Last autumn I wrote a blog post about the balaclava I’d made using Pom Pom wool by Daruma. Since then, I’ve probably made about 25 Pom Pom hoods (to sell) using it, so have lots of experience working with it. This is my updated review of the yarn and what it’s like to use.
Out of the 9 colours we stock, I’ve used 8. Sadly no-one’s ever commissioned a hood in the Bordeaux x Blue Grey colour way! I might make myself one this year as I think it’s a really lovely colour combination.
The first one I made was in the White x Blue colourway (above), and I think this is still my favourite of the 9 colours!
What Is Pom Pom Wool?
Pom Pom Wool is an aran weight yarn, made of two fine threads twisted around a single ply of carded wool, with tiny little pom poms woven in to it. It’s fibre content is 99% merino wool and 1% polyester, and is a non-superwash. This unusual construction makes the yarn particularly light and soft and gives it a subtle wavy finish.
What It’s Like To Knit With
The first time using it I remember just not being able to put my knitting down. It was so unlike any yarn I’d used before and watching the little pom poms knit up was so much fun.
When knitting with Pom Pom Wool, the pom poms disperse themselves pretty evenly throughout the fabric. Even though I’ve used this wool a lot now, each time I use it I still can’t wait to reach the next pom pom and watch it magically become part of the fabric.
Being an aran weight yarn, I use 4.50mm and 6.00mm needles with it. I do find that with the wavy finish of the yarn, my stitches look neater on the smaller needles. I choose to use 6.00mm for the main portion of the hood as I like something with a bit more drape when it comes to headwear. I also really like the fact the stitches look a little wavy, I think home-made looking garments have a unique charm to them.
I know some people can be put off by yarns that have a little wave to them, but other than the fact it has pom poms in it, this yarn is really no different to knit with in my opinion.
I personally love the colourways that have bright, contrasting pom poms, like the White x Blue, Dark Grey x Yellow, Navy x Orange. For a more toned down look however, the Ivory x Grey colourway is subtle but very beautiful.
How It Reacts To Blocking
When blocking, I’ve found this wool doesn’t bloom much, if at all. It definitely helps with making my stitches look that much more uniform though. It also relaxes the fabric. Even when using 6.00mm needles which are on the larger end of the recommended needle size, it still creates a fairly structured fabric with density. For this reason I really like how it reacts to the blocking, it just sits better afterwards.
What To Make With Pom Pom Wool
As Pom Pom Wool comes in 30g / 42 metre balls, we recommend using it for smaller projects such as hats, mittens, scarves etc. It would of course make lovely jumpers and cardigans, you’d just need a lot of balls! Look at the beautiful Gaku Beanie Kate made using Pom Pom Wool (below).
It would work well for a little accent in a larger project too, perhaps the ribbing around the bottom, neck and cuffs of a jumper?
If you like the look of Pom Pom wool’s construction but aren’t sure about the pom poms, check out Genmou by Daruma. It has the same construction of 2 fine threads wrapped around a single ply of carded wool, but without the pom poms and in a DK weight. Kate made a beautiful toddler jumper using it which you can read about here.
We hope you found this blog useful, if you do use Pom Pom Wool be sure to tag us on Instagram @___yak, we’d love to see!
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