How to Make Your Own Yarn Pom Pom Rug

A few weeks back, I came to the realization that I have way too much yarn. Sure, the average craftsmith may have a few skeins (or rolls of yarn) strewn about, but this was much more than that. I mean much more.

When it comes to Do It Yourself projects...

Now, it's commonly known that the Do It Yourself part of the Internet is dangerous. The sheer volume of DIY content on social media sites alone has been responsible for countless weekend hours lost.

And it's claimed another casualty.

That's right, I've finally succumbed to the craft beast.

While perusing the Internet, I came across a how-to article on pom pom rugs made of yarn. It was great and all, but didn't give as much detail as my failure-is-imminent geared brain would like. So I tried my hand at making the thing anyhow and (SPOILER) it worked! And here we are today.

The bright side is that I finally had something to do with all this yarn I'd accumulated throughout college (remember, kids: buying a ton of crafting materials does not a crafty person make - you've actually got to DO SOMETHING WITH THEM).

The brighter side of this situation is that you, lucky reader, will have a much more thorough guide than I did.

Enough talk.

LET'S DO THIS

Materials

Points to consider before we begin...

1. Is there a certain color, pattern, or design you want your rug to be? If you would like to do a solid color, be sure to stock up on a specific color of yarn. If you're planning to do a hodgepodge of colors, then collect as many different hues as you can get your hands on! The more of a certain color you plan on using in your rug, the more of that colored yarn you'll need.
2. Are you making a large or small rug? There is a direct relationship between the size you want the rug to be and the amount of yarn you'll need. The bigger the rug, the more yarn you'll need. The smaller the rug, you get the picture.

If you're having trouble finding the end of the skein...

Making your pom poms

1. Take the first skein of yarn you'll be working with and locate the end of your choice.
2. Cut a length of yarn no shorter than 1 ft. in length and set aside. You'll need it later.
3. Next, lay the closed glasses case flat on the table or any other surface you have. Return to the skein of yarn and place the tip of the end on the case so that the strand of yarn lays perpendicular to one of the case's longest edges.
4. Holding the end in place with one finger, begin to wrap the yarn snugly around the case. It's better to keep the yarn on the loose side than wind it too tight. Keep wrapping until you have a layer of yarn roughly 1 in. thick and 3 in. wide.
5. Cut the yarn so the end lays even with the same edge with which you began.
6. Carefully slide the ring of yarn off the end of the case. Allow the two lengths of yarn to rest on top of each other, creating a rounded crease at either end. Be sure to keep th strands of yarn parallel to each other.
7. Pinch the center of the yarn bundle, creating a bow tie shape.Take the length of yarn you set aside in Step 1 and wrap it once around the center of the bow tie, knotting it as tightly as possible. Feel free to double knot if needed. DO NOT CUT THE TWO LONG STRANDS OF YARN HANGING FROM THE KNOT. These will be used to tie the pom pom to the rug canvas later.
8. Gently tug on a few strands of yarn. If they freely slide out from beneath the knot, cut the string you tied around the bundle, measure out a new length of yarn from the skein, and try again. REMEMBER: There is no such thing as too tight when making these knots. The more secure the strands of yarn are in the bundle, the more secure the pom poms will be on the finished rug.
9. Take your scissors and enter a single blade into the loop on one end of our bow tie. Once you're confident the strings on either side of the scissors are the same length, cut them. Continue to do this until the loops of yarn on either end of the bow tie have been cut. If the strands aren't exactly the same length once they're cut, don't worry. It won't impact the final rug.
10. Feel free to trim any strands you think are too long if you'd like the pom poms to have a uniform look. If not, that's perfectly fine, too!
11. Admire your pom pom! You will be making quite a few of these, as they will be covering the entire surface of your rug.

