I’ve got a little treat for you today…a tutorial for making a felted wool pomander! (Remember these little rosettes? I’ve been staring at them trying to envision them in a project. I was thinking how cute they would look all bunched up close together.) I’ve used felted wool sweater scraps, but I think it would also look nice with wool craft felt and other fabrics. Great for ornaments and holiday decor! Cute. Plus easy. Nice combo.
[Edit: Due to a blog platform update, the link to the tutorial slideshow no longer works. However, the tutorial step-by-step photos are still available here on Flickr.]
A note about my process: I tutorialize on the fly…that is, I photograph new projects as I make them for the very first time…just in case they turn out! The problem is that sometimes I come up with different solutions from what you see photographed. Um, yeah. Sorry.
For example, take the styrofoam ball. I had a few laying around, so that’s what I used for the center of the pomander. But Oh. Em. Gee. Have you priced Styrofoam balls lately? Way too pricey for what they are. So I came up with a few options for the center. Wrapping up fabric scraps and yarn into a ball works really well, especially if the fabric is a stretchy knit. Another option would be to wet felt or needle felt some scrap roving into a ball (see brown fuzzball above). Since the center is completely covered, no one will see what’s inside. It’ll be our little secret. *wink*
Oh yeah, and one more tip to add to the tutorial. After you glue the rosettes to the ball, remove the holding pins s-l-o-w-l-y after the glue is dry, twisting them with your fingers if they are reluctant. Alternately, you could just use your decorative pins to secure the rosettes, but I didn’t think of that since I was making the whole thing up as I went along…you know.
Whaddya think, are you going to try it? Should I make up a few for my etsy shop too? No promises…just thinkin’. I didn’t even know what a pomander was until I was trying to figure out what to call this. Thank goodness for google…
This work by Betz White is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
These would be so cute for a wedding….
Que lindo…obrigada por ensinar.
Um beijo,Nena
These are wonderful! I know what I will be giving at Christmastime this year. Thanks so much for sharing this project.
YAY! I just got out my bag of sweater scraps last night and just kinda stared at them. Then I made a birthday cupcake for a friend, but this is too cute! Thank You for posting.
Oh — so cute! Thanks for sharing another awesome idea with us!
Last time i went to buy a styrofoam ball i thought, HOLY HANNAH, in the last year or so they’ve gone up like 2 dollars! It’s insane! So i totally agree, way to pricy. These are super cute! I can’t wait to make some!
Love these!! – not sure if I’d ever make one, but sure would consider buying one… hint hint LOL LindaSonia
This is such a great project! GORGEOUS! I’ll be linking to this.
I loved this – and the slideshow tutorial was fabulous! Pretty pictures and easy to scroll through. I liked having the text and image together. I may steal the format for my next tutorial. . .
Really cute! I have been collecting wool sweaters from the local Salvation Army- now I know what to do with them!!
This is so pretty, thank you so much for sharing the step by step instructions x
Oh, I am soooo making some of these! They’ll be great for gift-giving- thanks a bunch!
Those are great! You are so very creative!
Love, love, love! Absolutely put some in your shop! Thanks so much for the tutorial too 😀
this is so tempty! must try it!
Great!
So cute! This will make the cutest topper for my daughter’s fairy wand to go with her garden fairy costume! Your leaves are so cute too, how do you get the crease in the middle like that??? I am using felt to make leaves for her costume and I was just going to sew at stitch through the centers but I would love to know how you did yours. Thanks!
A great idea and if you use the scrap wool for the inside and stretchy knit fabric for the outside of the ball, you could stick some nice smelly stuff in the center and then use the decorative pins to hold the rosettes to the ball exterior without gluing them, thus making a true pomander, which was to keep the stink away, after all. 🙂 If it’s not glued, you can change out the potpourri you’ve used in the center-lavender for one season, pumpkin pie spices for the fall, something citrus-y in the summer.
So cutie!!!! You are so creative! I’ll try…
Thanks for sharing your work!
Saludos desde Barcelona
Hi Betz, Thank you for such a terrific idea. I’m always looking for projects to do with all my smaller pieces of sweater felt…Yahoo…
Hi Kim,
Your daughter’s costume sounds cute! The leaves I made were cut out of a ribbed sweater, so the crease was already there. I like your idea of a stitch line down the center.
Fun!
Betz
Love love love the pomander idea and I cannot wait to try your tutorial.
These are adorable. I love them and while I would say I am DEFINITELY going to make at least one, I don’t know when that might happen. But I’m keeping these in my mind for Christmas crafting this year.
What a great project – thanks for sharing.
Lorrie
Cute! How about a mistletoe version for the holidays? Another excuse to lay a wet one on my son, who will roll his eyes.
What a great tutorial! Really pretty project that would fun to mass produce–it’s what I’m into these days–THANK YOU!
So inspiring. I love, love, love your book–I keep expecting you to run out of fabulous ideas but alas, now we have the worlds cutest pomander.
