Got a basket of leftover yarn you keep meaning to use? These 45 easy DIY yarn crafts will finally empty it, and most don’t need knitting needles at all. You’ll wrap, knot, glue and fluff your way through pom pom animals, string art, tassels, wall hangings and a glowing little yarn teepee. A whole batch of DIY JOY originals with step by step videos is mixed in too. They’re perfect for cozy weekend decor, quick handmade gifts and gift wrap, rainy day crafts with the kids, and party garlands and backdrops. Here’s the best pom pom trick: wrap more times than seems right, because a full bundle trims into a round, fluffy ball. Find even more ideas on the yarn crafts hub. Grab your scissors and let’s go!
1. Macrame Yarn Garland DIY
A macrame yarn garland adds a lot of color to a blank wall in about an hour, and it uses chunky yarn instead of rope. Cut one base strand about 8 feet long and pin it to the wall, then cut 30 to 35 pieces between 2 and 3 feet long. Tie each piece over the base about every 2 inches. Start the second row by skipping the first strand and knotting neighboring pairs together, which creates the classic macrame diamonds. Trim the fringe even at the end. It’s a great party backdrop too.
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
2. Yarn Wrapped Flower Pots
Yarn wrapped flower pots dress up plain terra cotta in a few minutes, and cheap yarn is perfect for them. Spread glue over the pot with a sponge brush, skipping the rim. Glue the first half inch of yarn just under the edge, then wrap the first full row right against it so the loose end is hidden. Hold the first few rows in place by hand, and after that they stay on their own. To change colors, cut the yarn at the back of the pot and start the new shade there.
Get the full tutorial at Celebrations at Home.
3. Yarn Ombre Lampshade Tutorial
A yarn ombre lampshade is an easy, high impact makeover for a thrifted lamp. Put a dab of hot glue about 2 inches above the bottom of the shade and wrap round and round, nudging each row down with your fingertips. To blend into the next shade, wrap the first color loosely with big gaps, glue on the second color and wrap it in between. Tuck the first yarn inside the shade so it doesn’t tangle. Keep fading lighter toward the top, and finish with a few stripes of the darkest color.
Get the full tutorial at Vintage Revivals.
4. How to Make Pom Pom Hearts
Pom pom hearts take about 3 minutes each and are a great way to use up leftover yarn. Wrap yarn around three fingers 70 times, slide the bundle off and tie a short piece of yarn tightly around the middle. Cut through the loops on both sides to make a basic pom pom. Lay a paper heart template on top and trim around it with sharp scissors, then comb the strands so they puff up. Glue on a ribbon loop or a keychain ring, or use them as hair clips, pins or gift toppers.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
5. How to Make Pom Pom Flowers Using a Fork
Pom pom flowers made with a fork need no special tools, just yarn in two colors, a paper clip and tape. Wrap yarn around the fork tines 30 times, tie a short piece through the middle tines, then slide the bundle off and cut the loops. Fluff it with the fork and trim it round. Make one pom pom for the center and six for the petals. Straighten a paper clip and tape yarn to it for a quick needle, thread the petals together, tie them off and add the center pom pom.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
6. How to Make Flowers Using Yarn
DIY yarn flowers made around a fork come together in about 15 minutes, and they never wilt. Wrap yarn around the fork 30 times, then sew through each side of the loops with a needle to lock them into a petal. Slide it off and repeat for five petals, then stitch them together into a flower. For the center, wrap yarn around a straw, tie it tight and slide it off. Glue a pearl in the middle, wrap a stick in green yarn for the stem and attach it with hot glue.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
7. Easy DIY Pom Pom Wreath
A yarn pom pom wreath is an affordable way to bring a pop of color to the front door. Wrap yarn around a large cardboard rectangle 80 times, tie it tight in the middle, slide it off and cut the loops. Knot it a few times so it won’t unravel, then trim it into a ball. Make about 16 large pom poms in mixed colors and around 18 smaller ones. Hot glue the large ones around the wreath form, then fill the inside and outside edges with the small ones. A beaded wire and a ribbon finish it.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
8. Yarn God's Eye Tutorial
Yarn god’s eyes are a classic camp craft that look surprisingly modern on a wall. Lay two dowels side by side, tie them together at the middle with a double knot, then twist them into a cross. Wrap the yarn over each dowel, around the back and over the top before moving to the next one, and the diamond pattern builds itself. Switch to wrapping under the dowels for a different texture, and change colors or yarn weights as you go. Finish the ends with tassels and group a few as a wall hanging.
Get the full tutorial at Craftaholics Anonymous.
