Long ago I visited Australian Annie's Crafts for Kids web site. One of the crafts she had was a chick made of "homespun" pom-poms. That craft brought to mind a craft project I had done when I was much younger: a pom-pom puppy. It is supposed to look like a poodle. It also looks much cuter than my picture above. Try one and see what you think. I would recommend this project for children age 8 and up. Younger children may need some assistance with tying, cutting, and trimming the pom-poms.
yarn (approximately 1 oz.)
heavy cardboard
scissors
small beads or sequins or wiggle eyes
school glue or tacky glue
a cardboard bouillon container, old large pill bottle, empty plastic spice container, or some other cylinder approximately 3 - 4 inches long with a top and a bottom - the width is up to you
(in a pinch a cut toilet paper tube with a top and a bottom from heavy cardboard added would work)
Step One - Glue yarn in a circular fashion (see Diagram A) to one end of your container. Cut the end. Repeat for the other end of the container, but do not cut. Let glue dry fairly well. Continue to wrap the yarn around the container until completely covered. Let glue dry.
Diagram A
Step Two - Make pom-poms for the feet. Cut a piece of heavy cardboard approximately 1/2 inch wide and 1 and 1/2 inches long. Cut a piece of yarn about 5 inches long and lay it across the cardboard. (see Diagram B) Wrap yarn around the cardboard 100 times for a nice full pom-pom. Cut the yarn. Pull up the sides of the 5 inch piece of yarn and tie a secure knot tightly aroung the middle of the wrapped yarn. (see Diagram C) Turn the cardboard over and cut the wrapped yarn pieces in the middle while still on the cardboard. (see Diagram D) The pom-pom should now be off the cardboard. Trim the pom-pom with scissors into a nice full ball shape. Repeat 4 times. Trim the other pom-poms to match the first.
Diagram B
Diagram C
Diagram D
Step Three - Make a pom-pom for the tail. Follow the same directions for the feet pom-poms, using a piece of cardboard approximately 1/4 inch wide and 1 and 1/2 inches long. For younger children use the same cardboard as used for the feet as it will be easier to handle. Trim the tail pom-pom so that it is smaller than the feet pom-poms.
Step Four - Make a pom-pom for the head. Follow the same directions for the feet pom-poms using a piece of cardboard approximately 1 and 1/4 - 1 and 3/4 inches wide and 2 inches long. Wrap the yarn only 80-90 times. (You want a looser pom-pom) Trim sparingly to a nice ball shape.
Step Five - Assemble the pooch. Glue head to one end of the covered container. Glue two eyes on the pom-pom. Glue tail to the other end of the container. Glue the four feet to container bottom; two on either end. If desired, decorate your pooch with a ribbon on its head. Enjoy!!
Younger children could use storebought pom-poms for the feet and tail. I recommend a homemade pom-pom for the head.
Tacky glue is best when gluing yarn. (I should own stock in Aleene's by now.)
Felt could be used to add ears or other details.
If you stand the container on its end, you could make a cute bunny. Add felt bunny ears.