Poof! It's fun on a fork!

"What? A fork?" you say.

That's right! I used to work at an after-school center, and the kids couldn't wait to make these poof balls. They would drop their bags and grab a fork. Boys, girls-- didn't matter. They all wanted in on the fun. We made poof balls until everyone had one, then played toss games, table soccer, or tried to bat them up in one hand without letting the ball hit the floor. We even made a mini tabletop croquet game! Of course, you could make garland or fringe by tying poofs along a string, use them as zipper pulls, or a hat bobble. Some kids might like a box of them for sensory play. Oh, or put a few dozen on a blanket and make them jiggle, or try to roll them from one side to the other.

These days, I use poof balls to make Fluffy Yarn Friends. This is a great project for a rainy day, a friends-over project, or a 'what are we going to do now' moment. Enjoy!

Pretty handy? You can home in on the BOLD print.

Need more help? There are plenty of pictures and step-by-step.

THE POOF BALL:

Who can do it:

LOTS of ages!

(I've done this craft quite well with kids as young as 6 up to high schoolers.)

Skills:

+ hold thread +tie a granny knot +use sharp scissors

Assistance:

Little ones, or those less nimble with their fingers, will definitely need a buddy.

Intermediate kids will probably need help tying really tight knots.

Advanced kids will be fine, but might still want an extra finger to hold those knots.

THE FLUFFY FRIEND:

Skills:

+cut +glue stick +glue gun

Little ones will do great picking out their colors and pointing out where to do the sticking, but a grown up needs to handle the glue gun.

Intermediate kids can do most of this on their own. Again, a little help with the glue gun.

Advanced will do well. (after a reminder about the glue gun:)

Supplies

Supplies:

POOF BALLS

sharp scissors (with a good point)

yarn (your choice)

cotton string / upholstery thread

metal fork (with straight tines)

FLUFFY FRIENDS

stick glue

scraps of heavy paper (your color choice)

google eyes (size and style is up to you)

scissors

glue gun (or good tacky glue of choice)

Most folks with children have the needed materials already around the house. If you want to purchase items, pick your favorite craft store. They will all have precisely what you need. The size of the googles will depend on the size of your poof balls and your own creative choices.)

NOTE: Do not use regular sewing thread; it is too fragile. Upholstery thread is much stronger and easier to use. You can pick a color to match your project, but it really won't be seen in a good, fluffy poof ball.

Step 1: Making the Poof Ball

(Note: if you want to jump to the Fluffy Friend, you can use a store bought puff ball, but I find the glue doesn't want to stick and, besides, making your own exercises creativity, finger muscles, patience, cooperation, and fills up more time on that long rainy day.)

You need a fork. A good, strong- preferably metal- fork.
Cut a length of the string/upholstery thread about 12 inches long
Set the thread into the center gap of your fork tines. Make sure the fork sits at about the middle of the thread.

Step 2: Start the Yarn

We will use yarn that is still attached to the skein. Do not measure out a length and cut it off. Work still attached.

Drape a couple inches of yarn along the handle of the fork, up into the center gap in the fork.
Close your fingers around the thread AND the yarn.
Hold on.

NOTE: There are many yarn styles out there. You pick whatever makes you happy. I do suggest avoiding anything too 'plastic' feeling as it will be very slippery. Thin yarns will require more work overall. For a regular sized dinner fork, kindergarten type 'fat' yarn will be to big. Pick a nice, average sweater sort of yarn for knitting or crochet to start with.

Step 3: Wrap It Up

Wrap the yarn round, and round the fork until it's as full as you want it to be. I do mine at about 3/4 inch thick once it's all bundled up in the fork.

keep the yarn snug as you work, but not crazy tight
pass the yarn through the tines to the back of the fork
loop around the outside tine of the fork, and pass in front of the fork
go around behind and keep circling the fork
you can double up the yarn in about a 1 inch area, but don't climb all the way up the fork

Note: The more yarn you add, the fuller your poof ball. Loose and scraggly is lovely! Packed and full is perfect too!

Step 4: Tying Off

Remember those threads we draped into the tines? Their time has come!

Without removing the yarn from the fork, gently pull those threads up and make the first half of a 'granny' knot. (see images).
Cinch up the thread. You can see I am pulling enough to turn my skin white, but not quite enough to hurt.
Hold the knot in place and throw in the second hitch. Tighten down.

NOTE: you want to see the yarn scrunch up in your knot. This is what will give you a fun ball instead of a pretty pile of loose yarn falling on the table.

NOTE: you may need some help here holding the fork and/or tying the knot. I do it alone, but a little teamwork can make this SOOO much easier.

Step 5: Free the Fork

It is now safe to pull the yarn bundle off the fork.

