How to Make Cheerleading Pom Poms

There are a variety of ways to make cheerleading pom poms, although most squads simply order them from a company that manufactures a pom pom with the colors and specification you require. There are, however, ways to make cheerleading pom poms at home. While these homemade cheerleading pom poms may not look as professional as store made ones, they work well and serve their purpose.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Trash Bags
• Water

Make Cheerleading Pom Poms

1. Select your color and purchase plastic trash bags to match. There are a plethora of trash bag colors in stores. The most basic are black or white but you can mix these two together for a modern look. Purchase about 10 bags of the color you want.

2. Lay the bags flat, one on top of another on a large, hard cutting surface (not your mother's hardwood floors!). Be sure that the bags are placed evenly together. You may need to trim awkward parts of the bag before you begin.

3. Fold the bags in half together. Line up both halves perfectly and prepare to cut.

4. Cut small slivers about half way up the folded bag pile and then cut it in strips. The size of the strips can vary depending on how full you want the pom pom to be. For a fuller look, cut thinner strips, for a thinner look, cut thicker strips.

5. Take the bag and fold it lengthwise. The folded top can now be scrunched together and wrapped with duct tape (or any other firm type of tape). This is the handle. Below the tape are the pom pom strips.

6. Take a few strips in between the palms of your hands and rub them together to create as much friction as you can (called "fluffing the strips") for 3 to 4 minutes. This step works best when the hands are lightly moistened. The thicker you want your pom pom, the longer you can rub the strips together.

Tips & Warnings

• You can adjust your pom poms by purchasing different types of plastic trash bags. Some are much thicker than others.

• You can purchase material from a fabric store to create your pom pom, but try to choose a material that does not fray once cut.

• Pom poms are great for younger squads who have not yet incorporated advanced stunts or jumps.

• Never cut your strips all the way to the top of the fold. This will leave you without handles.