If your kids enjoy crafting with yarn, this post is like a little gold mine.
Below, you’ll find over 35 of my favourite yarn crafts for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens.
Whether you’re looking for simple lacing activities for preschoolers, classic yarn crafts for elementary school aged kids, or beginner knitting and weaving crafts for older kids, you’ll find loads of creative inspiration here.
If you craft with kids, yarn is a must-have for your craft cupboards. It’s one of my go-to craft supplies here in my home daycare. It’s mess-free, colourful, and relatively inexpensive (look for it in second-hand stores), so we use it for all kinds of different crafts and activities: knitting, weaving, beginner sewing and lacing activities, making mobiles, decorating homemade dolls, and for making Christmas ornaments.
Whenever I’m stuck for a craft idea, I can pull out our bin of yarn, and we can always think of something to make. It doesn’t matter how old the hooligans are, they’re like kids in a candy store digging through that bin, looking for just the perfect colour, weight and texture for their project.
I hope your children enjoy these creative ideas as much as we have, and that they’re inspired to get crafty, or to try their hand at learning a new skill.
Enjoy!
Loom Knitting Crafts:
Remember loom knitting (also known as French Knitting) when you were a kid? You may have done it on a “knitting Nancy” – a plastic knitting loom or a cork with nails tapped into the top. Well, you can make your own knitting loom easily with a toilet roll and some popsicle sticks to make belts, bracelets, hairbands etc. You can use a larger tube like a Pringles can or a breadcrumb bannister to make larger projects like our fingerless gloves above.
Yarn and Cardboard Crafts
Grab a ball of yarn and some cardboard from the recycle box and your kids can some cool yarn art for their bedrooms. Or… you can make a braiding board (above, right photo) for kids to learn and practice their braiding skills.
This handy, portable DIY art caddy is fun and easy to make, and it’s such a useful addition to a kid’s room or the craft room.
Yarn Painting is a relaxing activity that can keep kids busy for hour or even days. All you need is a flat surface/canvas, some yarn scraps and glue to create a vibrant piece of art to display on a shelf or a wall.
Easy Yarn Dolls
If your kids like dolls, we have several homemade dolls they can make with basic household items and a ball of yarn. Winding the yarn around and around is great for fine-motor skills and co-ordination, and a terrific way to add some custom “clothing” to your doll.
Easy Weaving Crafts
Weaving is a wonderful way to produce a really beautiful piece of art with scraps of yarn. Your kids can make coasters, trivets, bookmarks, wall art and bowls to hold loose change and treasures with the projects above.
Yarn and Pipe Cleaner Crafts:
Earlier this winter, I accidentally discovered the joy of crafting with pipe cleaners and yarn. It’s so easy! The trivet (above) is one of many that we made, and they really work, so they’re a great gift for kids to make if they like to give homemade. The yarn-wrapped hearts and bracelets were really fun to make too. Super-quick andeasy and fun for trading with friends.
Sewing with Yarn
Use yarn to teach young children some basic sewing stitches. You can either use a sytrofoam tray like we did in the above-left photo or a homemade cardboard lacing card (above right).
Yarn and Stick Crafts:
There are so many gorgeous crafts you can create with yarn and a couple of sticks from the yarn. We’ve made all kinds of garden ornaments, indoor ornaments and Christmas ornaments this way. They’re all wonderful for strengthening hand-eye co-ordination and fine-motor skills, and they’re so pretty.
Paper Plate Yarn Crafts
Paper plates and yarn make a great combo when your kids are stuck for a craft. Punch a few holes in one, and you have an early weaving/sewing activity, or, for a more intricate project for older kids, make some colourful circular yarn art.
Christmas Yarn Ornaments:
Yarn is one of our go-to craft supplies for the kids to make Christmas ornaments with. The above collection of Christmas crafts and ornaments contains ideas for all ages from toddlers right through to teens.
And lastly, we have our Yarn Wrapped Pen/Pencil Holder. We wrapped a red, plastic solo cup to make these, but you could use this technique to wrap wine bottles or glass jars, or Pringles cans.
You may also like:
Fun and Easy Doll Crafts for Kids
Boredom Busters for Kids!
Print off our checklist of 100 Fun Things for Kids to Do at Home. Stick it on your fridge, and they’ll never be bored again!
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