Flip it over and tie a second knot on the backside, nice and tight.

You should see the yarn tighten up again. This is good.

Step 6: Snip Snip!

If all went well, you now have a sort of flat disc of yarn. Keep the dangly bits for now. It gives you something to yang onto as you work.

see how your yarn bundle has little loops? Stick your scissors in there, make sure you are at the very top of the loops, and snip the loop open. (see image with scissor tips)
work your way around the bundle, slowly snipping loops. You can see mine starting to open up as I go.

You will end up with a flat sort of marshmallow shaped blob of yarn.

Step 7: Noogie Time!

You know how you might rub your hand on someone's head to playfully mess up their hair? Alright, we don't need the full on knuckle rub here, but we do need to muss up some yarn.

hold the strings with one hand and lightly rub the poof ball with the other hand
scuzz scuzz scuzz
turn and scuzz

Keep turning and rubbing until you see a round ball instead of a squashed marshmallow. You can use your fingertips to 'tickle' your yarn ball too.

Step 8: Barber Shop

BE CAREFUL!! Do not cut your fingers.

Take your time and gently cut away the weird, floppy, flying, sticky-out, crazy yarn ends from your ball.

Or don't. It's really up to you. What makes you giggle? What looks pretty or fun? Do that.

I like mine shaggy-- it makes sticking on the feet and eyes a little easier too.

Step 9: THAT"S IT!

That's it! You can stop here if you like and still have lots of fun with your poof ball. It can go on a hat, a zipper pull, make more and create a long garland. Make them big like a baseball, nice and full, and throw them as 'snowballs'. The fun awaits!

For those of you who want to keep going and make the Fun Fluffy Friends-- read on!

Step 10: Fluffy Friends

Cute! Right?! Just a couple of easy steps and you can have a Friend of your very own.

NOTE: You may, of course, use a pre-made puff ball from the store. Personally, I find them a bit harder to work with though, because the glue doesn't like to stick. Any glue. Ever. Besides, a handmade poof ball just has so much personality sitting in there waiting to show itself. Let the cute come alive.

NOTE: This is where the glue gun comes in. If you are using it, go plug 'er in. If not, grab a bottle of tacky glue.

Step 11: Footwear

Your dude needs to stand upright. This requires some cardstock or heavyweight paper.

cut it into a heart shape
cut off the tip

"What size?" you ask me.

Well... that depends. What size is your poof ball? The shoes need to seem a bit 'clown-ish' compared to that size. You can always cut down, so start a little big.

NOTE:

If your 'I just have to have it' amazing paper is 'regular' weight paper-- fear not. Cut the heart shape out of this perfect selection, then use the glue stick to attach it to a bit of cardstock. Let it dry, then cut off the excess cardstock. Bingo! Instamatic 'heavy' paper.

Step 12:

Glue the feet onto the poof ball. It helps if you gently smooth back a few strands of yarn to make a slightly flat place. Glob on some hot glue. Yep, glob it. Don't go crazy, but get a good sticky spot going. Something more than a lentil but less than a jelly bean. With the feet sitting on your work surface, press the ball down onto the paper feet. Watch your fingers.

NOTE: your glue is likely to spread out. Be sure you are working on a surface that can be accidentally glued. Also, the glue will cool quickly. Lift the feet up before they are permanently attached to the table.

Step 13: Peepers! Geepers!

Pick out some eyes. Googlies are great! Any size, color, style that suits the personality of your Fluffy friend is exactly the right choice. You can't go wrong!

Now, I know it seems odd that I'm about to tell you how to glue on an eye-- who hasn't done that?-- but here's a few tips, just in case.

decide where you want the eye before you touch that HOT glue gun
CAREFULLY dab a bit of glue onto the back of ONE eye only
pin that eye against a couple strands of yarn and hold in place
do the other eye

Note: Glue is hot and hard to hold. You could use a pencil or craft stick to push against if you don't want to risk your fingers. What you can't do is just shove that eye onto the ball and hope it will hold. It needs help to stay put.

Step 14: High Five Your Fluffy Friend!!

You did it! Take a moment and enjoy your success! I know whatever you created is absolutely cool! Please, share it with our Instructables community by adding an 'I made it!' picture. Then, go back to your studio and make some more Fluffy Friends! Give them props, like a tiny cup, a baseball bat, a pencil, a tiny rake, or whatever. Maybe they like to do homework with you (what??), or sit in the window and watch the world.

P.S. Mine REALLY like to play catapult. Yeah, it's true. I made a popsicle stick launcher and they, um, go for a ride across my living room. Sometimes we do math to see which one went the farthest, we even chart it, but other times we just let the Fluffy Friends fly for the sheer joy of it.