Adorable Pom Pom Animals: Dogs, Cats, and Other Woolly Friends

One must really love pom-poms—those small, ornamental tufts of yarn often used to embellish accessories or clothing—to dive as deeply into them as Ito does in this intricate craft guide. Ito begins with seductive pictures of pom-poms, among them rabbits, dogs, frogs, hamburgers, and an apple pencil-topper. Instructions begin with a discussion of tools and sizing before getting into the basics of making pom-poms, and then the individual projects. She shows how to place eyes to change expressions, how to form shapes with glue, and how to trim. The simplest project makes a chick hair tie and involves little more than wrapping yarn around a plastic base called a pom-pom maker, and making a single cut. The more advanced projects include two- or three-tone figures, like the parakeet or puffer fish, which incorporate up to three strands of yarn at points in the winding process. The projects yield palm-sized works of art that are both adorably cute and painstakingly detailed. Ito’s instructive and visually pleasing book will appeal to fans of Amigurumi (crocheted animals) and miniature-making enthusiasts. Color photos. [em](Aug.) [/em]