This yarn pen painting hack crochet yarn craft is a cheerful hands-on project for kids, classrooms, and family craft time. It uses the tutorial steps below as the practical guide while adding helpful planning notes so the project feels easier to prepare, follow, and finish. Gather the supplies first, give yourself a little workspace, and enjoy making something creative from simple materials.
Materials:
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Create a frame
- Cut a “picture frame” from a piece of cardboard. Ours has a 4 x 7 inch area to work in, with a 1 inch border, but you can cut yours to whatever size you’d like.
- Run packing tape across the frame, from one side to the other.
- Repeat so that the opening is completely covered in tape.
- Now flip the frame over so that the sticky side of the tape is facing up.
Step 3: Prepare the pen
- Take apart a ball point pen, removing the lid, end cover, and ink. Set those to the side and keep the pen “body” and tip.
- Feed yarn down through the pen from the top.
- Then pull the yarn through the tip of the pen.
- Screw the tip back onto the pen, and you’re ready to make some yarn pen art!
Step 4: “Draw” with the pen
- Use the pen to “draw” with the yarn. The yarn will stick to the tape as you move your hand.
- When you’re happy with what you’ve drawn with one colour, cut the yarn close to the tape.
- Remove the first yarn from the pen and feed in a different colour. Continue to make shapes across the tape.We found that rounded shapes stuck a lot easier to the tape compared to sharp angles.
- Repeat, adding another colour or two, until you’re happy with your design. You can also go back to previous colours, adding them in different areas.
- Your yarn pen art is complete!
- Have fun making different designs and using different colours to create funky abstract “paintings!”
Helpful Tips
- Keep your yarn tension even so both crochet squares come out close to the same size.
- Use the hook size listed in the tutorial so the stitches are firm enough to hold the marble securely.
- Check the marble fit before closing the toy so it can move inside without slipping out.
FAQs
What yarn works best for a crochet fidget toy?
Worsted weight yarn works well because it creates a sturdy fabric that can hold a marble while still feeling soft in your hands.
What size crochet hook do I need?
Use the hook size listed in the tutorial. For this project, a 5mm crochet hook helps create stitches that are firm but still easy to work with.
What size marble should I use?
A regular glass marble is usually a good fit. Check that the marble can move inside the toy without slipping through the stitches.
Can beginners make this crochet fidget toy?
Yes, confident beginners can make it if they are comfortable chaining, working basic crochet stitches, joining pieces, and finishing yarn ends.
Can I wash a crochet marble fidget toy?
Hand wash gently and let it air dry. Avoid rough washing because the marble and stitched closure should stay secure.
Final Thoughts
When the crochet fidget toy is finished, test the marble movement gently and check that the closing stitches feel secure. This is a small project, but it is a useful way to practice tension, joining, and simple finishing while making something fun to hold.
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Easy Crafts Ideas may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
