Johnny has been more than a little obsessed with pom poms recently. His textiles teacher had the children making them old style - with little cardboard doughnuts, and he was so pleased with his. So a little project to make use of his poms seemed in order.
A little plum pudding pom pom.
To make one, you'll need a lovely brown pom pom - how you make it is up to you. Here's a tutorial for the 'wrapped round fingers' method and one for the 'classic cardboard doughnut' style. The latter is highly desireable if you want to keep small childen occupied for a good long while. Johnny's teacher clearly understands how best to achieve a quiet interlude in her schedule.
When you tie the wool around the centre of your pom pom, leave a good long tail. You will need this to make the rest of the plum pud.
We took a red button and a piece of white felt, cut freehand into a vaguely circular, wiggly edged shape.
Using the long tail from your pom pom. sew up though the middle of your white felt shape and through the holes of the button, making a couple of passes to secure them well. We also tied on a tiny scrap of green wool, to look like holly leaves. Done.
Our plum puddings are going to be tied on to bags of Christmas cookies as teacher presents this year. I know it seems early to think of these things, but my offspring break up on December 10th. Aaaaargh. We may well require more than a cardboard doughnut or two to keep them calmly occupied between then and Christmas....
just brilliant. ! if you need more pompom fun we've been making sheep pompoms for jointheflock, and I've just seen a popmpom Christmas tree over at rachelrabbit.
Posted by: driftwood | 21 November 2011 at 11:48
Brilliant! Will be making some of these with my small people too. 10th???? I thought we were early breaking up on the 16th! Hey ho, happy holidays x
Posted by: daisie | 21 November 2011 at 13:01
Fab. Now they can branch out into yoyos. Oh, and do they finger knit/crochet??
You can ship the boys over here on the 11th. We'll keep 'em busy...
Posted by: Lynn | 21 November 2011 at 14:05
Thanks for the little tutorial! What a cute idea!
I hear ya about needing to feel ready yet feeling like it's already coming too fast. I still haven't adjusted to Aussie summer break from school combined with Christmas. Mine break up on Dec 8th and don't go back until February! Aaaaah...! (sounds of this mother screaming and then fading away as she hides under the bed)
Posted by: Jennifer | 21 November 2011 at 14:15
Cuteness, my children would love to make these! I'm totally into Christmas already this year but my children are at school until Dec 23rd!!! But they don't go back until the 9th.
Posted by: lina | 21 November 2011 at 15:06
Adorable! Plum pudding is not a thing we embrace here in the States (at least as far as I am aware), but I want to make these anyway they're so dang cute!
Posted by: Bethany | 21 November 2011 at 16:12
That is so cute! Thanks for the tutorial. I could see a few of these being added to the tree this year.
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | 21 November 2011 at 17:20
What a fab tutorial Ali. I can see Fred happily turning out pompoms - I just need to set him going. Lucy xx
Posted by: lucylocket | 21 November 2011 at 17:42
I always knew you were a genius.
So cute.
(and I hate Christmas pudding! nothing edible in it)
Posted by: Monica | 21 November 2011 at 20:10
Love them and will now have to check stash for brown wool!
Posted by: Andrea | 21 November 2011 at 21:35
Great idea for keeping Littles busy over the holidays while moms and grannies cook!
Posted by: Gigi | 21 November 2011 at 21:52
Brilliant - and I have a ball of brown and some red buttons too! Guess what we'll be making this weekend.
Posted by: Annabel | 22 November 2011 at 09:09
I remember finding the wrapped-round-fingers method and it was like magic!
I'm feeling all back-in-love with yarn since last week too!
Posted by: Dragonfly | 22 November 2011 at 09:14
I love it - going to have to make some with the kids :-)
Posted by: Peeriemoot | 22 November 2011 at 13:52
these are so sweet - what a great idea! I can understand why you're aaarghing, December 10th is horribly early to be breaking up for christmas!
Posted by: Julie | 22 November 2011 at 15:05
great pompom xmas pud. we made pompom spiders at halloween with our sewing group... so many uses for pompoms. love them!x
Posted by: ginny | 23 November 2011 at 21:15
Brilliant! I'm going to have a go at this with my son, even though I know he'll get bored long before enough wool is wrapped around the doughnut to make a decent sized pom-pom and I'll end up finishing it (which is no hardship)!
Posted by: Two Owls | 23 November 2011 at 23:38
Love this idea - I am getting some wool and cardboard circles ready for wednesday when my girl is of school because of the strike! Should keep her quiet for a while and I can get on with some sewing!!
Posted by: Helen King | 26 November 2011 at 12:25
Fab idea - I might borrow it. We don't break up until the 20th! I'm not sure I'd like the 10th, but the 15th or 16th might be nice...
Posted by: Kate | 27 November 2011 at 23:46