9. Creative Yarn Chandelier
Yarn chandeliers made over balloons are budget friendly and work for birthdays, baby showers and beyond. Hang inflated balloons from a dowel between two chairs, with plastic underneath, and coat each one in petroleum jelly so the yarn won’t stick. Mix school glue with about half a cup of cornstarch and a quarter cup of water into a paste. Dip the yarn, squeeze out the extra and wrap the balloon vertically, then horizontally. Let them dry a full 24 hours before popping the balloons and tapping off any glue crystals.
Get the full tutorial at Hostess with the Mostess.
10. DIY Easy Yarn Backdrop
A DIY yarn backdrop looks like macrame but needs only rings, yarn and a dowel. Knot macrame rings into a row and wrap each one with yarn. Cut lengths twice as long as the finished backdrop and tie them onto the rings with slip knots, mixing shades for color blocks. Tie the rings to a dowel and add a 2 foot hanging loop. Gather each section at the middle of its ring with a short tie, then split and rejoin neighboring bundles to make a lattice. Trim the bottom straight for a clean finish.
Get the full tutorial at Ruffled.
11. Ombre Word String Art
Ombre word string art spells out “relax” in a soft fade of color you can finish in one afternoon. Print the free template on 8×10 paper and tape it to an 8×10 wood plaque. Hammer small gold nails halfway in at every dot, then tear the paper away. Wrap embroidery thread from nail to nail, knotting on a second shade partway across so the script slides from one color to the next. Yarn works too if you want a chunkier look!
Get the full tutorial at Club Crafted.
12. DIY Lantern Chandeliers
DIY string chandeliers made from balloons, glue and twine can light a wedding and then come home as a mid century lampshade. Blow up a balloon a little under full size so it stays round, and mark a circle around the knot big enough for a light fitting. Coat the balloon in petroleum jelly. Mix glue, cornstarch and warm water until smooth, run the twine through it and wrap the balloon, leaving the marked circle open. Let it dry hanging, then pop and pull out the balloon. Lay a tarp down first, since it gets messy.
Get the full tutorial at Merry Brides.
13. How to Make a Yarn Dog
A yarn dog is the cutest way to use up leftover yarn, and the body is built on a wine cork. Wrap yarn around three fingers 10 times, tie the middle, cut one side and trim to make a small tuft. Make nine of these for the body. Then wrap four fingers 95 times, tie and cut it the same way for the head and fluffy fur. Hot glue eight tufts along the top of the cork, build up the head with more glue and yarn, and finish with bead eyes, a nose and a ribbon collar.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
14. How to Make a DIY Yarn Dog Keychain
A yarn dog keychain is a tiny bag charm that can match the real family dog. Shape an oval of air-dry clay about 1 7/8 inches long and 7/8 inch wide, push an eye pin into the middle and let it dry completely. Wrap the clay body in yarn from end to end until it’s covered. Make small pom poms for the head and ears, trim them into shape and glue everything together. Add tiny eyes and a nose, then clip on a keyring. It works as a bag charm, a keychain or desk decor.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
15. Pom Pom Tassel Bookmark
Pom pom tassel bookmarks turn the yarn scraps in your basket into the cutest page savers around. Wrap yarn around a 3×3 inch piece of cardboard for the tassel, then around the tines of a fork for two little pom poms. Tie each one tight, cut the loops and trim everything nice and round. Knot one pom pom on top of the tassel and the second about 10 inches further along the yarn strand. Tuck it in a book and let the fluffy ends peek out!
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
16. DIY Arm Knitting
Arm knitting makes a chunky, rich looking blanket with no needles at all, because your forearms do the work. Cast the stitches onto one arm, then pull each new loop through and pass the stitches back and forth from arm to arm to build every row. Super bulky yarn, or a few strands held together, gives the plush, oversized loops that make these blankets so cozy, and a throw grows fast enough to finish in an afternoon. Some crafters even knit on their legs instead. Make one for the couch or wrap it up as a holiday gift.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
17. Easy DIY Yarn Chicks
DIY yarn chicks are budget friendly and need only yarn, beads and hot glue. Wrap yarn around a large cardboard rectangle 150 times, counting carefully, then tie the loops tightly in the middle and slip them off. Cut through the loops and trim the bundle into a round ball using a paper circle as a guide. Make a smaller pom pom the same way for the head. Glue the two together, then add bead eyes, a tiny beak and little feet. Leftover yellow yarn works perfectly.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
18. Warm Fuzzies Centerpiece
A warm fuzzies centerpiece fills an apothecary jar with yarn wrapped foam balls for instant winter coziness. Brush a thin coat of tacky glue over half of a foam ball, then start winding yarn in small circles from the top and keep wrapping horizontally. Let that half dry, then glue and wrap the second half, holding the finished side. Tuck the tail in when you reach the end. Acrylic yarn in a thicker strand wraps more easily than alpaca. A dozen balls in two sizes took about two hours.
