How to Make Fabric Cheerleader Pom Poms

Create colorful fabric cheerleader pom poms to root for the home team. Show children and young adults how to make pom poms with durable material in team colors or printed with school or team logos instead of paper or plastic. Make them in different sizes and varied fullness to fit their purpose and the hand size of the cheerleader who will use them. They can also be made as props for a program or for dress-up and play.

Things You'll Need

• 2-yards fabric, printed or solid color, 45-inches wide, 1-yard per pom pom,
• Rotary fabric cutter
• Rotary cutting mat
• Clear craft mat (with measurements)
• Scissors
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Cut the 2-yards of fabric in half to make to 1-yard pieces, 45-inches wide. Lay one piece of fabric on a work table width-wise (45-inch side) and fold it into thirds, making three sections that are15-inches wide and 36-inches long.

2. Place your palm on the fabric and cut along one fold with scissors. Proceed the same way with the other side to create three separate lengths of fabric.

3. Lay the three strips of fabric on top of each other on the rotary cutting mat at one corner, right side down, so they are neatly aligned on the marked measurements.

4. Lay the long side of the clear craft mat 1-inch from one 15-inch wide edge of the three layers of fabric. Use the rotary cutter against the edge of the clear craft mat to cut 12-inch strips of fabric from one edge, leaving 3-inches uncut. Move the clear craft mat down another inch and cut another set of strips 12-inches long. Proceed the same way until the entire 36-inches of fabric has been cut into strips 12-inches long and 1-inch wide.

5. Keeping the three layers of fabric together, lay them right side down on the work table. At the 3-inch uncut side, begin tightly rolling the fabric pieces together along the edge. When finished, make a pom pom handle with a strip of duct tape wrapped around the fabric. Follow the same procedure to make a second cheerleader pom pom with the other yard of fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Before cutting the 1-yard of fabric into three pieces, a few straight pins may be helpful to keep the pieces secured together before cutting.

• Local fabric shops often carry material that reflect local sports teams.

• Fabric can be purchased on the Internet with companies such as Jo-Ann's or Hancock.

• Mix and match fabric prints and colors to make more interesting pom poms.

• Rotary cutting mats are available at craft and fabric stores and come in a variety of sizes.

• Be careful when using the rotary cutter; the blades are sharp and it is easy to cut yourself if you are not careful. For first time users, practice a few times on fabric before using it for this project.

References

• Disney Family Fun: Cheerleader Crafts
• Making Friends.Com: Pom Pom Crafts
• Joann: Fabrics
• Hancock Fabrics: Fabrics