Attaching your pom poms to the rug canvas

1. Remove your rug canvas from its packaging and lay flat.
2. If you have decided to make a rug of a particular size or shape, now is the time to measure out and cut the rug canvas to fit your needs. A regular pair of scissors will do the trick.
3. Once the rug canvas is the size and shape you need, you will begin attaching the pom poms to it. Most rug canvases will have a grid on them. You will be tying a pom pom at each intersection on that grid. Take your crochet hook and, holding the first pom pom underneath the first intersection, reach the hook through one of the four squares which form that intersection. Take one of the long pieces of yarn hanging from the pom pom and wrap it once around the hook. This will allow you to pull that piece of yarn through the square in the canvas.

4. Once you have the first strand through the square, reach the crochet hook through the square on the opposite side of the X shape formed by the intersecting blue lines. Pull the second strand through to the other side of the canvas.

5. Taking the two long strands of yarn, knot them as tightly as possible against the rug canvas. Double knotting is recommended.

6. Repeat these steps at the other intersections formed by the blue lines of the grid until your canvas is completely covered by pom poms.

7. Pat yourself on the back! You just made a rug!

Voilà!

WARNING: Finished product may attract uninvited company

Comments

Katie on November 03, 2017:

Is this easy to make and does it take along time to do it?

Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on January 27, 2015:

Excellent hub, so creative and well presented!

I don't know how I missed this one. I would definitely like to try this rug and your pictures are so helpful.

Thanks for sharing and voted up! I am pinning this one!

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on January 21, 2015:

Thanks so much!

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on January 21, 2015:

Thank you! I haven't tried Clover pom pom makers yet, but this method has worked very well for me so far.

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on January 21, 2015:

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

amazmerizing from PACIFIC NORTHWEST, USA on January 13, 2015:

Perfect hub!!! Yeahhhh!!! ;)

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on January 13, 2015:

You can certainly use threads for this project. However, to get the same full, thick layer, you'll need quite a bit of it.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on January 13, 2015:

you sure are clever, too bad i don't have yarn, what about threads?

Ann from Yorkshire, England on October 14, 2014:

love it - something else for me to try - pinned to my crafts board

agusfanani from Indonesia on September 23, 2014:

Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea. I vote your hub useful, beautiful as well as awesome.

MartieG aka 'survivoryea' from Jersey Shore on September 09, 2014:

Love the photos that show how this is done-very nice!

Angela F from Seattle, WA on September 09, 2014:

Now this looks like a fun craft project that would be great for the Fall and Winter months. Pinned to my Craft board: http://www.pinterest.com/shewanders2/she-wanders-t...

crissalina on September 09, 2014:

Cute project! I'll try it for sure!:)

nasirislam2010b13 on September 09, 2014:

i really love these kinds of rugs.

Kalpana Iyer from India on September 09, 2014:

I love the rug! Something to do when I end up with a lot of yarns. Congrats on HOTD!

RTalloni on September 08, 2014:

Cute, cute project! How can you tell your dog from your rug?

Congrats on your Hub of the Day award and thanks for the tutorial!

Dianna Mendez on September 08, 2014:

Congraulations on the HOD. I love this idea, guess your dog does too. This would be a great idea as gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

Dennis Hoyman from Southwestern, Pennsylvania on September 08, 2014:

Wow don't know if I can do this because I am a man!!! But you did a great job! Thanks for the information and it's a great Hub keep up the great work! Gardener Den!

Stephen J Parkin from Pine Grove, Nova Scotia, Canada on September 08, 2014:

Looks like your dog inspired your rug design! Love the dog. Well done on the Hob of the day.

Joanna from Wilseyville on September 08, 2014:

I love this! I have tons of yarn also, just need the rug canvas. Your instructions & pictures are really great! Perfect finish with your puppy dog on the rug. :)

Kathy Hull from Bloomington, Illinois on September 08, 2014:

This is awesome! I'm not sure I'd ever have the patience to do it, but I'm pinning it for future reference. Congrats on HOTD!

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on September 08, 2014:

What a cute project! Although I think my dogs would use it as a toy. :) Your photos and instructions are fantastic. Well deserved Hub of the Day. Congrats!