So, cute! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I love the slide show format. I’ll be making at least one for my Xmas tree this year. I also love ideas for those smaller pieces of felted sweaters and the tiny scraps will be going on the inside.
Love it!
Janet
I just love this and cannot wait to try it! Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial!
Very cute! I just finished my cup o joe pincushion kit – loved it too! Felt is fun!
I love this tutorial! Thanks!
I just had an awesome thought: Don’t they still make those satin Christmas balls that you can buy by the boxload? I used to buy them for the kids to make ornaments using pins and sequins. I’m sure you could use those for this project and save some money I think. Don’t they start putting out Christmas stuff, like, the day after Halloween? 🙂
Oh my gosh, that’s just wonderful. The craft, the tutorial, the idea. All of it. Thank you so very much!
so cute, and very clear tutorial!
Soooooo pretty! I love it. And, ohhhhh the possibilities!
How generous you are to share tutorials with the rest of us!
Thank you…from the bottom of my scrap basket, I thank you! 😉
Andrea
So cute!
And your tutorial format is awesome. I think we’ll be seeing this on lots of blogs now. 🙂
Thanks Betz!!! I will definitely be making these for the upcoming holiday season – I have so many extra little pieces of scrap sweater felt – can I link your tutorial on my blog after I make one? Another suggestion is looking at the Dollar Stores for styrofoam balls – I know the one by house stocks them.
Well, after those flowers lurked in my head all night, I succumbed to temptation and started making them this morning. I just need to head to the thrift store for some more colours.
Then I had the idea of a smaller circle flower on a cupcake pincushion and…you can see the result on my blog.
Sigh. As if I didn’t have enough to do!
Ughgghghghhh this is just gorgeous – how wonderful a tree would look adorned with these.
oops, my project will show up on my blog tomorrow, not today.
Greeting from Mexico City! Great idea, I was looking for an original, stunning, toddler-proof idea for Chistmas ornaments this year! Keep up the great work!
Jenn Denis
wow these are so cool and i can follow the tutorial. i just have to have a go!
Thank you so much for shearing!
great. it looks so charming.
a cute little gift – easy to make but looks so fantastic.
thanks for sharing this idea.
doro.
absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sahring – I will be making several of these!
So cute! Thank you!
these are great! a very great idea for a christmas gift!
My project for Monday. I now have an excuse to go thrift for some more brightly colored wool sweaters. What a joyful idea! Can’t wait!
Precioso. Muchas gracias
I love this. The idea, the colours… makes me want to take up felting!
Those are just lovely. What about a small topiary? Then you could display without hanging. So many possibilities – thank you.
Lovely, just.. so lovely! Finally decided to comment on your blog! I just couldn’t not say something about these wonderfull things you make!
I wonder if I could use your idea of these pomanders and try to make something similar using my favourite technique – crochet! It just definately stuck on my mind that romantic look of the little flowers!
Thank you so much for sharing!
love, Sofia – Portugal
Hi Betz,
This is very nice! Thanks for sharing. I’ll try to do.
Just found your blog through Clarice’s. What a lovely pomander! Thanks for sharing it. Warmly, Cathy ^..^
So so clever and looks great..might try it with some yo-yo’s and put some essential oil on a small cottonball inside to plump it a bit..
Deby
I love this idea, its very pretty thanks for sharing it.
Hi Betz
I did the rosettes ball. I used felt. It’s not so beautiful as yours but I liked so much. There is a link for your tutorial in my blog and a picture of my ball. If you don´t agree with it I’ll remove. ok?
thanks for sharing.
Such a fantastic idea !!!!
thanh U for the tutorials !!
Your creations are always gorgeous !
A big hug from Italy
Claudia
Really cool. I was led here from a posting at threadbanger.com from my Google reader….. cool tools! And I can’t wait to try this. Very likely Christmas gifts!
thanks!
This is adorable!! And your tutorial is brill, just as it is. I’ll have to check the $ store for balls. I do love the idea of making it from wool scraps [I’m a rughooker, and save leftover worms as well as little clippings that are really too small, but it’s in my blood… so if I tied them into balls in legs of pantyhose, maybe they would felt up into a ball…]. Love your blog and the inspiration – thank you!
Maureen
quoddyloopers.blogspot.com
Thank you for that wunderful creation! Exactly what I needed today!
i think this is simply awesome! i’m thinking of using some fun old wool sweaters after i give them a good felting. i am in an ornament exchange every year and this one could be the one for me to make. thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous! I think I’m going to try making these. Thank you so much for the tutorial.
Happy Autumn! 🙂
this is so clever way to go girlie!!!
