A pizza box and a kilo of yarn made Mari Salonen a popular craft influencer—“I want to show kids that crafts are more than just knitting socks”
Mari Salonen wasn’t accepted to an art class as a child—but as an adult, she has built a career as a graphic designer and crafts influencer best known for her Rakkaudella Marre videos. She hopes to show youth that handiwork and crafting can be amazing.
When you grow up surrounded by crafters and artists, creativity strongly influences your life. Add a vibrant imagination, and all sorts of fascinating things can happen. That’s exactly what happened to Mari Salonen, who calls herself the “pompom queen” in her craft videos.
Mari, what kind of craft memories do you have from childhood?
Even as a little girl, I admired my great-grandfather’s oil paintings and watched my mother and aunt sew. In elementary school, I learned crochet at my grandma’s house. I got excited, and soon I was churning out chain-stitch ruffles. I asked my mom what we could do with all those strings, and we decided they would make great belts for bathrobes, which I gave out as Christmas gifts to my whole family.
When I was 11, I applied for an art class but didn’t get in. Now I think it’s funny because I’ve spent my entire adult life working in graphic design. The lesson: don’t be discouraged if things don’t instantly go your way.
“When I was 11, I applied for an art class but didn’t get in. The lesson: don’t get discouraged if things don’t immediately go the way you want.”
How did you get hooked on pom-poms?
I fell in love with their versatility—they’re definitely not just simple yarn tufts. Pom-poms combine everything I love: yarn, colors, and accessories.
At first, I thought making pom-poms would be super easy, but I soon realized it wasn’t. Achieving a perfectly round, even shape was especially challenging. Still, practice paid off. At first, I made pom-pom earrings, but then I realized I could do a lot more. I’ve made wreaths, decorations, ice cream scoops, fruit, and animal and human figures.
On social media, you run your Rakkaudella Marre accounts. What’s it like working as a craft influencer?
I started posting crafting and handiwork videos on TikTok a couple of years ago. Things were pretty modest at first, until I decided to try making a giant pom-pom and show my progress in videos.
I cut two horseshoe-shaped pieces from a cardboard pizza box and gathered yarn from flea markets and my leftover stash. People on social media watched as I kept winding day and night. It took five days to wrap it all, and a full day to trim the over one-kilogram ball of yarn. My followers named the giant pom-pom Matti, and he’s been my constant companion on social media and at events ever since.
“I’ve met young people who are bullied for their crafting hobby. I want to give them courage.”
I post entertaining content on social media, but with a positive intention behind it. I want to show that making things by hand is meaningful, inspiring, and practical.
Because of my social media work, I was invited to lead hobby clubs at schools in my hometown of Pori. At first, I wasn’t sure I had anything to teach, but I agreed. Now I teach at three schools, and we’ve made pom-poms and learned about photography, among other things.
What do you hope to achieve through your work?
On social media and in schools, I’ve met young people who are bullied because of their crafting hobby. Some hesitate to mention it to their friends. I want to encourage them and show that crafting is awesome.
The image many people have of crafts and crafters could stand an update. I’ve seen prejudice, for example, that crafting isn’t a “real” hobby. But it’s not just about knitting socks—it’s much more. You can gain a sense of joy and accomplishment that boosts your self-confidence. You also learn to handle failures. In a restless world, it’s healthy to focus on something, and crafting is a great option for that.
“Giant pom-pom Matti has become a dear and important mascot for me. I use ‘he’ when I talk about Matti.”
What’s the funniest thing you’ve made out of pom-poms?
When all of Finland became obsessed by our Eurovision act Käärijä, I noticed the neon green bolero sleeves he wore resembled pom-poms. Could I make an outfit for myself in the same style? Or even craft Käärijä himself? After that, I got excited about making other characters, such as Eurovision performers, and the Finnish ventriloquist Sari Aalto with her pony Hani.
My giant pom-pom Matti has become a beloved, important mascot for me. I use “he” when I refer to Matti. My followers have come up with various stories about his life. He attracts attention at fairs, and people take selfies with him. He’s also a welcome guest in schools.
What else do you dream about?
I want to become an even more well-known craft and DIY influencer. Having my own craft-themed TV show would be a big dream. I hope the children and young people I meet through my work grow up to be creative, hands-on adults.
Mari’s tips for making pom-poms
- Use acrylic yarn—it doesn’t itch or cause allergies, but still makes a fluffy pom-pom. You can also find recycled materials at thrift stores.
- Think outside the box. Pom-poms can become jewelry, clothing accents, home decor—or even toys.
- Reuse the trimmings. Colorful yarn scraps are perfect for Christmas ornaments—like filling a clear plastic bauble for a festive touch.
