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Activities / Parandi / Pom-Pom Parandi

Pom-Pom Parandi

Pom-Pom Parandi: A Playful Hair Braid Ornament

Level
Beginner
Duration
1 - 2 hours
Budget
₹199 – ₹547
Age
8+
State
Punjab
Craft
Parandi

Materials

  • Acrylic yarn in assorted colours
  • Masking tape, 24 mm
  • Hair clip (alligator or duckbill)
  • Cardboard strip, 5 cm wide (cereal box)
  • Sharp scissors

Steps

  1. Pick three yarn colours and cut a cardboard strip
    A parandi is a long braided hair ornament that ends in tassels or pom-poms. Pick three colours of yarn, for example pink, orange and yellow. Cut a strip of cardboard 5 cm wide and 15 cm long from a cereal box. This strip is your pom-pom maker. Clear a table and keep scissors, tape and your hair clip nearby.
  2. Wrap yarn 60 times around the cardboard strip
    Hold the loose end of the yarn against the back of the strip with your thumb. Wrap the yarn around the strip's 5 cm width 60 times, keeping the wraps side by side and in one layer if you can. Do not pull so tight that the card bends. When done, cut the yarn. The wrapped yarn should look like a plump yellow, pink or orange band.
    Tip: Count aloud in tens. It is easy to lose count, and 60 wraps is what makes a full ball.
  3. Tie the bundle tightly in the middle and slide it off
    Cut a 20 cm piece of yarn in the same colour. Slide it under the wraps at the middle of the strip, bring both ends over the top and tie a very tight double knot. Then slide the whole bundle off the card without letting go of the knot. Keep the tails of the tie long, about 10 cm each, because you will use them to attach the pom-pom later.
  4. Cut the loops, fluff the ball and trim it round
    Hold the bundle by the knot. Cut through the loops on both sides with sharp scissors, then roll the yarn between your palms to fluff it. Trim all around until the ball is about 4 cm (1.5 in) across, shaped like a ball. Keep the long tie tails out of the way. Common mistake: tying the middle loosely, which makes the pom-pom shed yarn.
  5. Make 5 small pom-poms in total, using all three colours
    Repeat steps 2 to 4 four more times to get 5 pom-poms of 4 cm. Use your three colours, for example 2 pink, 2 orange and 1 yellow. Make them the same size by wrapping exactly 60 times each time. This takes about 10 minutes per pom-pom for a beginner. Lay them in the order you want them on the braid.
  6. Cut 6 strands of yarn, fold them and make the hair loop
    Cut 6 strands of yarn, each 90 cm (3 ft), two in each colour. Fold them in half and tie a knot 5 cm below the fold, leaving a loop about 3 cm wide. This loop will go over your hair clip. Tape the loop firmly to the table. You now have 12 hanging strands.
  7. Split the strands into three groups of four and braid
    Make 3 groups of 4 strands, with a mix of colours in each. Use a regular three-strand braid: left group over the middle, then right group over the middle, pulling each crossing snug. Braid until the braid is about 50 cm (20 in) long. Common mistake: braiding too loosely, which makes the braid fat and floppy. Pull down gently after each crossing.
    Tip: Tape the braid to the table every 15 cm so it stays still while you work.
  8. Mark places for pom-poms and tie them on
    Every 12 cm (5 in) down the braid, tie a short piece of yarn around the braid as a marker. Take the first pom-pom, wrap its two long tie tails around the braid just above a marker, tie a double knot at the back and trim the tails to 1 cm. Repeat for all 5 pom-poms so they hang in front of the braid.
  9. Add a bigger pom-pom to the end and wear it
    Make one larger pom-pom with 80 wraps around a 7 cm wide card. Tie it to the end of the braid with a double knot and trim any uneven strands. Clip the hair loop onto your hair with a hair clip and braid your own hair beside the parandi. Keep the yarn away from small children, who may chew it, and never tie it around a neck.
    Tip: Trim the pom-poms once more after wearing them for a day, to tidy fluffed up yarn.

Sustainability

Medium - uses leftover yarn; synthetic yarn does not biodegrade

Safety

Scissors are sharp for children; keep yarn away from small children, who may chew it; do not tie around a neck