DIY: how to make chocomint inspired fluffy stars part one

I've been trying to find time to blog all week. The weather has been pretty lousy lately, and I haven't been able to find the right lighting for outfit posts. It's been more than ten degrees warmer in New York than California this week!

For my friend's birthday, I made her a fluffy star hair clip brooch. A girl on the EGL livejournal community posted a tutorial for making them a while back, and I wanted to try making one. I'm currently in the process of looking for it. This is the one that I made for my friend.

This puffy star is based off of star pin/brooch/hairclips made by Chocomint. Photo from rakuten.co.jp.


I really like making these because they're cute and fairly fun and simple to make. All of them come out a little differently.
You can make them using an assortment of yarn. I experimented with three different kinds, and concluded that this one is my favorite.
Buttercup by Red Heart brand. It can be found in the baby subsection in the yarn section at craft stores. The problem with this one is that it's two-part yarn. While threading it through, one side often gets stuck.

Another type I used was Red Heart Baby Clouds, also found in the baby section.
This kind comes out alright, but it's not soft and fluffy, so I don't like this one as much. It's relatively thick, so threading with it is a bit troublesome. On the side, I made some pom poms. I'll make a tutorial on making those in part 2.

Alright, onto the tutorial.
Aside from yarn, you'll need plastic canvases. Craft stores like Michael's and Joann's both carry them. These come in a pack of ten, and I believe they were less than $2.

Also, have some plastic canvas needles ready.
I didn't know what kind to use, so I went out and bought the large steel needle. It's a little too big, so I had a hard time threading with it. For a while, I used a sewing needle. On my second trip to the store, I found plastic canvas needles. If you can find those, I recommend using them.

Getting started! Take a scissor and cut out the middle. I prefer to cut it at two rows, but it's really up to you what you prefer to do. Anything works, including not cutting it out at all. If you are cutting it out, save the middle so you can make something with it later on.


Next, choose your yarn and start threading it through. I like to start from a corner.
Remember, if you can't find the same type of yarn I used, that's totally fine! Any type of yarn works, and it's more fun to experiment.

Occasionally, you might have your yarn stuck. It happens to me all too often.


After you thread it through once, you can choose to thread through as many more times as you want for added poof. For reference, I do two to three layers of yarn.

Here is my result!

For the backing I bought a box of alligator clips and brooch pin backings. Chocomint uses the double kind, so you can have both the clip and pin at the same place. I decided not to do that because I find two-way backings inconvenient at times. But that is just my personal preference. If you'd like the two way backings, there are some sellers for them on etsy.
I got these kind, which cost $2.99 per box.

I attached them with hot glue on the back. You can choose to place them together or separately.


Don't forget about the star that was cut out from the middle! You can use those to make them into brooches or hairclips too, or even have them connected to the bigger star as a dangle. I make them into a cell phone strap.


That's all for now. Part two (hopefully I get as far as to make it) will be on decorating. I'm thinking of sending one of these out as a blog giveaway. If there's any interest, I'll make a giveaway post too.

Love, Kai