Cup weaving is a simple craft perfect for using up scraps of yarn and the results are so impressive. We are going through a real phase of yarn craft at the moment. It is a great way of improving fine motor skills and using up scraps of wool. Cup weaving is a great fun craft and perfect for using paper cups.
We are using these woven cups to organise our art materials and use up our yarn! Not only that they are a great way to introduce a new weaving technique to the kids too (oh and a little math)!
Cup Weaving Tutorial
Materials
- Yarn
- Paper cups – they are much better than plastic, not just for the environment but they don’t have sharp edges.
- Marker
- Tape
- Scissors
- Glue (We used a low melt hot glue gun – adult supervision required)
Instructions
First off the math. In order to get the in the out of the weaving you need to have an odd number of strips (warp), so measure around the cup with the tape and divide it by an odd number and mark out. We decided on 9 warp. We made a mark evenly round the top of the cup.
Cut down sides of cup at each mark from mark at mouth of cup to the base of cup leaving approximately ¼” [0.5 cm] uncut at base. It is important to make sure your cuts are smooth as the yarn will snag on any uneven edges and make it harder to weave.
Tape end of yarn to the inside bottom of the cup.
Weave yarn in and out of strips, pushing weaving to bottom of cup as you work.
To beegin weaving with new color, trapping yarn tails between weaving and inside of cup as you go.
Cut yarn and tuck tail into weaving at inside of cup. Dab with glue and let dry to secure.
Cut 12 lengths of yarn approximately 36” [91.5 cm] long. Tie strands together close to one end. Divide strands into groups of 4 and braid together, tying a knot to secure end. Glue braid around top edge of cup, cutting to size and securing ends at inside of cup with glue (cut off any knots to avoid bulk). Make a second braid and glue around bottom of cup in the same way.
We had so much fun making these. They are perfect for storing pens and pencils.
See what the other #SimpleSummer tea, made with their paper cups:
- Ninja Turtles from cups from In the Play Room
- Apple shakers from Crafts on Sea
This is so cool Jen! I’d much rather have a weaved cup than a plain one!!
Love this idea, they look so pretty x
ohhh how pretty. I will need to give this a go
What a great idea. I can see us experimenting with lots of different designs
What a fantastic idea and they look so pretty! x
Wow that really looks awesome and something I could actually do! im not the best at crafts
Ooooh now this looks so good and so easy (she says) x
They are so cute! So simple and yet so effective, what a way to jazz up a cup 🙂
Now why on earth could I pull this off I am rubbish at things like this.
Jen,
I just love this! I am definitely making with the kids
I love this, such a fab idea for keeping pens tidy and looking pretty too! x
My girls would love this! Thanks for sharing!
These are great. I love them. Its due to rain all day on my day off this week so maybe we can make these.
Your Comments
These are lovely. The plait detail at the top and bottom finishes them off really neatly
How cool a fine motor skills activity is this
Been looking for crafty things to do for the next two days and this looks fun
Absolutely love this! Such a great simple craft idea. Perfect for a teachers leaving present too.
i LOVE this Jen!! Have pinned.
Very pretty and it looks easy to do too. Might try this as we are looking to work on fine motor skills.
I used to love doing similar things to this when I was little, will have to show the kids 🙂