These are really lovely and inspiring! But aren’t pomanders supposed to hold fragranced materials (reference dictionary.com)? What if one were to make a core for the rosettes from an old nylon stocking or a sock or a little bag made from a felted sweater filled with yummy smelling things like lavender buds, dried rosemary, or, for the holidays, a mixture of cinnamon, cloves and dried orange peel? Just an idea…
Hi Anonymous,
You are right, the original pomanders are “smelly”, but I liked the name better than “rose ball”. 🙂
Betz
jaci says: I JUST FOUND YOUR BLOG AFTER SURFING ON MARTHA STEWART… you have such bee u tea ful things I plan to make this project… i am new to “felted” crafts and I cannot wait to try this and the Heart Scarf on martha Stewart… thank you for the great projects jaci from MO
so pretty! I like it very much and try to do it. Thanks a lot!
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.lyricsdigs.com
My wife loved it. It’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us.
HELLO?!
THANHS FOR YOU BLOG , IT´S BEAUTIFUL. I´M SORRY BUT I HAVE DIFICULTY WIDE LINGUAGE.
I really enjoy reading your blog. I made my pomander after read your tutorial and love it!!! 🙂 you can see it on my blog. Thank you so much!!
Hola que bello trabajo, muy buena idea las florcitas para hacer una corona de navidad.
Cariños,
VERO
this is a cute craft. i am looking around the blog world for possible ideas of decoration for my own wedding sometime next year. thank u so much for sharing this.
These are wonderful! I think I will try a couple. I really appreciate the alternative to styrofoam balls seeing as they aren’t so “green”, *ahem*, Miss Sewing Green! 😉
I don’t think I ever told you when I did the review for the book. http://burdart.blogspot.com/2009/09/sewing-green-book-review.html
I appreciate you forwarding my email about it for me. 🙂
Do you mind if I repost about these billing them as possible Christmas ornaments?
This is so wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Muito lindo! Moro no Brasil e me apaixonei pela sua arte! Beijos…
I’m here via Amy Smart, and wanted to thank you for this great tutorial. These are adorable.
Wow, this rosette design is adorable and I’ve never seen anything like it. I would love to refer this gift to my visitors. May I copy the picture and put up a link to your site?
I just saw your lovely tutorial. I did a post about it on my blog. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great idea and a wonderful tutorial. I automatically think of stitching a few small ones together to make a candle ring for a flameless candle.
Felicitaciones, es un trabajo muuuuy lindo. Me encantó. Trataré de hacerlo en algún momento.
Gracias por compartir.
Yasmn
You could also pop a few drops of your favourite essential oil on these & hang them in your wardrobe 🙂
They are lovely, thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for this great tutorial! I ended up using a ball of yarn for the center because I was too lazy to look for anything else 🙂 I love how it came out and i am getting some flowers ready to do another one!
Hi betz,
new to your blog and glad I found it. this is such a neat tutorial, just lvoely, thank you very much!
Fulvia
очень красиво, просто и оригинально!
Lovely.
Thanks so much!
SO adorable! Thanks!
I shared this at http://www.facebook.com/homemadegiftideas
Hi! Dollar General has packages of styrofoam balls right now, the large ones came out to $1/each and the medium sized ones were 50 cents. Cheaper than the craft store!
Thank you for the tutorial….. this is lovely!
Here are mine! so pretty! Thanks for the lovely tutorial!
http://mac-aroni-n-cheese.blogspot.com/2011/01/recycled-wool-crafting-pomanders-and.html
Just a thought, wouldn’t it be nice to use a stuffed center with herbs such as lavender so it smells nice?
Hi Betz
I made a variation of these rosettes, coloring them with eyeshadows to give some nuances. Have a look if you want: http://ladaridari.blogspot.com/2011/02/made-up-wool-roses.html
Obviously, I linked you!
Bye
Daria
These are great for so many things. I’ve made lots of them.
And I recently linked back to this post. Thanks so much, Betz.
http://fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com/2011/03/simple-gifts.html
Great tutorial and love the slide show presentation of it…I came from Lorrie at fabricpaperthread.
Thank you for sharing, it’s beautiful.
Love this. I would wrap up potpourri in the fabric in the center – a pomander was meant to smell good. (Haven’t fully read your tutorial yet but it doesn’t seem to include anything smelly.) Great gift idea.
oi que linda adorei muito linda mesmo
eu sempre procuro satis assim
parabéns gostei mesmo
bejusss do brasil
Check out your local thrift stores for styrofoam balls. That’s where I find mine and they are super cheap!
Saw this wonderful idea on babble today. Will definitely be checking out what other great things you have made since this was posted. I would think doing these with all cream or white felt would look super sophisticated and classy. I’ve just found what new ornament I’m making for the tree this year. Thank you for a great tutorial!
I wanted to thank you for posting this craft! I had tons of fun spending the majority of my Sunday putting this gorgeous pomander together. Now… the only trouble is, I will have to think long and hard about who in my life deserves a 6 hour gift. LOL.
Thanks!
Cara
This is such a great idea! I found the picture on Pinterest and now I’m following you. Have a great day.
evescrochet.blogspot.com