Think?

[cinnamon teal]

Very cute!

[jdearien]

will you share how you made them? they are so cute!!

[PepperSprout]

No problem!  The tutes online for poms are a pain in the butt!  Who the heck wants to cut out two circles of cardboard and thread the yarn through it a million times?

 So what I did was use my wooden spatula handle.  First, I tied a 18" gathering string (just a piece of the yarn) to the handle on one end. the longer end was toward the rubber part of the spatula (and was secured in my hand, but you could tie it there,too)  Then I just wrapped and wrapped the yarn down the whole length of the handle.  I think that's the key--you get lots of similarly sized loops this way so that it's nice and full.

 Okay, so you keep wrapping.  Wrap more than you think you should.  Trust me.

Once it's wrapped, untie the gathering string and tie the ends together over the yarn wraps in just a simple knot (this is a temporary knot!).

Then slide the whole shebang off the handle and tighten the gathering sting as tightly as you can and secure with a double knot. 

Then you cut all the loops and shape it with the scissors.  To get a nice full pom, you'll have to trim alot.  Don't worry!

To make the chicks, just make two different sized poms and tie them together using the ends of the gathering string.  Really simple.  The beaks are made from felt triangles.  The eyes are just knots of yarn.

Was that clear?  It's my first "tute" even if there are no pictures.

[Tarewyn]

What a great idea, that sounds so much less tedious than the "wrap it through a cardboard ring" way.  I just might have to make some!

Tarewyn

[PepperSprout]

I've improved them a tiny bit.  I'm using glass beads for eyes now.  I think it looks a lot better.

[jdearien]

I am a visual person and I know yall think I am a big dummy, but could you show a picture on how you wrapp your yarn around the spatula? thanks for sharing! Janie

[PepperSprout]

as soon as I get some batteries for my #@&$%# camera, I'll get right on it!  Not a problem!

[jdearien]

thank you very much. you are very sweet to go to all this trouble! thanks for sharing with us all!!! Janie

[coyote creations]

I saw on JoAnn.com that they have some sort of pom pom maker thing a ma jig that you can make any size pom pom. The last time I looked, which was awhile ago, they were out stock, but they might have them in the store.