Ever looked at a clothespin and thought, “You’d make a great little fuzzy monster”? No? Well, you will now! Yarn pom pom clothespin characters are the kind of project that combines pure joy with hands-on fun. With just a few household craft supplies—yarn, googly eyes, clothespins—you’ll create charming creatures bursting with personality. Whether you’re keeping the kids busy on a rainy afternoon or decorating for a themed birthday party, this craft is as entertaining as it is adorable. Let’s dive into this bright, bouncy world of creativity!

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Materials You’ll Need for Yarn Pom Pom Clothespin Characters

Let me tell you—there’s nothing worse than sitting down to craft with kids and realizing you’re missing half the supplies. Been there, done that, had to bribe the little ones with cookies while I scrambled to find googly eyes in my junk drawer. So, here’s your official checklist for making yarn pom pom clothespin characters—don’t skip a thing!

🧶 The Essentials (AKA, Don’t Start Without These)

Wooden clothespins – I like the old-school spring-loaded kind. They’re sturdy and give you that nice peg action for adding arms or signs.
Yarn – Go wild here. Thick yarn makes puffier hair; thin yarn gives more texture. Multicolor? Even better. I’ve used sparkly yarn once, and my niece called it “fairy hair.”
Pipe cleaners – These become the bendy little arms. Honestly, one of the best parts. Kids love twisting them into wacky shapes.
Googly eyes – Self-adhesive saves your sanity. But if you’ve only got the classic kind, grab some tacky glue.

🎨 Optional but Totally Worth It

Acrylic paints – For turning boring brown clothespins into bright rainbow bodies.
Gel pens or fine markers – To draw on mouths, mustaches, freckles, or even little face tattoos (yep, one of ours had a lightning bolt like Harry Potter).
Plastic beads – These go on the pipe cleaner arms for “hands,” and they add a pop of color.
Felt scraps – I cut tiny triangles for ears and circles for hats. It makes the characters look so much more “them.”
Mini chalkboard tags or paper signs – I’ve clipped a clothespin guy onto a gift with a tiny message tag—people loved it.

🛠️ Tools to Keep Handy

Scissors – Sharp enough to cut yarn clean, but safe for little helpers (I supervise heavily).
Paintbrushes – Small ones for detail. Foam brushes make it faster for little hands.
Tacky glue – Dries quick and holds like a champ. Way better than glue sticks, which never seem to do the job.

🔄 Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way

One time I skipped the bead step because we ran out. The pipe cleaner arms poked everywhere, and they looked like angry little robots. Moral of the story? The details matter. Also, do a test pom pom before handing the scissors to your kid—my son once made a bald spot on his first one. We turned it into a “grandpa” character. 😂

And look, don’t stress about having everything. If you’re missing something, sub it out. No beads? Use buttons. No felt? Cut up some paper. The charm of this craft is that every little character is funky in their own way.

Next up? Let’s get crafting with the step-by-step guide!

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Characters

Okay, this is where the magic happens. It’s one thing to have a table full of craft supplies, but bringing your yarn pom pom clothespin characters to life? That’s the fun part—messy, silly, and so satisfying. Here’s how I usually roll with this project (plus a few tips I learned the hard way).

🖌️ Step 1: Paint the Clothespins

Start by laying out newspaper or scrap paper unless you enjoy scrubbing acrylic paint off your kitchen table. I’ve tried all sorts of colors—pastel for bunnies, bright red for superheroes, even stripes once (don’t recommend unless you love touch-ups). Let them dry completely or your fingers will look like tie-dye.

Pro tip: Stick them upright in a foam block or between two books to dry without smudging.

🧶 Step 2: Make the Pom Poms

Grab some yarn and wrap it around your fingers—maybe 30–40 times depending on thickness. I use my pointer and middle finger; my daughter uses three fingers because she likes bigger hair. Once it’s fat and fluffy, slide it off and tie a tight knot in the middle.

Warning: Tie it tight. Like, tight-tight. Loose knots make sad, floppy pom poms.

✂️ Step 3: Snip and Fluff

Take scissors and snip all the loops. This is my kids’ favorite part—they call it the “haircut.” Fluff it out and trim it into a nice round shape. Don’t worry if it looks a little uneven. That’s part of the charm. I once made one with a mohawk just because I trimmed it crooked!

Optional chaos: Use multicolored yarn—it looks like unicorn hair and hides uneven cutting better.

🧷 Step 4: Glue on the Pom Pom

Take your dried clothespin and dab a good blob of tacky glue right on top. Stick your pom pom down and press gently for a few seconds. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes to set up.

Don’t rush this. I’ve had a few that lost their “hair” mid-play. Sad times.

🧵 Step 5: Add Arms and Beads

Cut a pipe cleaner in half. Carefully poke it through the metal spring of the clothespin—kind of like threading a needle. It helps to twist one end a bit to guide it through. Slide on some beads for hands and twist the ends so they don’t fall off.

I once used glow-in-the-dark beads and my clothespin people looked haunted at night. 10/10 would do again.

👀 Step 6: Give Them a Face

Time for personality! Stick on googly eyes—go big or go weird. I’ve made characters with just one giant eye (cyclops vibes). Then use gel pens or markers to draw a mouth. Add freckles, eyebrows, even mustaches.

Fun twist: Give them names! We had “Fuzzbert,” “Sir Wiggles,” and “Glenda the Glam.”

These steps are totally kid-approved and honestly kind of therapeutic for adults too. It’s simple, but the creativity possibilities are endless.

Next up? Let’s level up with themed and creative variations!

