Looking for a lacing card activity that you can use right away? These printable lacing cards are perfect for toddlers and young kids, and are printable at home!
Today I have rounded up a huge list of printable lacing cards and organized them by season and topic so that you can easily find the ones your kids will love best. (Most of these are free, but I’ve also included a few very cute cheap options as well!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.
What Is A Lacing Card?
Lacing cards (also known as sewing cards or threading cards) are laminated cardstock or cardboard shapes that have holes on the perimeter every inch or so. Using a lace with a plastic tip, you thread through the holes around the card to practice “sewing”!
You can thread many different ways on the cards, such as wrapping the thread around the edge of the card each time you sew through a hole, sewing a running stitch (up one hole, and down the next) or even backstitching.
My kids like to get really creative with their sewing cards, threading the string all over the card whichever way they like.
Benefits of Using Lacing Cards
Sewing cards aren’t just a toy, they also have many educational benefits! Here are a few of the reasons I love sewing cards for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary schoolers:
- They help kids practice several fine motor skills such as holding a small “needle” in between two fingers, threading a string through a small hole, turning and orienting the card to continue threading around it, and manipulating the string to get the design they want
- It is great hand-eye coordination practice. The holes on a sewing card are a standard 1/4 inch punch size, which is small! Learning to insert the small tip of the string into the hole helps kids practice using their hands and eyes together.
- It is creative, open ended play for kids. Like I mentioned before, there are lots of ways to lace and thread a sewing card. That means it can be a new experience every time! My kids have even been known to string multiple cards together.
- It introduces pre sewing skills. This goes without saying, but sewing cards give kids many of the pre sewing skills kids can learn that will help them learn how to hand sew faster later. Kids can practice real stitches (running stitch, backstitch, blanket stitch, etc) on the cards, practice tying knots, and practice threading a small hole (which we all know is an essential sewing skill!)
Adding sewing cards to your kid’s toy collection or even to your homeschool gear is a perfect way to add a hands on activity to your studies. Simply choose a lacing card that matches the theme of your studies (holiday studies, animal studies, etc.) and let them have at it!
Supplies Needed To Make Lacing/Sewing Cards
The most durable way to make and use lacing cards is to print them on sturdy material such as cardstock, and then laminate them. However, you can totally just print them on paper or cardstock without laminating them and still use them once or twice!
If you intend to use your cards as a re-useable activity, then it is best to use a real shoelace that already has a plastic tip. This makes it easier to lace, and keeps the string from unraveling.
If your cards are more of a one-time craft project, you can use a piece of yarn or string or even ribbon, and tape the end of it if that helps your kids!
Here is a list of what you will need to make your cards:
- Printer
- Cardstock or paper
- Laminator (optional)
- 1/4 inch Hole Punch (standard office hole punch)
- Scissors
- String or Shoelace
So now you have the basic rundown, let’s get to the huge list of printable lacing cards!
Spring Lacing Cards
Spring Themed Threading Cards (Daisy, Bird, Butterfly, and Ladybug)
St. Patrick’s Day Sewing Cards (Leprechaun hat, Pot of Gold, Gold Coin, and Clover)
Easter Lacing Cards (Easter Egg, Bunny, and Flower) By Red Ted Art
These cards have smaller holes, which you can punch larger, or punch small and use a plastic kids sewing needle, I love this idea to help them “level up” even more!
Easter Bunny Lacing Set By Tot Schooling
Summer Lacing Cards
Summer Lacing Cards (Popcicle, Watermelon, Flower, and Ladybug) By Ministering Printables
Beach Themed Lacing Cards By Beth Ann Averill
Farm Sewing Cards By Crucian Art
Vegetables Lacing Cards Templates By Taming Little Monsters
Fall Lacing Cards
Back To School Lacing Cards By Living Life and Learning
These awesome school themed lacing cards come with a backpack and a school bus!
Halloween Lacing Cards By Living Life and Learning
These halloween themed sewing cards come with a bat and a candy corn, and are a fun way to celebrate Halloween in a hands-on way.
Fall Leaves Lacing Cards By Living Life and Learning
Winter Lacing Cards
Thanksgiving Lacing Cards By PJS and Paint
Winter Lacing Cards By Living Life and Learning
Christmas Sewing Cards By Red Ted Art
Animal Lacing Cards
These free dinosaur lacing cards from “From ABC’s to ACT’s come with three different dinos!
Colorful Birds Free Lacing Cards Printable By Rooted Childhood
Animal Lacing Cards To Color By Woojr
Butterfly Lacing Card Set By Little Spark Company
Other Lacing Card Ideas
Dress Lacing Cards By Late Night Coffee
Make Lacing Cards from Greeting Cards By Needlepointers
These cards aren’t printable, but what a great idea to upcycle old holiday cards or greeting cards into lacing cards! It works great since the greeting cards are usually on thick paper.
Nesting Dolls Lacing Cards By Hello Wonderful
Construction Vehicles Lacing Cards By Beth Ann Averill
Shoe Tying Lacing Cards By Crucian Art
Conclusion
I could keep going on and on with these printable lacing cards, there are SO many to choose from and they are so fun. I know my kids get really creative with them when we pull them out!
Introducing these pre sewing activities to your kids is a great way to get them started learning handicrafts when they are young. Kids love to create and use their hands, and when they are able to feel that satisfaction that comes from making something handmade, it is such a gift!
Be sure to look at my other sewing resources for young kids, and join my email list for more free sewing content!
