Often, when I mention things on the blog, I assume that you've been here from the beginning and know exactly what I'm talking about...like the pom-pom garland. I made my pom-pom garland back in 2005 after seeing it on thisblog. There really isn't anything to it other than having lots of pom-poms, some heavy thread or fishing line (I used upholstery thread and haven't had any breakage in my 5th year of use) and a needle. It isn't rocket science, but I'll share a tip or two that I've picked up over the years.
As I mentioned in that way-back-blog post, I found that the best pom-poms came from the Dollar Tree. These work well not only because of the price, but these pom-poms have a nice thick center, giving you something to push the needle through. The ones I picked up from Hobby Lobby were skimpy at the center, so it was hard to secure them onto the thread. Of course that was 4 years ago, the pom-poms from each store may be different now...the ones I picked up today from the DT weren't all that thick, but it did have a distinguishable middle.
What I like to do, is make several strands about 6-8' each. If your strand is too long, it can easily tangle up on itself...I know this from experience. Using several strands makes them easier to handle as well. For these photos, I used 2 bags of pom-poms, one 80 count and one 60 count, and ended with about a 7' strand. That should give you an idea about how many bags to purchase.
To make your garland start by threading your needle. You can cut a length of thread if you'd like, but I usually keep the thread on the spool and push my pom-poms down as I go until I get my desired length. Insert your needle through the center of each pom-pom, making sure to hit the center. If you don't get the center, your pom-poms won't be secure.
Once your garland is long enough, tie a knot around the last pom-pom you strung. Knotting around the pom-pom itself will ensure that the pom-poms won't fall off. Go back over your pom-poms, spacing them so that they touch, but aren't smooshed up against each other...giving your pom-poms a little breathing room allows for nice draping. Lastly, cut your thread from the spool (if you haven't already) and tie the loose end around the first pom-pom. That's it, easy peasy.
Warning, this is very addictive! Hmm, now that I think about it, some pom-pom garland might look nice on my stairs...
