For both designs, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and a size H crochet hook. This yarn has such a nice comfy feel to it plus just enough wool for extra warmth but no itchiness!!
You can find these items on my Etsy shop ~~ Mystic Needle too!! www.etsy.com/shop/mysticneedle
HAPPY CREATING!!
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I just completed a big order for a customer who purchased 100 2″ pompoms!! I used the Clover pompom maker and had great success. I know there are several types of pompom makers out there from different manufacturers, Lion Brand, Susan Bates, etc. plus what you can use at home from a cardboard circle, fork tines, your fingers and so on but, I thought I would share with you my technique that I used with the Clover brand.
My tutorial is done with pictures so I hope you can follow along without any problems. Also, please keep in mind that I am left-handed so how I make a pompom will be in reverse for a right-handed person.
The pictures are pretty self-explanatory and have been numbered as steps so you can follow along easily.
As you can see, I begin by opening only one half of the pompom maker and place my yarn tail on top of the first two arches. I wind my yarn snuggly over top of the yarn tail and I slid the first few wraps up to the edge of the arch. Continue wrapping snuggly all along the arch and I fill it completely level ending with the yarn at the outside edge of the arch. Then I insert the yarn between the two arch pieces, close it and insert the yarn between the two arch pieces on the other side. Don’t pull the yarn too tight at this step because you want to have some slack for the finishing steps.
Begin wrapping the second set of arches in the same manner as the first set. I again wrap my yarn snuggly around the second set of arches making it level.
I end the yarn in the center of the arch and cut if free from my skein. Now I use a pair of very sharp, narrow bladed scrapbooking style scissors. I first insert the points of the scissors between the arches where I carried over my yarn from one side to the other side and cut that piece of yarn in half.
Now I begin cutting the yarn from the rounded ends while holding down the lift ends the whole time I am cutting. Be very careful that you don’t snip your fingers when you get close to the end. You want to make sure too that the pompom maker DOESN’T COME APART especially when you begin cutting your arches!!! Now you are ready to tie all your little pompom threads together by slipping a thread between those two arches. I like to cut my tying thread about 18″-20″ long. Slip it between the two arches and give it a good tug. You want to feel that the yarn thread has pulled securely through the arches and it can’t move anymore. Now do a square knot which will create a strong and secure knot to keep your pompom together. Also, when you pull on your tied threads, pull securely so that knot goes down between the arches tightly.
HOW TO DO A SQUARE KNOT: A square knot is basically taking the right thread and placing it over the left thread, make a tie and pull tightly. Then take the left thread and placing it over the right thread, make a tie and pull tightly. Or the opposite way, left over right and then right over left.
Once you have completed your square knot, you can remove the pompom tool. Just lift each arch piece and pull your spools apart and your pompom will just pop out. A little raggedly looking at this point, just needs a shaping trim.
To shape the pompom, I like to use just the tips of my good fabric cutting scissors which are really sharp and will give a clean, crisp cut. A tip I like to do is to hold the pompom at the very top of the thread tie and look down on top of the pompom itself so that I can see the circle being created. Turn it upside down too and look at it from the bottom up to see your circle shape. Helps with your trimming procedure. Give it a good hard shake to help remove some of the trimming wispys and you are ready to do creative things with your cute pompom!!!!
HAPPY CREATING!!
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These work up really fast and always great to have several pairs around – keep extras in your purse or in the car. Perfect pattern too for donations to charity organizations or local hospitals.
This design includes sizes from 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months. I prefer to use super fine (1) yarn or fine (2) yarn for the smaller designs and a worsted weight (4) yarn for the largest size. Hope you enjoy making these as much as I do 🙂
HAPPY CREATING!!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”
I started with 12 chains and completed my first SC in the 2nd chain from the hook. Insert your hook in the single top loop only of the chain to complete your actual first single crochet. You will have 11 working stitches when that row is completed. At the end of the row, I will chain 1 and turn and begin my next row of SC stitches inserting through both loops in new row.
HERE ARE STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO DO THE SC:
You will have one loop on your hook and insert it through both loops on the first stitch of the new row. Remember, you do not want to go into the chain that you just made. Once your hook has been inserted, yarn over (yo) your hook and bring that loop back through the double loop. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over (yo) again and pull that loop through both of the loops on your hook which will leave you with just one loop left on the hook.
You have just completed one single crochet (sc) stitch. Continue in this fashion for a total of 11 stitches. When you come to the end of your row, chain 1 and turn your work and repeat the above stitch information for another 11 stitches. Keep repeating this process.
Making a single crochet swatch is fun and you can create many things from just doing this one stitch. A simple scarf, headband, bracelet, baby blanket whatever you want to make.
This is also a wonderful stitch to teach a child who wants to learn to crochet. Use a large hook size, maybe H or I for a beginner or child, and a worsted weight to chunky yarn (category 4 or 5). Easier to see the different loops that are created and easy to work with especially for little fingers and hands.
HAPPY CREATING!!
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crocheting projects, in my work space for paper clips, housewarming gift filled with cookies, etc. you get the picture.
My yarn of choice is to crochet with two strands of 100% cotton for these fun bowls but sometimes they can be difficult to stay in their shape. I have done research and looked up different ways to help a crochet item retain its desired shape. Tried a few but not all. Not really into cooking a mixture to put on my crochet project; like the sugar (afraid of attracting ants too) or cornstarch recipes.
I have used water and Elmer’s glue which works good. I use a mixture of about half water and half glue thinning to a paint consistency. Works for me because I actually use a paint brush to apply the glue mixture. Most of the time I don’t feel like my project needs to be dipped entirely into the glue mixture. I will just paint the mixture on the inside bottom of the bowl to ensure that it stays flat. I also will use a spray bottle with plain water in it and dampen the bottom first with water, then apply the glue mixture. Air dry on waxed paper. Just putting the glue stiffener on the inside of the bowl, keeps the entire outside of the bowl the same soft consistency of the yarn.
Just made a clever medium-sized handled crochet basket. This time I sprayed the entire basket with water then used regular spray starch (coated thoroughly) on the outside first, let dry and then repeated process for the inside of the basket. If you want a stiffer basket, I would suggest using heavy-duty spray starch.
One of the hardest parts is finding that right shaping container for the drying procedure. I used a ceramic utensil keeper, covered it in plastic wrap and placed my basket on it to shape and dry. You just have to be creative when looking through your cabinets for: bowls, Tupperware containers, measuring cups, plastic yogurt or cottage cheese containers, all potential drying shapers depending upon your specific project.
The cotton basket that I just crochet was found on Ravelry as a free pattern, which took me to the designers blog, crochetincolor.com. Really enjoyed her blog and liked the way she used the HDC (half double crochet) stitch to create a good flat bottom design. Take a moment and click on the link to check it out!!
I have also thought about taking a small piece of cardboard, covering it in coordinating fabric to match the yarn and placing it in the bottom of a bowl or basket for even more stability.
Anyways, have fun creating your own bowls and baskets and using them around your home or giving them as gifts filled with little goodies. Let me know your ideas for stiffening crochet projects too!!
HAPPY CREATING!!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – “Commissions Earned”