KNITmuch Issue 1 | Page 38

Pom-poms – the cutest knitted accessories, right? Glenna Harris Pom-poms are one of the final flourishes that can take your finished knitting to the “next level.” They’re often used as an accessory on top of a knitted hat, or at the edge of a mitten cuff. You might even have seen them attached to the corners of baby blankets, or the ends of scarves. These little darlings are very versatile! Pom poms make darling decorations on their own, and the perfect finish for winter hats and mittens. You just need these tools and your favorite scrap yarn! There are a lot of 'low tech' ways to make them, but if you want that almost magazine-looking quality, try using a pom-pom maker. They'll give your pom-poms a symmetrical, polished quality that’s hard to beat, and also come in different sizes for different pom-pom needs. In the photos, I’m going to show you how it works! The results are hard to beat. First, gather your materials. You’ll need a bit of scrap yarn (any weight will do – I’m using worsted-weight wool to demonstrate these), your pom-pom maker in the size you prefer, and a dull tapestry needle/wool needle for the smaller sized pom-poms if that’s the size you’re making. The pom-pom makers I’m using in this demonstration come in 3 sizes that all snap together. This means you can use one size at a time, or combine 2 or 3 sizes together to adjust the size if you wish. If you’re using the smaller pom-pom makers, it’s easier to use a tapestry needle to thread the yarn through the smaller hole in the center. 38 KNITmuch | issue 1