Get the full tutorial at The Hyper House.
19. Easy DIY Yarn Birds
Easy DIY yarn birds take about 5 minutes each and need just yarn, beads and a cardboard template. Wrap white yarn around the length of the template 50 times and cut one end, then do the same with blue. Turn the template, wrap the width 50 times and tie that bundle around the middle. Wrap the blue around the white, tie each side to shape the head, then add a pink band for the wings. Trim the tail and glue on bead eyes. Hang them on a tree or add them to a spring wreath.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
20. Boho Driftwood Yarn Wall Hanging
This boho yarn wall hanging is a happy way to use up leftover yarn. Cut a long test strand as your length guide (go longer than you think, since driftwood curves), then attach doubled strands to the center of the driftwood with cow’s hitch knots. Work outward on both sides, pairing yarns from the same color family, and frame each end with one dark yarn. Slide on a few wooden beads and knot an occasional bunch for texture. Tie on a jute rope hanger and point cut the ends so they look soft and natural.
Get the full tutorial at Sadie Seasongoods.
21. Yarn Wrapped Recycled Bottles
Yarn wrapped recycled bottles turn empty glass into colorful vases, and the only supplies are yarn, decoupage glue and scissors. Brush glue onto a small section near the bottle’s neck and start wrapping there, working from the narrow top down toward the wider base. Add glue as you go and pack each row tight against the last. Switch colors whenever you like for stripes, or leave bands of bare glass showing. It gets a little sticky, but it’s worth it. Fill them with ranunculus or a few garden stems.
Get the full tutorial at Craft & Creativity.
22. Macrame Cord Feathers
Macrame cord feathers look like they took hours, but they’re mostly square knots and a good combing. Cut 24 cords at 8 inches and one center cord at 20 inches, then tape the long one down to your table. Tie square knots along it with the short cords until it’s full. Comb out all that fringe until it goes fluffy, then trim it into a feather shape. Hang one on a wall hanging, string a few into a mobile or frame one in a shadow box.
Get the full tutorial at One Little Project.
23. DIY Easy Yarn Chandelier
An easy yarn chandelier uses a 12 inch sewing hoop and a lamp cord to make a soft, cozy pendant. Loop lengths of cream yarn around the inner hoop until it’s full, then mix in a few pieces of color, like mustard and teal. Secure a center wire across the hoop for the lamp attachment and press the outer hoop over the inner one to lock the yarn in place. Wrap the light socket in yarn and knot the cord to the center wire. A vintage Edison bulb gives it a warm, nostalgic glow.
Get the full tutorial at Wedding Chicks.
24. Easy DIY Woven Yarn Mug Cozy
A woven yarn mug cozy is a crochet-free gift that’s woven on a scrap of cardboard. Measure around the mug and cut cardboard to that length and the width you want, then notch both ends about 1 cm deep and 1 cm apart. Knot yarn at the first slit and stretch it back and forth through the notches for the vertical strands. Weave a second yarn over and under those strands, row after row, pushing each row snug. Twisting the yarn first adds extra texture. Slide it off and button it around a mug.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
25. Woven Craft Stick Butterflies
Woven craft stick butterflies use a god’s eye style weave to make the wings, and they’re a fun spring or summer craft for kids 7 and up. Cross two craft sticks into an uneven X and wrap yarn around the center until they hold. Wind the yarn around one half of the frame first, then switch to a figure 8 when you reach the gap between the sticks. Change colors by tucking the old end into the winding. Add two small beads and a larger head bead plus pipe cleaner antennae.
Get the full tutorial at The Craft Train.
26. Yarn Wrapped Ombre Monogrammed Letter
A yarn wrapped ombre monogrammed letter makes a pretty party decoration, nursery accent or baby shower gift. Pick a wooden letter and three shades of one color, like light, medium and dark pink. Glue about 3 inches at a time on the back, top and bottom of the letter and wrap the yarn snugly, adding glue as you move up. Leave the yarn ends long until everything is dry, then trim. Plan the color changes before starting so the fade stays even. Finish with a few sticky-back flower embellishments.
Get the full tutorial at Catch My Party.
