How to Make Sewing Cards for Children

These reusable sewing cards will keep your child entertained for many rainy day afternoons. They're simple to make yet they help to teach a child dexterity, hand to eye coordination and a basic sewing stitch.

Things You'll Need

• Poster board or heavy oak tag
• Colored Markers
• Needle with a large eye (Tapestry needles are good)
• Different colors and lengths of yarn
• Tracing Paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• A coloring book or storybook with really big pictures
• Paper Punch or Nail - large with a head on it
• Piece of scrap wood
• Clear contact paper

Instructions

Make These With Your Child

1. Help your child to select several big designs to draw or trace. There shouldn't be a whole lot of detail in it. Think of something that looks like a large line drawing - the kind of picture that is in toddler coloring books is great. A large flower or simple space ship would be ideal. You can draw anything you want but it should be very simple.

2. Put your drawing or traced picture on top of the poster board or oak tag (You can use shirt cardboard but it's a little flimsy). Cut the cardboard a little bigger than the picture - it holds up best if it's cut square rather than with odd edges that can bend. It also works best if all the squares are the same size when it comes to storing them.

3. Use your paper punch to punch out a hole through the cardboard and the traced or drawn picture. Punch holes neatly along the lines keeping the holes about one inch apart. If you can't use a hole punch because the paper is too thick or you don't have one, do this instead: Take the picture and card board square and puncture the picture with the nail every inch along the lines of the drawing. You can use the wood behind the picture. Do this as neatly as possible.

4. Remove the drawing: When all the holes have been punched take the drawing off of the card. You can set this aside for later if it's in good shape. You can cover the cards - back and front - with the contact paper, making sure there are no wrinkles in it. Now go back and make holes in the plastic where the holes are in the cardboard.

5. Repeat this process until you have a nice set of sewing cards - a dozen is a nice set. Now cut the yarn into one foot lengths. Show the child how to thread the large eyed needle - you can do this for them if you prefer. Let the child sew in and out of the holes with the yarn. Don't tie a knot in the yarn - just have her leave a long tail at the starting point so that the yarn will come out neatly later and easily be reused.

6. Cut some extra squares to wrap the yarn around for storing. Then take all the cards, needle, and yarn and slide them into a giant zippered plastic bag - or any other tote bag that they fit into. Now your sewing cards are portable. These are great for taking to the doctor's office or anywhere a child will have to sit for a long time.

Tips & Warnings

• Save these for rainy days or when a child isn't feeling well, but is bored, and they will seem really special to them.

• Make sure you explain that the needle is sharp and show the child how to sew without pricking her fingers.