I don’t know about you guys, but my kids are obsessed with making DIY worry dolls. Anything to do with magic or putting things under your pillows is always a BIG win around here. We made these cute DIY worry dolls (or worry monsters actually) a little while back and I figured it was about time to share.
They are inspired by Guatemalan worry dolls, made in a similar way (with wrapped wool) but considerably bigger, and also considerably more Yo Gabba Gabba like. That was a total accident by the way.
The best thing about this craft activity is that the kids actually stayed engaged with it for ages. They just sat there and calmly wrapped the wool. Concentration and fine-motor in one. Yew. Younger kids may need help getting started and finished, but the rest of the activity was pretty easy for both of my kids to manage.
DIY Worry Dolls Materials
- Colourful wool (I just bought a bag of offcuts from the op shop)
- Wooden clothes pegs
- Craft glue
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Felt (optional)
DIY Worry Dolls Directions
- Decide what you (and the kids) want the monster to look like and wrap the pipe cleaners where you need their arms and ears to be, make sure to leave them long enough so you can fold them over at the ends to their hands aren’t sharp.
- Open your peg and close it on the end of your wool so it is stuck in place and start wrapping.
- If you want to change colours, just cut your yarn and tie the new colour on, then keep wrapping.
- To finish off, tie the wool neatly and put a blob of craft glue to help the knot stick to the peg.
- Add some eyes with the glue and if you want, some felt for a mouth.
