DIY Anthro Inspired Snowball Garland

A few weeks ago, while I was aimlessly pinning away on Pinterest, I stumbled upon the most beautiful pompom snowball garland from Anthropologie.
It's been pretty well documented by now, that my love affair with garlands runs deep... So, for the next several days, I contemplated buying this lovely piece of holiday decor, but at $38, I just couldn't justify the purchase.
Then it occurred to me... I could totally make this!

So off I headed to the craft store to collect the necessary supplies. Much of what I needed, I already had on hand, but I got super lucky, when it turned out the yarn I was searching for was on sale for $4.99 this week (at Joann Fabrics)!

Supplies

Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn in Starlight

Yarn needle
Scissors

Optional Supplies

Clover 3 and 3/8 inch pompom maker (this is not a necessity, there are several DIY pompom maker tutorials on the web, such as this one

US Size N crochet hook (also not necessary, you could just as easily string your pompoms on plain strand of yarn, or braid/twist 2-3 strands together.)

Instructions
Create strand, in the length you desire (mine is about 6.5 feet in length), to string pompoms on.  For this I chained 120 using a size N crochet hook.  If you do not crochet, you can use one of the other mentioned methods.

Using your pom pom maker, create as many pompoms as you would like for your garland.  I made 9 and still had yarn left to spare.  You will want to give each pompom a "haircut" so to speak, and then using your fingers, rough up the yarn to give your pompoms a fuzzier appearance.

Once you are done making your pompoms, you will want to cut strands of yarn to hang your pompoms from.  I made mine about 6 inches or so in length.  Cut as many as you have pompoms.

Using your yarn needle, thread one strand of yarn per pompom through each pompom, and then through the strand of yarn in which your pompoms will hang from. You will want to space them out as evenly as possible along the strand.  Tie each 6 inch strand in a double knot, and pull, so that knots hide within your pompoms.  Trim ends if necessary.

Now hang your garland and admire your work... and the fact that you just saved yourself a lot of money by making something yourself!

-J

Linking up with Home Sweet Ruby, Home of Malones, Lisa Loves John, and Katie Elizabeth

Crocheted Pumpkins | A Pattern

I've been seriously slacking on my DIY posts, so I thought I'd share a quick and easy pattern for some festive little crocheted pumpkins that I turned into a garland, because well,  I'm a sucker for a good seasonal/holiday garland.

These literally work up in minutes, and you can make as many or as few as you'd like!

Materials:

I used a size H (5.00 mm) crochet hook, a larger or smaller hook will produce a larger or smaller pumpkin.

A small amount of worsted weight yarn. I used Vanna's choice in Terra Cotta and some scrap green yarn.

Instructions:

Chain 3, slip stitch into top of first stitch to create circle round to work within.

Chain 1, 10 hdc into center of round.

Slip stitch into top of chain 1 stitch.

Chain 1, 2 hdc into each stitch in round (20 hdc). 

Slip stitch into top of chain 1 stitch.

Chain 1, *1 hdc in first stitch, 2 in the next. Continue from * around (30 hdc).

Slip stitch into top of chain 1 stitch.

Slip stitch into center of original round to create indent on top of pumpkin.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

With green yarn, insert hook through center of pumpkin and slip stitch.

Chain 3.

SC in 2nd chain from hook, sc once more, then slip stitch back through center of yarn. 

Tie off, pull all yarn through to back of pumpkin, and weave in ends.

Use however you'd like! To create a garland, I strung mine on jute twine.

-J