The Pom-pom Poddle Pet from the 1960s

The following pink poodle craft first appeared in a copy of "Workbasket" magazine in 1961:

The original pompon poodle from 1961

        Here's a real fun project and the finished model will be a favorite with the teenagers as well as the youngsters. You'll find it easy to make. It takes one 4-ounce skein of pink (or any desired color) 4-ply wool yarn, 3 black buttons (about 1/2-inch diameter) for eyes and nose, 2 wire coat hangers, 2 toilet tissue cardboard rolls and 3 pipe cleaners. Pliers, cellophane tape, two 2-inch nails, hammer, 12-inch length of scrapboard and a comb are also needed to complete model.

The Original Instructions for A PomPon Poodle: 

1. First cut 49 pieces of yarn, each 8 1/2 inches long for ties. You will need to make 5 large and 44 small pompons. 
2. Hammer nails into board 10 inches apart (Fig. 1).
3. Wrap yarn around nails 35 times. Encircle these lengths as shown with the 8 1/2 inch ties. Tie and knot securely.
4. Cut between ties and you have 5 large pompons. 
5.  Holding ties side of each pompon, comb ends of
   yarn with large tooth comb. Trim slightly. 
6. Make the 44 smaller pompons in same manner wrapping yarn around nails 25 times and tying off every inch. Comb and trim.
7. Bend coat hangers to form shapes A and B (Fig. 2). 
8. Wrap 2 pipe cleaners to B as shown for tail of dog.
9. Slip one tissue roll over hanger B for body of dog. 
10. Bend hook B over hanger A and clamp tightly
    closed making frame. 
11. Slip other roll over A for neck of dog. 
12. Bend wire legs out from body as pictured to give more dog-like stance to frame. 
13. Wrap yarn close around each leg and fasten securely. Stuff rolls tightly with newspapers to hold wires firm. 
14. Neck roll should be held securely to body roll with tape or large yarn stitches.
15. A black button becomes nose of poodle (Fig. 3). Thread button on pipe cleaner (a), wrap ends of
    cleaner tightly around wire so button is in position for tip of nose (b). 
16. The small pompons 1 and 2 on each side of nose (c). Trim nose close, fairly flat on top, round on side.
17. Wrap yarn closely around tissue rolls (neck and body) until completely covered, secure ends with
    glue. 
18. In same manner, wrap and secure yarn around tail very tightly. 
19. Make a ball for head, 2 inches in diameter, by wadding yarn combings in ball and wrapping with yarn until smooth and round. Sew to hanger as shown in sketch (c). 
20. Tie pompons in place over wire for head (Fig. 4).
21.  Tie two large pompons (A and B) on top of hanger hook.
22.  Tie small pompons (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) to wire between, in front and in back of first ones.
23.  Next row of small pompons encircles the neck (8, 9, 10, 11). 
24. Below these tie another row of small pompons (12, 13, 14, 15). 
25. Tie a big pompon (C) in front of legs to cover chest and one large (D) directly behind legs (Fig. 4). 
26. Encircle roll with these ties. Complete chest "pouf" with addition of small balls (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25). 
27. Pompons 20, 21, 24, 25 are on other side. 
28. Tie one big pompon (E) on open end of roll below tail (Fig. 4).
29. Encircle body in front of tail with small pompons, (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31). 
30. Tie 2 small ones at top of each hind leg (32, 33, 34, 35). 
31. Tie 1 small pompon (36) at tip of tail.
32. Tie 2 small pompons on each foot as shown in sketch (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 32, 43, 44).
33. Sew eyes in place about center of numbers 3 and 4 pompons.
34. Poodle is now read for a good trim job. Proceed cautiously to fluff. Trim only where necessary. 
35. Pull pompons 5 and 7 out from head to give suggestion of ears. 
36. Trim up between legs front and back for better shape.
37. Additional yarn pompons may be added if poodle is not fluffy enough. 
38. A bright ribbon bow at neck an one sewed to top knot finishes the poodle. 
39. A velvet collar studded with pearls or sequins would be clever.

       I made an updated version, less complicated, but more realistic for our doll's to play with and easier for older children to make. See the photos and instructions below.

       The supplies you will need for my version of this craft are similar to those listed above: chenille stems, masking tape, hot glue and glue gun, wooden toothpicks or skewers, curly yarn, black/pink felt, paper tubes, white school glue, white cotton, four beads for eyes and nostrils, matching needle with thread, and ribbon for the poodle's collar and bows for her ears. 

• Go to Art Education Daily to see how I made a chenille stem puppy for the dolls.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. First you will need to shape the body of your poodle using paper tubes and chenille stems. See photo above.
2. Wrap the upper chest and hind quarters of the poodle's body with unravelled cotton balls and white glue. Let this part dry.
3. Now make pompons using the curly yarn. I used four about the chest, two to form the buttox area, one smaller pompon for the tip of the tail and one large pompon glued to the top of the head. I show how to make custom pompons here at this craft's description in detail...
4. Using your hot glue gun apply the pompons to the body and trim these to shape.
5. Hot glue the toothpicks or skewers to the legs to give these strength and stability. Cut them to size.
6. Now wrap all of the exposed parts of the dog's body with yarn over white school glue.
7. Both the ears and the fluff about the legs were made by applying strips of the yarn with glue or thread. Then the yarn was fluffed out using the tip of my scissors. You could use a tiny comb instead if you are more comfortable with that tool.
8. I then hot glued the ribbons to our poodle's ears. 
9. Then I shaped a collar using grow grain, striped ribbon, a clasp and a charm with a jump ring.
10. Sew your buttons onto the face of the dog and shape a nose using black felt if you like.
11. I glued a tiny pink tongue sticking out of the poodle's mouth using a scrap of pink leather, but you may use pink felt if you have any at hand.
12. Give your poodle a final shave, if she needs it, to accentuate her hair cut.

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