DIY Projects & Crafts Pom-Pom Animals How-To By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Published on August 28, 2012 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos These instructions demonstrate how to make a ladybug, a baby chick, and the caterpillar shown here, but by varying the color, size, and placement of the pom-poms, you can create just about any animal. 01 of 15 Before you begin, study the physical characteristics and postures of the animals you plan to make, taking inspiration from nature magazines, encyclopedias, children's books, or even a trip to the zoo. Since the pom-pom parts are simply joined with a needle and thread, it's easy to experiment until you get the right look. 02 of 15 What You'll Need Basic Equipment Pom-pom maker (a simple tool consisting of four small horseshoe-shaped templates with interlocking feet.) YarnThreadNeedle For the Caterpillar Green yarn and threadBlack silk cord (for antennae) For the Ladybug Red felted merino wool yarnRed threadBlack wool yarn (for polka dots)Black silk beading (for antennae) For the Chick Yellow mohair yarnYellow threadOrange felt (for beak)Black thread or embroidery floss (for eyes)Clean broken egg shellPenny or pebble (for stability) 03 of 15 Step 1: Basic Pom-Pom Place two templates back-to-back, and wrap yarn densely around the center arch, where the templates meet. Repeat with a second pair of templates. 04 of 15 Step 2: Basic Pom-Pom Join the two halves together by interlocking the templates' feet, and snip the wool along the arch of each template. To connect the pom-pom halves together, slide a length of embroidery floss or a strand of yarn between the arches (bumps on facing sides of the pom-pom maker facilitate this process); wrap the thread around both poms, and tie tightly. 05 of 15 Step 3: Basic Pom-Pom Pull the templates free. Gently squeeze the pom-pom with your hands to shape and compact the yarn. If desired, trim with cuticle scissors; in general, a closer shave yields denser, softer pom-poms. 06 of 15 Step 4: Pom-Pom Caterpillar Make six pom-poms. 07 of 15 Step 5: Pom-Pom Caterpillar Join pom-poms together in a row by passing a needle with thread through their centers; knot thread at both ends. 08 of 15 Step 6: Pom-Pom Caterpillar To make the antennae, tie a knot in one end of the silk cord, and draw it through the head with a needle. Leave the knotted end at desired antennae length, and tie a knot at the same point on the other end; trim excess. A touch of white glue on the knots will keep the cord from fraying. If you'd like, give your caterpillar eyes by making several stitches with doubled-threaded black yarn. 09 of 15 Step 7: Pom-Pom Ladybug Make a small black pom-pom for the head and a larger red pom-pom for the body. 10 of 15 Step 8: Pom-Pom Ladybug Join the head to the body by passing a needle with thread through the pom-poms; knot at both ends. 11 of 15 Step 9: Pom-Pom Ladybug To add polka dots, draw a needle with double-threaded black wool yarn all the way through the red ball; trim both ends flush to the body (this will create two polka dots; repeat as desired). Sew in the little stripe on her back using the same method. To make her antennae, tie a knot in one end of the silk cord, and draw it through the head. Leave the knotted end at desired antennae length, and tie a knot at the same point on the other end; trim excess. A touch of white glue on the knots will keep the cord from fraying. 12 of 15 Step 10: Pom-Pom Chick These fuzzy newborn chicks are actually puffs of untrimmed yellow mohair, which we've cradled in broken eggshells to add a realistic effect. Each chick is made of two pom-poms, weighing a total of about twelve grams. To make one you'll also need a needle, yellow thread, a small piece of orange felt for the beak, and black thread or embroidery floss to make the tiny eyes. 13 of 15 Step 11: Pom-Pom Chick Make a small pom-pom for the head and a larger one for the body. When you're done, fluff the wool, but don't trim it; for a just-hatched appearance, shaggier is better. 14 of 15 Step 12: Pom-Pom Chick Join the pom-poms together by passing a needle with thread through their centers; knot the thread at both ends. To make the eyes, thread a needle with black thread or embroidery floss, knot the end and pull through the small pom-pom; trim thread. Repeat for second eye. For the beak, use white craft glue to affix two tiny triangles of orange felt. 15 of 15 Step 13: Pom-Pom Chick Nestle the chick in a clean broken eggshell, placing a penny or a pebble beneath the chick to make the display stable. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit