Giant PomPom Christmas Tree Wall Hanging D.I.Y.

(I took this photo above with my phone outside because my real camera and our lighting indoors wasn't capturing the colors quite right. My phone captured the neon pinks as they are! Also, you can see scale with it next to my slippers ;)

I remember the first time I made a pompom. I was finally recovering (slightly) from a horrendous first trimester (let's be real, it was like half of my pregnancy) with Campbell. I was soooo sick for so many months, I was unable to do much of anything besides lie on the couch and barely make it through work days at my part-time job.

When I was finally able to pull myself together and find any semblance of creativity within myself, it was around Christmas (this was seven years ago). I decided to go all out with our gift wrapping that year. Having been recently inspired by something mass-produced with pompoms on it (can't remember what), I decided to find a tutorial on how to make some and attach them to our packages.

The rest is pom pom history.

I became addicted to making them. Since then, you can't throw a stick at a pinterest board without hitting some sort of pompom craft. I guess I was cool before it was cool to like pompoms? (I tell myself that anyways.) They were certainly popular to make in the 60's, and similarly, you can't throw a stick at a vintage craft book without hitting a pompom-adorned craft!

My enthusiasm for poms has ebbed and flowed over the years. I went through a burnout stage because honestly, they're exhausting to make. All that wrapping and trimming, wrapping and trimming. But, my pom-love returned last year, and again this year. This time, I decided to make some GIANT ones for a holiday wall-hanging. I've seen a couple tutorials on how to make giant ones, but I came up with my own method that I think makes the whole process easier. It's one thing to make a 3 inch pom... it's a whole other beast making a 7-8 inch one!

There are large pom makers out there, of which I have, but the largest you can make with that is around 5 inches or so. I do highly recommend those Clover pom-makers though! Beats the old wrap-around-your-fingers or the cardboard circle methods (I personally preferred the wrap-around-your-fingers method over the cardboard circle one - much easier to wrap the yarn around).

Ironically, I did use the cardboard circle (or donut) method for these, but with a difference that I think makes it much easier. So, here we go!

Supplies You'll Need:

- Cardboard

- String (make sure it's not stretchy - I used cotton thread)

- Yarn Needle (can find at any craft store)

- *Super Bulky Yarn (the label will have a 6 on it - I used Lion Brand "Hometown USA" from the craft store, but any super chunky yarn will do.)

- Pencil

- Push Pin (or something to anchor your string with)

- Scissors

- (Optional) Scissor Sharpener (I use one of these and love it. They are especially good for making poms because cutting all that yarn dulls the blades. I sharpened mine several times while making these. Available at craft stores.)

- Large Clips (I used hair clips that I had on hand because I dye my hair. You can find them for cheap at Sally's Beauty Supply. Even better? Buy the large binder clips because I think they'd be easier since they don't have "teeth" which can grab at the yarn too much.)

- Latch Rug Canvas (the piece I bought was 36" x 60" from the craft store - you'll have leftovers)

- Ruler

*I used around 7-8 skeins of yarn for my tree. It depends on how many colors you want to use as to how many skeins you'll need. Also, I used 81 yd and 64 yd skeins - I was able to make two giant poms with the 81 yd skeins, and one giant pom from the 64 yd skeins with leftovers. Be sure to take your coupons to the craft store since yarn can add up. I use the Joann and Michaels phone apps so that I always have coupons on me.

Step One: Make Your Cardboard "Donuts"

These are the measurements I used to make 7-8 inch poms. First, anchor your string to the cardboard. I used a push pin. You might have to add another layer of cardboard underneath so that the pin has something to go all the way through. Knot your string around the push pin.

Measure 4-1/2 inches away from the pin and mark it with your pencil. I stuck my pencil into the cardboard at the 4-1/2 inches mark so it was standing up - which made it easier to knot the other end of the string around it. Then cut your string.

Now, keeping your pencil and string taut, draw your circle like you would with a compass. Alternatively, if you have a bowl, plate or other object around your house that has a diameter edge of 9 inches or so, you could trace around that as well.

Now use the same method to draw a smaller circle inside that is 4 inches in diameter (or 2 inches out from the center push pin). I used a cup that was around 4 inches wide at the mouth. Cut out your donut. Make two.

