Stack all four pipe cleaners on top of each other and find the midpoint. Twist all four together tightly at that midpoint, turning two full rotations. Fan the eight resulting ends outward into two groups of four on either side, like a flat asterisk. Each of those eight ends is a leg.

Bend each leg at roughly the halfway point to create a knee, then bend the last centimetre upward to create a foot that lets the spider grip a surface. Adjust all eight legs until the spider sits level and looks balanced. This is the most satisfying and fiddly part; the first bend is always the hardest.

Dab a generous amount of craft glue on the flat underside of the pom-pom and press it firmly onto the central twist. Hold for 30 seconds. Dab two spots of glue on top of the pom-pom and press the googly eyes in place. Leave flat to set for five minutes. Once set, bend the spider into its final pose.