How to Make a Yarn Wrapped Pencil Craft for Kids:
Create a colorful back-to-school pencil by wrapping yarn around a simple cardstock template. It's an easy craft that helps kids strengthen fine motor skills while letting their creativity shine.
Total Time15 minutes mins
Keyword: Back to School, Craft
- Free printable pencil template
- Light brown cardstock orbrown craft paper (for the pencil body; thin cardboard or a cereal box works too)
- Red cardstock or Red craft paper or (for the eraser)
- Gray cardstock or silver craft paper or cardstock (for the metal ferrule)
- Black cardstock or black craft paper (for the pencil lead)
- Yarn (yellow yarn or any colors you'd like)
- Glue stick (or liquid craft glue)
- Scissors
- Tape
Step 1: Cut the pencil bodyCut a long strip of brown paper or craft cardstock and trim one end into a point so it looks like a sharpened pencil. If you're using the free template, just trace and cut or print the template directly on brown paper to skip the tracing part. You can also use cardboard or a flattened cereal box if you want something sturdier or want to recycle supplies.Step 2: Wrap the body with yarnTape, tie, or dab a bit of glue on the back of the pencil shape to anchor the end of the yarn, then wind the yarn around and around the body, leaving the pointed tip exposed. Encourage kids to keep the wraps snug and side by side. This is the part that builds all that great fine motor and bilateral coordination practice, so let them take their time.Step 3: Cut the eraser and ferrule piecesCut a small red rectangle for the eraser and a thin black strip for the metal band (the ferrule) that sits between the eraser and the wood. These small cuts are perfect for building scissor skills.Step 4: Add the red eraserGlue the red rectangle to the flat top end of the pencil so it peeks out above the yarn, just like the eraser on a real pencil.Step 5: Add the black band and tipGlue the thin black strip across the top of the yarn to create the ferrule beneath the eraser. Then cut a small black triangle or point and glue it to the very tip of the exposed brown point to make the pencil lead.That's it! Your yarn-wrapped pencil is complete, with a bright yellow body, red eraser, and pointed lead.
Tips and Variations
- Use yellow yarn for a traditional pencil or let kids pick their favorite colors.
- Switch yarn colors as you wrap to make striped, rainbow, or color-blocked pencils.
- Match your classroom or school colors for a fun beginning-of-the-year display.
- Variegated or textured yarn creates a fun look with very little extra effort.
- Use thin cardboard from a cereal box instead of cardstock if you'd like a sturdier finished craft.
- Make a pencil for every student and create a colorful classroom bulletin board where each one is unique.