How to Make a Pilgrim Clothespin

Children enjoy making crafts for any holiday. Making a Pilgrim clothespin is a great craft to celebrate Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims can be painted and embellished with pieces of felt and yarn. The wooden dolls can be used for place markers or set into a full display with Native Americans and a turkey.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Round head craft clothespins
• Acrylic paint
• Small paint brushes
• Felt
• White tacky glue
• Chenille stems

1. Mix a small amount of white and brown paint, or white and red paint, to make tan or pink. Paint the head and neck of the Pilgrim person onto the clothespin. Let it dry.

2. Paint the top of the clothespin light blue, black or tan for a Pilgrim man or woman's shirt. Let it dry.

3. Paint the bottom portion of the clothespin black, gray or tan for the pants or skirt. Let it dry.

4. Paint the woman's Pilgrim shoes black and the man's shoes black or brown. Let them dry. Paint square buckles on the man's shoes with silver or gray paint.

5. Glue snippets of yarn to the heads of the clothespin Pilgrims for hair with white tacky glue. Let it dry.

6. Trace a quarter and a penny onto a piece of black or brown felt. Draw a one 1/2-inch by 2-inch long rectangle onto the felt. Cut out the three pieces.

7. Place the large circle flat on the work surface. Roll up the rectangle to form the Pilgrim hat with the small circle as the hat top. Stitch the rectangle into a tube shape and glue the large circle and small circle on either end of it.

8. Glue a circular piece of white cloth onto the head of the woman for her hat.

9. Wrap a piece of black, blue or tan chenille stem or pipe cleaner around the clothes pin just under the head. The color should match the shirt you painted. The center of the chenille stem should be around the neck area with two lengths extending out.

10. Bend the chenille to form elbows and hands.

11. Paint buttons, belt buckle and the faces onto the clothespin Pilgrims for finishing touches.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a toothpick to paint tiny facial features.

• Glue the "feet" into a soda bottle cap for a free standing clothespin doll.