Make Your Own Lacing Cards

Lacing cards are pictures on cardboard or wood that have holes around the edges. Then a string is used to weave through the holes.

The purpose is to help the young child to develop fine motor skills with their fingers and is the beginning motions for learning how to sew later in life.

• Cut out pictures from magazines or junk mail or draw your own picture. Have your child help you with this step.


• Glue to cereal or other light weight cardboard box. Let it dry well. You could also put them on thin wood if you have it. It will last longer that way.


• Use a hole punch to punch holes around edges or use a sharp object to make holes if you don't have a hole punch. A hole punch works the best though as there are no pieces of extra cardboard to get in the hole. If you glued your picture to wood, then you will need a drill to make the holes.


• Use yarn, string, or shoe string to lace with. If you use yarn or string, you can put tape around the end to keep it from fraying or dip it in glue and let it dry. The shoe string already has a hard end.

The child may need some help with what to do. Show them how you go over the edge and through the hole to weave through the holes.

Once the card is sewn all the way around, then you can unstring it so they can do it again.

Make as many different ones as you want.

This makes a nice quiet activity to use when you are waiting somewhere or in a meeting such as at church.