Lovely crafter friend Tattysquawk noticed that I’d broken out my pompom maker, and suggested that I might like to help out on a charity world record event, with a target of 7000 pompoms. Since I was fully in the grip of pompomania, it was perfect serendipity!

The Hellbeast* decided to carry out destruction testing on my first 3 big pompoms.

The first 28 made from Aran yarn from Aldi’s random stuff aisle, and scratchy wool from the Worcester Resource Exchange that might have been used to make carpets.

Tattysquawk modelling a couple of pompoms. It might have got a little silly.

The next 54, made from all the scrap yarn in my stashes, colours I won’t use (that’s why they’re mostly quite subtle) and 3 for 2 deal at Poundland.

I remember reading somewhere about falling in love with colours, especially colours that you wouldn’t usually use. That definitely happened to me. There was a pale blue that came from a friend’s late mother’s stash. Initially I thought it was really boring, but as I was winding, I noticed it had a subtle, almost iridescent colouring, shading through lilac and pale green and a beautiful sheen. I hope Dave‘s mum would approve of the use of her lovely wool.

The other thing I noticed was that my worth ethic latched on to the pompom-making the same way as it did onto making snakes. I stopped taking rest breaks, and doing my own daily makes. I prioritised “work” over my health. Since this is part of what made me sick in the first place, it’s something I still need to work on.

Huge congratulations to all the pombadiers, who ended making 8200 pompoms in total! We have to wait a while to find out if we officially get the world record, but you can see the flufftastic pompom garlands on the Facebook page.

UK makers – click here to find your local resource exchange/scrap centre. They are amazing places and great sources of inspiration!

*This is the Hellbeast. It was taken a year ago, so she’s a lot bigger now.