DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Christmas Lacing Projects

Lacing projects are a great craft for preschoolers and kindergarten children to complete during any holiday.  The lacing gives them fine motor skill practice and practice tying knots and bows (shoelaces!)  The large blank area in the center gives the kids the chance to 'get creative'.

A stocking is pictured in the photo but you can also do Bells, Christmas Trees and Snowflakes.
 

Materials:

• Wool or ribbon,
• single hole punch,
• scissors,
• pencil,
• card stock, poster board or construction paper
   

Instructions:

• ADULT:  print template of choice or make your own.
   
• ADULT:  Trace onto a thick piece of cardboard (cardboard backs from paper pads or old boxes work well).
   
• ADULT:  Cut out this template.
   
• Allow the children to trace the template onto a piece of card stock or poster board (or construction paper...  Though I prefer the thicker card stock for lacing projects).
  OR have an adult do this prior to craft time.
   
• Allow the children to cut out their card stock shapes
  OR have an adult do this prior to craft time.
   
• Allow the children to make holes around their shape (about an inch or two apart)
  OR have an adult do this prior to craft time.
   
• Provide the children with a length of wool or ribbon. 
  • You can wrap some scotch tape around the end of the wool to make it more like a shoe lace.
  • Have the child thread the wool through the holes.
  • children can use different 'stitches' to complete their lacing project (simple running stitch is shown in the photo... you can also do X stitch, blanket stitch, etc).  If you want to 'inspire' the kids, provide a number of examples for them and have them up at the front of the room.
     
• Practice tying knots and/or bows to connect additional pieces of wool or to tie off at the end of the lacing.
   
• Let the children use stickers, stamps, die cuts, or markers and their imagination to decorate their completed project.
   
• Alternative:  instead of lacing just one shape, lace together two shapes.  Leave the top open and you'll be able to stick things inside when you're done!
   

  Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
   
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
   

Specific Instructions PLUS Templates:

Printable version of these instructions