Studio Scribbles · studioscribbles.org
Rainy-Day Crafts
Paper Plate Rainbow Threading
Grab a paper plate and some yarn — that's all it takes for a cozy craft packed with fine-motor practice.
🌈
Grab a paper plate and some yarn — that's really all it takes for this cozy rainy-day craft. Kids color a rainbow, then "sew" around the edge with yarn, sneaking in a whole lot of fine-motor practice along the way.
🕐 20 minutes
✂️ Simple craft
🧒 Ages 3+
What you'll need
- 1 paper plate
- Yarn or a shoelace (about arm's length)
- A hole punch
- Markers or crayons
- Scissors + a little tape
- Cotton balls for clouds (optional but adorable)
Let's make it
- Cut the arch. A grown-up cuts the paper plate in half — each half is a rainbow shape, so you get two crafts out of one plate.
- Color the rainbow. Draw and color arcs of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple across the curved side.
- Punch the holes. Punch holes all along the outer curved edge, evenly spaced.
- Make a "needle." Wrap a bit of tape tightly around one end of the yarn so it's stiff and easy to thread. Tie a big knot on the other end so it won't pull through.
- Thread away. Weave the yarn up and down through the holes, all the way around. Tie it off at the end.
- Add clouds. Glue a cotton ball to each bottom corner for fluffy rainbow clouds.
The hidden lesson: Threading yarn through holes is wonderful practice for
hand-eye coordination and the pincer grip — the same little movements that help with writing,
buttoning, and cutting later on.
Make it easier: For younger kids, punch fewer, bigger holes and use a thicker
shoelace. For a challenge, punch more holes and let them try a fancy over-under weaving pattern.
Hang the finished rainbows in a window and let the sunshine do the rest. 🌈