Craft: A Yule Pom-Pom Garland
Yule, the Winter Solstice, is the still point of the Celtic year: the longest night, the moment the light begins its slow return. It’s a time for fire, craft, warmth and making the home a small sanctuary against the dark. A simple handmade garland is the perfect quiet ritual for this season: repetitive, soothing, and beautifully decorative.
This soft pom-pom garland is easy to make, endlessly customisable and ideal for cosy evenings indoors. Hang it across a mantle, weave it into a tablescape or string it along a doorway as a gentle nod to midwinter magic.
Materials
Wool in seasonal colours (creams, greens, reds, natural tones)
Pom-pom maker (or cardboard rings)
Scissors
Yarn needle
Strong yarn or twine for stringing
Optional: tiny pegs for hanging cards or ornaments
Method
Make your pom-poms. Wrap your wool around the pom-pom maker until it is thick and full. Trim and release to form a fluffy pom, making sure to leave the central tie strands long — these will help with stringing. Repeat until you have the number you want. Mixing sizes and colours gives a lovely, folkloric feel.
Shape and tidy. Give each pom-pom a gentle trim to neaten the edges. Don’t worry about perfect symmetry — the soft, natural texture is part of the charm.
Plan your pattern. Lay out your pom-poms and decide on the arrangement. You might alternate colours for a festive rhythm, blend soft neutrals for a more rustic feel or cluster them densely for a full, woollen garland.
String your garland. For small pom-poms, thread a yarn needle with twine and pass it through the centre of each pom, sliding them along as you go. For larger pom-poms, use the long tie strands to knot each one onto a thicker length of yarn or twisted string. Space them evenly or bunch them together depending on the look you want.
Add optional details. If you like, clip small pegs along the garland and use it to hang Yule cards, foraged decorations, handwritten blessings or tiny salt-dough ornaments. The garland becomes both decoration and display.
A Seasonal Note
Pom-poms may be simple, but the act of making them echoes the slow craft traditions of Yule — repetition, warmth, the comfort of wool and the mindfulness of handmade work. Hang your garland as a reminder of the returning light and the gentle joy found in small, quiet seasonal rituals.