Step Two: Make Your Giant Pom Poms

Here's where you can save a TON of time wrapping, and wrapping (and wrapping) your yarn around your cardboard donut. That is my most unfavorite part. Your arms and wrists will thank me. Here's a video that I made that will visually explain the next step since I couldn't figure out how to explain it in words. I googled and youtubed for a long time and couldn't find someone else doing it, so it did it myself. As you can see, my production team and I pulled out all the stops with the production of this video.

I know what you're thinking. Why can't I be as smokin' hot as Danielle with her figure flattering pajama pants, five-head, and unbridled charisma? Dear, dear friend. It's not easy being all this.

Okay! Now, that you have your hank of yarn, we start wrapping. Please note that when you're doing my seesaw move as shown above (I call it that because that's what you look like when you do it), hold it about the length of your arm. My hank of yarn was around 35" long. I "see-sawed" 20 times and then cut the yarn. That much yarn will cover about a third of your donut (as seen below). This is why this method is so awesome. Very minimal wrapping since you've doubled (quadrupled, septupled...?) your yarn with the seesaw method. Maybe there's an actual name for this? I bet you knitters would know! It's also so nice not to have to push a bulky skein of yarn through the center a million times.

Attach the end of your bunch or "hank" of yarn to the top of your donut with a clip (see supplies list for more clip details). Now pull your hank through the center of your donut and wrap until you run out of yarn. IMPORTANT: make sure the other end of your hank ends at the OUTER edge of your donut, not the center. If you have to pull the yarn tight to make it end at the top, then do so. If it doesn't reach the top edge, you can always leave the excess that you'll cut off later.

Now clip that end.

Do your seesaw thing again and make another hank. Attach one end to the outer edge of your donut, right next to your previous clip. Wrap again.

Repeat til you've covered your donut. It took me three hanks of yarn to cover mine.

It should look something like this.

Now, pull apart some of the strands of yarn so that you can work your scissors in between the two cardboard donuts. Start cutting through the strands.

When you get to a clip, pull it off and move it to the inside of your circle to hold down the strands as you're cutting.

Clip off the excess yarn loops at the outer edge of your donut.

Or, if your loops hit right at the outer edge of your donut, then just clip them in the middle so that they aren't loops anymore.

When you're done cutting all the way around, it should look like this.

Now, cut a length of yarn that is around 30 inches long in the same color. Sandwich it in between the two cardboard donuts and...

... pull both ends until they almost meet. Don't pull tight yet.

Now we'll start CAREFULLY pulling off the clips from the center. This is where using binder clips might be a better solution since they don't have teeth. Just take your time. If you notice your strands starting to come off/loose, you can always clip at the outer edge again to hold them down while you pull the clips off the center. Or you can just use your hands to hold the strands in place while you detach the clips.

Once all of the clips are detached, pull the two ends of your center "tie" together very tightly.

Now, carefully separate your cardboard donuts. Pull your tie very tightly and double knot. Pull off the donuts completely.

Now, shake out and fluff your new pom pom! For the 64 yard skein, I had this much leftover (right below).

For the 81 yard skein, I had about half left over which was enough to make another pom pom.

Usually I trim about half the yarn away on my poms to make them tight and round (as seen below right). But for this tree I wanted them to stay large and kind of shaggy/floppy (left). Make 12 pom poms in your desired colors.

Step Three: Assemble Your Wall Hanging

Pull out your rug canvas. Trim it to around 22"x30". Place your first pom at the very top center of your canvas.

Thread one end of your pom pom tie through a yarn needle. Pull it through your canvas. Do the same with the other end of your tie.

Here's the back.

Now triple knot the two ends together.

Arrange your poms into the tree shape and attach them to your canvas in the same way.

Now flip your tree over and fold over your canvas to the edge of your poms. Cut off the excess canvas being sure to cut it close enough so that you can't see the canvas from the front.

You're done! I attached my tree to our door with three push pins through the back canvas, one at each end of the "triangle". I also added a round satin ornament at the top.

If you make a tree of your own, please share a link to your project in comments below! I'd love to see! And if you blog or share your tree, please practice good internet manners and link back to my post of you do. This tutorial is for personal use. Thank-you.

Here's a before and after of that hutch by the way. MUCH improved in my opinion! (I took the glass off for the photo on the right because of reflections.) Also, do you spy our Elf on the Shelf? (I know, I know... groan....)

I've got a kids craft to share with you that I hope to have posted before Christmas Day. A great Christmas Eve craft idea for kids and adults alike, inspired by a very talented friend's new book! I'll also be doing a giveaway of said book. Stay tuned!