Yarn Ornament: A Simple and Cozy Christmas Craft for Kids

Some of the best holiday crafts are the ones that use simple materials to create something magical, and this Yarn Ornament is exactly that kind of project. It’s soft, colorful, and cozy—everything that makes the Christmas season feel special. Whether you’re crafting at home on a snowy afternoon or leading a classroom activity filled with cheerful chatter, this easy ornament is a wonderful way to bring the joy of handmade decorations into your space.

What you’ll need to make the yarn ornament

green yarn in 2 shades scissors and yellow construction paper

This project captures the spirit of traditional Christmas crafting without any complicated steps or fancy supplies. All you need is yarn, scissors, construction paper, and a little imagination. The finished ornaments look beautiful hanging on a Christmas tree, decorating a classroom bulletin board, or strung together as part of a homemade garland. Best of all, this craft is low-mess and easy enough for even young children to do with just a little supervision.

How to make this yarn ornament

Start by choosing your yarn. Red, green, and white are classic Christmas colors, but you can use any color you like—sparkly yarns, multicolor skeins, or even metallic threads add a festive touch. Take the yarn and begin wrapping it around your hands several times. The more you wrap, the fuller your ornament will be, so you can adjust depending on how fluffy you’d like it to look.

Once you’ve wrapped enough yarn, carefully slide it off your hands while keeping the loops together. Tie a small piece of yarn around the middle to hold it in place. This will create a bundle with loops on both sides. Use scissors to cut through the loops on one side, which will form soft, fringed edges. You can leave the other side looped or cut both ends if you prefer a round, pom-pom-like shape.

the yarn with a string tied around it to hold it

Repeat this process with another color or two of yarn. Layering different shades—like red and white or green and gold—creates a pretty striped or marbled effect. When you’ve made two or three small bundles, stack them on top of each other, slightly overlapping. Tie them together with another piece of yarn or glue them in place to form a tiered ornament shape that looks like a little Christmas tree.

cut the yarn with scissors so it looks like a tassel

Next, it’s time to decorate. Cut a small star shape out of yellow construction paper and glue it to the top of your yarn ornament. This simple touch transforms your yarn bundles into a cheerful mini Christmas tree. To add a snowy effect, use white construction paper to cut out tiny circles—these will look like snowflakes or ornaments. Glue them onto the yarn so they peek through the strands.

If you’d like to hang your ornament, cut a longer piece of yarn or ribbon, loop it through the top, and tie it securely. This creates a hanger that’s perfect for attaching to your Christmas tree, a wreath, or a classroom display. The soft texture of the yarn makes it lightweight and easy to hang anywhere.

Why parents and teachers love this yarn ornament craft

One of the best things about this project is its flexibility. For younger kids, it’s a great way to practice fine motor skills—wrapping yarn, cutting paper shapes, and gluing decorations all help strengthen coordination. For older children, it’s an opportunity to get creative with colors and patterns. You can even make themed ornaments: red and white for candy canes, green and gold for trees, or blue and silver for a winter snow theme.

In a classroom, this craft makes a perfect December art center or whole-group project. You can set out a variety of yarns, construction paper, and scissors, and let students create their own unique ornaments. Once they’re done, hang them from a string across the classroom for a beautiful handmade garland that adds warmth and personality to your winter décor. It’s also a fun addition to a Christmas countdown activity—each day, a student can add their ornament to the classroom display.

At home, this craft is a great way to spend time together as a family. Put on some Christmas music, make hot cocoa, and set up a crafting table with all your materials. Each person can make their own ornament to add to the tree. They also make wonderful homemade gifts—grandparents, teachers, and neighbors love receiving something handmade by a child. You can attach a gift tag or small note to the yarn ornament for an extra thoughtful touch.

Extend the activity

To tie this craft into a storytime, pair it with a cozy winter or Christmas book. Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson, The Mitten by Jan Brett, or The Yarn Giver by Emily Neuburger are great choices that celebrate warmth, giving, and the joy of creativity. Reading together before crafting helps set a magical tone and gives kids ideas for how to decorate their ornaments.

There are also fun ways to extend learning with this activity. For a math connection, you can have kids estimate how many times they’ll wrap the yarn or count loops as they go. For writing, they could create a short description of their ornament or write a holiday wish to attach to it. For a science tie-in, you can talk about the different textures of yarn and how fibers are made.

A quick, yet adorable, christmas craft

From start to finish, this project is quick, cheerful, and satisfying. It requires only a few materials, but the results are surprisingly beautiful. Each ornament turns out different—some fluffy and bright, others neat and patterned—but all of them capture the joy of creating something with your own hands.

The Yarn Ornament craft is perfect for classrooms, home, or community events where you want a mess-free, heartwarming activity that everyone can enjoy. It’s simple enough for preschoolers, fun for older kids, and festive enough to brighten any Christmas space. So gather your yarn, scissors, and paper stars, and get ready to make a batch of cozy little ornaments that sparkle with handmade holiday spirit.

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