27. Simple Heart String Art
Heart string art is a great first string art project, and pre-drilling the nail holes is the secret that makes it easy. Trace a simple heart template onto a scrap board and mark nails every half inch around the edge of the board and the heart. Drill small pilot holes, then tap in flat-top wire nails so they stand straight. Tie yarn or baker’s twine to one nail and wrap back and forth between the heart and the border, switching colors for a rainbow. Hot glue the knots so they stay put.
Get the full tutorial at Sugar Bee Crafts.
28. Easy Finger Crochet Yarn Bow Tutorial
A finger crochet yarn bow needs no crochet hook at all, so it’s a great first project for anyone curious about crochet. Wrap the yarn around your thumb three times, then weave it across your fingers, in front of the index finger, behind the middle, in front of the ring finger and behind the pinky. Work back across to build the second row, then lift the lower loops over the top ones to form stitches. Keep going until the band is long enough, pinch the middle and tie it into a bow.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
29. Yarn Pine Cones Centerpiece
Yarn wrapped pine cones are about the simplest holiday decor there is, and they need no glue. Grab leftover yarn and a bag of pine cones, tie the yarn near the base and wind it around the cone, pulling it deep into the crevices as you go. The tight scales near the bottom grip the yarn and hold it in place on their own. Mix colors, like teal, purple and green, and stop partway up for a two tone look. Pile them in a pretty bowl or tie one onto a gift as a topper.
Get the full tutorial at Family Chic.
30. 3 Easy DIY String Art Ideas
DIY string art looks impressive but needs no artistic skill, just a few basic techniques. Print a simple graphic, like a heart or a star, and lay it on a wood plank. Hammer small wire or linoleum nails along the outline, spacing them evenly, then tear the paper away. Tie twine, cord or embroidery thread to one nail and wrap it around the shape, crisscrossing to fill the inside or tracing the edge. A twine wrapped star looks rustic, and a set of hearts in bright thread feels playful.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
31. DIY Pom Pom Bunny
A DIY pom pom bunny is a fun Easter craft to make with kids. Stack two large cardboard circles, wrap yarn around them many times, cut through the loops and tie a double knot between the cardboard. Slide it off, trim and comb it fluffy for the body. Repeat with smaller circles for the head. For the tail, wrap yarn around two fingers 40 times, tie, cut and trim. Glue the three pom poms together, then add felt ears, eyes and a nose. Beads work for the eyes too.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
32. DIY Yarn Christmas Tree
A DIY yarn Christmas tree comes together in about 10 minutes and uses mostly craft drawer supplies. Cut a triangle from cardboard and hot glue a skewer down the center for the trunk. Put a dab of glue at the top and wrap chunky red chenille yarn around the triangle, working down to the bottom and gluing the end, including underneath, so no cardboard shows. Stand the tree in a wood slice, then decorate it with tiny pom pom balls, a strand of battery fairy lights and a few small embellishments.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
33. Yarn Embroidered Baskets
Yarn embroidered baskets turn $1 thrift store finds into bright, modern catch-alls. Look for woven baskets or old paper plate holders with a grid or circular weave that’s open enough for a darning needle. Thread the needle, knot the end and stitch zigzags, starbursts or simple stripes right through the gaps. Variegated yarn does the color changes for you! Use a rectangle tray for keys and sunglasses, or hang a cluster of round ones on the wall as art.
Get the full tutorial at Design Improvised.
34. DIY Elephant Nursery String Art
This elephant string art makes a big, sweet statement over a crib, and the method works for any shape you love. Six stained 1×4 boards are joined on the back with cut yardsticks to make a plank-style base. Trace your elephant with a projector or a large printed template, hammer small nails along the outline and wrap the yarn from nail to nail until the shape fills in. Swap in a tree, a heart or a monogram for any room in the house.
Get the full tutorial at Erin Spain.
35. DIY Vintage Tennis Racket Wall Hangings
Old wooden tennis rackets are always sitting at the thrift store, and their strings make a ready-made loom. Thread a big needle with chunky yarn and weave diamonds, stripes or little geometric motifs right through the grid, a lot like cross stitch on a giant scale. Cream, red, navy and mustard give it a retro, Wes Anderson inspired feel. Hang one alone or group a few in different sizes for a quirky gallery wall in a kitchen, den or game room.
Get the full tutorial at The Gathered Home.
