The fluffiness of a teddy bear’s face inspired our new pom pom project. We made a mama bear pom pom and a bear cub pom pom using two different sized Pom Makers. Both Donut Pom Maker (medium size) and Macaron Pom Maker (small size) are used in this tutorial to show you how you can make different size pompoms with the same method.
Enjoy!
Follow our detailed tutorial below for making a pom pom teddy bear
For the main instruction, we’ll use a Donut Pom Maker (medium size) for making a mama bear.
You can use a Macaron Pom Maker (small size) to make a smaller baby bear. There’s short footage showing this at the end of the video tutorial.
The method is exactly the same, except you’ll need to reduce the number of wraps slightly for each step.
Wrap approx 18-20 counts of black in the middle, but slightly off to one side on your Pom Maker. Wrap it tightly covering approx. a finger tip width.
Adult bears have a slightly long, large nose and baby bear’s nose is smaller. So wrap slightly less yarn in a smaller spot for the baby bear if you’re using a Macaron Pom Maker. (approx. 15 times)
The shorter side from the nose will be the chin and the other side the top of the head.
Wrap one layer of dark brown yarn (a shade darker than the muzzle color of your choice) right next to the nose, about half way towards the end of the Pom Maker.
Wrap your muzzle yarn all over the nose and mouth.
Start from above the nose and wrap all the way to the other end. It will cover approx. 2/3 of the Pom Maker.
Build up about 5 layers. The area wrapped above the nose will naturally be fatter.
Note
You can use the same face color yarn for the muzzle for a simpler design as we did for the baby bear in the video tutorial.
Now wrap some of your main face yarn on the exposed area of the Pom Maker. Overlap the muzzle yarn slightly as you do it.
Build up about 3-4 layers.
Wrap the black yarn very tightly where the two wrapped parts meet.
Wrap about 12 times in a very small spot.
Note
The side with the eyes will be the top of the head. Remember this side or make a little knot on the bar on this side of your Pom Maker to mark it.
Now wrap the brown yarn for the face all over the Pom Maker. Continue building many layers until your Pom Maker is full.
Put your finger lightly over the head end (the side with the eyes).
Wrap more brown yarn over your finger approx. 18-20 times.
Wrap the other half of your Pom Maker in solid brown yarn. This will be the back of the bear’s head.
Tip
Hold two or three strands of yarn together to speed up your wrapping.
Bring the two halves together and put your frostings on.
See this post to learn how to use our Pom Maker if you’re new to it.
Cut through the middle. A bear’s face will emerge!
Run waxed thread around the Pom Maker, make a knot and pull hard.
Repeat this a few times to make a very strong tie.
You can use any strong thread if you don’t have waxed thread, however waxed thread makes it so much better and we highly recommend it.
See our full post about it as this is one of the top secrets to making a great pompom!
For trimming, start by cutting around the eyes. See the area marked in with a pink dash line in the picture, like a sleeping mask for the bear.
Trim yarn in this area. Be careful not to trim the muzzle yarn .
Gather the muzzle yarn and the nose together with your fingers.
Poke with a felting needle through this, from outside towards the center. Repeat until the nose and muzzle are nicely held together and shaped.
You can also now trim the muzzle yarn slightly and carefully around the nose to a shape you like.
Split apart the dark yarn under the nose into two.
Felt each side until both sides are neatly divided.
Hold part of the muzzle just below the nose with your fingers.
Push up the muzzle yarn below the mouth (on the chin) towards the mouth/nose. You’ll now have the muzzle yarn separated by the darker yarn in an upside-down ‘Y’ shape.
Poke your felting needle through the whole thing towards the center until the mouth shape stays fixed.
Trim along the mouth line and tidy up nicely.
Hold each ear yarn neatly and felt.
Move your felting needle through the yarn from the sides to bond each thread next to one another. Be very careful. Do this slowly and don’t get distracted – felting needles are very very sharp!
Wear a thimble and use a foam block to felt against if you can.
Continue felting until all the yarn’s bonded.
Cut them into round ear shapes.
Thanks for bearing with us for this long tutorial! : )
Let’s introduce lots of pompom bears into this world. Make one for yourself and make another to make somebody happy!
No two bears are exactly alike, so experiment with different colors, facial marks and features. Brown grizzly bears, polar bears, cute teddy bears with friendly faces, honey loving bears with cute little button noses or big friendly curious noses… You can create many variations by trying different wraps.
Happy pompoming & don’t forget to share with #WeArePomMakers
We love to see your creations!