How to Make Yarn Balloons

Prepping the Materials

Place newspaper over your work area to protect the surface. Choose a hard surface to work on, such as a desk or table. Cover the entire surface with newspaper so you don't accidentally damage the surface with glue. If you don’t have any old use newspaper, use scrap paper or rags to cover the area instead.

Stir 3 parts craft glue with 1 part water in an old plastic container. Use an ice block stick to mix the water and glue until they are fully combined. To make 2 large yarns balloons, mix ¾ cup (180 mL) of liquid craft glue with ¼ cup (60 mL) of water. Increase or decrease the quantity of glue solution according to how many yarn balloons you wish to make.

Use water balloons, if you want very small yarn balloons. These balloons will create cute egg-shaped decorations and are perfect for garlands. Purchase water balloons in the toy section of a general store. Check the measurements of the water balloons on the packet, as sizes vary between brands. Water balloons are often sold at toy stores, but you may also find them in a seasonal aisle at a grocery store or dollar store when the weather is warm.

Opt for party-sized balloons if you want larger yarn balls. Party-sized balloons are the type that you see most often at birthday parties and other celebrations. Use these to create classic balloon-shaped decorations. You can find these balloons anywhere that party supplies are sold. If you want to make a medium-sized yarn ball, simply blow the balloons up partially.

Blow up the balloons, but don't fill them all the way. Avoid blowing the balloons up to capacity as this can cause them to pop while the yarn is drying. Once you have blown up the balloons, keep them out of the sun to avoid them popping from the heat.

Covering the Balloons with String

Dunk approximately 60 centimetres (24 in) of yarn into the glue mixture. Find the end of the yarn and gather about 60 centimetres (24 in) of yarn. Make sure that the yarn is fully submerged in the glue to ensure that it will stick evenly to the balloon. Don’t cut the yarn yet, as you will need to use more yarn later. Any type of yarn fibre can be used for this task. Experiment with different textures and colours to vary the look of your yarn balloons.

Wrap the wet yarn around the balloon in different directions. Place the end of the yarn next to the neck of the balloon and then wrap the yarn vertically around the balloon. Ensure that the yarn lays flat against the balloon so that it will dry in a perfect balloon shape. Vary the direction of your wraps to create a lattice effect. Keep wrapping the balloon until you run out of wet yarn.

Continue to dunk sections of yarn in glue and wrap them around the balloon. Keep varying the directions of the yarn wraps to cover the exposed sections of the balloon. Make sure that each new section of yarn is liberally coated in the glue solution to ensure that it sticks to the balloon.

Cut the yarn once you have covered 80% of the balloon. Use a pair of scissors to trim the end of the yarn. Rinse the scissors in water straight away to avoid the blades getting stuck together. Make the cut at least 1 centimetre (0.39 in) away from the balloon to avoid accidentally puncturing it.

Tuck the end of the yarn under another piece of yarn. Lift up a piece of the yarn that you wrapped around the balloon, and slip the very end of the string beneath it. This helps to secure the yarn. If it is not staying in place, dab a drop of glue over the end to help it stay in place.

Place the wet yarn balloon on wax paper to dry for 24 hours. Wax paper is a non-stick surface, meaning that the yarn balloon won’t stick to it when it dries. If the yarn still feels tacky after 24 hours, leave it to dry for another day. Place the wet yarn balloon and wax paper in a non-windy area to ensure that they don’t blow away. Never leave the yarn balloons on newspaper, as the glue will cause the newspaper to stick to the yarn.

Finishing the Yarn Balloons

Pop the balloon with a needle. Hold the balloon securely in one hand and use your other hand to poke the needle into the inflated balloon. Watch the balloon pull away from the yarn to reveal a beautiful egg-shaped ball. If you don’t have a needle on hand, use a sharp craft knife to pop the balloon.

Pull the popped balloon out of the dried yarn ball. Locate the largest gap in your yarn balloon and shake the remains of the balloon toward the hole. Gently pull the balloon out to avoid damaging the yarn shell. If you’re having trouble gripping the ballon, use tweezers to pull out the remaining small pieces of balloon.

Display your yarn balloons around the house. Place your yarn balloons on top of your desk or dresser as ornaments or thread string through them and create a garland. These beautiful homemade ornaments also make great decorations for parties, weddings, and baby showers.