Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Lacing Cards

I’m sure you’ve heard of Lacing cards, right? They’re usually a shape or a picture with holes around the edges that toddlers and preschoolers can use to practice “sewing”. They’re great for hand eye coordination and learning about patterns etc. So a few months back, I wanted to get one for O, but being the cheapskate that I am, balked when I saw the prices. I didn’t see any on amazon for less than $12. Which is more than I wanted to spend on an activity I wasn’t sure if O would like.

Instead, I poked around in my craft closet and came up with a quick way to make them out of materials I already had! They were good for ten or fifteen minutes of entertainment for O, not the most favorite toy he has but definitely a win. Also this is the kind of craft I love making for kids because it takes about five minutes and cheap materials so if they aren’t that into it or they destroy it right away, as my Aunt Mary would say, “It don’t matter!”

Anyway, when I was planning the Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party, I thought they would be a great thing to put in the goody bags for his friends and I took some picture to show you how to make them too! And of course, apples with holes in them are perfect because the Hungry Caterpillar eats a hole through an apple in the story!

To start, you need:

Craft foam shapes (I get mine in the Dollar Spot at Target, they almost always have something. This time I had apple shapes, purchased sometime last fall, but I just saw them again at my local store. I’ve also seen leaves, eggs, stars etc. Any of those would be great. )

A regular hole punch

Some yarn

Scotch tape

This is where it gets complicated…ok ready? Are you sure you’re paying attention? Ok! Punch evenly spaced holes around the edge of your foam shape.

Next, cut a length of yarn equal to about 1 1/2 the circumference of the shape. Tie it to the shape, putting the knot on the back.

Next tear off about an inch long piece of scotch tape, put the other end of the yarn on it and start to wrap it with the tape.

Keep wrapping until the tape is used up and the end of the yarn is secure and stiff like the end of a shoelace.

That’s it! You’re done! Let your little one start sewing and lacing!

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Cassie May

Craft and Knitwear Designer at Little Red Window Design

Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie, a professional craft and knitwear designer working in the field for more than 10 years. I have a degree in Art History from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Architecture and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I've designed more than 300 separate knitting patterns, hundreds of craft projects, and I love to bring joy to your crafts and knitting with well-designed, easy to understand tutorials and patterns.

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