Pom-Pom Solar System

Learn more about the planets in our solar system with this charming pom-pom mobile! A perfect DIY gift for the babies (or space-loving grownups) in your life.

  1. Ages: 5 +

  2. 1 hour - 2 hours

  3. Messy

  4. Grownup needed

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Materials you'll need

Step-by-step tutorial

  • Step 1

    Gather your materials.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 1

  • Tip

    Missing any of these supplies? Get them from the KiwiCo Store!

  • Step 2

    Reference your Pom-Pom Set Quick Start Guide for detailed steps on how to make pom poms.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 2

  • Step 3

    For Mercury, Venus, and Mars, use the smallest pom-pom winders & trim guides, and the color of yarn that best matches those planets.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 3

  • Step 4

    For Earth, mix green and blue yarn when winding to get a marbled look! When you’re ready, use the second smallest pom-pom trim guide.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 4
    Photo reference of how to complete step 4

  • Step 5

    For Jupiter, mix red, brown, and orange yarn on the largest winder. Then shape it with the largest pom-pom trim guide.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 5

  • Step 6

    For Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, use the medium sized pom-pom winder and trim guide.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 6

  • Step 7

    To make rings for Saturn and Uranus, trace the pom-pom guide that matches their size on a piece of felt.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 7

  • Step 8

    Draw a second, slightly larger circle around the one you traced. (Uranus’s ring should be slightly smaller than Saturn’s). Then cut out the rings.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 8

  • Step 9

    Slip the rings over the planets. Secure with two dots of glue on either side of the planet.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 9

  • Step 10

    Prepare your hoop for hanging! Tie four lengths of yarn to equidistant edges of the hoop.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 10

  • Step 11

    Next, Tie the four strings together in a loop. Hang and adjust as needed to get a level hoop.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 11

  • Step 12

    Attach your planets to your mobile hanger using more yarn or fishing wire. For planets with rings, slip the wire between the ring and the planet before tying your knot.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 12

  • Tip

    Tip: It’s much easier to do this when the mobile hoop is already hanging!

  • Step 13

    Photo reference of how to complete step 13
    Photo reference of how to complete step 13

  • Learn moremagnifying icon graphic

    Our solar system is so big that scientists had to make up a new unit to measure how big it is! An AU (astronomical unit) is the distance from the Earth to the Sun (about 93 million miles). The furthest planets are about 50 AU out (more than 46 billion miles), but even that’s only a tiny part of the solar system. The edge of the solar system is 50,000 AU away.


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