Carolann Sherwood on September 08, 2014:

I am another fan. I cannot wait to get started as I love crafty ideas. These would make wonderful Christmas presents so I guess I better get started. Thanks again for the wonderful article and the illustrations help a great deal.

Ann Hinds from So Cal on September 08, 2014:

Don't have time but have too much yarn. Pinning this for future reference. Would love to make the rugs.

Eileen from Western Cape , South Africa on September 08, 2014:

Congrats on HOTD ! Excellent tutorial and a fun project for the family .

Pam Irie from Land of Aloha on September 08, 2014:

That's a great tutorial with pics. Your pom pom rug turned out really fun! I had seen this "pattern" also on another yarn site but couldn't figure it out, so your tute is welcome. Congratulations on HOTD! :)

Nick Deal from Earth on September 08, 2014:

Congrats on HOTD!

Holly from Missouri on September 08, 2014:

This is well written and explained. I'm going to add this to my ever growing list of DIY projects!

mySuccess8 on September 08, 2014:

Congrats on your Hub of the Day! A skill to learn, which you have explained well!

Rebecca Be from Lincoln, Nebraska on September 08, 2014:

That is a pretty rug. When I get extra yarn this is on my list.

Catherine Giordano from Orlando Florida on September 08, 2014:

I haven't done any crocheting in years, but have lots of yarn in a box. Just this morning I thought to myself, "I need a throw rug right here." And then I see your hub. The universe is funny that way. Thanks.

Stephanie Bradberry from New Jersey on September 08, 2014:

This is a really awesome project. You have a well polished and clear article that makes it easy to follow the directions and steps. I feel really inspired and confident I can pull this project off!

Rochelle Frank from California Gold Country on September 08, 2014:

Nice job ! (On both the hub and the rug.) I might have to try this.

Your dog knows who this was intended for.

Marlene Bertrand from USA on September 08, 2014:

This is a great idea and the most thorough tutorial I have read in a long time. Thanks so much. And, congratulations on receiving Hub of the Day.

Jim from Kansas on September 08, 2014:

Interesting project. And a pretty neat looking final result. Congratulations on HOTD.

Susan Deppner from Arkansas USA on September 08, 2014:

What a great project and a well-written, fun-to-read tutorial! This would be a terrific project now that fall is on the way. Love the finished product - and your model! Congratulations on HOTD honors today!

Cher Lagura from San Fernando, La Union on September 08, 2014:

I've tried that using rags which are cut into pieces but I'll try using threads this time.

Thelma Alberts from Germany on September 08, 2014:

Wow! Congratulations on the HOTD! I still have a lot of excess yarn in our cellar. Thanks for sharing this DIY. I´ll be doing this when time allows me. Voted up and easy to make. Useful!

Marie on September 08, 2014:

What a lovely pom pom rug. I could certainly use up some spare yarn to make one - great idea. I think my daughter would enjoy having one in her bedroom. I use Clover pom pom makers but I see your method is also quick and easy.

Annie Messeri from Spain on September 08, 2014:

I love this idea, and will most certainly have a go at making this rug.

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on August 30, 2014:

Thank you! It was about time I put some of it to good use!

MartieG aka 'survivoryea' from Jersey Shore on August 30, 2014:

What a fun project for all that extra yarn!

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on August 28, 2014:

Thank you very much! He's certainly fond of it.

Giovanna from UK on August 28, 2014:

Your dog looks so cute sitting on his pompom rug. Brilliant idea. Easy to follow instructions.

Ana Koulouris (author) from Chicago, IL on August 28, 2014:

That's a fantastic idea! It would certainly be nice once the weather gets colder!

CherylsArt on August 28, 2014:

That's a cool idea. I've made pom poms before, but hadn't considered making a rug with them. Since you cut to size, you could also cut one to fit around the base of the toilet, and make a bathroom set. : )