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Creative Variations to Try

Now here’s where things get really fun—once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to get weird, wild, and themed. Trust me, after making five of these yarn pom pom clothespin characters, you’ll start seeing personalities in the pom poms. One of mine had lopsided hair and instantly became a grumpy grandpa. That’s when I knew… it was time to mix it up.

🦄 Go Wild with Yarn Choices

Your yarn is the real MVP here. Don’t just settle for basic acrylic yarn unless you’re going for that “meh” look. I’ve tried:

Chunky chenille yarn – Makes super fluffy, marshmallow-like hair.
Sparkly yarn – Glitter bombs, basically. Great for “princess” characters or space aliens.
Rainbow variegated yarn – These are showstoppers. No two pom poms look alike.

One time I used yarn with little tufts sticking out, and it gave my character an afro. My niece called her “Disco Diva.”

🐰 Make Animals and Creatures

You can totally go beyond “weird little humans” here. With a little felt and imagination:

Add felt ears to make a bunny, cat, or bear.
Cut a tiny triangle nose and glue it under the eyes for animal faces.
Use white yarn and pink felt to make a unicorn—with a tiny horn made from a twisted pipe cleaner.

My personal fave? A spider with multiple googly eyes and eight mini pipe cleaner legs. Creepy and cute.

🎃 Holiday & Seasonal Characters

Yes, these make amazing year-round crafts, but they’re prime material for seasonal stuff:

Easter Bunny with pastel colors and a cotton ball tail.
Halloween Witch with a black hat and green face.
Santa Claus with red felt, white beard yarn, and a jolly belly drawn on with marker.

I made a whole Christmas crew last year and clipped them to the garland over the fireplace. Big hit.

🪧 Add Functionality: Mini Signs & Holders

These aren’t just for play—they can hold things too! I’ve done:

Name tag holders at a birthday party—each kid took theirs home after.
Mini signs for labeling food at a party (“Gluten-Free Brownies” held by a fuzzy chef).
Desk buddies that hold tiny post-its or reminders.

My friend stuck one to her fridge with a magnet and uses it to hold the weekly shopping list. Clever!

You’ll be shocked how much personality these little guys end up with. I swear some of mine look like they have backstories and hobbies. 😂

Ready to craft with the kiddos (or on your own)? Don’t miss the next part where I break down tips to keep this project safe and fun, especially if you’ve got younger hands at the table.

Crafting Tips & Safety for Kids

Alright, if you’re crafting with kids—especially little ones—you know how quickly a fun project can spiral into chaos. One second you’re painting clothespins, the next your toddler is gluing googly eyes to their forehead. Been there. So, here’s how I keep things fun and under control when we’re making yarn pom pom clothespin characters together.

🧼 Set Up a Craft Zone (Trust Me on This)

Contain the mess before it starts. I lay down a cheap plastic tablecloth or some newspaper, and I always keep baby wipes or a wet rag nearby. Acrylic paint + 5-year-old = colorful disaster. Also, pre-fill small paper plates with each supply so kids don’t fight over who gets the pink beads (that happened… tears were shed).

✂️ Choose Age-Appropriate Tools

Blunt scissors for anyone under 6. Even better, pre-cut yarn strips if you’re working with preschoolers.
Tacky glue over hot glue. Yeah, hot glue sticks fast, but it’s a burn hazard. I learned the hard way. My rule now: If they can’t tie their shoes, they don’t touch hot glue.
Self-stick googly eyes save time and sanity. You’ll thank me.

Bonus tip: Skip glitter. Unless you really like vacuuming for the next two weeks.

👩‍👧 Supervise but Let Them Lead

The best part of this craft? Kids get to be the boss. Let them decide if their clothespin needs three eyes or if it’s a dragon with pom pom wings. There’s no “right” version—embracing their weird creativity is what makes it magical.

I once tried to “fix” my son’s character by evening out the hair, and he got mad because, quote, “He was supposed to be a mad scientist!” Lesson learned.

🎉 Group Crafting? Plan Like a Pro

Doing this for a classroom or birthday party? Prep matters:

Pre-make pom poms if you’re short on time.
Set up a station system (paint > pom poms > decorate).
Print out simple visual steps and lay them on the table.

Also—bring extra everything. I swear pipe cleaners evaporate when more than four kids are crafting.

🗄️ Storage & Display Ideas

Once they’re done, you’ll want to show them off or store them safely:

Clip them onto string for a fun garland.
Use a magnetic strip to display them on the fridge.
Store in a shoe box with dividers if your kid makes an army of characters (mine did).

Crafting with kids doesn’t have to be a battle. With the right setup and mindset, it’s honestly one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon—laughing at googly-eyed monsters and letting them run wild with creativity.

In the final section, I’ll wrap it all up and show you how to share your characters on Pinterest (because seriously—they deserve to be seen).

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And there you have it—your new fuzzy friends are ready to take over the fridge, the classroom, or your desk at work. Making yarn pom pom clothespin characters isn’t just a craft project; it’s a whole vibe. It’s about the giggles when someone’s pom pom hair looks like a pineapple, the quiet focus while kids thread beads onto pipe cleaners, and the joy of watching a plain old clothespin turn into a creature with attitude.

If you’re anything like me, your first one will look a little wonky—but that’s part of the charm. They don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be yours. Every pom pom you trim, every eye you glue on, it all adds up to something personal and totally delightful.

So grab your supplies, gather your kiddos (or your wine and playlist if you’re flying solo), and start crafting. And hey—don’t keep all that cuteness to yourself. Snap a pic of your clothespin crew and share them on Pinterest. Seriously, these little guys belong on a craft board.

📌 Pin it, share it, inspire someone else to make their own fuzzy masterpiece. Let’s spread the yarn-love, one pom pom at a time.