6 Best Pom Pom Makers For Finished Gifts To Own
Discover the 6 best pom pom makers for crafting perfect gifts. This guide compares top tools to help you create professional, uniform accents with ease.
Adding a handmade pom pom to a finished hat or scarf is the ultimate finishing touch that elevates a simple project into a professional-looking gift. While DIY cardboard templates have their place, investing in a dedicated maker ensures your poms remain consistent, dense, and perfectly spherical every single time. Choosing the right tool depends on your yarn stash, your project frequency, and how much time you want to spend trimming. This guide breaks down the best tools on the market to help you achieve that elusive, high-end "store-bought" look.
Clover Pom Pom Maker Set: Best Overall Choice
The Clover set is the gold standard in almost every knitting studio I’ve visited over the last two decades. These plastic hinged arches are incredibly intuitive, allowing you to wind yarn evenly around each side before snapping them shut for a clean cut.
Because they are so sturdy, they don’t flex under the tension of bulky wool, which is a common issue with cheaper plastic alternatives. I find that the resulting pom poms are remarkably dense, leaving very little room for that "sparse" look that often plagues beginner efforts.
If you are a prolific gift-maker, this set is worth every penny for the time it saves. You aren’t just buying a tool; you are buying a consistent result that makes your knitwear look polished and intentional.
Loome Tool: The Ultimate Multipurpose Maker
The Loome is a brilliant, minimalist wooden tool that does far more than just create pom poms. It functions as a small frame for weaving, friendship bracelets, and tassels, making it a fantastic companion for a crafter who enjoys multiple fiber arts.
Because it is a flat, non-hinged tool, it requires a bit more finesse to tie off the center securely compared to a Clover maker. However, the trade-off is that it is virtually indestructible and feels wonderful in the hand.
I recommend this for the knitter who values a "slow craft" aesthetic and wants to minimize the number of plastic gadgets in their project bag. It’s a versatile piece of gear that earns its keep on your craft table.
Susan Bates Easy Pom Pom Maker Set Review
Susan Bates has been a staple in the fiber arts world for years, and their pom pom makers are designed with a focus on simplicity. These makers use a simple two-piece design that is very easy for beginners to grasp without feeling overwhelmed by complex mechanics.
The primary benefit here is the ease of removal; once you’ve tied your center knot, the pieces slide apart effortlessly. This reduces the risk of accidentally pulling your knot loose or distorting the shape of the pom as you take it off the tool.
While they might not produce the same level of extreme density as the Clover sets, they are perfectly adequate for most standard worsted-weight hats. They are a reliable, no-nonsense choice for someone just starting their gift-making journey.
Boye Pom Pom Maker: The Budget Friendly Pick
If you are looking to stock up on tools for a craft fair or a charity knitting project, the Boye makers are a solid, economical choice. They are widely available and get the job done without any unnecessary bells and whistles.
The plastic can feel a bit thinner than premium brands, so I advise against using extremely high-tension, heavy-ply yarns that might put too much stress on the hinges. Use a steady, consistent wrap rather than yanking the yarn tight, and you will get great results.
These are perfect for a knitter who wants to have a variety of sizes on hand without a significant financial investment. They prove that you don’t need the most expensive gear to produce a beautiful, professional finish.
Lacis Pom Pom Maker: Precision for Small Sizes
When you are working on miniature projects like baby booties or delicate ornaments, standard makers are often too bulky. Lacis specializes in smaller, precise tools that allow for intricate pom poms that don’t overwhelm your delicate knitwear.
The construction is designed to hold fine-gauge yarns securely, preventing the "slippage" that often happens when you use a large-scale tool with a thin thread. It’s all about proportion; a giant, heavy pom pom can actually ruin the drape of a lightweight baby hat.
If you find yourself gravitating toward fine-weight yarns or detailed accessories, this is the tool to reach for. It brings a level of professional refinement to the smallest of your finished gifts.
Clover Extra Large Maker for Chunky Yarn Gifts
We are currently in a golden age of super-bulky, hand-dyed roving yarns, and those projects demand a statement pom pom. The Clover Extra Large maker is specifically engineered to handle the volume of yarn required for a truly massive, high-impact topper.
The challenge with large poms is keeping the center tight enough that the pom doesn’t fall apart after a few wears. This tool provides the structural support needed to wrap a significant amount of material without the center shifting or loosening.
Use this for your heavy-gauge, cold-weather beanies where a small pom would simply look lost. It’s the finishing touch that makes a simple garter stitch hat look like a high-end boutique piece.
How to Select the Right Size for Your Project
Choosing the size of your pom pom is more of an art than a science, but it should always be proportional to the project. A good rule of thumb is that the pom pom should be roughly one-third the width of the hat’s crown.
- Small (1-2 inches): Perfect for baby items, fingerless mitts, or delicate ornaments.
- Medium (2-3 inches): The standard size for most adult hats and scarves.
- Large (3+ inches): Ideal for chunky beanies and oversized winter accessories.
Always consider the weight of the yarn itself; a very dense, large pom pom can actually pull the crown of a hat downward if it’s too heavy for the fabric. Balance is key to both the look and the comfort of the wearer.
Essential Tips for Trimming Your Finished Poms
The secret to a "store-bought" look isn’t the maker—it’s the haircut. Once you remove the pom from the tool, it will look like a messy, shaggy ball; you must be prepared to trim it significantly.
Use the sharpest fabric shears you own, and don’t be afraid to take off more than you think you need. I like to hold the pom in my palm and rotate it, snipping away the "flyaways" until it is a perfect, dense sphere.
Think of it like pruning a hedge; you are sculpting the shape. A well-trimmed pom pom should feel firm and bounce back into shape when you squeeze it.
Choosing the Best Yarn Fibers for Full Poms
Not all yarns are created equal when it comes to pom poms, and some fibers hold their shape much better than others. Wool is generally the best choice because it has natural "crimp" and loft, which helps the pom look full and fluffy.
- Wool/Acrylic Blends: Excellent for durability and ease of care, especially for children’s gifts.
- Pure Wool: Provides the best loft and "bounce," though it can be prone to pilling over time.
- Synthetic/Novelty Yarns: Can be tricky; avoid slippery acrylics that don’t hold a knot well, as they may unravel.
Avoid using super-slick, high-twist sock yarns, as they tend to result in a thinner, stringy-looking pom pom. You want a yarn with a bit of "grab" to ensure the strands stay locked in place once tied.
How to Attach Poms Securely to Your Knitwear
The biggest mistake I see is using a single, weak thread to attach a pom pom, which leads to it dangling precariously after a few wears. You want to use the long tails left over from your center tie to anchor the pom firmly to the crown.
Use a sturdy tapestry needle to weave these tails through the center of the hat’s crown, crossing them over each other inside the hat. Tie them securely against the inside fabric, perhaps even incorporating a small button on the inside to act as a washer.
This prevents the pom from pulling through the stitches and keeps it upright. If you want the pom to be removable for washing, sew a small snap or a button toggle onto the hat and the pom base.
Mastering the art of the pom pom is a small investment of time that pays massive dividends in the quality of your finished knitwear. Whether you choose the reliable Clover set or a versatile wooden tool, the key remains in the trimming and the secure attachment. Once you start adding these professional touches to your gifts, you’ll never want to leave a hat "naked" again. Happy knitting, and may your poms always be perfectly round.
