While perusing the aisles at Michael’s one afternoon, I spied a cute American Girl Doll pom pom scarf kit
. Since I am currently obsessed with enjoying pom poms. I thought it would be a perfect craft to do with my girls. Plus, their dolls would totally be cold without a pom pom scarf for winter, right? The craft kit at Michael’s was in the neighborhood of $20(in the link above on Amazon, it is listed at only $10). I thought $20 was too much. So, I figured out how to make mine for less and have plenty of supplies and tools leftover to use to make other things.
. Since I am currently obsessed with enjoying pom poms. I thought it would be a perfect craft to do with my girls. Plus, their dolls would totally be cold without a pom pom scarf for winter, right? The craft kit at Michael’s was in the neighborhood of $20(in the link above on Amazon, it is listed at only $10). I thought $20 was too much. So, I figured out how to make mine for less and have plenty of supplies and tools leftover to use to make other things.
I noticed the box said that it contained 2 pom pom makers, a 1″ and 2″ in size. Of course, this did require buying a new pom pom maker….oh the trials of making things for my kids. I bought the Clover small pom pom maker. It makes pom poms 1 3/8″ and 1 5/8″. In the American Girl Doll pom pom scarf kit, it says you are making one scarf for you and one for your doll. I am super smart, so I figured the smaller pom pom is for the doll and the larger for the girl. Brilliant, right?! Someday we may make a matching scarf for the girls. They say they would like them.
. It makes pom poms 1 3/8″ and 1 5/8″. In the American Girl Doll pom pom scarf kit, it says you are making one scarf for you and one for your doll. I am super smart, so I figured the smaller pom pom is for the doll and the larger for the girl. Brilliant, right?! Someday we may make a matching scarf for the girls. They say they would like them.
Between my coupons and educator discount, I was able to get 3 skeins of yarn, the yarn needles and the pom pom maker for about $13. Not less than the Amazon price of the kit, but better than the Michael’s price AND I have all these fun things to use again! We also got to pick our color of yarn rather than just the colors in the kit.
A couple of things I want to mention that I have learned along the way. The kind of yarn you buy makes a difference. If you want cute fluffy pom poms, you need to buy the medium (or higher) priced yarn. The cheap yarn doesn’t work well, especially on these tiny pom poms. Trust me, I tried because I am cheap and prefer to buy the cheap yarn. It didn’t work. Mr. T was nice enough to return it to the store for me because I was too embarrassed…brownie points! You may also notice in the picture above that I purchased the metal yarn needles. The kids have made crafts before with the plastic needles. They always end up bent and seem to only be one or maybe two time use needles. The metal needles were the same price and now I know we will have these for quite a while.
Alright, now that we have all of that business stuff out of the way…on to making the scarf. Use your pom pom maker to make the pom poms. You can read my tutorial on that here. This post will show you how to use the pom pom makers. I want to add that I was using the cheap yarn for those, which kind of works on the larger pom poms. You don’t have to wrap the pom pom maker 3 or more times with the better yarn. It didn’t work on the small pom poms.
For me, making pom poms is kind of soothing and fun. We took this project with us on various appointments. It kept the kids entertained and we got lots of comments from staff and other people about how cute the pom poms are, etc. They just make everyone happy.
To make a long enough scarf, we made 21 small pom poms. I think you really could use more, but this worked fine for us.
Pick your pattern (or let your child pick her/his pattern).
I laid mine all out ready to go because hopefully that way I wouldn’t mess up the pattern. Doesn’t it look neat, too? Thread your yarn needle. I did mine with a full double length of yarn and knotted it double or triple at the end. I knew my kids would be playing with these and that strength would be my best option for them lasting more than a week.
You may have noticed in the pictures, I didn’t cut the tails off my pom poms when I made them. I just wasn’t sure if I would need them or not. In the end it made it easier to do this part of the project, so I would recommend doing it this way.
- Use the tails left on your pom pom to locate the center where you tied the pom pom off.
- To give your scarf strength, go through the middle of your tie off yarn. Can you see what I mean in the pictures?
- Pull your needle all the way through.
- Thread your pom pom to the end of the yarn or to the next pom pom.
