Learn how to create a yarn ball ornament that’s perfect for any knitter or crocheter in your life!
Two different methods are provided.
It’s a quick, easy, & inexpensive DIY gift idea this holiday season!
How to Make a Yarn Ball Ornament: Two Methods!
My mother-in-law is huge into knitting and crocheting.
She’s quite fabulous at both too (although she would never accept such a compliment).
Over the years, she’s made some beautiful handmade items for us, like blankets, hats, socks, and this adorable sweater for my son.
I thought this Christmas, it would be fun to make her a little handmade ornament that pays tribute to one of her favorite hobbies.
I spotted this gem on Pinterest which served as my inspiration, plus I decided to give a second method a try.
Both ways worked great, and they were so easy and inexpensive to throw together!
It’s also Day 1 of our Holiday Craft Party where four other amazing bloggers and myself will be sharing all kinds of crafty holiday creations all week long, and today’s theme is Ornaments!
Supplies for a DIY Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 1
A NOTE FOR THE SUPPLIES FOR BOTH OF THESE METHODS:
If you’re making this ornament for a knitter, you can use real knitting needles if you don’t want to DIY a faux pair with the skewers and beads.
If this ornament is for a crocheter, just use real crochet hooks.
How to Make a Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 1:
- Remove top of ornament and start hot gluing yarn around neck.
- Continue gluing yarn around and around the ornament in a continuous spiral.
- Once you reach the bottom and have the entire ornament covered, start wrapping the yarn around in a haphazard pattern, gluing sporadically.
- Cut bamboo skewers to desired length and stick through yarn in front of ornament so they’re crossing.
- If you’re using real knitting needles or making this for a crocheter, insert the needles or crochet hooks and skip the next step.
- Hot glue wooden beads to the end of skewers to transform them into faux knitting needles.
- Reinsert top of ornament and add twine (or piece of yarn, ribbon, or other string) for hanging.
The reason I first wrapped the entire ornament in a continuous spiral all around and then went back in a haphazard fashion was for two reasons:
- The yarn is quite slippery and does not want to stay put without using tons of hot glue to hold every inch or two in place.
- It keeps the final ornament from being too bulky since all of the plastic is already completely covered and you don’t need to wrap wrap wrap to fill in any plastic showing through small gaps.
I learned this lesson while wrapping dozens (and dozens and dozens) of plastic Easter eggs for my Spring Easter Egg Wreath.
The process goes by much faster if you do this simple step first, trust me.
A lovely reader also commented a handy tip you could try too: sand the plastic ornament a bit first to give it a little gripping power!
Final DIY Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 1
And here’s my first completed DIY yarn ball ornament!
I think it looks quite cute.
Some twine was used for hanging, and I decided to keep the faux knitting needles as their natural bamboo color, but you can certainly paint or stain them before inserting through the yarn
You could also use real knitting needles or crochet hooks if you’d like.
Supplies for a DIY Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 2:
And now for the second way you can make a DIY yarn ball ornament!
It’s pretty similar to the first method with just a couple tweaks and different supplies:
How to Make a Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 2:
- Insert bamboo skewers through foam ball so they create a X.
- If you’re using real knitting needles or making this for a crocheter, insert the needles or crochet hooks and skip the next two steps.
- Cut bamboo skewers to desired length
- Make them a little longer than you want them to look in the final ornament because the yarn will end up hiding a bit where they enter/exit the foam
- Hot glue wooden beads to the end of skewers to transform them into faux knitting needles.
- Start hot gluing yarn around foam ball.
- Continue gluing yarn around and around the foam ball, wrapping the yarn in a haphazard pattern and gluing sporadically.
- Make sure you fill in all gaps so no foam is showing through.
- Insert piece of yarn/twine/ribbon to make a loop at the top for hanging.
Final DIY Yarn Ball Ornament – Method 2
And here’s my second final DIY yarn ball ornament!
I used a small strand of the same yarn and strung a loop through the top for hanging.
This method took a little longer than the first since the foam ball wasn’t covered in a continuous spiral first like was shown in Method 1, so there were lots of tiny gaps to cover, especially when using the light weight yarn.
It was also a little tricky maneuvering around the faux knitting needles since they were inserted first.
But, this ornament was still really easy to make and I think it is absolutely adorable!
Both DIY Yarn Ball Ornaments
Here are both of my DIY yarn ball ornaments side-by-side!
What do you think??
Personally, I think I prefer the look of Method 1 better.
I like how the faux knitting needles are nestled together near the front of the ornament as opposed to creating a perfect X as in Method 2 (that reminds me a little of a pirate ship’s skull and crossbones flag).
I also think a chunkier yarn works better too, as well as having a real ornament top for hanging.
But it’s all really just personal preference, so do what tickles your fancy.
You can also combine parts of both methods to create a look that suits your style.
This is a super simple and customizable DIY project that makes a great gift for the maker in your life!
Holiday Craft Party Day 1: Ornaments!
There’s more festive fun!
This week I’m taking part in a Holiday Craft Party with four other lovely and crafty ladies.
Every day is a new theme and we’re all sharing tutorials!
- Ornaments (Monday, 11/16): You’re here!
- Gift Tags (Tuesday, 11/17): Check out my colorful snowflake gift tags!
- Mason Jars (Wednesday, 11/18): Drink and be merry, folks!
- Wreaths (Thursday, 11/19): How about a whimsical painted Christmas stocking?!
- Home Decor (Friday, 11/20): I’m all about making spirits BRIGHT!
Today’s theme is Ornaments, so make sure you check out their amazing holiday creations too!
- Vacations Photos Ornament by Simply Kelly Designs
- How To Make Mercury Glass Ornaments by Weekend Craft
- How to Make a Yarn Ball Ornament: Two Methods! by Where The Smiles Have Been (that’s me!)
- Glittered Sheet Music Ornament by Two Purple Couches
- DIY Medallion Christmas Ornaments by The House Down The Lane
If You Enjoyed This…
Make sure you check out my Project Gallery for lots of other crafty creations, including these holiday goodies!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy holidays!
DW
Saturday 25th of December 2021
For your second ornament of styrofoam, spray paint it one of the colors in the yarn your using to help conceal some of the gapping you spoke of.
Christine
Sunday 26th of December 2021
Great idea, DW! Thank you!
Gale
Monday 9th of October 2017
JUst found this! Here is a tip for the plastic ornament. Get some sandpaper and scratch up the ball; it won't be as slippery. And you can also use hair spray (let it dry) to make your ball less slippery.
Christine
Monday 9th of October 2017
Thanks for the tips, Gale! I'll have to give those a try if I ever make these again! :)
25 Fabulous & Easy DIY Ornaments - HoneyBear Lane
Monday 30th of November 2015
[…] 8. Yarn Ball Ornament […]
Michelle from Weekend Craft
Friday 20th of November 2015
My sister and I just went out and bought everything to make these. We might be getting crafty on Thanksgiving while she is still couch bound from my nephew.
Christine
Wednesday 25th of November 2015
This is definitely an easy craft project that a new mom can do! Congrats again on the new baby nephew! :)
Stacy
Tuesday 17th of November 2015
I can't wait to make the yarn ornament. I have just the knitting friend who will love it! Thank you!