Yarn-Wrapped Letters

So pretty...so simple!

Gather your supplies for this project:

• cardboard {corrugated, like from a shipping box, works best}
• pencil or marker
• scissors
• yarn
• hot glue gun & glue
• craft knife {if you have a center to cutout}
• embellishments {optional}

The first thing you need to do is draw or trace your letter on the cardboard - you know me, I like it simple, so I just freehanded this "R." These lines will be completely covered, so you can draw with anything. Then cut out your letter, using the craft knife to get the center cutouts, if you have them. Don't worry if your letter isn't perfect ~ this is a very forgiving project!

Begin wrapping your yarn on a straight edge ~ trust me, this is easiest! Lay out a short strip of hot glue and immediately press the end of the yarn tightly into the glue. Continue to add hot glue around the bottom until you have completed one loop.

After the first loop, you don't need to continuously add glue. Just keep wrapping the yarn around the cardboard, but make sure to maintain some tension in your yarn ~ you don't want saggy letters!

When you get to a cut out, you'll need to snip your yarn so you can pull it through the hole. It doesn't matter what length you cut; you'll likely need more any way. Continue to wrap, wrap, wrap. 

If {when} you run out of yarn, simply glue it down like you did to start and add a new piece. I do try to end on the back {just cut it if needed}, but really you can't tell at all. So if you forget ~ no problem! {remember how I said this was so forgiving...?!} 

Ok, for the curves...I like to fan out a bit at this point. There will naturally be a slight bulge on the inside of the curve, which I think gives character to the piece and would not want to do away with! To keep this as even as possible, complete the curves in wedge sections.It works well to go back and forth in each section, making sure no cardboard is showing before creating a new wedge section. {If you look closely in the picture below, you can see the sweet little hand of my ever-present helper ~ love you, Elisabella!}

The rest of the project is just wrap, wrap, wrap some more...really it goes pretty quick!

When you're all finished, you can use your gorgeous wrapped letter in a project, or just as a stand alone decoration perhaps on a shelf or side table. I used mine in this framed project I created for our front entry way. Happy crafting!