Continue threading until you have all your pom poms on. Double or triple knot your thread, tying it off as close to the pom pom center as you can. It was a little challenging to do this, but it is necessary if you have different color yarn from the last pom pom. That way the pom pom can hide the yarn and knot.
Just a pretty picture when I had 3 threaded. 🙂
A pom pom scarf for Miss Felicity! She loves it! If you read my post last week about our American Girl Doll beds, then it will probably not come as a surprise that Snowflake is still working on her scarf for Samantha. To her credit, she wanted to make the whole thing herself without any help from me. She is almost there. I may add another post about hers when we make the scarves for the girls or maybe just put some pictures on facebook and twitter. Be on the look out for another happy pom pom post!
More American Girl Doll Fun For you:
I love this blog. I learn something new each day. Keep up the good work “The Coake Family”. 🙂
Thanks, sweetie! Talk to you soon.
how cute and fun! I might just show this to my girls and let them do it!
I love this! I saw that kit and thought $20???!!! but I know my daughter would love it. Maybe I’ll get the gumption to find my needles…
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS!!!
I’ll go ahead and pin this because I think lots of other moms would love doing this with their daughters too!
Always love your stuff,
Kelly at Smart! School {House}
Thank you so much! You are so sweet! I hope lots of moms and daughters to make these and that they have a great time doing so.
That turned out really pretty! I bet it would look fantastic on a little girl.
Hello there!! Just was stopping by you blog via happy go lucky blog hop!! enjoyed visiting and am now following! would love to have you visit me!!
Thanx,
sarahseay92.blogspot.com
Thank you so much!
This is sooo cute! I have a niece in mind to make this for as a Christmas present. I could also see making this into a necklace like a lei.
I LOVE your idea of making it into a necklace or a lei, what a cute idea! I think it would make a great Christmas gift. I might need to get my pom pom crafting going again and make some for my neices for Christmas…good idea. You are full of great ideas! Thanks!
So cute! Almost makes me wish my girl was still small and not about to give me my first baby 2.0. Not ready for the g-word. 🙂
Thanks! Congrats to you and just wait, if your grandbaby is a girl…you may be making things like this before you know it. 😉
So clever and way pretty! I’ve loved looking through your blog! I wanted to invite you to share over at my link party too! It’s hosted every Saturday and is all about ‘Your Great Idea’. Hope to see you soon! https://www.oneshetwoshe.com/2012/09/hello-weekend-50-mikarose-giveaway.html
Thanks so much!
This is absolutely adorable. What a fun idea.
Thank you!
So cute! I want one for me! Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning!
lol! Thanks so much! You could easily make one for yourself. Thanks for the pin.
What a fabulous idea!!! I’m so pleased you linked up, as this would be an activity I’d like to do with kids, but would never have thought of myself. We used to make pom poms with cardboard. I’ll have to check out the pom pom makers. Hope you don’t mind, but I’m pinning this.
Thanks so much! I’m so glad your not upset that I linked it. Yes, we have made the pom pom’s with cardboard. I am just a gadget loving girl, so if I can make something with a gadget, that is what I’m going to do! 🙂 Don’t mind the pin at all…thanks!
How very cute!!! I love AG and so does my little lady. Newest follower @ https://www.craftycagirl.blogspot.com
Thank you so much!
Thats a great idea thanks for the Tutorial. I have so many wools at home i dont know what i make with this. Your Tutorial helps me bring littel princess to smile 🙂 THANKS
The Pom Poms make i with cardboards too. As children we learn it so 🙂
Thanks so much! I hope your little princess enjoys hers when you make one. 🙂
So cute! I love making pom-poms too. 🙂 Thank you for sharing at MightyCrafty Mondays!
Oh how fun! What are your favorite things to make with pom poms?
Another cute idea I am pinning. I’d love to get one of those pom pom makers, but I am even cheaper than you! We have a eco-art-recycling store that I am hitting up tomorrow for supplies for Halloween costumes. They have TONS of yarn…and maybe they will have a pom pom maker! I can load up with supplies for just a few bucks there. People donate their old craft, art, and other supplies and they sell it cheap to support grants for local schools.
Thanks for the pin. Did you find a pom pom maker at the store you went to? You can make pom poms several ways without a maker…I just happen to like gadgets. Sounds like a neat store you have near you.
Totally love the scarves ?
Thank you!