It’s December 7th and we’re already talking #12 months of DIY? That’s right! And its our last craft of the year. Can you believe it? Later in the month we’ll be recapping with our favourite projects from the series, so if you’ve forgotten what our year looked like, just wait! For this edition we’re doing all things yarn! Because I’m not a huge knitter and I don’t do wall hangings, I thought I’d breathe some new life into our Christmas stockings and tree skirt by adding pom poms and tassels in the colours of my season.
To see the tree skirt in action check-out my Colourful & Eclectic Christmas Tree Post // here //
*Lion Brand Yarn sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.
So without further ado, I present our Christmas stockings. We purchased them from Canadian tire 5 Christmases ago and got the matching tree skirt (red with with polka dots) the next year when we got our first tree. I added the jingle bells a few years ago to give me a more festive look, but it wasn’t enough. Like many elements from our first Christmases together, I cherish them because they were the simplest Christmases. I also look back and cringe because I had no clue what I was doing.
I know, you’re thinking this is a super easy and simplistic DIY, why bother?! I’ll tell you why – because it’s low cost / big impact, and gave me great joy in the evenings while watching Christmas movies. Sitting there wrapping pom poms and tassels as a way to unwind is kind of fun.
*The following product links contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible. For my full policies click // here //
Materials
- 5 skeins of Lion Brand yarn – I used these colours: Wool-Ease® – Eggplant – 167
, Wool-Ease® – Blush Heather – 104
, Wool-Ease® – Seaspray – 123
, Wool-Ease® – Ranch Red – 102
, Wool-Ease® – Forest Green Heather – 180
- Scissors
- No-Sew fabric Glue 4oz
or a needle & thread.
- Time and your hands
- Tree skirt + Stocking
Part 1: Making a Pom Pom
Step 1: To make a pom pom you start by deciding how big you want it to be. For the purposes of our tree skirt I went with 3 fingers wide.
Step 2: Start wrapping your yarn around your fingers. You’ll do this a quite a few times. The more times you wrap the yarn, the bigger and plusher it’ll be. I wanted big ol’ fatties so these pom poms were hefty.
Step 3: Once you’re done wrapping the pom pom you need to tie it off. This is where having 3 fingers comes in handy. I remove the middle finger from the pom pom to make it easier to slide my tie-off yarn inside. I can’t properly explain this part, so I’ll just show you pics.
Step 5: When tying-off, make sure you leave a loop or tail to help fasten the pom poms to the tree skirt. No matter how tight you fasten the cinching part, the strands will always be a little loose and if you pull hard enough they’ll come out.
Step 5: Cut down the middle of each bunch of loops.
Make however many you needed for your tree. I needed about 10 in each colour for a total of 50.
Step 6: Time to attach these suckers to your tree skirt. Flip the skirt over and glue the loops from each pom pom onto the skirt.
Only once it’s fully dry do you flip the skirt over and instal it back under the tree. Beware, if you have cats that like to look angelic under the tree they will also be tempted by the pompoms.
Part 2: Making a Tassel
If you thought making a pom pom was simple, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Step 1: Decide how long you want your tassel to be. In my case I opted to create a long and a short one. I used a book and my phone as the guides.
Step 2: Like with the pom poms, start wrapping your yarn around the book/phone until you’ve achieved your desired thickness.
Step 3: Run a piece of yarn under the top of your tassel to cinch the strands. Always leave enough yarn after tying the knot so that you can make a loop to use to attach it.
Step 4: Using another piece of yarn (or suede – in any colour) wrap the top of the tassel tightly to help keep everything cinched.
Step 5: Like with the pom poms, once everything is secure, cut through the loops at the bottom.
Step 6: Attach smaller pom poms to the tassels, or just attach them to your stocking. I did by adding them through the loops.
And there you have it! The easiest way possible to bring your stockings and tree skirt up to speed if you’ve added new colours to your Christmas palette.
Now it’s time to see the rest of the DIY YARN project ideas from my Canadian blogging friends.
From the top left, they are:
Crochet Cowl from Brooklyn Berry Designs
DIY Chain Yarn Garland from Woman In Real Life
Easy Arm Knit Reading Blanket from Heather in Heels
Creative DIY Art Using Yarn from Love Create Celebrate
Easy DIY Faux Macrame with Wool from Vin’yet Etc.
DIY Pom Pom and Tassel Stockings and Tree Skirt from PMQ for Two <– you are here!
Free crochet coaster pattern for beginners from Sustain My Craft Habit
Beginner Crochet Infinity Scarf from Fresh Crush
DIY Yarn Wall Hanging from Lifeovereasy
How to Make an Arm Knit Blanket with a Fringe from The DIY Mommy
Make Embellished Yarn Wrapped Glass Bottle Vases from Time With Thea
Christmas Front Porch from Life Is A Party
Pom poms are the best. I love the colors you chose. That aqua yarn is too pretty!
Aren’t they they’re so much fun too. All kinds of colours and sizes can really make for a fun time
These are so cute! I really want to make pom poms, I just need to find time to get to a Joann fabrics to get the yarn! I’m going to attach them to my dog’s collar so she has a snowball collar for winter!
What! That’s adorable! You can always use the links in my materials list! They are affiliate links (as stated), but if you’re going to buy the yarn anyways, this way you’re helping me out a bit!
LOVE LOVE LOVE! such a simple but creative idea. I love the pom poms on the tree skirt especially. just so pretty! our first Christmases we’re pretty funny too- when I look back (cringing like you) seeing all the random hand me down decorations I just ‘threw up’ all over the place…blech! so much nicer now that’s we’re all smarty-pants and stuff:)
essentially! You just summed it up. Hand-me-down nonsense and too much red. nothing wrong with heirlooms, but there’s no sense in handing down dollarama
You had me at low cost/ big impact;) Love any DIY with those combined traits!
Glad I could hook ya 😉
i couldn’t love this idea more!
😉 <3
What a fab idea to jazz up your stockings and tree skirt! So pretty and fun. And you really committed – 50 pom poms! Wow! Looks great.
Right?! They’re in perfectly good shape so there was no point buying new ones, plus they have immense sentimental value.
That commitment was one I don’t regret making 😉
Confession time! Prior to one of my 12 Month projects I had never made a pom pom before…. haha, that sounds weird to even say out loud – shocking I know. Your tutorial is perfect for a potential first timer! Showing how much fun and impact pom poms and tassels have on existing decor is so smart and will speak to a very large audience… not everyone has the disposable income to just go out and buy all new colour coordinated things every year. I love this project, the look and feel of it and the brilliant way it updates without the added pressure of spending a ton of cash on decor – very clever!
Thank you Laurie, that is such a nice compliment. I know it’s hard to forget sometimes that not everyone has the opportunities we do as bloggers, so bringing it back home with the simple upgrade really felt like the perfect holiday project.
What a fun project! I love that you updated your old stockings to add your own unique touch – that’s a great approach when you buy something instead of making it from scratch. Love all the colour too 🙂
Isn’t it?! I can’t bear to part with them, and they’re in such great condition, so updates until they fall apart!
Love this project, such a great way to add some personalize and add a little more colour to stockings and tree skirt. Great idea.
Thanks Dannyelle! I think they would look gorgeous with all your garlands!