Pom-Pom Animals How-To

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.

What You'll Need

Basic Equipment

• Pom-pom maker (a simple tool consisting of four small horseshoe-shaped templates with interlocking feet.)
• Yarn
• Thread
• Needle

For the Caterpillar

• Green yarn and thread
• Black silk cord (for antennae)

For the Ladybug

• Red felted merino wool yarn
• Red thread
• Black wool yarn (for polka dots)
• Black silk beading (for antennae)

For the Chick

• Yellow mohair yarn
• Yellow thread
• Orange felt (for beak)
• Black thread or embroidery floss (for eyes)
• Clean broken egg shell
• Penny or pebble (for stability)

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.

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.

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.

Step 4: Pom-Pom Caterpillar

Make six pom-poms.

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.

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.

Step 7: Pom-Pom Ladybug

Make a small black pom-pom for the head and a larger red pom-pom for the body.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.