36. DIY Pom Pom Pillows
Pom pom pillows bring instant color and a cozy, whimsical texture to a chair or sofa. Make a big pile of pom poms while you watch TV, using chunky yarn so they come out full and fluffy. Then attach them to a plain pillow cover, sewing them on for durability or using hot glue for speed. Plan on 9 or 10 skeins for a fully covered pillow. Mix lots of bright shades for a rainbow look, or pick two colors to match your room.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
37. Yarn Teepee Tea Light Holder
These little yarn teepees glow beautifully with a battery tea light inside. Tie three sticks together, spread them over a cardboard circle cut from a cereal box, and hot glue them into notches around the edge, leaving a wider gap for the door. Add two more sticks, then wrap bands of colorful yarn tightly around the frame, stopping just below the opening. They’re a bit fiddly but worth it. Always use battery tea lights, never real candles, since yarn and flames don’t mix.
Get the full tutorial at Blue Bear Wood.
38. Ice Cream Cone Pom Pom Garland
An ice cream cone garland is the sweetest summer decoration, and it’s mostly pom poms. Wrap yarn around your palm about 150 times, tie the middle and snip the loops, then trim each one round. Make a pom pom in every rainbow color. Cut cones from brown kraft paper using a 6 inch plate as a template, draw a waffle pattern with a brown Sharpie and roll them up. Glue a pom pom scoop in each, top a few with a red cherry and string them on twine.
Get the full tutorial at Growing Up Gabel.
39. Yarn Love Monsters
Yarn love monsters are a giggly kids craft for Valentine’s Day or any rainy afternoon. Wrap yarn around a small piece of cardboard 150 to 200 times, tie the center and cut the loops for a big shaggy pom pom. Hot glue it onto an upside down paper cup, then add a smaller toupee pom pom on top. Finish with googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennas topped with paper hearts. Every monster turns out with its own silly personality, which is half the fun.
Get the full tutorial at Eighteen25.
40. Knitted Yarn Clock Cozy
A knitted clock cozy brightens a plain wall clock in an evening. Cast on 16 stitches and knit garter stitch in colorful stripes until the strip wraps all the way around the frame. Sew the short ends together to form a loop and slide it onto the clock. Crochet around the inner edge, then thread a strand of yarn through the back edge and pull it tight like a drawstring to hold it in place. Tuck the yarn ends underneath and you’re done.
Get the full tutorial at Retrobaby.
41. DIY Modern Yarn Hanging
This modern yarn hanging looks like a boutique piece but uses only yarn, a dowel and two gold craft rings. Fold lengths of yarn in half and tie them onto a short wood dowel with lark’s head knots until it’s full. Hang the dowel from a 1.5 inch ring and a 3 inch ring joined with more lark’s head knots, and secure the knots with a dab of super glue. Wrap the fringe around a 14 inch piece of cardboard to trim it perfectly straight.
Get the full tutorial at Homey Oh My.
42. Yarn Wrapped Letter Bookmarks
Yarn wrapped letter bookmarks make back to school reading a little more personal. Grab small wooden letters from the dollar store and glue the end of the yarn to an edge to start. Plan the wrap first: do the parts that stick out, then fill the middle in a second color. Some letters need a double wrap, once across and once up and down. Glue the letter to the top of a painted craft stick and add a tiny paper flower for a sweet finish.
Get the full tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
43. DIY Yarn Gift Tassels
Yarn tassels are the easiest way to make a wrapped present look special, and they’re done in minutes. Wrap yarn around a 4 1/2 inch square of cardboard and slide it off. Thread a short piece of yarn through a small wood bead, push the bead into the loop and tie it at the top. Knot another piece of yarn just below the bead, then cut the bottom loops. The hidden bead gives the tassel a neat, full head that never looks floppy.
Get the full tutorial at Purely Katie.
44. DIY Yarn Ball Mobile
A yarn ball mobile looks like colorful planets floating over a crib. Roll yarn into 11 balls in different sizes, adding a dab of hot glue as you go so they hold their shape. Foam balls underneath make it faster. Wrap yarn around the inner rings from crochet hoops for the tiers. Tie jewelry string to each ball, leaving 12 to 24 inches, then hang three strings from each ring and stack the tiers from smallest to biggest. Pick shades to match the nursery.
Get the full tutorial at Sugartot Designs.
45. Yarn Painting on Contact Paper
Yarn painting is art with no paint and almost no mess! Tape a sheet of clear self-adhesive contact paper sticky side up onto the table or a piece of paper. Cut lots of colorful yarn into random lengths and let kids press it down in swirls, shapes or a picture. The yarn sticks on its own, so it can be lifted and moved around until it’s just right. Seal it with a second sheet on top and stick it on a sunny window.
Get the full tutorial at Picklebums.
