How to Make Pom Pom Birds
These handmade pom pom birds are a delightful spring craft! Older kids and adults will love making these adorable fluffy birds.
Yield: 1 pom pom bird
Cost: $2
Equipment
- Pom Pom maker (3.5 cm and 7 cm)
- Latch hook tool (optional)
Materials
- Yarn (white, orange, light brown, dark brown)
- Felt (yellow, beige or white, dark brown)
- Round black beads (6mm)
- Tacky glue
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make a pom pom for the head
- Hold the 3.5 cm (1-3/8 inch) pom pom maker together and wrap dark brown yarn around one side until it's full (about 75 times).
- Cut the yarn and use a latch hook tool to secure it.This is optional, but ensures the yarn won't unravel while you work on the other side. (You can also use a pair of small scissors or tweezers to pull the yarn tail under a neighbouring strand.)
- Repeat the wrapping process on the other side of the pom pom maker.
- Cut a 12-inch piece of yarn in the same colour.
- Latch the two sides of the pom pom maker together and slide scissors into the center gap. Cut through the middle of the wrapped yarn, all the way around the pom pom maker.
- Slide the long piece of yarn around the center of of the pom pom maker (where the scissors were) and tie a secure double knot.
- Remove the finished pom pom from the pom pom maker and set aside.
Step 3: Make the body pom pom
- Wrap white yarn around one side of a 7 cm (2-3/4 inch) pom pom maker about 50 times, filling about 1/4 of the maker.
- Next to the white yarn, wrap orange yarn about 60 times to fill the rest of that side.
- Layer dark brown yarn over the entire side, wrapping about 40 times to cover the previous colours.
- Add a layer of lighter brown yarn, wrapping it about 60 times around.
- On the opposite side of the pom pom maker, wrap light brown yarn 80 times to cover the entire side.
- Add 3 dark brown stripes (3 to 5 strands wide and 2 to 3 layers thick) across the light brown base.
- Cover the entire length with an additional 45 wraps of light brown yarn.
- Add about 4 more dark brown stripes.
- Finish by wrapping light brown yarn 30 more times, then close the pom pom maker.
- Cut through the loops and tie a light brown string around the middle to secure the pom pom.Make sure the knot is where the orange and brown yarn meet. Then remove the pom pom from the maker.
Step 4: Connect the pom poms and trim
- Use the long yarn tails to tie the head and body pom poms together securely.
- Double knot the yarn and trim off any excess. Your bird is beginning to take shape!
- Shape the head by trimming it with sharp scissors, creating a rounded, bird-like appearance.
- Repeat the trimming process on the body. Trim the chest and back shorter to create an oval shape.You can taper the pom pom's sides toward where the tail will go, but be sure to leave the bottom of the pom pom fairly flat so the bird will sit upright on its own.
Step 5: Cut the felt details
- Cut two rounded triangles from yellow felt (about 1/2 inch wide and 3/4 inch tall) for the beak.
- Cut a 3/4 inch circle from beige felt, then cut the circle in half to create eye rims.
- For the tail, fold a piece of dark brown felt in half and cut a rectangle that's about 2/3 inch by 3 inch (when folded). Round one end to create a 'V' shape when opened. Cut another single-layer rectangle the same size and round one end.
Step 6: Assemble the bird
- Apply a line of tacky glue along the center of the thinner tail piece.
- Attach it to the center of the larger tail piece.
- Part the yarn at the back of the bird where the tail will go, creating a little "trench".
- Add glue to the straight end of the tail and place it in the trench. Press the yarn back together and hold the tail in place until the glue has dried enough for the tail to stay on its own.
- Glue the two beak pieces together. Then, using the same parting technique, attach it to the front of the bird's head.
- Create eyes by forming small cones with the beige felt (the half circles). Then glue a 6mm black bead inside.
- Trim the back of the cone to be to flat, making it easier to attach.
- Make a small opening in the yarn on each side of the bird's head. Add a dot of glue and press the eyes into place.
- Your pom pom bird is complete!
- Then have fun experimenting with colours and stripe placement to make a whole flock of unique pom pom birds!
Video
Notes
Looking for more springtime crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Paper Quilled Chicks
Crepe Paper Daffodils
Paper Roll Tulips