Christmas Shapes Printable Lacing Cards
These free printable Christmas lacing cards are the perfect first sewing project for kids or beginners!
These free printable Christmas shapes aren't just that. These shapes double as lacing cards for kids for a fun winter activity!
Download these Christmas Shapes Printable Lacing Cards, cut out the shapes, and practice sewing. These festive shapes can be used as DIY ornaments, garlands, gift tags, and more. If you've been wanting to teach your child to sew, then these printable lacing cards are the perfect starting project.
With various winter and Christmas shapes ranging from super simple to intermediate, they can practice and improve as they go. These printables have a similar vibe to adult coloring books as well since you can color and sew (no matter your age) for a relaxing and fun activity.
This combines training and fun in one project for kids of all ages, even adults! Anyone who is learning how to sew can benefit from these card PDFs because the repeated work can only help improve their skills.
P.S. If you're looking for more, download our Christmas Baubles Printable Lacing Cards!
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Below, we'll provide ideas, tips, and instructions on how to print and use these Christmas lacing cards so that you're all set up for success with this sewing craft.
How to Print the PDF
Printing this is as easy as 1-2-3-4! If you're not familiar with printing PDFs, here's the step-by-step, along with a few tips.
- Click the red button in the next section that says, "Click to Download Printable Christmas Sewing Cards" P.S. Make sure you know the location of your download.
- Find and open the PDF.
- Click the "Print File" button, choose the printer, choose how many copies you want, make any additional adjustments needed for personal preference, and click the "Print" button.
- Cut out the shapes and start sewing! Alternatively, you can sew and then cut out (whichever is more comfortable).
- Using a slightly thicker paper type will help the stability of these sewing cards. Cardstock or resume paper are both great choices. Keep in mind the thickness that your printer can handle.
- The default printer settings do not need to be adjusted unless desired. It should print the same in "Fit" or "Actual Size".
- No need to use color inks for this! Print in grayscale to use save ink.
- For larger shapes, adjust the "Custom Scale" size. Note that doing this may leave some cut off.
- Alternatively, for larger shapes, feel free to use a cropping tool to cut out certain shapes and then print separately and at the size you want.
How to Use Our Christmas Lacing Cards
The first page includes four festive shapes: a ball ornament, star, gingerbread man, and gift, all with dotted outlines.
The second page has slightly more complex shapes: a Christmas tree, holly, sleigh, and Santa hat.
Plus, scroll down for a bonus PDF with more dots.
Once these Christmas card shapes are cut, you are ready to sew. Let's discuss the materials you'll need for sewing practice:
- Thread - A thicker thread, such as embroidery floss or even a lighter weight yarn, works perfectly for this type of threading practice.
- Needle - You need a needle sharp enough to poke through the paper but you don't want children using super sharp needles, so keep this in mind. Tapestry needles have a blunt point and large eye, which is helpful for kids. Yarn needles are safer, too, but they may be too big and blunt for thicker paper without poking holes with a different object first.
- Scissors - Used to cut the thread at the start and end. Most scissors will work for cutting thread. A thread cutter can also be used.
- Needle threader (optional) - For smaller needle eyes, needle threaders can be incredibly helpful. Especially for children who are learning.
- Glitter glue, small buttons, markers (optional) - For embellishing (find more information below, along with suggestions).
Tip: It might make it easier to pierce holes in the paper template before sewing (a seam ripper works well), especially if the needle is dull. Have an adult do this on a self-healing mat or similar surface to protect tables.
Creative Suggestions on How to Use Our Christmas Lacing Cards
You can use the embroidery floss to "color" the lacing cards or combine a few different mediums to create vibrant and textural ornaments or decorative paper pieces. We used markers, colored pencils, glitter glue, and buttons in addition to floss.
Before sewing, we tried coloring the shapes so that the sewing could be an accent (such as an icing border for the gingerbread man) or just another layer of the same color (such as using a green marker on the Christmas tree, then green floss over that to imply branches).
Keep in mind that using a darker color could hide the dots and make it more difficult to follow while sewing. We'd recommend lighter colors for beginners.
Here is an example of the coloring before the sewing, some with markers, some with glitter glue (let glitter dry before sewing):
And after sewing, before getting cut out.
We also tried using floss as the main coloring and then adding additional embellishments, such as buttons! This works particularly well for the gingerbread man, Christmas tree, and ball ornament. However, you do need small buttons to fit the size of these Christmas shapes printable lacing cards. Adding buttons is not recommended for young children.
This is the perfect project if you're practicing your embroidery stitches, too! Running or straight stitch, stem stitch, lazy daisy, and French knot are all great options for this project.
We then cut the shapes out and turned some into ornaments by poking a hole at the top and threading a loop of floss through it to hang. Some were also given additional decorative looks, such as a colorful circle border.
BONUS Christmas Lacing Cards
We thought we'd provide a second set of Christmas lacing cards with more dot suggestions. These are the same shapes as the PDF above but with more dots, which allow for extra precise sewing practice from one spot to the next.
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What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
Let us know in the comment section!
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