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How to Make a Toy Animal From String

Making string pets is easy, whether you like a simple fuzzy ball or a more complex braided animal figurine. String craft pets can be made in all sizes: small enough to fit onto key rings or large enough to need their own pillow. Making an average sized string pet, that can sit in your palm, is a great craft project for kids of all ages to enjoy on a rainy day.

Things You'll Need

Plastic Pop Bottle
Heavy Yarn
Scissors
Art foam
Craft Glue

Instructions

- 1
  Hold a pop bottle in your hand, and wrap the yarn around the bottle in a 2-inch wide swath. Keep wrapping until you can't see any plastic through the yarn. Make at least 100 wraps.
- 2
  Cut your yarn from the skein, and finish wrapping the yarn end around the bottle. Hold onto this end so your yarn doesn't start coming free.
- 3
  Measure and cut another strand of yarn at least 6 inches long, and tie it around the middle of your yarn collection. It will take a bit of work to slide the string between the yarn and the bottle. This must be tied as tight as you possibly can. If the string is long enough, wrap it around the middle of the yarn bundle a couple of times before tying your knot.
- 4
  Cut the yarn on the side of the bottle opposite your knot. You must cut through all of the string to remove it from the bottle.
- 5
  Fluff up the bundle of yarn until it takes on the appearance of a the animal you are creating, and the knot in the middle is hidden.
- 6
  Trace eyes, ears, feet, hand, noses and mouths on the art foam. Cut them out with the scissors.
- 7
  Glue the foam body parts to your string animal. This gives it a character all its own.

Childrens Toys