Cup weaving {fine motor craft}

Cup weaving is a simple, inexpensive craft that supports the development of fine motor skills.

While it requires a bit of patience, once kids finish their beautiful woven cups they can store favorite keepsakes inside, collect extra coins, or use them as pencil holders. The possibilities are endless!

Note: For more arts and crafts activities, see my Arts and Crafts page. 

To make your own woven cups, you’ll need the following supplies:

• Paper cups (we used tiny ones but you can use larger sizes too)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Yarn

To begin, cut an odd number of slits into the cup.

It is important that you cut an odd number of slits, because this will make an odd number of “spokes” around the cup.

Having an odd number of spokes ensures that the yarn will be woven on both the outside and inside of the slit as you go around.

If you do not have an odd number of “spokes” then only half of the cup will end up with woven yarn on the outside.

To help your child get started, tape the end of the yarn to the bottom of the inside of the cup. Then thread the yarn through one of the slits on the side.

Now your child is ready to begin.

Show your child how to weave in and out of the spokes on the cup with the yarn.

This is what the inside of the cup will look like. As you can see, the inside will also be woven.

Keep weaving, gently pushing the yarn down the spokes as you go around to keep the weave close together.

You can combine colors as you weave your cup.

When you’ve added enough of one color, simply cut the string and tie the end to the next color you want to use. Tie a tight knot.

Try to tie the knot on the string so that the knot ends up on the inside of the cup as you weave, so that it won’t be visible on the outside in the final product.

Keep weaving until you reach the top of the cup.

When you are done, simply cut the string so it ends on the inside of the cup, and tape it down or tuck it under the other yarn.

Finally, have your child display their beautiful cups for all to admire.

Ask your child what ideas they have for how to use their cup. Do they have anything special they’d like to keep inside?

More resources for kid-friendly arts and crafts

More arts and crafts from Gift of Curiosity:

• Tape resist watercolor painting
• Coffee filter art
• Crystallized snowflakes
• Upcycled crayons
• Leaf collages
• Glue monsters
• Chromatography flowers craft

Note: For more kid-friendly craft projects, see my Arts and Crafts for Kids page and my Arts and Crafts Pinterest board.